[Ttuite]

I ordered a 2023 M850 x drive convertible. I still have a short time to change the order. Is it worth spending 3000+ on the upgraded B&W sound? My 2015 650 convertible is fairly noisy roof up or down compared to a hard top. I am not an audiophile. Opinions please.
Thanks.

[Seaford]

Look at it another way maybe…..$3000 is a pretty small % of the overall cost.

Also if it is a private buy it will help resale in due course.

Personally I just tick all the options boxes so maybe I’m not the best person to ask….

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by Ttuite

I ordered a 2023 M850 x drive convertible. I still have a short time to change the order. Is it worth spending 3000+ on the upgraded B&W sound? My 2015 650 convertible is fairly noisy roof up or down compared to a hard top. I am not an audiophile. Opinions please.
Thanks.

You answered your own question.

No, if you are not an audiophile.

Yes, if you are.

I had 2 M5s with B&W. It's really good.
My new M850 only had HK. I wish it had B&W, but after tweaking, I don't hate it.

I've never had a convertible, but it seems like B&W would be a waste of money for the non-audiophile. Looks nice, but not $3,400 nice. Although a lease will only cost you around 60% of that.

[snareman]

Originally Posted by snowbimmer

You answered your own question.

No, if you are not an audiophile.

Yes, if you are.

I had 2 M5s with B&W. It's really good.
My new M850 only had HK. I wish it had B&W, but after tweaking, I don't hate it.

I've never had a convertible, but it seems like B&W would be a waste of money for the non-audiophile. Looks nice, but not $3,400 nice. Although a lease will only cost you around 60% of that.

That's the problem with the HK. People more or less referred to it as, it's not horrible. Difference between complimenting something saying how great it is (B&W) versus just saying yeah I guess it doesn't suck. It's adequate.

[Ttuite]

Originally Posted by snowbimmer

You answered your own question.

No, if you are not an audiophile.

Yes, if you are.

I had 2 M5s with B&W. It's really good.
My new M850 only had HK. I wish it had B&W, but after tweaking, I don't hate it.

I've never had a convertible, but it seems like B&W would be a waste of money for the non-audiophile. Looks nice, but not $3,400 nice. Although a lease will only cost you around 60% of that.

Thanks for your response. At 68 this will be my last kick ass vehicle and I plan to keep it forever. My thinking is the same as yours on this issue. Most of the time when I am in the car I am talking to my passenger or on the phone. The investment angle really doesn’t figure into it as there is a very poor ROI on audio, in the small chance I have to sell it. Besides in a few years they will have an even better system.
Hopefully, someone will give me a compelling reason because I despise Monday morning quarter backing myself😊

[2020NSX]

Originally Posted by Ttuite

I ordered a 2023 M850 x drive convertible. I still have a short time to change the order. Is it worth spending 3000+ on the upgraded B&W sound? My 2015 650 convertible is fairly noisy roof up or down compared to a hard top. I am not an audiophile. Opinions please.
Thanks.

I am not an audiophile but once hearing in my M8 I definitely would upgrade. I have a convertible and even with the top down and driving on the highway, the sound is incredible. My wife has a X7 with the Harmon Kardon and it doesn't come close.

[TheGreatM8]

Originally Posted by Ttuite

Thanks for your response. At 68 this will be my last kick ass vehicle and I plan to keep it forever. My thinking is the same as yours on this issue. Most of the time when I am in the car I am talking to my passenger or on the phone. The investment angle really doesn’t figure into it as there is a very poor ROI on audio, in the small chance I have to sell it. Besides in a few years they will have an even better system.
Hopefully, someone will give me a compelling reason because I despise Monday morning quarter backing myself😊

Okay, I'll try my thought on this:

Personally, I'm a kind of person that wants the latest and greatest (even if it is for looks and not function). My case for the B&W would be that it is simply cool. It has been "Branded" and marketed extremely well. Im pleased with it in my 2022 M8 and the feature that has nothing to do with sound like (lights) haha.

The case against it:
How loud do you need to play your music? we all know the dude at the traffic stop that pulls up with his bass thumping so loud it makes your heart skip. Personally this is annoying to me; when I have to hear someone play their music so loud it rattles the surroundings. So there's that.

I don't have a single friend that I could take for a ride and they would recognize the system, (other than the lights) and say "WOW can you play a song for me?"

You don't have to be what they call an "audiophile" to appreciate a good sounding system playing your favorite song which HK does just fine.

I personally like to hear the engine and/or a conversation with my co-pilot rather than some song blasting.

Bottom line is; I would probably be adding it if I had the choice.
Don't factor in re-sale. Get it because you want it and its cool, neat and impressive.

Good luck!
hope I helped...

[xmanpro]

Please get it, at least for the lights. The hk is trash imo.

