Category: BMW Sound System

BMW Z4 (G29) Speakers & Amplifier Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Radoslaw Zbroinski

Aug 14, 2024

BMW Z4 (G29) Speakers & Amplifier Step-by-Step Installation Guide

This is a story of how a G29 BMW Z4 underwent an audio system transformation with our Alpha One Amplifier and Speakers. And with that story comes a detailed installation guide for you! After this upgrade, you’ll always enjoy an immersive audio experience tailored to your BMW Z4, whether you're cruising with the top down or driving with the roof up.

Coming up, you’ll learn:

  • What makes our Speakers & Amplifier so easy to install in BMW Z4 (G29)?
  • What tools you will need and how to prepare for the installation?
  • What is the install process like for the complete Alpha One set in the G29?

Want to get a better look at all the steps described below? Then watch this video.

Let’s Prepare! The Tools You Will Need & Safety Tips

The process of installing the complete Alpha One BMW audio system (including speakers and amplifier) in your G29 is super simple and DIY-friendly. Everything you’ll need can be found in our BMW DIY Essentials kit and BimmerTech Trim Tool Kit, both available for purchase on our website. 

If you're not comfortable doing this yourself, you can always find one of our installers in about 30 countries worldwide by visiting our website. Based in the Orlando, Florida area? Then you can stop by our showroom and have us do it for you! Coming back to planet DIY, let’s take a look at what you’ll need to prepare before getting to it on your own.

Here are the tools you will need for the job:

  • BimmerTech Trim Tool Kit
  • Torx screwdrivers (T20, T15, T50)
  • Phillips head screwdriver
  • Zip ties
  • Electrical tape
  • Double-sided mounting tape
  • Heat gun

The whole thing may take up to around 180 minutes, but it's straightforward with the right tools. We also recommend disconnecting the car battery, as you’ll be working on electrical devices in your car – this way, you’ll protect yourself from shorting anything important.

How to disconnect the battery in your BMW Z4 (G29)?

  1. Begin by making sure the top is down to give yourself more room to work.
  2. Open the trunk. 
  3. Lift up and remove the floor panel.
  4. With a 10mm socket, remove the negative battery terminal and set it aside.

PRO TIP: wrap a towel around the door latch to prevent it from locking you out if it closes.

Step-by-Step BMW Z4 (G29) Speakers & Amplifier Installation Tutorial

Step-by-Step BMW Z4 (G29) Speakers & Amplifier Installation TutorialThis tutorial covers the installation of the amplifier AND the whole Alpha One speaker set. These are designed not just to look good but to sound amazing when paired with the Alpha One amplifier. We’ll divide the installation part into four chapters: the center G29 speakers, door speakers, rear speakers and woofers, and finally the amplifier.  

Chapter I – BMW G29 Center Speakers Installation

  1. Use a trim tool to carefully pop off the grill. 
  2. Then remove the three T20 screws holding the midrange speaker down and the two screws holding the tweeter down. Unplug and remove them.
  3. Next, prepare the Alpha One speakers by taking the filter cable and plugging it into one of the slots on the A40 speaker (the speaker without the foam ring). 
  4. Then, take the oval tweeter and plug it into the other slot on the midrange speaker. 
  5. Connect the main feed into the other end of the filter cable going to the midrange speaker. 
  6. Drop the speaker in, screw it down, and replace the grill.

Chapter II – BMW G29 Door Speakers Installation

We’ll now move on to the doors. Although in the video we are showing the process for the passenger side door, it’s exactly the same for the driver side – only mirrored. Let’s start with the midranges…

  1. First, use a trim tool to remove the plastic cover exposing the T20 screw. 
  2. Next, use a trim tool to pry off the trim from the top.

    CAUTION: it’ll be very tight! Wiggle it up and out at the bottom, as there’s a tab holding it in place.
     
