Bose Restoration Complete
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Dallas TX
Bose Restoration Complete
I had the radio restored by Factory Car Stereo Repair, Inc in Florida and all four speakers restored by Bose themselves and the result...
:party: :hurray: :smiliedrool: :thumbs:
:party: :hurray: :smiliedrool: :thumbs:
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,175
Likes: 237
From: Philadelphia Burbs
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Re: Bose Restoration Complete (Pappa_Bear)
Thinking of doing this at some point...how long did it take and how much did it cost? Any things you would tell somebody to look out for?
:seeya
:seeya
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Dallas TX
Re: Bose Restoration Complete (j3studio)
Well...it's not cheap. But if you want to keep it stock, then this is the way to go. Bose did each speaker for $74 and from what I can tell, it received all new amps and some speakers were replaced. The Bose/CD radio was completely redone by installing a new CD rack, all bulbs changed and various other fine tunings. This system, Bose Gold CD, rocks for a stock system.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 209
Likes: 87
From: Oviedo, FL
Re: Bose Restoration Complete (j3studio)
I live about 5 miles from Factory Car Stereo here in Florida, although I got there listing off the ZR-1 net. Recently purchased a 90 ZR-1 with an aftermarket radio and amp. Fortunately the owner saved the Bose Gold control head and speakers. I took all 4 speaker/amps, the control head, and the radio receiver unit out and carried them to their shop. Great bunch of guys. They checked out the whole system. All 4 amps were blown, and they overhauled the head unit (CD player kept ejecting the disc). Each amp rebuild cost $90, but comes with a lifetime guarantee! The head unit rebuild was $190 with a 1-year warranty. When I went to pick up the system a week later, the owner hooked up everything on his test bench so I could hear the system before re-installing it. They will even remove/install you system free if you can drive to their shop. Long story short-the Bose system sounds better than new. I know the factory system gets a lot of bad press, but with better quality parts, it sounds terrific. I highly recommend Factory Car Stereo- they fix all factory units, foreign and domestic, but they are wizards with Bose systems (by the way, this is NOT a paid endorsement!)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 827
Likes: 1
From: Henderson NV
Re: Bose Restoration Complete (Pappa_Bear)
I am in favor of keeping the stock Bose system. Many aftermarket radios look tacky IMHO. I had an 87, went the refurbishment route and never regreted it. What I DON'T need as I dodge the road idiots, is to be distracted by my windows keeping time with bass notes! But, to each his own. Some folks spend a lot of money for earblasters. Their choice, but definitely not mine. :nonod:
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Saint Louis MO
Re: Bose Restoration Complete (Pappa_Bear)
In case any ambitious people with a toasted speaker find this topic, I thought I'd share some experience. There is a known problem with the Bose speaker-amp capacitors that causes a lot of failures. Replacing the burnt-out/defective capacitors in the speaker amps is a bit tedious, but can be done yourself for about $5 (assuming an hour of your time is free...). Someone posted detailed instructions a while back that I followed without much difficulty, and I am not a soldering iron expert.
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Advanced
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 90
Likes: 1
From: Davidsonville MD
Re: Bose Restoration Complete (Pappa_Bear)
Okay, Papa Bear. I'm convinced. Where do I find the Bose factory or wherever you found the gold mine of Bose satisfaction?
I had boxed up my radio/cd/tape head in a box to send to Florida a few days ago, before reading this set of posts on restoration. I'm ready to take out the Bose speaker/amps, too. So I need the address, if you please.
Thanks,
Rich
I had boxed up my radio/cd/tape head in a box to send to Florida a few days ago, before reading this set of posts on restoration. I'm ready to take out the Bose speaker/amps, too. So I need the address, if you please.
Thanks,
Rich
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 899
Likes: 0
From: Copperas Cove TX
Re: Bose Restoration Complete (Pappa_Bear)
When I got my 86 the original owner had had a Pioneer CD/radio installed. Who ever did it used the Bose speaker boxes and just put small after market speakers in, it sounded terrible, so I decided to reinstall the Bose system, Bought all the parts off Ebay. Sent the radio to Dr Don's and got it rebuilt. The big problem I run into was they cut the speaker wires to by-pass the amps and the radio harness. That all had to be soldered back to original. All my amps checked out ok. Got it put back together added a Pioneer 6 disc CD changer in the dry well behind the passenger seat, fit nicely. Played it about an hour and everything went dead. The speaker relay under the dash pad died. Changed that out, which is not a nice job and it has been working ever since. I've seen many comments on the Forum about the Bose systems not being worth shxt, if you are looking for a system that will blast you out thats probably true, but for listening the Bose is a good system. Ended up with a few extra parts, got a real good amp on Ebay that closes today if anyone interested here's the shortcut: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2479355561
HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!!!!!!!
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[Modified by LoneStarSoldier, 10:51 AM 5/23/2004]
HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!!!!!!!
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[Modified by LoneStarSoldier, 10:51 AM 5/23/2004]
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Bose Restoration Complete (rickr)
rickr, I copied the details on replacing the electrolytic caps and am about to head down to my '88 to pull the two front amps and have a look, as they have both died.
If they are beyond a simple cap upgrade they will be going off to Bose for a rebuild.
If they are beyond a simple cap upgrade they will be going off to Bose for a rebuild.