ID.3 rear speakers (was about Kufatech, but moved on)

44904 Views 201 Replies 30 Participants Last post by Ivan Tenerife, Feb 3, 2022

loggamatt

Discussion Starter · Feb 8, 2021

I can't remember who, but someone linked to the Kufatech rear speakers on another thread and I was just wondering if anyone knows much about it? If it wasn't for the pandemic I'd be tempted to drive over to Germany to be the donor car, but as that's not possible I'm wondering how easy it's likely to be to get someone in the UK to fit these for me?

The page has this note,

"At the moment, the respective control unit must be unlocked for a limited time before using the dongle. This must be done by a workshop with valid GEKO access."

What does this mean? Does that mean only a VW dealer would be able to do it? Presumably they wouldn't do it though as they'd grumble about the warranty? I guess what I'm asking is, what are the chances of me finding someone who could fit these in the UK, and what sort of person should I be looking for? VW dealer? Car audio specialist? etc.

181 - 200 of 202 Posts

ElliotViola

· #181 · Apr 16, 2021

jeffUK said:
@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?

Reactions: 2

Monkeyhanger

· #182 · Apr 16, 2021

ElliotViola said:
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?

£490 fix vs VW saving about £3 per car...VW are arseholes!

5erge

· #183 · Apr 17, 2021

For VW ID3 E11 Original Kufatec Complete Set Speaker Rear + Cable Loom | eBay

Don’t think they have previously offered this via eBay. Anyone going for it?

loggamatt

Discussion Starter · #184 · Apr 17, 2021

5erge said:
For VW ID3 E11 Original Kufatec Complete Set Speaker Rear + Cable Loom | eBay

Don’t think they have previously offered this via eBay. Anyone going for it?

Sadly doesn’t mean a thing without the coding. The coding is the bit that no-one has been able to get done based on what I’ve read so far.

People on German forums seem to be saying that the VW software updates overwrites coding that people have had done when fitting the Kufatech rear camera, thus disabling the new camera. Speculation is that the same could happen to recoding for speakers, even if anyone does find a way to do the coding in the first place.

I think, at the moment, going ‘old school’ and wiring the output from the front speakers to a new amp, and using that new amp to feed rear speakers, is the only way.

Reactions: 2

6652

· #185 · Apr 17, 2021

5erge said:
For VW ID3 E11 Original Kufatec Complete Set Speaker Rear + Cable Loom | eBay

Don’t think they have previously offered this via eBay. Anyone going for it?

You'd still need a workshop to unlock the module before the coding dongle would be able to code the module for the speaker outputs to be activated, so of limited value unfortunately.

Most of the modules have SFT protection, possibly one of the reasons that IDs have been proving problematic to software upgrade as well.

Reactions: 2

5erge

· #186 · Apr 17, 2021

It does state that it will require coding in the eBay link I posted.

6652

· #187 · Apr 17, 2021

5erge said:
It does state that it will require coding in the eBay link I posted.

Yes, same as on their website.

The point is, you’ve got to find a place that will be able to unlock the module whilst you use the supplied dongle, and then potentially do that every time VW plug it in at service.

Where would you take it? VW wouldn’t do it for you I wouldn’t think.

Reactions: 1

loggamatt

Discussion Starter · #188 · Apr 17, 2021

Tooks said:
Yes, same as on their website.

The point is, you’ve got to find a place that will be able to unlock the module whilst you use the supplied dongle, and then potentially do that every time VW plug it in at service.

Where would you take it? VW wouldn’t do it for you I wouldn’t think.

Exactly. I’ve given up on this as an option unless it’s offered as an actual VW badged and dealer installed retrofit option at some point.

I might go the analogue/new amp route at some point, but not until VW fix the CarPlay audio stuttering bug. I think the audio stuttering will be even more annoying if it’s through an aftermarket sound system that cost me lots of money!!

Reactions: 1

thewanted

· #189 · Aug 9, 2021 (Edited)

ElliotViola said:
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?

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.

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

ElliotViola

· #190 · Aug 9, 2021

thewanted said:
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.

thewanted said:
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!

thewanted

· #191 · Aug 9, 2021

ElliotViola said:
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.

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

Thanks very much for the quick reply! I'm not very far away from Whitton Car Audio so I'll put them on my list to check out when my car arrives.

thewanted

· #192 · Aug 9, 2021

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

I just got a quote from a place very close to me and they want £690 for the JL C3-650 speakers supplied and fitted! You did very well to get them for £460, so I'll be sure to hit up Whitton Car Audio when I receive the car.

aandpwoodley

· #193 · Sep 6, 2021

I'm think about adding sub box in the boot but slightly concerned about some of the above comments regarding the VW warranty, has anyone installed a sub in their ID.3 yet ?

I'd love to hear your thoughts, ta

aka_Titch

· #194 · Oct 28, 2021

I have been following this thread with interest as I have an ID.3 (Family Trim) on order. I am interested in having the rear speakers fitted so I reached out to someone that does retrofitting on VW’s (http://www.advanced-incar.co.uk/). They said they are able to supply, fit and code them for £599 (including VAT).

They are based in Poole, Dorset. It’s an option I am looking into, and the guy that give me the quote was Tim, if you want to reach out to them.

