BMW 550e Touring - Bowers & Wilkins replacement for our premium solution

The BMW 550e Touring is one of the most modern cars today and impresses not only with its distinctive design but also with its powerful hybrid drivetrain and high-end equipment. A surprising weak point, however, turned out to be the optional Bowers & Wilkins audio system. In previous generations it was top-tier equipment, which — at an overpriced cost of more than CZK 200,000 — at least offered some sound quality. In the new generation the price has been reduced to a tenth, but quality has dropped just as sharply. The result is a system that is closer to Harman Kardon dressed up with visually attractive grilles, but sonically belongs rather to the below-average. The car owner therefore turned to us with a request for a complete audio upgrade.

Although this was not a standard replacement with average OEM components, the installation was carried out entirely plug & play, i.e. without intervention in the original wiring and with full preservation of the car's warranty. We installed all new components hidden so the interior appearance remained untouched. We replaced the speakers in the front and rear doors, using the top-tier Morel Reference system, developed specifically for BMW cars. It offers significantly better detail, power and musicality than any other OEM solution. A specific challenge was the bass foundation, because BMW in this generation moved away from proven under-seat subwoofers and instead added an unimpressive subwoofer in a plastic enclosure in the floor of the luggage area. We solved this by installing a compact Ground Zero subwoofer, which became the only visible component of the entire installation. The system is powered by a top six-channel amplifier from the German Helix with an integrated processor, complemented by a dedicated monoblock for the subwoofer.

Finally, detailed measurement and tuning of the sound were carried out on the DSP processor, which will allow the sound to be adapted to this specific interior and, of course, to the client's requirements. The result is a clean, dynamic and balanced performance with an emphasis on musicality and spatiality — audio that finally matches the premium character of the vehicle and satisfies even audiophile listeners.