BMW 7 Series audio Install

[bigaudiofanatic]

Well this is very exciting for me. Thursday I received a message asking if I would like to do an install on a 2001 BMW 740. After talking to him for two days I took a ride up to him on Saturday to meet him and the car. After him reading about me and my work he had no problem handing the keys over to take it home. He left Monday for a 2 week vacation.

Enough with that story, time to talk about the install.

Goodies include

SQA-4100 - CDT Audio 4 Channel Amplifier

Q 1200.1 - Image Dynamics 1-Channel 1200 Watt Amplifier

IDQ12V2.D2 - Image Dynamics 12" IDQ $149.99 x 2

130CVX - Focal 5.25 " Polyglass Coaxial Speakers

Stinger Pro 3 Series 6 Channel

Head rest tv's

Kicker 12 Guage S series 150ft

Kicker PKD1

FOCAL 165VR3 3 WAY COMPONENT SET

Dynamat 10455 Xtreme Bulk Pack 9 Sheets

This install will very much help my skills and expand them to fiberglass and custom boxes.

I will update this thread daily with new work and pictures.

The ride



Trunk


Work today included making the new parts to raise the floor to flush mount the amps and the sub box.





UPS Dropped off some goodies!






More stuff to come in the mail


Speakers finally came in.





With other stuff going on I still was able to get the JL clean sweep in.

Started out taking the panels off.


Cat always lending a hand.


I HATE WIRE TAPS



Today i worked on the kick panels. The reason for this is there is no stock location for a 6.5 inch speaker in the door. Also this will help imaging a bit by having them facing the drive and passenger.

Drilled holes to help the fiberglass hold to the stock panel.



Laying down the foil and tape to protect the carpet.


Laying the cloth and resin




While that was curing I took off the door panel to take a look at the mid and tweeters.

The owner said that the speakers were upgraded but he did not know what they were. All that was upgraded was the tweeter.




Have to make a bracket to hold the smaller mid but will be well worth it.


The new tweeter

[bigaudiofanatic]

Today got a good deal done.

Dynamat was installed





Fedex and ups dropped off the reming stuff needed.





Ran the new speaker wire threw the doors.



Lube anyone?


Fish wire slid pretty well




Trimmed the fiberglass will wrap it tomorrow


New rear speakers

[bigaudiofanatic]

Today I got a few things done even though it was raining.

One of the head rest tv's in.



Rear speaker in it's bazel.


Subs

Got the openings cut.


Box starting to come together








Sub box done "except for wrapping with cloth"




Shortened the box to correct size.

Today even with the rain i decided to finish the right kick panel. As I sit here recovering from the fumes I think they are going to look good after sanding bondo and paint.

Trimmed the base


Made the ring and started mounting it.


Everything fits good going ahead fro wrapping and fiberglass.


Clearance fleece blanket for 8 bucks. Sorry disney




First coat of fiberglass.


Added the second layer "just went down and added a layer of matt and resin to those layers. Will let it all set over night.

Last one for the night.


Sub box in and got the rca's wired to the proper wires.

[bigaudiofanatic]

Okay it is....3 A.M. I am tired and half asleep. Considering I had to run errands and was out for almost 3 hours I think I did a lot of work. A friend of mine is away and was kind enough to let me use there garage, as I already house sit. SO picture time.
What the dice and navtv will be wired so the video will also go to the head rests.


Head rests power wires


Powered up


OH a QUARTER!


Removing the rear deck speakers and box so the subs will be able to push air into the cabin.








Where things are going to be ran threw to the trunk


Getting darn time to pull her in for the night shift.


Bondoed the kick panel lots of sanding to do tomorrow.



Had to run another wire threw the door for the woofer being in its own area.


Crossover all wired up.


Bracket made and painted.


Soldered up


Mid installed


Right door all back together.


Left front wires ran.


Well taking a little break so more pictures.

Sanded the kick panel down have to fill in a few spots.


Left side crossover and speakers installed.



Back together.


Started the amp rack


Will probably put two fans one on each side one in and one out for cooling.

Upgraded the ground wire.