  3. Then, remove the three T20 screws and the two quarter-turn 10 mm fasteners at the bottom of the door. Rotate them until the panel moves freely and start popping the panel off the door.
  4. Gently rotate and set the panel down. Note: the only thing we removed was the door latch cable. 
  5. Locate the midrange speaker and remove the three T20 screws holding it in place. Unplug and remove it.
  6. Grab the Alpha One A45 midrange speaker and plug in the filter cable. Then, plug in the tweeter cable on the other side.

    PRO TIP: you can identify the tweeter cable by matching it to the tweeter lead above. 

  7. Once matched, plug it in. Then, connect the lead from the amp to the other end of the filter cable and reinstall the speaker. Tidy up the excess cables.

…and now onto the tweeters and the reassembly.

  1. Pull their housing up and away from the door. Use a trim or pick tool to carefully bend back the tabs holding the speaker down while pulling up on the leads until it pops out. 
  2. Unplug it, grab an Alpha One tweeter, line up the notch, and snap it into place. Replace the foam, run the cable, connect it, and put the housing back in place.
  3. To replace the panel, make sure all the fasteners are reset. If they aren’t, pop them back into their neutral state.

    PRO TIP: you can replace them with less complicated non-G series BMW fasteners, for ease of future trim removal. 

  4. Start by putting the door latch cable back in place and test the handle to confirm it works. Next, ensure the door pin is in place and start popping the door panel back on. 
  5. Once secure, turn the fasteners at the bottom to secure the panel in place. 
  6. Replace the three T20 screws, the plastic cover, and the trim handle; start at the bottom and work your way up.

Chapter III – BMW G29 Subwoofers & Rear Speakers Installation

It’s time to get working on the rear speakers and subs.

  1. Start by moving your seats all the way forward. Use a trim tool to remove the rear half of the rollover support cover, remove the center mesh, and then remove all the T20 screws under it. Do the same on the other side. 
  2. Use a trim tool and your hands to lift up and remove the top cover trim. Pry up and remove this upper trim, then remove the T20 screw in the back. Next, remove the T20 screw and lift on the trim to take it out.
  3. Then, pry up and remove the door seal trim, putting back any fasteners that stay behind. 
  4. The lower piece has a bit more to it. Start with this T20 screw. Remove the plastic retaining tab and pull the cargo net off. Do the same on the other side to completely remove it. Finally, pop off and remove the trim.
  5. Next, remove the rear center console cover by prying it up and removing all the T20 screws holding the rear panel in place. 
  6. At the base, pop open the covers and remove the two screws. Once the screws are out, pull off the retaining trim, repeating the process on the other side as well.
     
    PRO TIP: you don’t need to remove this panel completely; just enough to access the speakers.
     
  7. Lift up and off the tabs that secure it, then wiggle and pull on the center pass-through until it breaks free. It’s held together with clips, so that should be enough. Bend the panel down and out of the way. 
  8. Once the speakers are exposed, remove the three T20 screws holding the midrange and tweeter housing in place. Once free, remove and unplug it.
  9. Let’s remove the subwoofer next. Remove the four T20 screws holding it down, then use a screwdriver to carefully break it away from the housing. 
  10. Once it pops free, unplug and remove it. Back at the midrange and tweeter housing, remove the three T20 screws holding the midrange in place, then unplug and remove it as well. 

    CAUTION: the tweeter and its cable is glued in place. We found it easiest to use a set of flush cuts to start snipping away at the glue, which is almost brittle plastic. Be careful! The plastic of the housing is also very brittle.

  11. Once the glue is broken apart enough, very carefully bend back the tabs holding the tweeter in place while applying upward tension on the leads to pull it up, just like you did with the front door.
     
    PRO TIP: if you notice the Alpha One tweeter doesn’t fit, there might be some excess glue. Make sure to remove it. 

  12. Snap the Alpha One tweeter in place, put the A40 midrange speaker in its spot, and screw it down. 
  13. Route the tweeter wire and plug it into the midrange speaker. Then, plug the filter cable into the other slot on the midrange speaker and tidy everything up.
  14. Place the Alpha One subwoofer in its place and screw it down, then plug it in. Grab the tweeter and midrange housing, plug the main lead into the other end of the filter cable, line up the housing, and screw it into place. Do the same thing on the other side and the speaker installation will be complete.

