[Wingco]

OK, although the "HiFi loudspeaker" upgrade I spec'd on my car HAS made an improvement from stock set-up (demo cars), it's still nothing to write home about.
I'd pretty-much decided to put up with it for another 2 years until my co. car gets changed, but yesterday I heard an E90 which is a bit of a work-in-progress at a local car audio specialists.
Yes it now has 2 very large diameter, but slim-depth subs in the boot against the back seat, BUT, the difference in the front (ignoring the massively improved bass), was unbeleivable. And they were the standard, non-upgraded (yet) speakers. His car didn't have the hi-fi loudspeaker upgrade, just stock speakers, but he was running a new amp to drive front & rear mids (didn't even have front tweeters in yet!), and some kind of sophisticated Alpine unit which adjusted timing/phasing i think.
Anyhow, the clarity, volume and lack of distortion even through the stock speakers was incredible - I could hardly beleive it.
Now wondering whether I should do something similar, although i'd not be going with "big subs".
Any thoughts/views?

[doughboy]

I have the Hi Fi option and to be honest it's the best factory system i've ever owned.

Not as good as the individual, but plenty loud enough to make you ears hurt and enough bass without distortion to make the mirrors shake. (and the back number plate rattle slightly)

Thats enough for me!!

[Wingco]

Hi Doughboy.
Hmmm. I had an Audi A3 Sport before this (`04) and decided NOT to spec the £440 Bose option on that; yes it was better than the stock system, but only slightly i felt, and certainly not £440-better.

the volume-level, bass, clarity and lack of distortion were quite simply amazing for a bog-standard, out-of-the-factory set-up. And I'd thought the standard set-up in my `00 Passat previous to the A3 was excellent.

Despite the HiFi Loudspeaker option, I still find this system extremely poor.

Still, a lesson learned if I ever go for another BM when co. car change comes around.