[aabc]

Given the continued conversation about the G60s HK and B&W systems and the comparisons to the G30 has anyone thought about / looked into upgrading the G60 HK system?

[PsychDoc]

With all the complex electronics in these cars as well as the space limitations I'd imagine any audio upgrades would be virtually impossible.

[Scrapula]

Originally Posted by aabc

Given the continued conversation about the G60s HK and B&W systems and the comparisons to the G30 has anyone thought about / looked into upgrading the G60 HK system?

Bavsound doesn’t have the G60 listed, but they do have the speaker upgrades for the HK in the i4. Those would probably work. They want $1,099.

[TLK]

Bimmertech doesn't have anything either. It's probably just too early in the life of this platform to warrant offering solutions for it yet.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by PsychDoc

With all the complex electronics in these cars as well as the space limitations I'd imagine any audio upgrades would be virtually impossible.

Impossible, highly unlikely. Whether it's Bavsound, Bimmertech or other, someone will offer audio upgrades at some point. If you care about sound quality I highly suggest getting a car with the B&W option to give you a reasonable audio experience. BMW is focused on power savings due to the electric platform so we likely won't see a system like the G30 B&W again. Well, unless the electric platform changes with forthcoming solid state batteries to be less focused on squeezing every mile out of batteries. Or, if hydrogen becomes the winner....

[RichardInCA]

I’d be interested to know how much real world power drain goes to the sound system. The watt rating is peak power I assume, so it’s hard to know what the basic drain is. I know my M60 pulls anywhere from ~0.6 to 1.4kW at rest for systems etc. Putting in a bigger sound system doesn’t feel like it would necessarily kill efficiency unless of course it’s always turned up to 11.

[TLK]

This is silly. You realize how much power is required to motivate a 5200+ lb car and you’re concerned about the audio amplifier?

What really happens, and you can see it on Taycan, is that the EVs get cheapy speakers, lack of sound insulation, speaker enclosures and other “weight savings” measures. That stinginess is the thing that really stands between an EV customer and great sound systems.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by TLK

This is silly. You realize how much power is required to motivate a 5200+ lb car and you’re concerned about the audio amplifier?

What really happens, and you can see it on Taycan, is that the EVs get cheapy speakers, lack of sound insulation, speaker enclosures and other “weight savings” measures. That stinginess is the thing that really stands between an EV customer and great sound systems.

It might be silly as you put it, but this is what's happening. Range is a big rock item for manufacturers and until we see higher density batteries (solid state) or hydrogen they're going to take each watt of unnecessary energy consumption seriously. As you see with the G60, BMW took what was essentially an HK level system (better speakers, better amplifier) and labeling it B&W. If you look into the G30 B&W system you'll see there's a lot more to it, including a class AB amp instead of a more energy efficient class D. Yes, it's done for $$ reasons but also because they're looking to save energy for the drive system.

[TLK]

Interesting. So you think BMW chose power efficiency as a key criteria for the single B&W offering across G60, though only the i5 was the main target?

[nacs]

Originally Posted by TLK

Interesting. So you think BMW chose power efficiency as a key criteria for the single B&W offering across G60, though only the i5 was the main target?

My take is that focus groups aren’t honed in on stereo as much as other socially conscious factors Eg non leather seating, lower carbon footprint etc….Therefore stereo quality suffers.

[aabc]

Originally Posted by nacs

My take is that focus groups aren’t honed in on stereo as much as other socially conscious factors Eg non leather seating, lower carbon footprint etc….There for stereo quality suffers.

I'd like to meet the focus groups that green lit the removal of so many features from the G30 to G60 all while jacking up the price...

[claykin]

Originally Posted by TLK

Interesting. So you think BMW chose power efficiency as a key criteria for the single B&W offering across G60, though only the i5 was the main target?

I believe power efficiency plays a role in these latest generation cars. It doesn't make financial sense for BMW to spend $ on a separate set of options (audio, in this case) for the ICE models. Especially when the number of ICE models are supposedly shrinking in years to come. Sadly, BMW is going in the direction of fewer options. This includes them restricting certain options to more $ models. A practice they began pushing harder since COVID.

[MiGs550e]

Originally Posted by aabc

I'd like to meet the focus groups that green lit the removal of so many features from the G30 to G60 all while jacking up the price...

AI focus group, just say'n. it's coming for all of us and we will obey.

[AiredaleDad]

Originally Posted by claykin

I believe power efficiency plays a role in these latest generation cars. It doesn't make financial sense for BMW to spend $ on a separate set of options (audio, in this case) for the ICE models. Especially when the number of ICE models are supposedly shrinking in years to come. Sadly, BMW is going in the direction of fewer options. This includes them restricting certain options to more $ models. A practice they began pushing harder since COVID.

If this is what they are doing to a $70K+ vehicle from one of the most premium brands in the world, can you imagine what the lower end manufacturers are doing? After all don't they like to use manufacturers like BMW as the benchmark? They'll say "If BMW can cheap out and still raise THEIR prices, Then so can we."

I don't think ICE will go away in totality. At least not soon. But we are already seeing more Hybridization. I don't think there is a 5er available 2024 on that isn't a "Mild Hybrid" at least. I think what we will start seeing is ICE motors getting smaller and smaller, until they are basically just a generator to run the motors and charge the batteries to finally get the range to compete with ICE vehicles. (That's how Diesel Electric Ships run. They don't have engines. Just Generators and electric motors.) Then, they will become Hydrogen power plants and the batteries will get smaller to become a small repository to keep going just far enough to get to a Hydrogen filling station.

[AddyDaddy]

The BW system in the new i5 is so bad compared to any stereo I’ve had in any of my last 7 BMW’s in past 9 yrs. I haven’t had any luck with normal bmw aftermarket specialists for a sub aside from boutique places that want to extreme amount of $$$. I think this car has 1/3rd the wattage and sound as my 2013 M5,
It sounds ok until the 50% mark then it’s no good. That’s fine with windows up but try listening to stereo with windows down at 35-50mph, it’s embarrassingly bad and you can’t even hear it. I’m trying to find a place that can wire a small sub for the trunk.

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by Scrapula

Bavsound doesn’t have the G60 listed, but they do have the speaker upgrades for the HK in the i4. Those would probably work. They want $1,099.

In the G30 with HK DSP system (the middle system in US), it’s really the amp that is the weakest point. Sure, you can upgrade the speakers but the starting point should be the amp. It may be the same in the G60. But as others have mentioned, the platform may be too new to have aftermarket options.

[Scrapula]

It’s not electric vehicles that is the issue. Both the iX and the i7 have the B&W Diamond system. BMW just want to push you into a higher cost car if you want a better sound system.

[claykin]

Also keep in mind that take rate on the $3400 B&W system on some models is very low. My CA would tell me if they had a G30 5 series or even an 8 series in inventory with B&W they pretty much knew it was a special order that was not taken. And when selling from inventory nearly all customers are not interested in paying $3400 for an audio upgrade. The reality here is take rate is low, but in some cases such as $100K+ cars BMW realizes they need to remain competitive with Benz and others who also offer similar upgrades.

The i7 also has a 20% larger battery than the i5 and BMW appears to be trying to stay close to the magic number of 300 miles per charge.

Remember, it's never just one thing or one reason why BMW makes the decisions they do.