Now to reassemble everything.

  1. Start by snapping the pass-through back together, reinstalling all the screws up top, and reinstalling the retainers and screws at the bottom. 
  2. Slide the side panel back in and replace the screw, then slide back in the trim and reinstall the screw. 
  3. Snap the door sill back on and ensure the weather stripping is in place. Slide on and snap in this upper trim, making sure to do this on both sides.
  4. Next, reinstall the rear center console trim and replace the cargo net. 
  5. Replace the front halves of the rollover support covers on both sides, reinstall the screws, replace the small center mesh pieces, and snap the rear cover trim back on. 
  6. Slide the top panel back in place, and finally, slide back in the center mesh.

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Chapter IV – BMW G29 Amplifier Installation

It’s time to start removing trim to access where the amp will go. 

  1. Start with the rear trim piece by removing the four fasteners that are holding it down. 

    PRO TIP: to make removal easier, you might want to peel back the weather stripping and remove this centerpiece as well. Once you are able to do so, pull up to remove the trim.

  2. Now for the side trim: start with the cargo tie-downs. Use a trim tool to carefully remove the cover and, with a T40 bit, remove the bolt. Do the same for the front and back ones.

  3. After that, remove the rest of the fasteners holding this panel down, including the two at the bottom. Note: don’t forget to pop the covers off first. You’ll also need to pop the grommet holding the top down. 

  4. Finally, start prying off the panel by pulling on it until it pops free, just like you did with the other pieces.

  5. Once it’s out of the way, locate the factory BMW Z4 amplifier and start removing it by unplugging it. Don’t forget to twist the retaining tab and slide it off. Note: the Alpha One amp will replace it easily because it’s fully plug-and-play. It even uses the same mounting bracket!

  6. Place the amplifier in and twist the retaining tab back on. To reinstall, line up the panel, and start popping it back into place. After that, replace the grommet and tighten the fasteners at the bottom, including the two that need to have their covers replaced. 

    PRO TIP: don’t forget to reattach the cargo tie-downs as well. 

  7. Once you’ve finished the left side, repeat the process on the right side. Replace the trim at the top and reinstall the four fasteners holding it down.

  8. Finally, reconnect the negative battery terminal, reinstall the trunk trim, and…

…that’s it – you're done. Congratulations! You can now start playing with the 10 custom tuning profiles available with the Alpha One Amplifier. 

Is the Alpha One BMW Z4 (G29) Speaker & Amp Upgrade Worth It?

Is the Alpha One BMW Z4 (G29) Speaker & Amp Upgrade Worth It?Despite how much power our Alpha One Amplifier and Speakers offer, they are still a completely plug-and-play upgrade. The amp offers up to 10 custom tuning files, allowing you to tailor the audio to your liking at any given moment. At the same time, each speaker allows you to crank up the volume for distortion-free deep lows, clear mids, and crisp highs. 

Interestingly, at the moment of filming this installation, we didn’t yet have a custom bracket ready for the BMW G29. However, thanks to the very audio upgrade case shown in the video above, we were able to create one. Based on the temporary cardboard templates, which we transferred to CAD, we manufactured custom, laser-cut, black powder-coated brackets. 

That’s progress! So if you have a G29 BMW Z4 with a stock system other than S688A Harman Kardon and you bought our amp, now you know what enabled us to produce the mounting hardware. Just a tiny bit of R&D fun fact for you!

For those wondering how to get the most out of your audio system, remember that the Alpha One system, including the speakers and amp, is specifically designed and tuned for BMWs. The Alpha One delivers unparalleled sound quality with precision-tuned speakers and a powerful amplifier that offers custom audio profiles for your driving experience.

Want to learn more? Be sure to check out our website for the customized BMW sound systems.

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