BMW G01 (X3) Subwoofers & Speakers Upgrade – A Complete Installation Guide

Despite all the amazing tech that has gone into the BMW G01, for a long time you couldn’t get it with anything beyond the Hi-Fi factory BMW sound systems. Why? Due to the chip shortage a couple of years ago. 

Luckily, BimmerTech is here to help. Ditch the wimpy factory audio setup with our Alpha One BMW Subwoofers & Speakers upgrade! Already bought a set of Alpha Ones and you just want to get it all into your G01 and playing? Then you’re in the right place: check out this article for detailed installation instructions. 

Coming up, you’ll learn:

• What tools are needed and how to prepare for the installation process.
  
• How to install Alpha One Front & Rear Tweeters.
  
• How to install Alpha One Midrange Speakers.
  
• How to install Alpha One BMW Subwoofers.
  
• Why upgrade your BMW X3 (G01) audio system at all.
  
• What else you can do to improve your BMW X3 sound system.

If you’d also like to get a better look at all the steps, watch the video linked below. 

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

You’ll be happy to learn that Alpha One BMW Subwoofers & Speakers are super easy to install! To transform the sound of your car, all you have to do is take off a few interior trim panels. Enough talk – it’s time to get started. 

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 process may take up to around 180 minutes, but it's not difficult with the right tools. Just to be safe, we also strongly recommend disconnecting the car battery. How to do that? Simply follow the instructions below:

1. Lift up the floor panel in your trunk.
2. Rotate the two locking tabs 90 degrees to access the battery compartment. 
3. With a 10 mm socket, remove the negative battery terminal and set it aside. 

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

Now onto the installation part.

Step-by-Step BMW X3 Subwoofer & Speaker Upgrade Tutorial

For the purpose of this guide, we are going to divide the installation into separate chapters covering different areas your BMW subwoofers and speakers are going to be mounted in. Starting with the front door tweeters and mids, we will then move on to the rear door, followed by the central midrange speakers, and finish off with the BMW underseat subwoofer.

Chapter I – Alpha One BMW Front Midrange Speakers and Tweeters Replacement

We'll begin up front with the trim tool, removing the entire door panel to access the tweeter. 

1. Pop off the door handle trim and slide it out, then remove the two T20 screws underneath. Note: at the base of the panel, there are two more T20 screws that you also need to unscrew. 
2. With your trim tools and hands, begin popping off the entire panel. CAUTION: don't forget about the tweeter housing! Use a trim tool to pop it off and pull out the connector to separate it. 
3. Take off the door panel, then disconnect the door handle cable and the cable fastener in the middle. This will allow you to set the panel aside, giving you access to the mid.
4. Pull out the two leads to the mid, remove the three T20 screws holding it in place, and take the stock speaker out. Next, connect the mid-out of the crossover harness to the Alpha One BMW Midrange Speaker and install it in place of the factory mid. 
5. Plug the connector from the tweeter into TW-out and power into TW-in. 
6. To replace the tweeter, remove the foam backing and pry the factory tweeter out from the tabs in its housing. Note: it’s best to use a pick tool or trim tools for this. 
7. Snap the Alpha One BMW Tweeter in place of the original speaker, reinsert the foam backing, reconnect the fastener and handle cable you took off, and begin placing the entire door panel back on. 
8. Reattach the door panel, plug the tweeter in, and snap its housing in place. Replace the four T20 screws and snap the trim back in.

There you have it – front door speakers replaced!

