Touring stealth subwoofer

[kingludba]

Anyone fitted a subwoofer in the compartment where the jack and wheel spanner are located? Im thinking of trying to fit my 10inch sub in there somehow. It needs to be as flush as possible as the boot get used frequently and space is required.

The two compartments, one on each side


Cheers

[jonny323i]

id say the one on the right is your best choice then you jack can stay in place
ive never tried it but i would think if you remove the lid and custom build an mdf box to slot in would work well then carpet the front
its an interesting idea id never thought of

[Jim320i]

Not sure whats inside the boxing closer to the seats but i'd be looking to get it all in those parts... Above the wheel arches etc.

But ive never opened on up or looked to see whats blocking that space out.

[jonny323i]

the strut housings are behind there not much room at all

[Jim320i]

Ahhh, no worries then. Would have been cool.

[miniblob]

Performance BMW mag showed this being done in an E30 touring recently (last month, or maybe even this months!).
Think they put it in the drivers side panel, with a little amp behind the panel the other side!!

Didn't really go into massive detail, but i recall they basically used a dremel or something to smooth all the ridges/etc flat on the back of the panel, then fixed a sheet of MDF to the back to stiffen it, cut the hole and mounted a 10" sub!! Not even sure if they made a proper box behind there tbh!!! Was done in a car audio shop though, so might have done!

I'm sure there's a couple of people on here who've done it before though!!

[kingludba]

Performance BMW mag showed this being done in an E30 touring recently (last month, or maybe even this months!).
Think they put it in the drivers side panel, with a little amp behind the panel the other side!!

Didn't really go into massive detail, but i recall they basically used a dremel or something to smooth all the ridges/etc flat on the back of the panel, then fixed a sheet of MDF to the back to stiffen it, cut the hole and mounted a 10" sub!! Not even sure if they made a proper box behind there tbh!!! Was done in a car audio shop though, so might have done!

I'm sure there's a couple of people on here who've done it before though!!

Just read that article over the weekend, no box behind so quality must suffer I reckon. I have mounted my amp like the one in the mag but sub is in normal box. Would like to try using some fibreglass to make a special box that fits snug in there, but dont know where to start!!

[miniblob]

Lots of advice on the talkaudio forum - but i hat playing with fibreglass!! Mainly 'cos i'm rubbish!!!

Would do for a quick bodge, but i agree, sound quality would suffer a lot without a proper box!!

[Sanchez]

Put one in the spare wheel well and buy a can in tyre inflator.

[jonny323i]

there used to be a proper sub you could buy like that to fit in the wheel well and some audi, fiat and alfas have them as an option

[kingludba]

there used to be a proper sub you could buy like that to fit in the wheel well and some audi, fiat and alfas have them as an option

Was thinking about that, something like this


Can still put boot carpet over so still will have standard boot available.

And about that sparewheel in a can, how far can you travel and what speed , until it packs in?

[miniblob]

I know we're going slightly off topic, but blaupunkt have just release a new wheel well sub: Clicky

[jonny323i]

ooh that looks nice

[miniblob]

I'm very tempted to try one out, but i've got far too many subs to justify buying one really!!!!

[oomz1975]

I'm working on fitting one of these into the right compartment.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Blaupunkt-THb-200 ... 1171wt_905

[miniblob]

Never actually heard any of these slim units before - they just don't look purposeful enough to me, but that obviously depends on what you're after from it

[hongkongfuey]

with proper components you dont need a sub, if you want one use a boxed one and just undo when you need the space?

[chu346]

with proper components you dont need a sub

[hongkongfuey]

with proper components you dont need a sub

really? well ive just done mine and doesnt need one

so jog on

[chu346]

Ok buddy!

[kingludba]

As said before, its what you require from your system, I have mounted my amp in the left panel in the boot and the sub just floats around in there, I take it out when space is required. Will post pics of the amp install.

[kingludba]

As said before, its what you require from your system, I have mounted my amp in the left panel in the boot and the sub just floats around in there, I take it out when space is required. Will post pics of the amp install.

[m8782538]

Have you tried Stealth Shelves, they have loads for specific cars, ready to order and in stock. E30 Touring are popular cars so they probably have one.

[kingludba]

Have you tried Stealth Shelves, they have loads for specific cars, ready to order and in stock. E30 Touring are popular cars so they probably have one.

