4D Burmester Option in 2025
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Costco
2023 S500
4D Burmester Option in 2025
I was playing around with the configurator and you cannot select the 4D Burmester by itself, even though it lists it individually and separately, at least for the 500. It forces Nappa Leather and the Warmth and Comfort package. I don’t mind the Nappa but why the heck is the Warmth and Comfort package being paired with the 4D Burmester?
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From: Maryland
2024 S580
I was playing around with the configurator and you cannot select the 4D Burmester by itself, even though it lists it individually and separately, at least for the 500. It forces Nappa Leather and the Warmth and Comfort package. I don’t mind the Nappa but why the heck is the Warmth and Comfort package being paired with the 4D Burmester?
I will say the heated armrests in the warmth and comfort car are worth it.
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From: Maryland
2024 S580
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23 S580 Executive
Folks can say what they want, what I would say, is that I never once regretted getting the 4D. Not once. It's stupidly bundled, it's stupidly overpriced, and the base is better than a good many upgraded stereos in other cars I've owned. But... When I think of the many things I wasted money on in this life, I don't count those dollars among them.
Life is so very short; I wish I had learned to say yes to the 4Ds of this world sooner.
Life is so very short; I wish I had learned to say yes to the 4Ds of this world sooner.
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Joined: Jun 2015
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From: Maryland
2024 S580
If I were presented with a car with 4D I would absolutely take it, but the base Burmester in this car *when using the built in streaming, thats important* is incredible sounding. For me its that I don't order cars I buy from what is on the ground and the 4D is so hard to find.
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Current/Last 5-years:GLS;G70;Alpina B8;X7;Accord. Sold:X7,TeslaS;S560;S550,X5;530e;L.Navigator;LS460
Folks can say what they want, what I would say, is that I never once regretted getting the 4D. Not once. It's stupidly bundled, it's stupidly overpriced, and the base is better than a good many upgraded stereos in other cars I've owned. But... When I think of the many things I wasted money on in this life, I don't count those dollars among them.
Life is so very short; I wish I had learned to say yes to the 4Ds of this world sooner.
Life is so very short; I wish I had learned to say yes to the 4Ds of this world sooner.
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From: Westchester, NY
2014 Mercedes E350 4matic Wagon, 2018 Fiat 124 Spyder Lusso manual, 2005 Acura TSX manual
As has been said, it's always been like this. There may be some technical reason why the high end audio needs power rear seats (speaker location or wiring) or it may just be a plausi that was put in to keep all the high end audio cars as the most premium. MB certainly thinks the majority of people who would want the high end audio would also like somewhat interesting rear seats, i tend to agree.
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W167 2021 GLE63S, W223 2022 S580
I have an AMG GLE63S with the optional $6k 3D. I don't know if or when they even offered 4D in the GLE. I also have a S580 with most options but not the 4D. For some reason I was thinking 3D is standard in S580 USA models but it wasn't in the GLE models. I have gotten old and I can't really tell if the GLE 3D (subwoofer in the floor of the hatch) is better than the S580 3D (never saw a subwoofer if it has one). The S580 is much quieter and smoother. I have the acoustic package on both. I do notice I "feel" the bass on my feet in the S580 when the volume is elevated so maybe speakers are tucked up under the dash somewhere. I regularly drive a F350 King Ranch SuperDuty and the stereo with subwoofer in it was not a $6k option and it really sounds great to me. It thumps when cranked up. More than the MB's I own...
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I agree.. Even with the 3D Burmester in my W222, the surround sound and overall aesthetics, and sound quality was OUTSTANDING. Not even close to the base Burmester. Never owned a W223 with 4D, but I trust it's even better. The subwoofer in the trunk also makes a huge difference. I tried soooo hard to find a GLS with the upgraded sound system, but I couldn't find a single one even after 3 months of searching. Disappointed, and while the base Burmester is fine, I surely wish I have the upgraded one. Luckily I have surround/3D B&W in my other BMW cars and the difference is obvious. I feel that finding a W223 with 4D Burmester is easier than finding a GLS with 3D Burmester. There is a good reason why these systems costs ~6K thousands over the base system.
