Harmon Kardon Radio

I ordered my M3 convertible with the Harmon Kardon option. My window sticker says I bought it and my bill of sale says I paid for it. And yet I feel stupid because I don't know if the radio has the extras that I ordered or not. What is the "telltale sign or signs" that I received what I purchased? I appreciate the anticipated help! And yes, I did read the manual which was of no help at all.

Look for a button with speaker icon next to the DSC button, between the seat heater buttons, in front of the shifter console. Turn on your stereo, press the button. It should light up and sound better.

I had '03 coupe without, '05 coupe with. The coupe HK system has a chrome logo on the tweets in the doors and also on the rear deck speakers facing out the back window along with two subwoofers in the rear deck, while the normal system does not. The sub box is accessible through the trunk and should read E46/Harmon Kardon or something like that on the underside. Rereading, I typed all this ignoring that you said Cab...I would assume the Cab has similar HK chrome logos on the speakers.

I searched around in here: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do but I couldn't find a good answer.

Ah, try this:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...18&hg=65&fg=20

Looks like HK Cab systems have a single sub in the middle?

Originally Posted by patton03m3

Looks like HK Cab systems have a single sub in the middle?

That's correct. I just checked out my dad's 2003 vert with the HK and he has one sub. It's in the location referred to as the the "pass-thru" from the passenger cabin to the trunk. This is used for long items like skis.

Didn't the HK come as standard equipment on the vert?

not on mine, but I have a 325, not an M or 330

On my console in front of the 6 spd shifter are two buttons for the heated seats, two buttons for the raising and lowering of the convertible top, the dsc button and the sport button. No speaker button. On the doors next to the handle is a tweeter with a silver Harmon Kardon logo. In the trunk on the door of the pass through is a speaker; it is very light in weight and it has been my experience that most woofers are usually carrying a several pound magnet which this is not. Where would they put the amplifier (if one is there)? My son's Z4 has it in the trunk near the battery. Surely, there is someone out there who has a 2006 M3 vert with the HK option who could help me? I guess my alternative is to go into the dealership and have them point out the answers to the question. But, you know guys that that would be too easy...

There are three lower buttons, the center one enhances the sound.

On my 2006 M3 Cab, there are no buttons below the ones I mentioned earlier. There is the little "drawer" that opens for your glasses or spare change. In my other life in the NAv, we used to say when we met up with an impossible question...WTFO

Originally Posted by drharley

On my 2006 M3 Cab, there are no buttons below the ones I mentioned earlier. There is the little "drawer" that opens for your glasses or spare change. In my other life in the NAv, we used to say when we met up with an impossible question...WTFO

So, you don't have those three buttons like the ones shown in my picture. My car is an 05 330Ci
1. DSC button
2. (speaker enhance)
3. recirculation

HK should be a standard in your M3, you shouldn't have to order it, unless it was some sort of upgrade.

Is this what you bought? (Radio, Harman Kardon AM/FM Stereo w/CD 615.00 675.00 )

HK is not standard on M3's. No button, no 'Harmon Kardon' on the door speakers, no HK.

I just checked the BMW M3 sales brochure and it shows the optional audio equipment for the coupe and the cabriolet as the audio HK upgrade to 12 speakers and enhanced ampllifier. The additional cost was 675. The HK emblem is on my door speaker; but the elusive button??? There is no room fo any extra damn button on my console. If I did not have the sport button, there would be room, but that is standard on the M3 as well as the two buttons for the ragtop up and down functions. I sent an email to the BMW Owner's Circle priority email and will let you know if I receive an answer from them tomorrow.

I received an answer from BMW and it only further confused me. The rep wrote that there were 4 speakers in the rear deck - 2 regular speakers and 2 woofers. There is no deck in a ragtop. She also indicated that there were 3 in each door and one on each side passenger panel. Total 12??? I wrote her back and she is doing "more research." So, as the saying goes, if you want something done right, do it yourself. The speaker locations are 3 per door (6 speakers); 1 on each side of the rear passenger seats (2 speakers); one speaker at the base of each rear passenger headrest (2 speakers); and one speaker in the door of the pass through in the trunk (1 speaker). The total is 11 speakers just as the BMW website shows on the optional audio upgrade. The speed sensitive equalization was also found with the help of the "Mad Russian" M3 website except the button configuration was a little different on the 2006 model, but not a problem. I still haven't found where the upgraded amp is housed, but I can live without knowing that...for now anyway.

cabs don't have the HK button -- no more space since the top uses 2 switches. the coupe uses these 2 "spaces" for the HK button and the switch for the rear windscreen sunshade.

something I've always wanted to ask, but didn't...

The HK button "enhances" the sound and that's it right? It doesn't activate/deactivate the extra subwoofers that HK comes with?

I personally can't tell much difference with it on except that the music is a little louder, and the mid-range seems boosted. So mostly I leave it off.

Originally Posted by drharley

I received an answer from BMW and it only further confused me. The rep wrote that there were 4 speakers in the rear deck - 2 regular speakers and 2 woofers. There is no deck in a ragtop. She also indicated that there were 3 in each door and one on each side passenger panel. Total 12??? I wrote her back and she is doing "more research." So, as the saying goes, if you want something done right, do it yourself. The speaker locations are 3 per door (6 speakers); 1 on each side of the rear passenger seats (2 speakers); one speaker at the base of each rear passenger headrest (2 speakers); and one speaker in the door of the pass through in the trunk (1 speaker). The total is 11 speakers just as the BMW website shows on the optional audio upgrade. The speed sensitive equalization was also found with the help of the "Mad Russian" M3 website except the button configuration was a little different on the 2006 model, but not a problem. I still haven't found where the upgraded amp is housed, but I can live without knowing that...for now anyway.

Ah, yes....the vaunted BMW customer service reps. My understanding is that they must all have engineering degrees and then they go through a rigorous 8-month training program to develop product knowledge...NOT! She gave you the coupe info -- where there is a distinctive H-K subwoofer under the rear deck with amp and speakers. Since you've got H-K badges up front, I think you're fine. Plus -- as aranetaj says, cabrio switch panels can easily fill up and thus the button gets crowded out.

Originally Posted by ThatOneGuy

Look for a button with speaker icon next to the DSC button, between the seat heater buttons, in front of the shifter console. Turn on your stereo, press the button. It should light up and sound better.

Wrong. On the convertible there is no button.

Easier to just look for the chrome goobers on the speakers that say "Harmon-Kardon"

Originally Posted by LMC

Ah, yes....the vaunted BMW customer service reps. My understanding is that they must all have engineering degrees and then they go through a rigorous 8-month training program to develop product knowledge...NOT! She gave you the coupe info -- where there is a distinctive H-K subwoofer under the rear deck with amp and speakers. Since you've got H-K badges up front, I think you're fine. Plus -- as aranetaj says, cabrio switch panels can easily fill up and thus the button gets crowded out.

The convertible has a subwoofer - mounted between the trunk and the panel in the seat-back that would normally be an arm-rest. If you have the ski-bag option - this is in front of the subwoofer, and the subwoofer pivots out of the way in the trunk so you can use the ski bag.