Chapter II – Alpha One BMW Rear Midrange Speakers and Tweeters Replacement

The process for the rear door is pretty similar to the front, so the things should go even smoother for you. Like up front, use a trim tool to remove the trim and T20 screws (two near the handle, one at the base of the panel). Next, follow the steps listed below: 

1. Pop off the door handle clip, tweeter cable, speaker connection, and any retaining clips holding onto the disconnected parts. All of that should give you some slack on the door panel and allow you to carefully set it aside.
2. Remove the three T20 screws holding the factory mid and replace it with your new Alpha One BMW Midrange Speaker. Just like in the front, connect the mid-out to it and then plug it in. 
3. When it comes to the rear tweeter, remove the factory harness from the door panel and with the pick tool, gently pry the speaker out. 
4. Put the Alpha One Tweeter in its place and feed the harness along where the factory one was. 
5. Plug in the tweeter, handle cable, and retaining fastener. Then snap the door panel back in place. Replace the three T20 screws and reinsert the trim. 

And you’re done with the rear door speakers.

Chapter III – Alpha One BMW Central Midrange Speaker Replacement

Now, let's tackle the speaker replacement process for the midrange BMW speaker.

1. Using a trim tool, gently pop the grille out. Remove the four T20 screws holding the speaker bracket in place, lift it up, and disconnect the main speaker lead. Note: due to how close the windshield is to the speaker, you'll need a tool shorter than a regular screwdriver for this step.
2. Remove the three T20 screws holding the mid in place and disconnect it from the tweeter. Next, pop out the old tweeter and replace it with the Alpha One BMW Tweeter.
3. Place the Alpha One BMW Midrange Speaker where the original mid was and tightly screw it in. After that, connect the crossover harness the same way as before (for front and rear door speaker sets): tweeter to TW-out and midrange into mid-out. 
   
   PRO TIP: you can use the provided twist ties to tidy up the cables.
   
   
4. Plug the speakers in (make sure all connections are secure!), screw down the bracket, and snap the grille back into place.

Congratulations! You've successfully completed the replacement of the central BMW midranges.

Chapter IV – Alpha One BMW Subwoofer (Underseat Woofer) Replacement

Last but not least, it’s time for us to guide you through the process of replacing your BMW underseat subwoofer. Get it? It’s “sub” because it’s under your bum! All jokes aside, before you begin, reconnect the battery – this will allow you to position the seats so that they provide easy access to the bolts. 

What next?

1. Using a T50 bit on a ratchet, remove all the bolts securing the seat and tilt it back to reveal the woofer grille held in place by T20 screws. Unscrew these, carefully lift the grille up, and disconnect the woofer. Note: BMW glues the underseat woofers to the housing so you'll need to take the whole thing out.
2. Remove the two 10 mm nuts holding the housing down and remove it along with the woofer. Note: you may need to remove the nearby seal trim to get extra room, which you simply do by pulling up on it.
3. With the BMW X3 subwoofer enclosure out of the car, use a heat gun to warm up the plastic and the glue that the speaker is attached, then carefully pry it out. CAUTION: this step requires patience, as you don’t want to damage anything; take your time and be smooth!
4. Replace the factory woofer with the Alpha One BMW Subwoofer and secure it by drilling in the force-applied screws through the guide holes in the speaker. After that, reinsert the housing back into the car.
5. Secure the BMW subwoofer enclosure with the 10 mm nuts, plug the sub in, and cover it back with the carpet. Don’t forget to pop the seal trim piece back in place! Finally, reinstall the grille and seat. 

With these steps completed, you've successfully installed Alpha One BMW Subwoofers in your G01 X3.

Is Alpha One BMW Speaker Upgrade Worth It?

So there you have it! Installing these speakers in your BMW G01 is simple and lets you easily transform the audio of your ride. If you want to get these for your G01 or whatever BMW you might have, head on over to our website and enter your VIN to find the kit ready for you. 

Our BMW Subwoofers & Speakers have been in development for over two years to deliver the best sound quality possible in your car. And we have them for most BMWs, not just the G01! So head on over to the Alpha One website and enter your VIN to find the correct kit for you. For the best results, consider pairing these with our Alpha One BMW Amplifier as well. 

Hungry for more information? Feel free to reach out to us – our sales team will be happy to advise you on the best possible audio solution for your car.