[hasBmw]

My sister is looking to spend around £30k (nearly $40k) on a used G20 320i M Sport sedan, 2020-2021 with under 20k miles.

I'm surprised many of the 2020-2021 3 series models do not come with Harmon Kardon system, and its bit of a deal breaker for her. I believe it was due to the chip shortage problem after the pandemic.

If spending this much on a car, I expect this to be fairly standard equipment.

The ones with Harmon Kardon are around 35k so spending a few extra thousand just for HK is not worth it.

Anyone got an aftermarket system in a G20 3 series, or recommend solutions?

[tturedraider]

No stereo recommendations for you, but I think the problem with the lack of HK probably has more to do with the fact that y’all are looking at 320s. With 330s it would probably be easier to find the HK.

[aidanmurphy]

If you are going to go aftermarket you will spend more than just optioning the HK. It is worth it if you listen to music a lot. The base system is questionable quality at best

[G30M]

Originally Posted by hasBmw

My sister is looking to spend around £30k (nearly $40k) on a used G20 320i M Sport sedan, 2020-2021 with under 20k miles.

I'm surprised many of the 2020-2021 3 series models do not come with Harmon Kardon system, and its bit of a deal breaker for her. I believe it was due to the chip shortage problem after the pandemic.

If spending this much on a car, I expect this to be fairly standard equipment.

The ones with Harmon Kardon are around 35k so spending a few extra thousand just for HK is not worth it.

Anyone got an aftermarket system in a G20 3 series, or recommend solutions?

if the gets a car that has "HiFi" system, it's got the same speakers as HK, same number of speakers in the front. same woofers. HK adds Logic 7 surround and a beefier amp (two) should you want to crank up the sound to max. but as the speakers are the same in the front, the only difference really is in the Logic 7 surround effect for front passengers.

[TakeshiJin]

Originally Posted by g21

if the gets a car that has "HiFi" system, it's got the same speakers as HK, same number of speakers in the front. same woofers. HK adds Logic 7 surround and a beefier amp (two) should you want to crank up the sound to max. but as the speakers are the same in the front, the only difference really is in the Logic 7 surround effect for front passengers.

What in tarnations fire crackers did you inhale man. No, just no man; you had way too much to drink on the 4th.

If anyone is confused ; please refer to link below for more information about Speaker Systems tiers offered by BMW on the G20

• https://www.bimmer-tech.net/blog/ite...system-upgrade

[G30M]

Originally Posted by TakeshiJin

What in tarnations fire crackers did you inhale man. No just no man; you had way too much to drink on the 4th.

Please refer to link if anyone is confused about Speaker Systems tiers offered by BMW on the G20

• https://www.bimmer-tech.net/blog/ite...system-upgrade

that's what it says

[Mason Hatcher]

Originally Posted by g21

that's what it says

That link reports something completely different than what you wrote. Lol

[Gaviatrix]

Originally Posted by hasBmw

The ones with Harmon Kardon are around 35k so spending a few extra thousand just for HK is not worth it.

Anyone got an aftermarket system in a G20 3 series, or recommend solutions?

There are many threads on here about audio upgrades. Some people reckon the HK system itself isn't that great, so I wouldn't be put off by not having it. You're likely to be better off putting some of the 5k difference towards an upgrade that your sister can tailor to suit her listening tastes.

I honestly don't think the HiFi system (which is the mid-grade system, and what I have in my 330i) is that bad if you're not a bass junkie and don't listen at volumes that make your ears bleed. It's telling to me what sort of music people who upgrade their systems want to listen to. That's not a judgement - it's a highly personal thing. I'm mostly into classical and jazz and for me the main issue is lack of detail and losing definition when I crank up the volume, which I believe is primarily an amplifier issue rather than the speakers themselves. After research, careful thought and speaking to a few specialists I've decided to upgrade the amplifier on my car, which is not hard to do.

I'd suggest she decides what she thinks about it when she's actually lived with the car for a few weeks and take it from there, researching some of the threads here for assistance. The Bimmer Tech and Bavsound websites would also be good places to start.

