joelk01

Getting ready to start a lease on an 08 535xi and been reading mixed revews of the L7 system. Has anyone had experience with the stock audio system? After 6 months or so, do you regret not upgrading? Since I am going to lease, if I get the stock system I will have to live with it for 3 yrs. Thanks

GP550iSport

Well that all depends, do you enjoy listening to your music with surround or theatre sound and with an eq to adjust the levels? or will treble and bass satisfy you? I had the stock in MY04 and it wasn't to shabby. Now that I have the L7, I enjoy my music even more. If you don't mind to spend the extra $1200 for better sound go for it. I read those negative reviews as well, but the L7 is still better than the stock system. My 2 cents.

GP550iSport

Welcome to the best E60 forum on the net!!!

1600

Get the logic 7. The stock radio is not satisfactory and trying to do an after-market upgrade is complex, expensive and may not have the desired result.

alex123

I was just going ask that. I love my L7 now but my lease is almost up and I'm currently picking out options for my new 5er.

merklebob

if your not a hi fi person the std radio will be ok if the price is right. a auto is the worst acoustic enviroment in the world. road/tire noise, wind.....

EBMCS03

Exactly. LCI L7 is not as good as the Pre-LCI L7 but its still better than the stock. so if you can swing the extra $20 a month go for it. Get the L7.

Europe Std Radio (4 speaker) < Europe Hi Fi = US Std Radio < LCI L7 < Pre-LCI L7 < BMW Individual Stereo

w84me

Have the stock system in a 2005 325i. Not sure if it is the same as the 5 series. Have the L7 in a 2004 545i. L7 is dramatically better. I alway regretted not upgrading the stereo in the 325 - it is crap. That said, the stock JBL system in my 1999 Toyota Solora sounds better than the L7. The L7 bass management seems to be finicky, depending on the song being played. I can't seem to find a bass level that is a nice compromise for most songs, thus, sometimes it is too much, and sometimes it is too little. I find the L7 hi and mid range to be just fine. I also enjoy the speaker placement of the L7. It is really only the bass that I have a problem with.

jmatthe

I had the pre LCI (2005) L7 system and it was far superior to the the stock system then. I did a direct comparision with the 2008 stock system and 2008 L7 with a good CD (DSP off) and I really could not hear much of a difference even without the engine running. I don't like my music processed (who likes fake echo?) and never used the concert/theater settings in my 545 anyway. I really think the new L7 is not worth the upgrade the way it is today, and I don't use a changer anymore anyway.

Ceenit

Stock system is good for most but a bit below what I would expect for sound quality from any BMW. If you are an audiophile you will be very disappointed in stock. If your asking already, the L7 is probably your better bet.