subwoof installation highjinx

[adrean8j]

Ok let me tell you about my little installation headache from the last couple of days....
First of all I got a really great deal on some INFINITY KAPPA PERFECT 10.1's from a friend that were in really good shape. Also included in this deal was an amplifier-Pioneer GMX-911-that is almost brand new. The total cost to me was....drumroll please.......nada..not one red penny.
So naturally I took this deal. Ok first order of business was to find out exactly how to install this stuff inside of my red baron. So I went to various websites-namely Bob Hazelwoods posts on the "unofficial bmw page" and made a trip to a local so-called "professional" installation place here in the Heidelberg area(Germany). The installer "informed" me that installing subwoofers was the best thing for this particular stereo system....duh!!! So my system has no preamp outputs so I had to go from the high pass outputs on my rear speakers thru an adapter to low pass outputs to my rca jacks to the amp. Well I could not find a wiring diagram ANYWHERE for my particular model and year of car so I had the installer tell me the colors off the top of his head. Now mind you this installer is RIGHT NEXT TO A BMW DEALERSHIP. Well I went home armed with the proper tools and knowledge-or so I thought-and begun my epic journey to find more BASS. Well cleared out my trunk and back seat and then I hit my first brick wall . I was told by the "pro" guy that to take out my back seats all you have to do is lift up on the lower portion of the seat. Well I have children seats built in so it is not that simple. First you have to lift the booster seat up, remove a little carpet covered piece the remove a pin and THEN you can lift the seat up and out....jeeeez. Took almost an hour of straining and huffing and puffing to realize that.....jeeeez . Ok then the speaker wire colors he gave me were wrong.....so I gambled and cut what I thought were the right wires since I did not have a multimeter. Luckily I am pretty good at guessing and I chose the right ones.... I have never attached a high pass to low pass adapter before and of course it didnt come with directions....sooo I had to call my buddy to ask him....by this time it was about 0730pm and getting cold so I had to quit for the day. Next day I woke up ready to go and went outside and.... it was raining....with no garage(garages in germany are more like closets) I had to wait until the next day. Next day I went back and talked to the "pro" guy and he told me that yellow/purple and blue/purple are the positive wire off the rear speakers, he also said that BMW ALWAYS uses purple for positive....guess what WRONG AGAIN. So after connecting it the way he said I had to cut wires again and do it the other way. To make a long, story short(damn it is already long, anyway...) I finally got the wire run and even with the metal encased trunk the stock stereo sounds a 100% better. Still got to build another box though the one i have is sheisse!!!! WHEW!

 

[coyotefreek]

congrats

I need to install a sub on my car, has absolutley 0 lower range. All the speakers need replacing while I am at it, just need some $$$.

 

[adrean8j]

Just adding a sub and amp and putting some "bass blockers" on your stock speakers can make your system sound completely different. Not to mention it is cost effective and not to expensive either!

 

[mikev]

i would install a sub and amp but a it weighs shed loads and B my boot leaks ever so slightly and last time i checked the boats stereo it was rusted through and got thrown in the middle of poole bay

 

[adrean8j]

doh!!!

 

[carcus]

Just adding a sub and amp and putting some "bass blockers" on your stock speakers can make your system sound completely different. Not to mention it is cost effective and not to expensive either!

I agree I just took the Infinity BassLink from my ML320....made a major difference, even with the convert. Plus I can remove it easily for long trips if I need the space. Granted, I have a Kenwood Z828 MP3 HU. Pretty happy with it....next step, infinity Kappa to replace the stock interior speakers.

The Infinity BassLink is a great, cheap, all around package in my opinion for an alternative.

 

[adrean8j]

Ok guys just a quick update on the whole subwoofer installation thing.
I finally decided to go back to the "professionals" and have a custom enclosure built into the trunk of my car. It is going to cost me about 600euro overall (less than that with a military VAT form). So far they have built me a bandpass enclosure directed at where the ski-sack opening would be if I had one. They will cut it out tomorrow(I have no problems with doing that since BMW does it on other models with no ill effects) and finish sealing my enclosure and installing my caps and everything else. Be prepare for pics to come tomorrow night my time(european germany)!!!!!

 

[adrean8j]

Ok I said I would post pics today but we have to wait til tomorrow ok???? I promise!!!

 

[carcus]

Ok guys just a quick update on the whole subwoofer installation thing.
I finally decided to go back to the "professionals" and have a custom enclosure built into the trunk of my car. It is going to cost me about 600euro overall (less than that with a military VAT form). So far they have built me a bandpass enclosure directed at where the ski-sack opening would be if I had one. They will cut it out tomorrow(I have no problems with doing that since BMW does it on other models with no ill effects) and finish sealing my enclosure and installing my caps and everything else. Be prepare for pics to come tomorrow night my time(european germany)!!!!!

Curious, are you military and planning on bringing the car back Euro Spec? I had a nice Alfa....was not worth it getting converted to American specs.

 

[adrean8j]

I am not military anymore....still work with the military though. Dont know if I will try to bring car back or not......maybe I will get american spec 330i or M3 in the future.