Musicar Northwest Group Buy — 991 High-End Tweeter Upgrade
05-29-2017, 09:49 PM
#361
Oh well, in researching this I found out the 981 (Cayman) uses different tweeter grills and maybe mounting points. 
There is a Burmester option so maybe I will just have to consider that if Nick doesn't have an option himself. Nick, is a 981 on your radar for doing a kit?
There is a Burmester option so maybe I will just have to consider that if Nick doesn't have an option himself. Nick, is a 981 on your radar for doing a kit?
05-30-2017, 07:53 AM
#362
I'll weigh in again on the loose screws issue. I think I probably failed to snug them down in the first place. And it's apparently been confirmed by no other reports of screws coming loose. I've been listening for the symptoms of loose screws in the passenger side speaker and none has emerged. So I think the problem was operator error rather than the screws vibrating loose.
"A speed nut, aka sheet metal nut or Tinnerman nut, is a type of locknut with two sheet metal prongs that act as one thread. They are made from spring steel. The fastener serves the functions of both a lock washer and a nut. As the fastener is tightened in the nut the prongs are drawn inward until they exert pressure on the root of the thread on the fastener. When the fastener is tightened, the base of the nut, which is arched, elastically deforms and applies a force to the fastener, which locks it from loosening under vibrations."
As Nick suggests, using thread locker will probably do no harm but in my mind may not actually do much good either. Threadlocker is a "single-component adhesive" that cures in the presence of a metallic surface and anaerobically (ie in the absence of oxygen). Since the tinnerman nut doesn't really fit well to the 60 degree angle of the male fastener threads and the contact area between the male threaded part and the female nut is very small (less than one thread) there may not be enough "sealing" (or exclusion of oxygen) to obtain a proper cure. I think getting the proper torque in the first place (so the tinnerman nut works as designed) is the best safeguard against coming loose after assembly.
05-30-2017, 11:24 PM
#363
Burning Brakes
My package arrived today and as shown in posts above, the kit is excellently packaged and comes with everything you need except the extra long needle nose pliers. And maybe Loctite. But after reading JR's explanation and after test fitting the speednuts, I decided to forgo the use of any thread sealant. The screws do snug down well, and by the feel of it, seem unlikely to ever back out. Just be sure to snug them down so the mounting plates are flush.
The installation went fine and taking extra time and care, took me under an hour for both sides, including moving the car so that I could open the door on the passenger side after finishing the driver side. The video as others noted is a great guide. The only thing coming close to a problem was when I snapped the retaining clip on the passenger side when twisting it off. A piece came off and the clip fell, fortunately on top of the vent tube. I managed to slide my fingers in there and retrieved it. This set me back all of a minute, but had it gone into the deep recesses of the dash, might have delayed me much more.
The new Burmester speaker grills are really a tight fit, and it takes a bit of force to seat them fully, but I managed to put enough pressure on them by adjusting my position and pushing down with my hands. So be sure to follow the instructions and test the new speakers before fitting the new grills, as I imagine they will be impossible to remove without damaging at least the same clip removed from the stock Bose speaker grills. I managed not to forget to plug them in before tightening the screws!
The sound? Well, as others have noted, it's terrific. My ears no longer hurt when I crank up the volume. The OEM speakers have a harshness that keeps you from turning up the volume very high. These sound much smoother and more detailed, even as they are, not yet broken in.
All in all, a very worthwhile, highly recommended upgrade, and an easy DIY project. Can't wait to try it under road noise conditions tomorrow.
The installation went fine and taking extra time and care, took me under an hour for both sides, including moving the car so that I could open the door on the passenger side after finishing the driver side. The video as others noted is a great guide. The only thing coming close to a problem was when I snapped the retaining clip on the passenger side when twisting it off. A piece came off and the clip fell, fortunately on top of the vent tube. I managed to slide my fingers in there and retrieved it. This set me back all of a minute, but had it gone into the deep recesses of the dash, might have delayed me much more.
The new Burmester speaker grills are really a tight fit, and it takes a bit of force to seat them fully, but I managed to put enough pressure on them by adjusting my position and pushing down with my hands. So be sure to follow the instructions and test the new speakers before fitting the new grills, as I imagine they will be impossible to remove without damaging at least the same clip removed from the stock Bose speaker grills. I managed not to forget to plug them in before tightening the screws!
The sound? Well, as others have noted, it's terrific. My ears no longer hurt when I crank up the volume. The OEM speakers have a harshness that keeps you from turning up the volume very high. These sound much smoother and more detailed, even as they are, not yet broken in.
All in all, a very worthwhile, highly recommended upgrade, and an easy DIY project. Can't wait to try it under road noise conditions tomorrow.