Started the left kick panel, going to be a little more complex with the hood release and trunk release button.


Taking a break

[bigaudiofanatic]

Yes Mike I worked on them today, will be done tomorrow.

Routed all the speaker wires to the trunk



Re did the false floor




Tonight I did wire everything up for a audio test. Sounds amazing plenty of bass as well as crystal clear highs. Tomorrow I will sand primer and paint the pods and intall them.

Still to do:

Install rear camera
Paint and permanently install the pods
Wrap the sub box and floor install the plexi and neon lights

To be honest did not get much done today. Between this morning and having to study for a math test tomorrow coming back from spring break, I got a few things done.

Got the left kick panel started and the right one starting the paining.




Mounted the fuse block



Yesterday and today starting to finish things up.

Power wire ran


iPod cables ran, one is for video and audio the other is for just audio and can be controlled threw the head unit.


Left kick panel going to require some work but will get it done. The hood release and all is a pain to work around.


Wrapped the right panel.



Just a note the metal grill will be put overtop of the speakers.

Got the mat laid on the left panel today will sand it bondo and carpet it.

The trunk got wrapped, the top lip where the indent starts will be shaved for the plexi glass. That is why the carpet there is not defined cleanly.

[black740ia]

looks good so far

[franco90]

Pretty Impress so far .
Question for you do the headrest poll go up and down ?...
bigaudiofanatic pm your email address I have a couple of questions to ask.

[bigaudiofanatic]

They do not, the stock ones locked into the motorized motor but the aftermarket ones are not long enough to go up and down

[Strahan]

Wow, that's quite a bit of work. Looks like it's coming along nicely. I've always been kind of skeptical about kick panel speakers, I'd be too afraid people would step on them or that they would cut too much into the space for peoples' feet.

Since you have an elevated floor in the trunk now, does that cause any issues opening the battery access panel?

[bigaudiofanatic]

It causes a bit of a problem but it still can be opened all they way just has to be held down. The floor was raised almost 4 inches and still allows you to access the spare tire if needed.

I have also talked to the owner before and during this install. I told him about the space that will be missing with the kick panel speakers. His reply was that if they become a nuisance that he will bring it back and have me install them in the doors where the pocket is.

[Strahan]

Nice. You're not that far away, may have to send you some business when I'm ready to do audio work in a few months I'm not satisfied with the audio quality in my 7, it sounds "muddy". I've tried futzing with the DSP but to no avail. Does your setup you are installing still utilize the DSP or does everything route straight though that CDT?

[bigaudiofanatic]

The dsp is removed, when that is done the factory system defaults back to sending analog pre outs instead of digital. Those wires are hard wired to the rca cables which in term go to the new amps. If you have a cd changer or are using the dice for the ipod you will need a adapter to allow the analog signal to pass to the new amps. So to answer your question no the dsp is not being utilized. I would appreciate your business! After taking this back he might have me do more work on other cars.

[Edwin NL]

I'm sure Sal is liking it! He speaks highly about you!

[bigaudiofanatic]

I'm sure Sal is liking it! He speaks highly about you!

He says it's a big tease fro him seeing all this work getting done. I just can not wait for him to see it and hear it!

[Edwin NL]

He will just have to wait but you better hurry up! he needs his Dinan, an E55AMG is so plain

[bigaudiofanatic]

He will just have to wait but you better hurry up! he needs his Dinan, an E55AMG is so plain

Let me fix that I need a Dinan a civic is SO PLAIN

[Edwin NL]

Lol!!

[bigaudiofanatic]

The tubes where to short to begin with and the tubes are alread in place but thanks for the advice.

[franco90]

nice
check ur PM

[bigaudiofanatic]

PM replied, I think I posted this thread in the wrong section whoops

[franco90]

PM replied, I think I posted this thread in the wrong section whoops

no you are in the right section trust me E38

[bigaudiofanatic]

Thought I would need to put it in the car audio section. Thanks

[Edwin NL]

It's fine here!

[franco90]

Bump

[spazzboy]

I like everything I see here. Great craftsmanship and all. The only thing I may have an issue with are the speaker housings in the front footwells; I'm a fan of safety.