<e28> Audio and Price Questions

[Pearson-Franks Family <pearsonf@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Eben:

I'll toss in my opinions on some of your questions, good luck on
the rest!

Larry F.

>Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1998 10:48:28 -0600 (CST)
>From: c747837@domain.elided
>Subject: <e28>Audio and Price Questions
>
>I've <Snip>
>
>2.  Stereo needs serious upgrade...I have an older 30x4 Watt Alpine Tape
>
>    deck with CD control....would it easily fit, and would I have problems
>    with finding the right wires on the back of the OEM unit?

Most of the stock wiring is not very usable.  The speaker wiring uses
a common ground - which no modern amp (including your Alpine) cannot
tolerate - you will need to run new speaker wires.  You _can_ use the
stock power wiring (brown ground, purple switched hot, forget the full
time hot, and white back to the power antenna), but you will notice the
built-in lights in the stereo dimming on bass peaks.  Unless you run a
new wire (10# or 12#) forward to the battery (with an inline fuse, of
course, as close to the battery as you can make it).

Lots and lots of speaker upgrade options - your front kick woofers are
almost guaranteed buzzy (pull them out and gently flex the cone in and
out - any scraping means buzz-city!).  The tweeters are pretty bright
and hard even when they are working.  The rear woofers aren't bad as
mid-ranges, which is how they really should be used.  If you are
interested in a bunch of other stereo and speaker notes, let me know
and I'll forward them off.

<snip>

>4.  I had a Porche 944S before this car...and I'm sure that it won't
>    handle half a well.  I wish to at least do some minor mods....perhaps
>    M5 sway bars or so....anything else?

Sway bars are good, a short shift kit is a must (I like the Metric
Mechanic).  Also great is a JimC chip.  Smooths it out and perks it
up.  The 'e' was _designed_ to be an economy engine, so don't get
any great expectations of upgrades.

>5.  Any tune-up ideas for that old of a car with somewhat low milage?

Timing belt, plug wires, timing belt, cap and rotor, timing belt, fuel
filter, timing belt, fuel and 'main' relays, and finally, the timing belt.

<snip>

>Thanks everone,
>Eben Shantz
>c747837@domain.elided
>
>'86 528e 80K....and hit REAL hard


Larry Franks
Issaquah, Washington
'86 535i x 2
'83 245 GLT (Swedish iron)

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