what do i need to know to pick up a replacement stock amplifier for my car?

[ryan roopnarine]

i feel bad when i type a question out, and, as i finish typing it, i realise that you are likely the one whose going to answer it.

i owe you money.
i mean actual, physical money.

yeah, car was born 7/91. the unit im looking at (IIRC) is a 89 or 90 525i. ill look at the amp in the daylight and make sure i know which one it is. the poor tag just fell off when i unbolted the unit. the "date sold" part is faded off. i love the language its written in...Please Observe! germans can be cute.

thanks.

[winfred]

if you can't score one locally i can probably dig one up from the pile

[DanDombrowski]

Have you considered the economics of crossovers and a new head unit (that has a built in amp) vs buying a factory amp?

[ryan roopnarine]

im not big on car stereos, so i don't know about doing the crossover deals in a car with an integral amp.

economics wise....the cost of the most basic headunit i'd be willing to put in my car is a $100 JVC affair. the amp is far less than that. i'd really like to have a cd player up there, but would like the colors to match the bmw orange, and i can't seem to find one that does that isn't at least $200 or so. my cd changer has been sitting inside since 09/2004, so i've been considering buying a cd player, but, then again.....the cost thing. i would like a new bmw tape deck for the car (the buttons are scratched), but when everything is added up, a tape deck=50, amp=50 or so, and i already have a cd player=$100, less than the cost of a headunit.

uggghhh
if somebody could tell me that, by changing the headunit alone, that i would experience a significant improvement in sound quality, i might do it. i like sound quality, and if it would bring things in the car closer to "headphone" quality..it makes it a hell of a lot more attractive to me. but im apprehensive about car audio stuff (i don't dabble/know about it), and perhaps that's why i want to keep things stock.