Sound upgrade E61 - Earthquake SWS-8, JL HD900/5,BSW Stage 1
#1
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My Ride: BMW E61 525D 2008 m-sport
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I?ve done an upgrade on my E61 525d. The car was delivered with the Hifi system (676). In this system there are ten speakers. The HU is supplying the 4"midrange and 1" tweeter with 4 x 25 watt and there is a separate amp for the sub. This powered with 2 x 40 watt
My plan was to upgrade without cutting in the original wiring or any physical modification on the car.
My components:
- BSW Stage 1
- Earthquake SWS-8
- JL Audio HD900/5
Stage 1. Upgrading the SUB:
Here is some picture of the Earthquake SWS-8 sub. I soldier cable and connector for ?plug and play? to the original wiring.
Part number on the housing: 61136901731 (You need 2)
Part number on the pin: 61138364835 (You need 4)
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/IMG_0658.JPG)
Here you see the OEM sub. It?s very easy to replace these. Do not disconnect the cable to the seat. Then you would get an Airbag alarm
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/IMG_0671.JPG)
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/IMG_0674.JPG)
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/IMG_0676.JPG)
I created a 4 mm spacer in MDF.
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/IMG_0946.JPG)
The sub is installed:
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/IMG_0678.JPG)
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/IMG_0683.JPG)
Stage 2. Installing the BSW Stage 1 - 4"midrange and 1" tweeter.
Here is some picture of the BSW elements. This is 100% plug and play. Very easy installation
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/IMG_0950.JPG)
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/IMG_0951.JPG)
My plan was to upgrade without cutting in the original wiring or any physical modification on the car.
My components:
- BSW Stage 1
- Earthquake SWS-8
- JL Audio HD900/5
Stage 1. Upgrading the SUB:
Here is some picture of the Earthquake SWS-8 sub. I soldier cable and connector for ?plug and play? to the original wiring.
Part number on the housing: 61136901731 (You need 2)
Part number on the pin: 61138364835 (You need 4)
Here you see the OEM sub. It?s very easy to replace these. Do not disconnect the cable to the seat. Then you would get an Airbag alarm
I created a 4 mm spacer in MDF.
The sub is installed:
Stage 2. Installing the BSW Stage 1 - 4"midrange and 1" tweeter.
Here is some picture of the BSW elements. This is 100% plug and play. Very easy installation
#3
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My Ride: BMW E61 525D 2008 m-sport
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Here you see the BSW speaker in the back. Less the 15 minutes to install both sides:
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/09042009050.jpg)
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/09042009035.jpg)
Original compared to the BSW:
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/09042009038.jpg)
BSW elements installed!
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/09042009042.jpg)
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/09042009048.jpg)
Stage 3 ? Upgrading the AMP
The last and probably most import upgrade. I?ve two adapters. One for the HU:
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/IMG_0832.JPG)
And one for connation to the OEM amp in the back
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/IMG_0200.JPG)
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/IMG_0189.JPG)
Here you see the new power cable. Very easy to install since the battery is placed in the back of the car. There is also a ground connector in the front of the OEM amp.
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/IMG_0818.JPG)
The JL Audio HD900/5 amp is temporaty connected.:
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/IMG_0837.JPG)
Result:
I?m very happy with this upgrade. I first upgraded the Earthquake sub and BSW stage 1. The sound became more clear and detailed but the Earhquake sub is not working vell with the OEM amp. After I installed the JL Audio amp the Earthquake sub start playing. The BSW element is also playing a lot louder.
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/09042009050.jpg)
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/09042009035.jpg)
Original compared to the BSW:
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/09042009038.jpg)
BSW elements installed!
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/09042009042.jpg)
![](http://www.jan-erik.nu/bmw525/09042009048.jpg)
Stage 3 ? Upgrading the AMP
The last and probably most import upgrade. I?ve two adapters. One for the HU:
And one for connation to the OEM amp in the back
Here you see the new power cable. Very easy to install since the battery is placed in the back of the car. There is also a ground connector in the front of the OEM amp.
The JL Audio HD900/5 amp is temporaty connected.:
Result:
I?m very happy with this upgrade. I first upgraded the Earthquake sub and BSW stage 1. The sound became more clear and detailed but the Earhquake sub is not working vell with the OEM amp. After I installed the JL Audio amp the Earthquake sub start playing. The BSW element is also playing a lot louder.
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I installed my SWS subs with a decent amp. I did not like it at all, it can play low notes but it wont hit high notes very well or sharp like the Logic 7 subs. I already knew they werent for midrange but just wondering what was your experience. BTW i put back my Logic 7 subs and amped them with the same amp and it sounds amazing with the trunk sub.
Edit: Just realized you have the HIFI system so you probably wouldnt know how the L7 subs sounded.
Edit: Just realized you have the HIFI system so you probably wouldnt know how the L7 subs sounded.
#5
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My Ride: BMW E61 525D 2008 m-sport
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I installed my SWS subs with a decent amp. I did not like it at all, it can play low notes but it wont hit high notes very well or sharp like the Logic 7 subs. I already knew they werent for midrange but just wondering what was your experience. BTW i put back my Logic 7 subs and amped them with the same amp and it sounds amazing with the trunk sub.
Edit: Just realized you have the HIFI system so you probably wouldnt know how the L7 subs sounded.
Edit: Just realized you have the HIFI system so you probably wouldnt know how the L7 subs sounded.
#8
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My Ride: E61 535d carbon black m-kit panoramaroof with beige nasca interior and wood trim. 172m rims. DimSport Race, SB, SAT
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"I created a 4 mm spacer in MDF"
is there a need for the spacer? I'm putting in sws-8's next week and I thought it was drop and go!
I like that you put original plugs on but guess it wont make sense in my case as there's no amp in my current setup and consequently, the wires running to the current speakers under the seat come directly from the HU and wont have anything to do with the amp. Based on "Technic"'s advise, I will instead use these wires as inputs to the amp and consequently run 2 sets of wires between the trunk and the subwoofers.
is there a need for the spacer? I'm putting in sws-8's next week and I thought it was drop and go!
I like that you put original plugs on but guess it wont make sense in my case as there's no amp in my current setup and consequently, the wires running to the current speakers under the seat come directly from the HU and wont have anything to do with the amp. Based on "Technic"'s advise, I will instead use these wires as inputs to the amp and consequently run 2 sets of wires between the trunk and the subwoofers.
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#10
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My Ride: BMW E61 525D 2008 m-sport
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I have one more of the adapter if you are interesting in buy one.