Mystery Speaker Pods?

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G03rt2
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Mystery Speaker Pods?

Post by G03rt2 »

In my quest to find out what is original and what has been modified on my car, I'm starting to think my speaker pods are not original. Did the early models come like this? Is this something that was offered by an aftermarket manufacturer at some point? Looking for advice.
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bpoliakoff
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Re: Mystery Speaker Pods?

Post by bpoliakoff »

There is not a mystery here. Someone has cut your pods and mounted speakers on the top of them. A pity as good pods are hard to find.
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G03rt2
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Re: Mystery Speaker Pods?

Post by G03rt2 »

I guess I figured some of the original grate might be showing if someone just cut a hole in it.
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MrE
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Re: Mystery Speaker Pods?

Post by MrE »

I don't think they all had a grille across the top, only the section at the sides. That top section is just a solid piece on mine.

Interestingly, the side grilles on mine are positioned on the outside edges closest to the C pillar, whereas yours appear to be on the inside edge at the centre of the car. Never thought about it before - don't know whether yours are the wrong way around or mine are!?
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86_6series
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Re: Mystery Speaker Pods?

Post by 86_6series »

Pods are reversed. Grills should face outside not inside.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpar ... Id=65_0077
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G03rt2
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Re: Mystery Speaker Pods?

Post by G03rt2 »

I started doing a picture search on Google and quickly realized that not all the pods had the 4x6 speaker grills and some are blank. I guess that explains the confusion. Thanks for the info gentlemen.
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slofut
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Re: Mystery Speaker Pods?

Post by slofut »

The upgrade sound system (can't remember what it's called) has the 2-way speakers in the center of the pod with a removable grille. Thing is the space behind the speakers is so small that the speaker is underdamped and has no bass response to speak of. I cured this in both my cars by cutting a 6" hole below the speakers into the trunk compartment. :shock:
Makes for much better bass response without having a big ass speaker box in the trunk.
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Brucey
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Re: Mystery Speaker Pods?

Post by Brucey »

86_6series wrote: Mon Nov 26, 2018 12:02 pm Pods are reversed. Grills should face outside not inside.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpar ... Id=65_0077
weirdly my car came with both pods the same (i.e. identical rather than handed for each side). Obviously one could have been changed at some point but they appear to be the same age as one another, and there was no evidence (such as multiple screw head marks on the brackets) to show that they had ever been disturbed when I took them off.

It worries me not, since the sound quality emerging from standard 6x4" speakers mounted in those pods is by and large pretty terrible; I have better speakers mounted elsewhere.

Putting larger drive units in the middle of the pod (as per the OP) is a step forward, sound quality wise, but the performance of the pod as a speaker enclosure won't be very good unless it is sealed to the deck (and the original speaker grille is also blanked off somehow) and it may well be of benefit to port through into the boot (trunk) too.

BTW because the vinyl cover is reasonably thick, it seems to me that it should be possible to make a loudspeaker grille sit flush with the top of the pod rather than stand above it, giving a look that is a bit more like the 'premium' pods.

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Re: Mystery Speaker Pods?

Post by sauber »

Hello.

I searched and read different pages on the forum and could not find an answer to my question. So I'll just ask here.

I am currently restoring my E24 and I would like to do it as original as possible. Until recently I was convinced that the front cover speakers at the feet were of only one type as they are in the first picture.

My car is a 1985 and has cover speakers as shown in the second picture. I don't think they are original. I'm confused by this because after browsing the internet I saw exactly the same ones I have. Is it a coincidence and someone installed exactly the ones I have or maybe there were original ones?
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BillW
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Re: Mystery Speaker Pods?

Post by BillW »

Coincidence.
And it seems obvious that the factory originally intended the rear speaker area to be storage pods (note the "handles"). Maybe for a First Aid kit, though there is very little room. that may be why the early speakers are small and to the side.
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