[ceb]

The car I'm looking at (US spec 528xi) has all the options I want (color, interior, options) with two exceptions, CA (which I can obviously adapt to pretty quickly) and premium audio.

It is very hard to determine audio quality on a test drive.

I'm not expecting audiophile quality in my car, but how is the "base" system in the US 528/535? The base system in the 3 series was quite bad when they dropped it down a notch in 2009 (they raised it back to the mid level in 2011)

I'm expecting the base system to be equivalent to the mid range system ofered in the 3 series (the one a step below the HK system.) Is that a correct assumption?

Thanks

[snj1013]

Does your dealer have a 5 series with the Premium Audio? I would take a CD and let your ears decide.

My 528i has the base audio system and to me, I would pay extra for the Premium.

[copello]

Very personnal.
FM Radio audio quality is always inferior to CD so I would agree with snj1013;
I had premium audio on E60 and went to standard audio on F10; There is clearly some difference, but I must admit the difference is subtle and I do not regret my choice...
You definitely have to test by yourself.

[ceb]

Thanks all. The initial listen seems to parallel copello's view - a bit worse but not bad.

I just wanted to assure that I wasn't overlooking (overhearing?) something

[Jon D]

When you consider audible intrusions such as road, engine, running gear and wind noise, it never ceases to amaze me that some folk are prepared to spend a heap of money for audiophile quality hi-fi in a car.
I consider the basic system to be perfectly fine and, personally speaking, I prefer to concentrate on the road and maintain aural awareness of what's around me as opposed to the music.

[ceb]

Originally Posted by Jon D

When you consider audible intrusions such as road, engine, running gear and wind noise, it never ceases to amaze me that some folk are prepared to spend a heap of money for audiophile quality hi-fi in a car.
I consider the basic system to be perfectly fine and, personally speaking, I prefer to concentrate on the road and maintain aural awareness of what's around me as opposed to the music.

Ahhh, but you are European - that doesn't count...

I agree with you - to a degree. While I'm driving down the road texting my BFF and eating a burger, I like to be entertained.

Seriously, I do agree with you but the base system in the E90 was so horrible that listening to traffic reports was painful.

[mkossler]

I'm afraid I come down on the side of premium. I had a 528i for a month with the base audio, and I thought it was very good. I went to a 535i with premium audio and I was floored by the difference.

I will say, though, that if you are a Sirius/XM fan then there's no point in upgrading. The base system is capable of more than S/XM can deliver anyway.

The best thing to do is to go listen to both yourself, and get what you like.

[ceb]

Thanks. I just spent some time in the car I'm considering (528xi, sport, premium, tech, sat, BMWapps) and the audio sounded fine for what I listen to (HD news radio, Sirius)

I found the base 3 series audio horrible when I bought my 335, but the 08 base (actually a step up from the 09 base) OK. I ended up getting the Logic7 that was quite nice.