If anyone decides to get it done any time soon, I would love to hear your feedback around the experience of the installer and the difference it makes to the car.

loggamatt

Discussion Starter · #195 · Oct 30, 2021

FWIW, I'm happy currently* that I went the route I did, spent a bit more money but got a really good system for it. Comparing my factory system to my aftermarket system the biggest advantage has been that at higher volumes panels don't buzz and vibrate annoyingly anymore. They filtered it so most of the bass goes to the sub in the boot, and being able to turn the volume up as high as I like with no buzzing interior panels is a huge difference. Just adding rear speakers might have improved the sound a little, but putting in a sub and a proper amp has made most of the difference in mine I suspect.

*(I say currently because I haven't had to claim for anything on the warranty since putting it in. Remains to be seen whether they'd decline warranty work on the car now because of it)

Reactions: 1

Ivan Tenerife

· #196 · Nov 9, 2021

loggamatt said:
FWIW, I'm happy currently* that I went the route I did, spent a bit more money but got a really good system for it. Comparing my factory system to my aftermarket system the biggest advantage has been that at higher volumes panels don't buzz and vibrate annoyingly anymore. They filtered it so most of the bass goes to the sub in the boot, and being able to turn the volume up as high as I like with no buzzing interior panels is a huge difference. Just adding rear speakers might have improved the sound a little, but putting in a sub and a proper amp has made most of the difference in mine I suspect.

*(I say currently because I haven't had to claim for anything on the warranty since putting it in. Remains to be seen whether they'd decline warranty work on the car now because of it)

Hi. I´m thinking about to improve my audio system in my ID 3. It will cost me 700€ to put new speakers in front (Hifonics) and back (car rear tray) with an amply (the old school way, I mean, tying wires from front to rear). I´m not sure to do it because of the warranty of the car and the possible problems with the 12v battery. But from the other side, I miss a lot a good sound in our car. Any suggestion?

loggamatt

Discussion Starter · #197 · Nov 9, 2021

Ivan Tenerife said:
Hi. I´m thinking about to improve my audio system in my ID 3. It will cost me 700€ to put new speakers in front (Hifonics) and back (car rear tray) with an amply (the old school way, I mean, tying wires from front to rear). I´m not sure to do it because of the warranty of the car and the possible problems with the 12v battery. But from the other side, I miss a lot a good sound in our car. Any suggestion?

I paid an aftermarket installer to fit my system, so I can't give you any technical advice unfortunately. I also haven't had to take it in for any warranty work since having the audio system put in, so I don't know whether my warranty will have been affected or not. If you read back through the thread you'll see there were a range of opinions about that from people. Some people thought I was mad and would definitely lose my warranty for almost everything; other people thought it wasn't a big risk and I shouldn't worry about it. If my car keeps behaving well - as it is at the moment - for the next two years and doesn't need any warranty work, we may never know!

On the system itself, though I didn't get it done in stages so I can't say for sure, I suspect the biggest improvement comes from now having a powered sub. If you're running cables to the boot anyway, I would suggest you consider this. The Pioneer TS-WX400DA fits so perfectly in the little cubby underneath the boot floor that it's almost like it was made for the ID.3!

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Ivan Tenerife

· #198 · Nov 9, 2021

loggamatt said:
I paid an aftermarket installer to fit my system, so I can't give you any technical advice unfortunately. I also haven't had to take it in for any warranty work since having the audio system put in, so I don't know whether my warranty will have been affected or not. If you read back through the thread you'll see there were a range of opinions about that from people. Some people thought I was mad and would definitely lose my warranty for almost everything; other people thought it wasn't a big risk and I shouldn't worry about it. If my car keeps behaving well - as it is at the moment - for the next two years and doesn't need any warranty work, we may never know!

On the system itself, though I didn't get it done in stages so I can't say for sure, I suspect the biggest improvement comes from now having a powered sub. If you're running cables to the boot anyway, I would suggest you consider this. The Pioneer TS-WX400DA fits so perfectly in the little cubby underneath the boot floor that it's almost like it was made for the ID.3!

Thanks. I´ve been reading all the quotes and it drives me in really doubt. Maybe I´ll take the solution of upgrading my front speakers and keep my guarantee. I´m not sure. Thanks anyway!!

motmot

· #199 · Nov 10, 2021

Yes - front speaker upgrade is something I’ve been thinking over too.

loggamatt

Discussion Starter · #200 · Nov 10, 2021

Ivan Tenerife said:
Thanks. I´ve been reading all the quotes and it drives me in really doubt. Maybe I´ll take the solution of upgrading my front speakers and keep my guarantee. I´m not sure. Thanks anyway!!

Worth saying that what I've had done to my ID.3 isn't technically much more invasive than just replacing the front speakers. You will be plugging 2 wires (right and left audio channel) into third party equipment - the front speakers. My installer has also plugged 2 wires (right and left audio channel) into third party equipment - the amp and powered sub. In terms of repurposing the factory wiring, the only thing extra in my setup is that the installer will have had to find a switched power source from somewhere.

Of course, my install will be more detectable by a dealer than yours. But if VW denied a warranty claim for something big that isn't related to either the audio, or panel rattles where my installer had the door cards off etc. and I took them to court, it would be interesting to see them argue how the problem could have been caused by tapping into two audio channels and switched power! Though I suspect unless it was something ruinously expensive out of warranty, I wouldn't go to the hassle of taking them to court and would just glumly pay up.

But, bottom line, in terms of wiring what you're proposing isn't much less invasive than what I had done. If I've put my warranty at risk (whether I've put it marginally at risk, or significantly at risk is a matter of forum debate!), you will be putting your warranty at some theoretical risk by replacing speakers too.

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