bmw chord "gong" retrofit

-c- · 06-25-2011, 10:07 PM

Hey I forget if this was ever pulled off ...

Has anybody ever converted their their z4's ding ding ding ...to the newer sounding gong sound......is it even posable or is it all in the computer or somthing ....

Just curiouse ...... both are somewhat annoying at times but the sound from the newer BMW's sound way better and more upscale.

Any thoughts......

z4mnyc · 06-26-2011, 12:21 AM

No, but here's what I did... I removed the instrument cluster and un-soldered the little beeping speaker. No more annoying beeping

MIKe86 · 06-26-2011, 07:55 AM

Ah that would feel so good to get rid of the beep all together, but I won't do it since unfortunately what makes me wear my seatbelt 99% of the time.

Curious about the gong tho... Z4mnyc, the piece you unsoldered, was it an actual speaker or just a little buzzer? I work on commercial fire alarms, and the little buzzer in the panel that signals a trouble couldn't play a gong sound if it wanted to. Curious if it's the same type of thing.

If it's an actual speaker I bet they can throw a different sound file in there when they hook the laptop up to it. Sounds like a buzzer to me though. :dunno:

z4mnyc · 06-26-2011, 08:22 AM

It may be a buzzer, it did not look like a normal speaker. Basically a small cylyndrical object iirc.

MIKe86 · 06-26-2011, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by z4mnyc

It may be a buzzer, it did not look like a normal speaker. Basically a small cylyndrical object iirc.

Yea I don't think those things behave like a speaker.

CFoote · 06-27-2011, 11:11 PM

That would be nice, I would imagine it's probably a 12v output and you just need to solder in a different buzzer....the problem is possibly damaging your cluster

whilechukwuzout · 06-30-2011, 01:22 PM

I think the "gong" noise you hear in the newer cars actually comes from the front speakers, and not from the dash chime. The only way I can see to do this is to have an audio source (little box capable of playing the gong noise over a stereo cable, a small amplifier to power the speakers enough to make a noise, and some type of controller that takes the signal output from the original chime, and uses it to trigger the gong noise from the audio source. You could probably combine the audio source and the controller by using an arduino with a wave-form generator shield. As for the amplifier, this gets tricky. You would need to somehow rig the two front speakers such that they could receive input from two sources both separately, or at the same time (in the event that while your listening to music the car needs to ding).

It is for this exact reason that when you want to install an aftermarket stereo in a late-model chevy you need a $100 wiring harness. Its because all the chimes and bongs go through the car stereo, and the harness has a special little box that adds that functionality to the aftermarket stereo.

On a scale of 1-10 (1 being a fuse-change and 10 being writing custom nav firmware) for in-car hackery, this is probably about a 7 or 8

06-25-2011, 10:07 PM	#1
-c- Colonel 888 Rep 2,736 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chicago iTrader: (5)	bmw chord "gong" retrofit Hey I forget if this was ever pulled off ... Has anybody ever converted their their z4's ding ding ding ...to the newer sounding gong sound......is it even posable or is it all in the computer or somthing .... Just curiouse ...... both are somewhat annoying at times but the sound from the newer BMW's sound way better and more upscale. Any thoughts......
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06-26-2011, 12:21 AM	#2
z4mnyc Private First Class 14 Rep 191 Posts Drives: Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New York iTrader: (2)	No, but here's what I did... I removed the instrument cluster and un-soldered the little beeping speaker. No more annoying beeping __________________ \| Z4MC \| KW Clubsport \| BBS-RGR 19 + Bridgestone RE11 \| BBS-RGR 18 + Hoosier R6 \| Sparco DTM RS \| Vorshlag mounts \| Braille battery \| Euro Headers \| Supersprint exhaust \| Stoptech lines \| Stongstrut \| TCK camber arms \| UUC SSK \| APR GT-200 wing & splitter \| ESS Tune \| Speedware Motorsports custom roll cage \| Schroth harness \|
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06-26-2011, 07:55 AM	#3
MIKe86 Lieutenant 25 Rep 457 Posts Drives: 90 332is Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: 18045 iTrader: (0)	Ah that would feel so good to get rid of the beep all together, but I won't do it since unfortunately what makes me wear my seatbelt 99% of the time. Curious about the gong tho... Z4mnyc, the piece you unsoldered, was it an actual speaker or just a little buzzer? I work on commercial fire alarms, and the little buzzer in the panel that signals a trouble couldn't play a gong sound if it wanted to. Curious if it's the same type of thing. If it's an actual speaker I bet they can throw a different sound file in there when they hook the laptop up to it. Sounds like a buzzer to me though. :dunno: __________________
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06-26-2011, 08:22 AM	#4
z4mnyc Private First Class 14 Rep 191 Posts Drives: Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New York iTrader: (2)	It may be a buzzer, it did not look like a normal speaker. Basically a small cylyndrical object iirc. __________________ \| Z4MC \| KW Clubsport \| BBS-RGR 19 + Bridgestone RE11 \| BBS-RGR 18 + Hoosier R6 \| Sparco DTM RS \| Vorshlag mounts \| Braille battery \| Euro Headers \| Supersprint exhaust \| Stoptech lines \| Stongstrut \| TCK camber arms \| UUC SSK \| APR GT-200 wing & splitter \| ESS Tune \| Speedware Motorsports custom roll cage \| Schroth harness \|
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06-27-2011, 11:11 PM	#6
CFoote Captain 180 Rep 659 Posts Drives: '22 M5CS, '00 M5, '06 Z4M Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Northeast iTrader: (1) Garage List 2022 M5CS [0.00] 2001 BMW 740i [0.00] 2006 BMW M Roadster [0.00] 2012 BMW X6 3.5i [0.00] 2006 BMW 325xi [0.00] 2017 BMW 540xi [0.00] 2000 BMW M5 [0.00] 2001 BMW X5 4.4i [0.00]	That would be nice, I would imagine it's probably a 12v output and you just need to solder in a different buzzer....the problem is possibly damaging your cluster __________________ '22 M5CS, '06 Z4M, '01 X5 4.4i, '00 M5, '05 Acura RL, '12 X6 3.5, '01 740, 08 335xi, '17 540xi (yes they all are still with me)
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06-30-2011, 01:22 PM	#7
whilechukwuzout Private 13 Rep 94 Posts Drives: 09 E92 N54 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: South Bay Area iTrader: (0)	I think the "gong" noise you hear in the newer cars actually comes from the front speakers, and not from the dash chime. The only way I can see to do this is to have an audio source (little box capable of playing the gong noise over a stereo cable, a small amplifier to power the speakers enough to make a noise, and some type of controller that takes the signal output from the original chime, and uses it to trigger the gong noise from the audio source. You could probably combine the audio source and the controller by using an arduino with a wave-form generator shield. As for the amplifier, this gets tricky. You would need to somehow rig the two front speakers such that they could receive input from two sources both separately, or at the same time (in the event that while your listening to music the car needs to ding). It is for this exact reason that when you want to install an aftermarket stereo in a late-model chevy you need a $100 wiring harness. Its because all the chimes and bongs go through the car stereo, and the harness has a special little box that adds that functionality to the aftermarket stereo. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being a fuse-change and 10 being writing custom nav firmware) for in-car hackery, this is probably about a 7 or 8
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