05-31-2017, 12:51 AM
#365
Burning Brakes
That was a bit perplexing, too. It was stuck in there pretty good. I thought there might be a catch holding it, so I used a small screwdriver and pried it a little. I then pulled hard, being careful to grip the connector and not pull on the wires. It came off. That was probably one of most difficult steps, because like you, I didn't want to break it.
05-31-2017, 01:04 AM
#366
Burning Brakes
Does the Sport Chrono clock get in the way or a problem at all?
05-31-2017, 10:16 AM
#368
Rennlist Member
Finally got mine in last night... the wiring connectors are a bitch to get off and the devil clips are quite recalcitrant, otherwise the install went smoothly and the sound improvement is impressive. If you have the factory Bose system this is IMHO a mandatory mod. Thanks to Nick for all the hard work and effort pulling this off.
05-31-2017, 10:21 AM
#369
Nordschleife Master
05-31-2017, 02:26 PM
#371
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My package arrived today and as shown in posts above, the kit is excellently packaged and comes with everything you need except the extra long needle nose pliers. And maybe Loctite. But after reading JR's explanation and after test fitting the speednuts, I decided to forgo the use of any thread sealant. The screws do snug down well, and by the feel of it, seem unlikely to ever back out. Just be sure to snug them down so the mounting plates are flush.
The installation went fine and taking extra time and care, took me under an hour for both sides, including moving the car so that I could open the door on the passenger side after finishing the driver side. The video as others noted is a great guide. The only thing coming close to a problem was when I snapped the retaining clip on the passenger side when twisting it off. A piece came off and the clip fell, fortunately on top of the vent tube. I managed to slide my fingers in there and retrieved it. This set me back all of a minute, but had it gone into the deep recesses of the dash, might have delayed me much more.
The new Burmester speaker grills are really a tight fit, and it takes a bit of force to seat them fully, but I managed to put enough pressure on them by adjusting my position and pushing down with my hands. So be sure to follow the instructions and test the new speakers before fitting the new grills, as I imagine they will be impossible to remove without damaging at least the same clip removed from the stock Bose speaker grills. I managed not to forget to plug them in before tightening the screws!
The sound? Well, as others have noted, it's terrific. My ears no longer hurt when I crank up the volume. The OEM speakers have a harshness that keeps you from turning up the volume very high. These sound much smoother and more detailed, even as they are, not yet broken in.
All in all, a very worthwhile, highly recommended upgrade, and an easy DIY project. Can't wait to try it under road noise conditions tomorrow.
The installation went fine and taking extra time and care, took me under an hour for both sides, including moving the car so that I could open the door on the passenger side after finishing the driver side. The video as others noted is a great guide. The only thing coming close to a problem was when I snapped the retaining clip on the passenger side when twisting it off. A piece came off and the clip fell, fortunately on top of the vent tube. I managed to slide my fingers in there and retrieved it. This set me back all of a minute, but had it gone into the deep recesses of the dash, might have delayed me much more.
The new Burmester speaker grills are really a tight fit, and it takes a bit of force to seat them fully, but I managed to put enough pressure on them by adjusting my position and pushing down with my hands. So be sure to follow the instructions and test the new speakers before fitting the new grills, as I imagine they will be impossible to remove without damaging at least the same clip removed from the stock Bose speaker grills. I managed not to forget to plug them in before tightening the screws!
The sound? Well, as others have noted, it's terrific. My ears no longer hurt when I crank up the volume. The OEM speakers have a harshness that keeps you from turning up the volume very high. These sound much smoother and more detailed, even as they are, not yet broken in.
All in all, a very worthwhile, highly recommended upgrade, and an easy DIY project. Can't wait to try it under road noise conditions tomorrow.
Finally got mine in last night... the wiring connectors are a bitch to get off and the devil clips are quite recalcitrant, otherwise the install went smoothly and the sound improvement is impressive. If you have the factory Bose system this is IMHO a mandatory mod. Thanks to Nick for all the hard work and effort pulling this off.
I should edit the video with some notes on that factory wiring plug. The fact that the one in the video has been removed and re-installed 4-5x, it definitely makes it seem like a bit of "sandbagging" on the difficulty level.
05-31-2017, 02:35 PM
#372
Rennlist Member
One other good thing came out of the install... for several months I have had an irritating bass rattle I thought in the passenger side door towards the front. Took it to the dealer and they kept it a few days, took the door apart and did the technical service bulletin, etc to no avail. When I pulled the vent on that side to get to the tweeter I noticed the outer clip on the trim piece around the vent had snapped off. I JB Welded it and later re-installed everything. No more rattle!
05-31-2017, 04:24 PM
#375
Rennlist Member
It's feels more natural versus the almost artificially precise burm tweeter.
Obviously everyones ears are different so definitely take it with a grain of salt.