[bakto71]

My 2021 M40i has the Executive Package which includes the Harmon Kardon audio upgrade. The Z4 brochure describes the HK system as 12 speaker sound system with 2 base speakers under the front seats. My Z4 does not have speakers under the seats and door tweeter speaker grills are stamped Harmon Kardon. Does your Z4 with the HK have speakers under the seats?

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Believe the bass speakers under the front seats in the sedans are in the rear bulkhead in the Z4 with HK.

[TAZ007]

Rear Lower to be exact.

[bakto71]

BMW Brochure reads Harmon Kardon surround sound system with 408 watts. This 12 speaker sound system includes tweeters, midrange speakers, and 2 bass speakers located under the front seats. My Z4 HK system has 10 speaker locations. Is this the same with other Z4s with HK or am I missing 2 base speakers. Thats why I asked owners to check if their vehicles are equipped the same.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Originally Posted by bakto71

BMW Brochure reads Harmon Kardon surround sound system with 408 watts. This 12 speaker sound system includes tweeters, midrange speakers, and 2 bass speakers located under the front seats. My Z4 HK system has 10 speaker locations. Is this the same with other Z4s with HK or am I missing 2 base speakers. Thats why I asked owners to check if their vehicles are equipped the same.

As TAZ007 confirmed & where mine are in the rear bulkhead just above the shelf the net fronts. If the brochure says that they are under the seats it would be incorrect for the USA

[bakto71]

Thank you for the responses. Since the HK sound system is not as described on bmwusa.com, I am now curious just what is provided with the HK stereo upgrade. This M40i represents my 16th BMW vehicle purchase. All previous BMWs had the HK upgrade and all had base speakers under the front seat.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory

As TAZ007 confirmed & where mine are in the rear bulkhead just above the shelf the net fronts. If the brochure says that they are under the seats it would be incorrect for the USA

IMHO, for a roadster like the Z4 this is the perfect place for these bass speakers to be located.

[TAZ007]

Originally Posted by bakto71

Thank you for the responses. Since the HK sound system is not as described on bmwusa.com, I am now curious just what is provided with the HK stereo upgrade. This M40i represents my 16th BMW vehicle purchase. All previous BMWs had the HK upgrade and all had base speakers under the front seat.

The reason they could not be mounted under the seat is there is no room after the motors for the power seats are placed there. The Z4 seats are lower to the floor than say the M2 or M4. It is truer sports car feel.

[bakto71]

I certainly agree that the seat sits low with little clearance under the seat. Since previously owning the 3, 4 and 5 series (coupes, convertibles and sedans) all with the Harmon Kardon, I expected the audio in the Z4 to have similar audio quality, unfortunately it does not. So, it appears to be a 10 speaker system and not a 12 speaker as described. I will just consider an aftermarket upgrade. Once again, thanks to all for your information.

[BMWGirlFL]

Originally Posted by bakto71

BMW Brochure reads Harmon Kardon surround sound system with 408 watts. This 12 speaker sound system includes tweeters, midrange speakers, and 2 bass speakers located under the front seats. My Z4 HK system has 10 speaker locations. Is this the same with other Z4s with HK or am I missing 2 base speakers. Thats why I asked owners to check if their vehicles are equipped the same.

I believe there's 1 tweeter and 1 midrange behind each upper enclosure in the rear partition wall with HK. Does that change your count? Bass is behind those lower circular enclosures.

[CJ421]

Originally Posted by bakto71

I certainly agree that the seat sits low with little clearance under the seat. Since previously owning the 3, 4 and 5 series (coupes, convertibles and sedans) all with the Harmon Kardon, I expected the audio in the Z4 to have similar audio quality, unfortunately it does not. So, it appears to be a 10 speaker system and not a 12 speaker as described. I will just consider an aftermarket upgrade. Once again, thanks to all for your information.

The HK audio system has 12 speakers. Speaker counts/locations are:
(4) in doors (one tweeter, one woofer each)
(2) in dash (one tweeter, one woofer)
(6) in rear deck (two tweeters, two woofers, two bass woofers; BMWGirlFL is correct about the latter)

I came from two 3-series with HK systems (E92, F30) and I think the Z4's sounds better overall. Its bass is a little lacking, but that's mostly solved by turning up the volume.

If you go the aftermarket route, do post back with what you did.

Charles

[TAZ007]

Originally Posted by CJ421

The HK audio system has 12 speakers. Speaker counts/locations are:
(4) in doors (one tweeter, one woofer each)
(2) in dash (one tweeter, one woofer)
(6) in rear deck (two tweeters, two woofers, two bass woofers; BMWGirlFL is correct about the latter)

I came from two 3-series with HK systems (E92, F30) and I think the Z4's sounds better overall. Its bass is a little lacking, but that's mostly solved by turning up the volume.

If you go the aftermarket route, do post back with what you did.

Charles

Thanks Charles, I will look in the dash for that tweeter. I think the woofer is centered behind the display.

[bakto71]

Thanks for the information Charles. Just want to confirm that you are correct on the speaker locations. My BMW dealership parts department has specs and images of speaker locations. I may look into aftermarket speakers, especially for the rear bass speakers. I am unable to adjust the bass level to match the mid and high sounds. Rear bass speakers produce too much boomyness, slight distortion when I increase bass setting. However, it may not be the speakers, it may just be my old ears (been retired for 10 years). Once again, thanks to all for the comments.

[CJ421]

Originally Posted by bakto71

Thanks for the information Charles. Just want to confirm that you are correct on the speaker locations. My BMW dealership parts department has specs and images of speaker locations. I may look into aftermarket speakers, especially for the rear bass speakers. I am unable to adjust the bass level to match the mid and high sounds. Rear bass speakers produce too much boomyness, slight distortion when I increase bass setting. However, it may not be the speakers, it may just be my old ears (been retired for 10 years). Once again, thanks to all for the comments.

I think you're right, the rear bass speakers can be boomy. Ideally, our cars would have had a real subwoofer. I know Musicar NW makes stealthy trunk-mounted ones for other BMWs (https://musicarnw.com/). I doubt the Z4 is on the list, though it doesn't hurt to ask.

Charles