Bose upgrade?

[SebRogers]

Does anyone have any experience of upgrading the stock speakers to Bose? If I understand it right, the Bose setup pretty much plugs in in place of the standard speakers and then the head unit needs to be recoded with VAGCOM so that it plays nice with the Bose amps. Have I got it right?

If that's the case, will this (http://cgi.ebay.de/Audi-A4-S4-RS4-8E5-Avant-Bose-Soundsystem_W0QQitemZ380058124052QQcmdZViewItem?ha sh=item380058124052&_trkparms=72%3A1132%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C 240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14) fit in my 2001 B6 Avant? As far as I can work out '8E5' covers both the B6 and B7 Avants, but I don't know whether I've got this right (or whether Bose speakers from a B7 would fit in a B6).

And finally, would it be worth the hassle / expense? The stock setup is much better than my previous car, but I'd never turn down the offer of better sound :biglaugh:

Thanks!

[Issac Hunt]

I'm working on this for my B7 A4 at the moment. That will fit in your car but its not as easy as unplugging and swopping the bits!

You need to install the BOSE microphone in the interior light and run wires to the boot, you also need to run wires for the centre dash speaker to the BOSE amp, wires for both front speakers from the headunit back to the BOSE amp. You also need to change and re-pin the connector on the amp as the BOSE one is a 32 pin connector and the normal amp is 23(?) pin connectorr I think.

Worth the hassle/expense? Who can say, I sourced the parts pretty cheap and will install it myself so wont be too costly. I was going to upgrade to aftermarket speakers and amp but BOSE is cheaper and keeps the car looking OEM which is important to me.

[SebRogers]

Thanks for the info!

OK, so that's more work than I was expecting and it sounds as though it's not something I'd attempt myself. So, next question: can anyone recommend someone reliable who'd be able to do the work for me? I'm near Bristol...

[Issac Hunt]

The extra work is due to non-bose cars having non-amped front speakers, when you fit bose they all need to be amped but there is no wiring in the car from the boot to the front speakers.

I reckon it will take a day to install the amp, speakers and extra wiring. I'll be doing mine in early October when I have a week off work - cant tackle it over a weekend just incase its not back together in time!

Paying someone to install it all could take the edge off the value of doing it though? I have sourced all the bits apart from the wires/pins, so far I think I have only spent £270 - even cheaper than if I had spec'd BOSE when the car was new!

[SebRogers]

Yep, paying for a day's labour on top of the parts costs would certainly make it expensive! Sounds like quite a lot of interior trim will need to be removed to install the new wiring (?), and I really don't fancy tackling that myself.

Oh well. Thanks again for the advice - you've saved me a few quid :)

[Issac Hunt]

Hoping it wont be too bad! I reckon glovebox and front 'A' post trim will have to come off, along with the trims that run alongside the front seats. Oh, and the boot trim that covers the Amplifier and maybe the rear parcel shelf (not for your avant though!)

Should be about it, just need a good weeks weather in October and I will have a bash at it. The way I look at is that someone has put it together so it must be possible for it all to come apart!! It's only nuts, bolts and screws at the end of the day - I have a copy of all trim removel procedures from Audi so I am reasonably confident that the job will ge a good 'un!!

[SebRogers]

When you put it like that it doesn't sound so bad ;-)

Be interested to know how you get on.

[MrBigglesworth]

Dredging up a majorly old thread, but would be really interested to see how this got on - if there are any pics. Can get a old Bose system for fairly cheap, so interested in how much effort it is to run the wires (have an avant).

[Eibbor]

Would be nice to see that 'all trim removal procedures' if it is a pdf or such!?


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