Installed an Amp and Subwoofer

[Harlequin]

So after fitting the Alpine Retrofit and adding a pair of 4" Coaxials to the parcel shelf I'm on to the last part of my audio upgrade: Amplifier and Subwoofer in the boot.

After doing a lot of looking around both on and off the forum the best solution seemed to be here: REVIEW: TPLSM3 Custom Fiberglass Subwoofer Enclosure

I decided to contact Ben (TPLSM3) in the good old USofA and see if he'd be up for making me one of his custom moulded fibreglass Sub Enclosures.

He was.

Took about 2 weeks from first contact to arriving on my doorstep - half way around the world.

Ben sent me a set of instructions for removing the boot trim by PM to make it even easier to mount the enclosure:

1) Let's start off by removing your trunk floor cover by lifting up & pulling the entire cover out of the trunk.



2) Remove the rear body panel trim finisher by removing the 2 phillips head screw & 2 push-in retainers (remove the center section & the retainer comes out).



3) Pull up on the trunk seal, you do NOT have to remove the entire seal, just pull up enough so that it clears the rear body panel trim finisher & left side trunk carpet.



4) Remove the rear body panel trim finisher by pulling it towards the front of the vehicle, be careful not to break the plastic tabs that the metal hooks come out of.



5) Remove the 3 push-in retainers that hold the left trunk carpet trim in place.



6) Fold down the left rear seats so that the trunk carpet may now come out.



7) Pull the left trunk carpet trim out slowly, it may take some force, but there's nothing else holding the trim in place.



8) Now that you have the left trunk carpet trim out, place it on a workbench so that you can fit the fiberglass sub enclosure into the trunk carpet trim.



9) You can choose now how to run your speaking wire out of the box. I chose to drill a hole towards the top of the fiberglass sub enclosure where there are 3 holes in the trunk carpet trim. From there, I ran the speaker wire out to the amplifier (I prefer to keep the holes in the trunk trim to a minium in case I decided to remove the equipment & go back to stock.)

His instructions go on but at this point I'll go back to my install:

Note: in the Aussie model you also need to remove the luggage tie-down mount just behind the back seat - the US model does not have this mount.

First thing I did when I got the enclosure was add some Dynamat. I used 2 x 30cm square sheets:



I mounted the Enclosure to the interior trim using the instructions and mounting hardware supplied by Ben.

I then ran the speaker cable by drilling a hole in the location suggested by Ben (above) and sealed the hole with some fibreglass-compatible silicon gel. I also sealed the 3 mounting points - just for good measure.





Added some Dacron:



Connected and mounted the subwoofer and installed back into the car:
(Ben's instructions include how to attach the enclosure to the trim and how to reassemble - basically the reverse of pulling it apart.)



I've put the Amplifier under the floor - next to the battery:



The equipment is as follows:

- Alpine Factory Retrofit Kit (4" Splits + 4x80W Amp)
- Alpine 4" Type S Coaxials
- Pioneer GM8400M Monoblock Amplifier
- JL Audio 10W6v2 Subwoofer
- Alpine Speaker-Line Level Converter

On a final note, a local audio installer quoted me $900 to make this box - not including installation and wiring. They also wanted my car for 3 days to do the moulding. Ben made it, sent it 1/2 way around the world, and I didn't have to be without my car - for $415 USD (incl. shipping). Legend.

I haven't wired it all up yet but it all looks fantastic. I can't praise Ben's work highly enough - it's an amazing piece of work - at a fantastic price.

- Harlequin

[micha3l]

Wow, looks great!

Told myself I wouldnt bother doing any stereo upgrades in this car, but this does look clean!

[BMW86]

Very nice, I appreciate the write up. I've got the 10 speaker system upgrade but I wouldn't mind some extra bass. I like the clean OEM look too. I wonder if this interferes with where the tanks are mounted for meth.

[alik01]

That's amazingly clean look, really nicely done. Not really one for subs and such but this looks far more OEM than a lot of the stuff I've seen.

