decided on 128i convertible. Help with audio

I have decided to order a new 128i convertible to pick up on the East Coast. I want to load it up but do not necessarily want the NAV. If this is already covered, I can't find it.

Here's my question: Is the HK upgrade worth the money?

I will be syncing an iPhone 4 and 4s, soon to be iPhone 5 with the car. With my GM products, that's a no brainer. I have spent a great deal of time trying to figure out the right way to do this on my first BMW.

If I DON'T buy the NAV package, what will I be able to do from my phone? Phone book, Pandora, hands free , etc?

If I do by the NAV package, what will my phone do?

This is more important to me than it should be but I'm spoiled with too many gadgets. Help me with the right packages or options to buy.

Thank you guys in advance.

It would be nice to upgrade to HK since you have the open top.
Do it.

I appreciate your input on the HK radio.

It's te "networkink" issue that has me troubled the most.

To use hands free phone, you'll need BMW Assist with Bluetooth. You'll be able to hook up your iPhone with a USB cable for music, you just have to use the two line radio display to browse it from the car. If you want an idrive screen, you have to get nav, if you want it to look like iPod controls on the screen, you also need to get BMW Apps. Otherwise you use the normal BMW menus to browse your music.

That's the part I can't seem to get clear.

U guys that have the 2 line display with bmw assist, is it functional? And, what besides nav is the advantage of the nav screen?

Well, the Nav is terrible for doing things like actual navigation, but it is nice to have the large screen to browse through everything. I haven't had any issues browsing music off the two line screen, I don't have BMW assist, so no Bluetooth, but my Garmin can do both Nav and Bluetooth if I need it but it's not as nice as having everything integrated.

If I were you I would listen to the standard radio and then the HK to see if you think it is worth the extra cost - I didn't think it was worth it. And there is a guy in Sanford who does work for Performance Race Solutions that tunes the standard radio on BMWs that results in a much improved sound if you decide to do down the road.

My 2009 128i vert came with the mid level system. That also seems to be what is on my fiancee's 2013 128i vert. I think it sounds good and it has enough power for us. I never seriously listened to the HK system.

Jim

There's some pretty good discussion of the HK on the F30 forum (I know because I posted)... Here is a good start. Although it's about the F30, the same system is in the 1'er so it applies.

Basically, out of the box the HK is a bit better than the stock system... deeper lows mostly. Where the HK wins is in adjustability; it has the EQ that the stock system doesn't. I found that I had to dedicate some time with my favourite CD (mastered properly!) with the engine off to really dial in the sound I wanted, and I've been much happier with the system. I can probably dig up my base settings and post them if it'll help.

Either way, for me it was worth it... but for you it might not be. Depends on your listening.

Having said that, I *do* often prefer to just listen to the symphony coming out of the two holes in the back of the car...

I got the HK system in my 2012 128i. It sounds pretty good, but the HK in my wife's MINI sounds much better to me.

I pulled the trigger today. Ordered one and pretty well got it loaded except the HK. my wife can't wait. Thanks for the replies.

If I would have ordered my 2012 128 vert I would have definitely ordered the HK. The standard system is OK but I spend over 2 hours a day in the car commuting to and from work and the HK would definitely be worth the price. The other thing I would definitely order is xenons....hope you did order them. Besides being better headlights, they just make the car look cooler since the rear led bars light up and they don't in the non xenon cars.

Yes to xenon. Premium pkg. tech pkg. cold weather pkg. park distance. Leather.

I read somewhere that 303 protectant could be used on the convert tops. I use it all the time on lot of stuff except. Tires. What's the scoop? i don't suppose anybody has a wind screen to sell or a place to buy one reasonable?

Originally Posted by crh97

Yes to xenon. Premium pkg. tech pkg. cold weather pkg. park distance. Leather.

Nice specs. Why no sport pkg?

Good question. I was happy with the handling without it and my salesman worried me about tire wear. So I saved a few bucks.

I did a search on 303 should have done that earlier. Sorry.

Originally Posted by crh97

Good question. I was happy with the handling without it and my salesman worried me about tire wear. So I saved a few bucks.

You've sat in the normal seats though, that's probably the biggest difference?

The salesman worried me bout tire wear.....or was that on the 135? This car is for my wife and she was happy with a Mitsubishi spyder. The standard seats were to her liking. All she asked for was a rag top, heated seats and rear park assist. I'm a lucky man.

I got the HK system in my 2013 128i convertible. So far I think my Subaru Forester sounds better.
Helen in San Diego

Yes, go for the HK I say. I got it in my M135i, and noticeably better than the standard professional. Mainly in the front though - with hatches there is of course no solid rear parcel shelf and luggage area airbox, to be taken advantage of by good quality speakers. I would check if the rear HK speakers in the 'vert are also in the rear shelf, not just in the rear doors. If so it will sound even better than in the hatch, I would presume.

Originally Posted by HelenfromJersey

I got the HK system in my 2013 128i convertible. So far I think my Subaru Forester sounds better.
Helen in San Diego

Helen... get into the EQ settings and try these as a baseline;

Treb - +5
Bass - +3
Fader - -2

100 - +4
200 - +4
500 - +6
1K - +6
2k - +4
5k - +5
10K - +6

These are all "notches" from 0 or center. These settings vastly improved the output from my HK system, and then I tweaked them a smidgen for my own listening style (softer bass, more mid).

The HK system out of the box is not much better than the hifi system, but is much more tunable.

Originally Posted by crh97

I pulled the trigger today. Ordered one and pretty well got it loaded except the HK. my wife can't wait. Thanks for the replies.

Nice choice- You'll be just fine without the HK... it's not THAT big of an upgrade. If you don't like the sound you can have the dealer or a high quality audio shop swap your speakers/amp etc for not that much more money. It's such a small car with such a small listening space that it's not too expensive or necessary unless you're a diehard. I had the upgraded audio and wasn't impressed and ended up spending even more money ripping it out again and doing a custom system.

Thumper: Thanks for info on HK system. Appreciate it.
Helen