E30 Zone

Hi folks, I'm looking at building a bit of an ICE build to keep me company during the long weekly commutes I do. Generally its just me, the e30 and the "open" road for a couple of hundred miles at a time so I'm looking really at just a front end build, the rare time I have passengers we don't really have music on.

The current setup is a couple year old Sony head unit and OEM speakers (with door tweeters).

What I would like is a head unit that looks in keeping with the e30 dashboard, all the flashing lights and blue nonsense of the Sony unit look really out of place. Any suggestions, ideally with DAB provision either onboard or plug in? (I listen to CD's or Planetrock, I don't have an MP3 player and don't need for bluetooth or any of that nonsense)

After that a set of components to fit in the OEM holes, I see the Infinity 13cm gets a good write up here, any other suggestions, and any suggestions of an amp to drive them that can be hidden easily?

Bass, within the existing provision nothing is going to excel. Where can I hide a sub, nothing huge, just enough to balance the components sat at the front?

Regards
Iain

This is where I put my amp for the front speakers


The Becker units look great in the E30
http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/produc ... rers_id=14

but apparently after-sales care isn't up to much.

There are a few threads about which headunits look best. Have a search...

Hiding a sub is not something I've got any suggestions for but I'd recommend just a small sub in a box that you can just throw in the back. Either a passive sub - hide the amp in the other cubby hole or an active sub with an amp attached. Have you got the load cover - this will hide the sub - sorry for stating the obvious.

I have a Nakamichi CD 35Z gathering dust.

Had it in my E36 and it looked great with its amber illumination but more importantly sounded amazing through my audison and focal set up. No ipod connectivity or fancy stuff, just a classy fascia and first class audio - period perfect for your touring.

It was recently serviced by Beaver Car Audio in Glasgow, i had purchased an additional faceplate to modify the led illumination to match my Mk4 GTi's indigo/red display but gave up and bought a becker.

I have the original packaging, carrying case, cage and leads.

I'm in the process of listing it on ebay.

Let me know if you're interested.

Ewan

All depends on you're budget really!!!! (Doesn't everthing!!!)

Nakamichi are top quality and my personal choice at the moment!! Becker are ok and there are other cheaper h/u's out there if you look about!!

As for the sub - quick and easy to chuck one in a little box in the boot - can even make it removeable with something like a vide fastplug.
8", 10", 12" - whatever - i prefer a good 12 inches myself
Obviously smaller subs could be tucked away wherever you're imagination lets you - if you wanna put the effort (or money) into the build!!

You're gonna want an amp for the sub, so consider a 4ch if you're not looking for massive bass and use it to power the fronts aswell!! Amping the fronts should make quite a difference in quality and volume!!

Nice simple setup that - 4ch amp, sub, 2-way components up front - should sound lovely!!!!

Just make sure the fronts are well fitted!

It looks like we're both building very similar setups!
My infinity 5010cs arrived from Santa so I was looking at the possibility of an amp.
Seeing as its the same make.. would THIS make sense?

Would the "built in crossover function" be good enough to mean I can just drive a sub straight from the amp with no need for an external crossover?

Morat - I think that suits your set up as it says - "tri-channel mode: 2 x 75W RMS + 180W RMS for bass"

but I think you won't have separate control of the sub if you are running front speakers and sub from one amp

tri mode is bad as the sub draws all the power from the front stage and sounds pants anyways. an 8" sub will fill in were comps lack, if not jbl do a rather good actice sub and its rather compact.

JBL Bass Pro 2

http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/produc ... /1253.html

I have a Pioneer p99r componants headunit!! I think this loos perfect in the e30 dash + its pushing out 6volts through the rca outs.. The only thing is you need to amp everything in the car as this stereo has no speaker channels!!

now thats an headunit, its 6 volts peak btw, and its worth fair bit and good to see its still working 4 years later.