[Montaver]

Originally Posted by g21

if the gets a car that has "HiFi" system, it's got the same speakers as HK, same number of speakers in the front. same woofers. HK adds Logic 7 surround and a beefier amp (two) should you want to crank up the sound to max. but as the speakers are the same in the front, the only difference really is in the Logic 7 surround effect for front passengers.

Your post isn’t accurate, not sure where you got that info from. The HK has different speakers, more speakers, different amp, and EQ adjustability. I have owned a G20 with both standard HiFi and HK. Standard hi-fi tonally is OK, but lacks energy and is very thin sounding. It’s certainly listenable and not as bad as people make out, but it doesn’t impress. HK is fuller sounding with much more energy, but needs tweaking as out of the box it’s a bit shrill. Daily motor has a good channel where they review sound systems, the HK doesn’t stack up that well to higher end stuff but it’s worth it in my opinion.

[jiimmmayyy]

Based off of other members’ posts, the hi fi is easier to upgrade if you wanted to go that route since the H/K itself is mediocre at best

[G30M]

Originally Posted by Montaver

Your post isn’t accurate, not sure where you got that info from. The HK has different speakers, more speakers, different amp, and EQ adjustability. I have owned a G20 with both standard HiFi and HK. Standard hi-fi tonally is OK, but lacks energy and is very thin sounding. It’s certainly listenable and not as bad as people make out, but it doesn’t impress. HK is fuller sounding with much more energy, but needs tweaking as out of the box it’s a bit shrill. Daily motor has a good channel where they review sound systems, the HK doesn’t stack up that well to higher end stuff but it’s worth it in my opinion.

But the part numbers for the speakers are the same. And the only difference in speaker numbers is the rear.

For the OP there is no need to sweat about lack of HK, look for HiFi as an alternative.

Yes the sound is different but only in software and it's not bad. Just less balanced from lack of Logic 7 processing.

Or go 330. Up to OP.

[G30M]

Originally Posted by Montaver

Standard hi-fi tonally is OK, but lacks energy and is very thin sounding. It’s certainly listenable and not as bad as people make out, but it doesn’t impress. HK is fuller sounding with much more energy, but needs tweaking as out of the box it’s a bit shrill.

That is true. What I said were also true. Not everybody is going to find HK in their used car purchase however. There is little wrong with HiFi for these buyers.

Now if you were talking about B&W... I have that in my car and I spend a lot of time in the garage.

[G30M]

Originally Posted by jiimmmayyy

Based off of other members’ posts, the hi fi is easier to upgrade if you wanted to go that route since the H/K itself is mediocre at best

If it helps the OP I tested an X5 with HK and compared immediately with my M550i with B&W. (my M340i has HiFi)

I used a USB with FLAC of different genres. The HK (EQ-Ed, before EQ, without Logic 7, was little different from my M340i) sounded like a good shop radio the B&W sounded like a recording studio. The eargasm pleasure difference was so different, granted 3 different cars...

[Montaver]

Originally Posted by g21

But the part numbers for the speakers are the same. And the only difference in speaker numbers is the rear.

For the OP there is no need to sweat about lack of HK, look for HiFi as an alternative.

Yes the sound is different but only in software and it's not bad. Just less balanced from lack of Logic 7 processing.

Or go 330. Up to OP.

Visually the speakers look different, not sure how they can be the same part. What is the part number?

[G30M]

that's what the ebay parts seller told me. let me have a look.

[G30M]

can't find the numbers but they do look visually different!

[ersatz_lord]

I have the hi-fi and its more than enough for what I need at the moment. But i have looked into BavSound which offers plug n play options for stock, hifi, and HK.

[dhock_holiday]

Originally Posted by g21

can't find the numbers but they do look visually different!

Agree, looks like the HK ones are silver and the HiFi ones are black

[G30M]

drove 3 hrs in the car with B&W and then 3 hrs in the one with HiFi

initially i almost died when i switched cars and then you don't notice it after a while coz the road was so noisy the HiFi system were not able to over power the noise, so missing a lot of sound, also missing the surround effect noticable

but in the garage it sounds very very ok, and from memory sounds ok when you don't crank it up over quiet roads