I looked hard for an s580 with red interior, and 4d. I found none. With that I said screw it an ordered a 25 optioned with what I wanted. 4d was a must. My 3d in the gle is damn good. I can't wait to hear the 4d
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2015
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From: Maryland
2024 S580
I have an AMG GLE63S with the optional $6k 3D. I don't know if or when they even offered 4D in the GLE. I also have a S580 with most options but not the 4D. For some reason I was thinking 3D is standard in S580 USA models but it wasn't in the GLE models. I have gotten old and I can't really tell if the GLE 3D (subwoofer in the floor of the hatch) is better than the S580 3D (never saw a subwoofer if it has one). The S580 is much quieter and smoother. I have the acoustic package on both. I do notice I "feel" the bass on my feet in the S580 when the volume is elevated so maybe speakers are tucked up under the dash somewhere. I regularly drive a F350 King Ranch SuperDuty and the stereo with subwoofer in it was not a $6k option and it really sounds great to me. It thumps when cranked up. More than the MB's I own...
I added a subwoofer to my 2020 S560 because it needed one, my S580 doesn't need one at all
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The base burmester has subwoofers under the dash, there isnt one in the truck. What source to you listen to music from? If its not the built in Online Music from Amazon Music or Apple Music or Tidal then you aren't getting more than 50% of the quality of the system...
I added a subwoofer to my 2020 S560 because it needed one, my S580 doesn't need one at all
I added a subwoofer to my 2020 S560 because it needed one, my S580 doesn't need one at all
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2019
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From: Costco
2023 S500
The base Burmester in this car sounds as good as the high-end Burmester that can be optioned in the GLE. It’s great and probably the best system I’ve heard in a car thus far. Which makes me very curious about the 4D and why I want to get it.
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Ditto. My GLE 3d system is pretty amazing.
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From: U.S.
Current/Last 5-years:GLS;G70;Alpina B8;X7;Accord. Sold:X7,TeslaS;S560;S550,X5;530e;L.Navigator;LS460
I have an AMG GLE63S with the optional $6k 3D. I don't know if or when they even offered 4D in the GLE. I also have a S580 with most options but not the 4D. For some reason I was thinking 3D is standard in S580 USA models but it wasn't in the GLE models. I have gotten old and I can't really tell if the GLE 3D (subwoofer in the floor of the hatch) is better than the S580 3D (never saw a subwoofer if it has one). The S580 is much quieter and smoother. I have the acoustic package on both. I do notice I "feel" the bass on my feet in the S580 when the volume is elevated so maybe speakers are tucked up under the dash somewhere. I regularly drive a F350 King Ranch SuperDuty and the stereo with subwoofer in it was not a $6k option and it really sounds great to me. It thumps when cranked up. More than the MB's I own...
Last edited by S_W222; Feb 10, 2025 at 07:50 PM.
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From: Maryland
2024 S580
Sirius is the absolute lowest bitrate, you have to try a streaming service through the car's built in system, not through your phone.
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Super Member
Joined: Feb 2020
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From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
2023 S580
When I first got my W223 with basic 3D, I ripped several of my favorite CDs to USB in lossless audio to give them a listen. They sound good, once I completed the sound profile settings to get things just the way I wanted them to sound. Note: I traded by 2018 E63 with the high-end 3D system with the sub in the trunk for my current 2022 S580. While I miss the deep bass of my E63, the 3D system in the S is pretty dang close. In hindsight, I would have waited and found an S with the 4D, but that's water under the bridge now.
As for sound comparison between ripped CDs and on-board streaming of Apple Music, I've compared the two and am hard pressed to notice any difference between the two. As others have mentioned, be sure to stream from on-board music services and not through Apple CarPlay, and as a last resort, Sirius. I have all the services, and there are times when I switch over to Sirius to listen to Yacht Rock or The Blend, or Road trip Radio, just to get a nice mix of music, but the signal is so compressed it truly does sound awful, but again, I choose for the nice mix of music.
As for sound comparison between ripped CDs and on-board streaming of Apple Music, I've compared the two and am hard pressed to notice any difference between the two. As others have mentioned, be sure to stream from on-board music services and not through Apple CarPlay, and as a last resort, Sirius. I have all the services, and there are times when I switch over to Sirius to listen to Yacht Rock or The Blend, or Road trip Radio, just to get a nice mix of music, but the signal is so compressed it truly does sound awful, but again, I choose for the nice mix of music.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: U.S.
Current/Last 5-years:GLS;G70;Alpina B8;X7;Accord. Sold:X7,TeslaS;S560;S550,X5;530e;L.Navigator;LS460
When I first got my W223 with basic 3D, I ripped several of my favorite CDs to USB in lossless audio to give them a listen. They sound good, once I completed the sound profile settings to get things just the way I wanted them to sound. Note: I traded by 2018 E63 with the high-end 3D system with the sub in the trunk for my current 2022 S580. While I miss the deep bass of my E63, the 3D system in the S is pretty dang close. In hindsight, I would have waited and found an S with the 4D, but that's water under the bridge now.