Will search for them tonight, here are some pics of the amp mounted






Sits in there nicely and I have left about a 10mm gap between base of amp and panel, to help with cooling of course You can just make out the four bolts in the panel that secure the amp.

[harry_p]

I know we're going slightly off topic, but blaupunkt have just release a new wheel well sub: Clicky

that looks great, seriously tempted to be honest. totally stealth install and could be removed in seconds should you be doing longer journeys and want the reassurance of having a spare

[Razorsharp]

Here's a few pics of my budget sub and amp install on my touring:







I used a 10" Pioneer free air sub and an old Kendwood 4 channel amp. I bought a spare compartment door from Adit (as mine was good condition with the first aid kit etc all unopened) and set about it with my dremel to remove the fins on the back.

Unfortunately, I can't take the credit for the wiring as it was a good auto electrician friend who owed me a favour and just happened to have worked on E30's when they were new, fitting the BMW alarms and telephone kits

[chu346]

But what does it sound like?

[Razorsharp]

But what does it sound like?

Chu - to me the set up that I've got is infinitely better than the original and I'm very pleased with it. However, I'm no Audio expert and being in my forties, prefer a crisp sound with good definition. I very rarely play my music loud, so there's no distortion on the bass.

That said, when my son gets his i-pod in the car and cranks up Tinchie Stryder, there is a bit of reverb on the bass.

So overall a good sound, but my thoughts are that for decent bass you would need an enclosure.

My set up consists of kenwood head unit, kicker front speakers, infinity tweeters with cross overs and kenwood rear speakers. The amp is only driving the fronts and tweeters and the sub.

The reason for this is that the kenwood speakers in the original mountings at the rear just didn't sound great powered by the amp.

Hope this helps?

[chu346]

there is a bit of reverb on the bass.

That might be because the front panel is flexing. You could do with strengthening it. That should make it sound better.

[Razorsharp]

[quote="chu346 That might be because the front panel is flexing. You could do with strengthening it. That should make it sound better.[/quote]

I think you're right. I've got an off-cut of MDF which I'll fix to the back of the compartment flap, then stick the sub back on.

If I remember, I'll take some pics to post up when I do it and also let you know if it fixed the reverb.

[kingludba]

[quote="chu346 That might be because the front panel is flexing. You could do with strengthening it. That should make it sound better.

I think you're right. I've got an off-cut of MDF which I'll fix to the back of the compartment flap, then stick the sub back on.

If I remember, I'll take some pics to post up when I do it and also let you know if it fixed the reverb.[/quote]

Now your sub just looks at home there!! And how did you or what did you mount your amp to? Mine is actually mounted to the flap, but would of preferred mounting it inside the enclosure rather than onto it. Do you have any pics of the fixing points for the amp?

[Razorsharp]

I just used self tapping screws and some home made aluminium spacers. I'll try to get a picture this weekend if I have time.

[miniblob]

I know we're going slightly off topic, but blaupunkt have just release a new wheel well sub: Clicky

that looks great, seriously tempted to be honest. totally stealth install and could be removed in seconds should you be doing longer journeys and want the reassurance of having a spare

I'm sure they do an active version as well, so you just run your cables and your sorted!! Worth checking the blaupunkt website, 'cis i think that's a pretty decent price too!!

Razor - That's almost exactly what they did in the PBMW article, but with a plate of mdf to strengthen/mount the sub!!
As said, depends what you're after, but I reckon most people would be happy with that sort of sound quality - and a free air is exactly what you want - just not too many being made at the mo really!!

[kingludba]

I am fitting my other amp now to power front and rear speakers, I only have one rca from the head unit, for the sub, however my amp has front and rear high level input sockets.

The below is a pic of what they look like, where can I get some? No luck on ebay and cant seems to find them with google? Any ideas?



Also tried halfords website but jACK!

Cheers

[kingludba]

Two days off work so had a play today, not finished but fitted to test run....vibe components minus tweeters for the time being.













Next on to do list is get some tweeters(anyone got sum here ?) trim the baffle board upholster with suede or something out of the norm, fit sony 4 channel amp and wire all speakers up!

but first, fitting a newish rear silencer/ box as its drowning out my music!!

Cheers