[mpop302]

I was against spending that much on an audio system… until I got a car that had it

No turning back, will 100% always pick this if available. Not a gimmick

Having said that, you’re still the best person to make that decision, I’m just here to tell you it’s awesome

[Tenac]

Originally Posted by Ttuite

I ordered a 2023 M850 x drive convertible. I still have a short time to change the order. Is it worth spending 3000+ on the upgraded B&W sound? My 2015 650 convertible is fairly noisy roof up or down compared to a hard top. I am not an audiophile. Opinions please.
Thanks.

I have a vert and have B&W, I wouldn't want it any other way.

[KenBrand]

I can't vouch for the difference in sound quality, I don't have anything to compare it to. BUT, the lights at night, or when it's dark, are cool and look ✨ Makes me smile every time, that's worth it to me.

[Crazyotter]

Just got my 23 M8 GC with the HK and just sold my X5M with B&W sound.
Yes the BW is really pretty and it definitely sounds better but the HK is still really good. It’s better than most stock systems.
I have no regrets not waiting for the BW but if it had been available I would have gotten it.
This probably isn’t helping lol

[Ghostrider641]

I’m pretty sure the absolute last thing that steered me towards buying a BMW M8, or any car for that matter, was the radio…

Personally I’m happy I’ve CCB, which actually affects the cars performance directly, rather than a better then the average sound system…I’ll have my windows down for a reason, and it isn’t to improve Sirius…

That said if it was available when I ordered I would have purchased it just because but not worth waiting for when summer will be ending before you know it in Colorado.

[crypto]

Originally Posted by Ttuite

Thanks for your response. At 68 this will be my last kick ass vehicle and I plan to keep it forever. My thinking is the same as yours on this issue. Most of the time when I am in the car I am talking to my passenger or on the phone. The investment angle really doesn’t figure into it as there is a very poor ROI on audio, in the small chance I have to sell it. Besides in a few years they will have an even better system.
Hopefully, someone will give me a compelling reason because I despise Monday morning quarter backing myself😊

Last kick ass vehicle.. keeping it forever… get the B&W. This is my advice as someone who doesn't care much and is fine with HK. If the B&W speakers look like they do on the 8 series as they do on the 5 series the looks alone are worth it for a car you're keeping forever.

[Opie55]

I'm a year younger than you are. I have a 650i vert with the Bang & Olufson and I'm not an audiophile either. But it looks cool, and if I got an 8 I'd get the B&W. At our age the question is not so much if it's worth the money, but whether I have the money. I'd rather get a cool stereo than line my casket with cash.

[M8Bimmer]

Originally Posted by Opie55

I'd rather get a cool stereo than line my casket with cash.

I gotta say I love that attitude and SO SO true. Your not taking any with ya.
It's fun to watch the kids squirm as you spend it on crazy stuff beyond your age.

[M8Bimmer]

Ok so up until a few days ago I thought my B&W system sounded good. Quite goo and was pleased. But then I started using my phone to stream to it. WOW....way better sound for some reason. Even my wife noticed right away. A much more impressive sound. WAY better bass as well. A better sound scape too.
That is now my source for tunes in the car.
When I drive alone I crank it more and it goes pretty loud. Enough to satisfy my rock n roll cravings.
And I am an audiophile. So if I'm satisfied it must sound good. I'm used to some pretty high end sound.

[germanroots]

Originally Posted by M8Bimmer

Ok so up until a few days ago I thought my B&W system sounded good. Quite goo and was pleased. But then I started using my phone to stream to it. WOW....way better sound for some reason. Even my wife noticed right away. A much more impressive sound. WAY better bass as well. A better sound scape too.
[COLOR="Red"]That is now my source for tunes in the car.[/COLOR]
When I drive alone I crank it more and it goes pretty loud. Enough to satisfy my rock n roll cravings.
And I am an audiophile. So if I'm satisfied it must sound good. I'm used to some pretty high end sound.

What source are you streaming? Apple Music lossless content? I toyed with Tidal for a while, but felt it wasn't worth the fee…curious what you're finding so enjoyable.

[M8Bimmer]

I'm streaming Stingray music from Bell. I use it at home as well and it sounds great. It always blows me away at home too.

[M8Bimmer]

The very fact that I can drive around with it coming thru my phone just makes me amazed. Never a tick or pop. just pure high end sound on so many channels.
In a car !!! Of all places.

[xmanpro]

This b and w prolly the best sound system bmw has packaged in vehicles as far as know. Took lessons from their b and o implementation and found a suitable upgraded solution. Pls get it if possible. Again, imo the hk is trash for this caliber ride.

[Ttuite]

I am very glad I came on here and asked this question. I would have never thought it would be worth it. After reading I called the dealer and added it. Better safe than sorry. Thanks so much for your input.

Now, if I can just forget about my order until it gets closer and not be like Snareman. I can see myself easily getting on my garage and checking to see if that little dot moves 6 times a day!

Thanks again and especially to Snareman for the PM.