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View Full Version : OK it's time to put some sound up in this betch



RebelScum
10-30-2009, 12:27 AM
So I've decided to upgrade the stereo in my car.

My car currently has stock speakers running off a 24x4 Alpine CD deck. That's not gonna fly.

My plan was to just do the deck & door speakers, because I have NOOOO interest in tearing up the carpet and deating in my car to run wired for an amp & sub. But lo and behold, I discovered on this forum that all E36 models came with a pre-installed amplifier in the trunk. (For those to whom this is equally surprising, it's under the trunk carpet, on the driver's side wall, up near where the deck speaker lives.) I just checked my car, and yup, there it is.

I'm no audiophile, but I do like my Bad Religion to wake up the neighbours. I'll also be going with a standard deck and am NOT interested in modding the dash to accommodate a DVD screen.

Money is also very much a factor. (Getting married in the summer and I'm runnin ALL KINDS OF OUTTA money.)

The new deck MUST support iPod/iPhone control, have a hands-free mic, support BlueTooth, be 50wx4, and have a CD player.

Here's what I have in mind:

• Alpine MP3 CD Car Deck (CDA-9886): http://*******/2cfcbX
•*Infinity Reference 6" x 8" (for the rear deck): http://*******/1LEte7
•*Infinity Kappa 5.25" (for the kick panels): http://*******/yQ5kd
•*MTX 1-Channel Car Amplifier (for the sub): http://*******/1hO11U
•*Alpine 10" Car Subwoofer (SWE-1043): http://*******/2CsZQO
• Bassworx 10" Round Ported Box http://*******/4xxV2q

I'm not going to bother with the door tweeters. Like I said, I'm no audiophile. Stock will do just fine.

Whaddya think? Is this overkill? I feel like the amp & sub I can prolly pick up used & cheap. Since this is a 318is, size is a factor, and I really don't want to sacrifice my cargo space or the folding seats. Maybe a cannon would be best.

Advice is greatly appreciated.

Cheers

DeanEK
10-30-2009, 12:31 AM
How many speakers are you replacing, four and then adding a sub?

RebelScum
10-30-2009, 12:34 AM
How many speakers are you replacing, four and then adding a sub?

Yep, that's the plan

Ckyo5
10-30-2009, 01:32 AM
You plan on using the power/ground/speaker wires from the stock amp for you new amp?

I'll be curious to see how that works.. it'll save ALOT of time if that works out!

RebelScum
10-30-2009, 01:34 AM
You plan on using the power/ground/speaker wires from the stock amp for you new amp?

I'll be curious to see how that works.. it'll save ALOT of time if that works out!

Ideally, ya. I mean how low-gauge could the wires possibly be?

If it turns out I can;t use the existing wiring, the amp will be going back to the store. I am not even remotely interested in tearing apart my car to install an amp :)

Windsma
10-30-2009, 01:35 AM
You can see my Ipod and Alpine here.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w144/windsma/BMW/DSCN0307.jpg
Alpine deck w/ ipod adapter = $180 from bestbuy I plugged my bro's iPhone in there... it mutes the radio when he received a call. but no mic
if you want the Alpine bluetooth adapter its another $40 or 60ish

works good

RebelScum
10-30-2009, 01:36 AM
You can see my Ipod and Alpine here.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w144/windsma/BMW/DSCN0307.jpg
Alpine deck w/ ipod adapter = $180 from bestbuy
if you want the bluetooth adapter its another $40 or 60ish

works good

Nice...I like the iPod in the console. I was gonna get a mounting kit so I could hang it off the side of the centre console. (I have the TomTom app...)

Nice rig tho dude. That's kind of what I'm going for.

What kinda speakers do you have?

Windsma
10-30-2009, 01:40 AM
shitty stock.

i took the coin holder and dremmeled it out, i need the dock to drop the ipod another 2inches.
If i had an iphone (i hate apple)... i would gut the ashtray, remove the lid... cut a hole in the front and slide the iphone inside it to a dock

For the amp:
I would wire the power and ground separate.
Use whatever bmw, remote and rca's for the amp.

after frying an expensive amp. i never trust anyone's grounds.

RebelScum
10-30-2009, 01:45 AM
shitty stock.

i took the coin holder and dremmeled it out, i need the dock to drop the ipod another 2inches.

I would wire the power and ground separate.
Use whatever bmw, remote and rca's for the amp.

after frying an expensive amp. i never trust anyone's grounds.

Hmmmm...how decent is the built-in Balupunkt amp? Could it power a 10"sub adequately?

BTW nice job installing the chrome rings on your gauges :)

Windsma
10-30-2009, 01:49 AM
nice eye, they were a bitch but look awesome, i used some superglue which screwed the face right after 160mph, dont use superglue, and only buy metal rings
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w144/windsma/BRG/DSCN0204.jpg


I have no idea about the amp... i just wired it up the same as the PO.

travis325i
10-30-2009, 02:36 AM
I have mine powered right off the battery and found a good ground right in the trunk

restricted
10-30-2009, 07:02 AM
the only big issue you will have is the stock amp uses a seperate cross over for each channel so unless you find speakers that have the exact same values as the factory it is going to prob fry your amp or speakers

Ckyo5
10-30-2009, 11:55 AM
I am not even remotely interested in tearing apart my car to install an amp :)

Its really not that hard to install the power wire. There is usually a hole in the firewall you can sneak the wire in. And just pull up the trim that runs along to door. It sounds hard but I've done it to a number of cars, its not that hard.

Is your battery not in the trunk?