As for sound comparison between ripped CDs and on-board streaming of Apple Music, I've compared the two and am hard pressed to notice any difference between the two. As others have mentioned, be sure to stream from on-board music services and not through Apple CarPlay, and as a last resort, Sirius. I have all the services, and there are times when I switch over to Sirius to listen to Yacht Rock or The Blend, or Road trip Radio, just to get a nice mix of music, but the signal is so compressed it truly does sound awful, but again, I choose for the nice mix of music.
As for sound comparison between ripped CDs and on-board streaming of Apple Music, I've compared the two and am hard pressed to notice any difference between the two. As others have mentioned, be sure to stream from on-board music services and not through Apple CarPlay, and as a last resort, Sirius. I have all the services, and there are times when I switch over to Sirius to listen to Yacht Rock or The Blend, or Road trip Radio, just to get a nice mix of music, but the signal is so compressed it truly does sound awful, but again, I choose for the nice mix of music.
Last edited by S_W222; Feb 11, 2025 at 10:02 AM.
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From: Maryland
2024 S580
Nothing to download, you just create a Tidal account and sign into it through the car.
Yeah the difference is substantial between directly through the car's system and CarPlay even with the same source,
I had added a subwoofer to my S560 and I can tell you for sure the S580 does not need a subwoofer with the base Burmester system, it has more than enough bass without one, in fact I had to dial the bass back. My subwoofer from the 560 is just sitting in my basement.
Even with USB the CarPlay is just not lossless...wireless runs over WiFi which is the same data speeds as wired USB.
be sure to stream from on-board music services and not through Apple CarPlay, and as a last resort, Sirius. I have all the services, and there are times when I switch over to Sirius to listen to Yacht Rock or The Blend, or Road trip Radio, just to get a nice mix of music, but the signal is so compressed it truly does sound awful, but again, I choose for the nice mix of music.
The large trunk subwoofer is harder to replace no matter what. Even a cheap subwoofer would make a difference. The base 3D sound system in the W223 doesn't have that (which is a good move as not many people would want to lose trunk space). Besides the wattage and other items like seat shakers/etc/etc/etc , I think the biggest difference between the 3D and 4D in the new S would be the subwoofer. The sound in my W222 with Burmester 3D was also great (I think) because it was wired carplay; most newer cars are wireless carplay and I think that's a factor. Not sure how it works in the S, but in my BMW even if I connect the phone via a cable, it would still stream Carplay music data wirelessly. A flash-drive with lossless audio is the only way to get the best out of the sound system, but am still satisfied with it even in wireless (nothing beats my 3D Burmester experience in my W222 too, and I look forward to trying 4D in the W223 though).
Even with USB the CarPlay is just not lossless...wireless runs over WiFi which is the same data speeds as wired USB.
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From: Tampa Bay area
S560, GLS63
Audiophile here and imo the base in the w223 is a good system but there is definitely a difference. The 4d in the w223 sounds a lot more crisp. Vocals are more prominent, mids dont sound distorted and the bass makes a difference. Imo, of course. I'm currently looking for a GLS63 with the system now and when I upgrade my s560, the 4d will be a must.
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From: Corona Del Mar, CA
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
I have always felt that the options for the S Class—and for most of the MB line—are relative bargains. The problem is that to get most of the better options, one must place a factory order. I have done nine MB factory orders and the enjoyment one gets from the luscious options far outlasts the memory of the cost, most all of the time. Exclusive Nappa Leather, Warmth & Comfort Pkg. and the 4D Audio are absolute bargains, in my opinion. EABC, not so much. Next time around, do yourself a favor and place an order for EXACTLY the car you want. It can be a very rewarding experience.
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Joined: Sep 2024
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I have always felt that the options for the S Class—and for most of the MB line—are relative bargains. The problem is that to get most of the better options, one must place a factory order. I have done nine MB factory orders and the enjoyment one gets from the luscious options far outlasts the memory of the cost, most all of the time. Exclusive Nappa Leather, Warmth & Comfort Pkg. and the 4D Audio are absolute bargains, in my opinion. EABC, not so much. Next time around, do yourself a favor and place an order for EXACTLY the car you want. It can be a very rewarding experience.
