[ElliotViola]

Haha... totally agree. I mean, the 3rd party audio installer I'm going to use is closed until May, so I'm not delaying taking action for any reason other than that.

But, I mean, if the subject comes up on an Internet forum my comment is always going to be something along the lines of "dear VW, if you're not going to include factory rear speakers on all trims please provide a retrofit option for customers who want to add them."

That will remain my opinion, but I'm not sitting around waiting for them to do it. I'm sitting around waiting for my local 3rd party audio specialist to open up.

Hi there! Just wanted to say thanks so much for encouraging people to pull their cars apart. I've been absolutely at my wits end with how bad the audio was (I'm a professional musician, came from e-Golf with Dynaudio upgraded sound).

Will be showing this info to my local car audio guy in a few days and asking for a quote to fit some new front and rear speakers. Looking at JL Audio C3's on all doors for now.

Will report back when I've spoken with him, and look at feasibility for using the 2-ch amp. He quoted me approx £800 inc labour for the JL C3 setup.

 

[ElliotViola]

All this talk is making me wonder about getting the speakers in my Tour upgraded once it arrives.

Presumably, with the right size speaker and if I was happy without a sub, it wouldn’t be too difficult / costly for a car audio specialist?

Would it need a separate amp?

Are there any details around on the front and rear speaker sizes?

Hello! From what my audio guy said it should theoretically be as simple as just swapping the speaker unit and making sure the impedances match if your wiring is already there!

 

[ElliotViola]

Just a quick update from me, I've spoken with my VW dealer and their electrician is looking into the option to just enable the rear audio channel on my 1st Edition via the infotainment system after my 2.1 update in a week's time.

Will let you know if it's possible!

 

[ElliotViola]

Minor Update:

I've booked my audio guy to upgrade my front speakers and tweeters with JL Audio C5s in April. Will be leaving the back until a later date, hopefully VW sort that out themselves.

 

[ElliotViola]

Hiya! Update again, I've had 2.1 now and had some answers from the tech guys at my dealership.

My audio upgrade is booked for April 5th, I'm doing front speakers only. VW technician confirmed it shouldn't void my warranty.

So the tech guy I spoke with said if the "5S unit" has a rear audio channel, if you plug rear speakers into it the car should recognise them? Can anyone dispute that here?

Be interested to know how straight forward a swap it is @ElliotViola.

I’m presuming - if fitted - the rears are single coaxial speakers?

Is there any idea of sizes for front and rears?

I believe it's 6.5in front speakers, though I may be wrong. My audio guy is replacing the tweeters and front door speakers with JL C5's.

 

[ElliotViola]

Which dealership out of interest? My dealer's response is a slightly more customer-focused worded (but only slightly) version of "nope, no chance. If you wanted rear speakers, should have bought one with rear speakers. Anything you try to do to add them won't work, and even if it does will void your warranty and set your car on fire."

So if your dealer manage to figure it out, I might be willing to drive to wherever in the country that is to have them do it to my car too.

Oh god, that's frustrating. I'm being seen by Citygate Twickenham, it's a Seat dealership now but is a VW authorised repair shop. It used to be a VW dealership under inchcape but was bought out.

 

[ElliotViola]

@ElliotViola Would you mind saying which audio specialist you're dealing with, the prices you've been quoted for installing the C5s seem very good!

Hi there! It's Whitton Car Audio, the guy is very good.

UPDATE
I've just had my JL C3 6.5in tweeters and front speaker upgrade done, £460 total for front inc. labour.

The difference is INSANE, I honestly don't think I'm going to need rear speakers now the front is so crisp.

He also checked the rear audio channel on the stock unit - dead as a dodo. Clearly needs turning on via infotainment, though VW don't seem to think so.

I have a contact at a VW dealership who found a 3rd party company that know how to sort it out in the infotainment system to enable it, I think they quoted about £490+VAT to install and activate the rear speakers?

 

[ElliotViola]

Glad to hear it was a worthwhile upgrade! I test drove an ID.3 on the weekend and I definitely think I'd need to upgrade the speakers like you.

Were the JL C3s the only ones offered to you, or did Whitton inform you that they were the best choice? I've always been a Focal man and I know they make speakers that work in the ID.4.

Hiya! Whitton Car Audio recommended me JL C3's based on what I wanted genre-wise (very broad range from metal to classical music!) and my budget.

Glad you're considering the ID.3, my fiancée and I just ordered a second one for her (Family Pro) as we like mine so much.

Did you have anything else done at the same time for £460 such as add sound deadening material to the doors?

Nah, just the speakers (front plus tweeters) and labour. The car is already quite well sound insulated to be honest!