[MikeVictor]

Nice work Harley and good on you for posting up how you did it step by step.

[chrisN]

this is awesome.

[BBK]

Thats awesome well done! And great price too... gives me ideas.... haha

[TPLSM3]

Thanks for n awesome review of the enclosure. I'm glad you really like it. It looks perfect in there buddy!

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

looks great!

If you're using a W6 why didn't you go with a higher quality mono amp?

[Harlequin]

Originally Posted by bmroxm5

looks great!

If you're using a W6 why didn't you go with a higher quality mono amp?

That's the Amp out of my last car - it was running 2 x 12" Pioneer Competition Series Subs.

Gonna see how it sounds before spending any more $$$ - Audio has already cost me over $3000...

I'm thinking about an Audison LRx 1.2k but I'm a bit concerned about the space requirements...



- Harlequin

[BBK]

Originally Posted by bmroxm5

looks great!

If you're using a W6 why didn't you go with a higher quality mono amp?

Not really sure why you would?

The W6 takes 400wrms, the Pioneer makes 600rms @ 2ohm which is plenty enough power. Spending more money on a 'better quality' amp isn't going to make it sound much better (if at all).

[Harlequin]

Originally Posted by BBK

Not really sure why you would?

The W6 takes 400wrms, the Pioneer makes 600rms @ 2ohm which is plenty enough power. Spending more money on a 'better quality' amp isn't going to make it sound much better (if at all).

That's my current thinking - and why I'm waiting til it's in before spending any more...

- Harlequin

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

Originally Posted by Harlequin

That's the Amp out of my last car - it was running 2 x 12" Pioneer Competition Series Subs.

Gonna see how it sounds before spending any more $$$ - Audio has already cost me over $3000...

I'm thinking about an Audison LRx 1.2k but I'm a bit concerned about the space requirements...



- Harlequin

If it works, stick with it. Audison is very nice though, but you're right about the space requirements... there's always JLs HD series.. and Alpine PDX if you're tight on space. Not sure how quality these are compared to the full size amps though.

[BBK]

If you can hear the difference I'll give you $10 :-p

[SR32]

Outstanding - well done mate! How does it sound?

I constantly spent big bucks upgrading the audio on my last car (08 R32) trying to get the sound to be just right and could never manage it (speaker placement in the MkV R32 is completely ridiculous). I went for the HK on the 135 and I personally think it sounds pretty spectacular...

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

Originally Posted by BBK

If you can hear the difference I'll give you $10 :-p

lol yeh I probably couldn't along with 99.7% of the population. That said I'm not about to swap out my alpine amps for a jaycar response to save money. Guess the marketing people have done a good job convincing me/us to spend more money. I'm sure there are some benefits though.

Anyway back on topic I'm sure the added bass is a welcome addition and the new setup is fantastic?

[BBK]

Originally Posted by bmroxm5

lol yeh I probably couldn't along with 99.7% of the population. That said I'm not about to swap out my alpine amps for a jaycar response to save money. Guess the marketing people have done a good job convincing me/us to spend more money. I'm sure there are some benefits though.

Oh there are benefits to better quality amps, better crossovers, higher quality components and build quality. So you haven't wasted your money.

I could tell the difference between the V-power Alpine amps to the PDX, not so much in quality of sound, but in 'ooomph' I guess. I dream of the day I can get back into stereos...

[Harlequin]

Originally Posted by SR32

Outstanding - well done mate! How does it sound?

Originally Posted by bmroxm5

Anyway back on topic I'm sure the added bass is a welcome addition and the new setup is fantastic?

Haven't done the wiring to the speakers and battery yet but I'll definitely let you know once it's all hooked up... I reckon it's gonna sound awesome.

- Harlequin

[OOOSQ]

Originally Posted by BBK

If you can hear the difference I'll give you $10 :-p

Bet you i could!

[Brissie]

Which shop qouted you $900 for a sub box? The one on the southside, near ipswich rd? Are they going to make it out of gold?

Hope to have a listen to your W6 once it is hooked up.

[Harlequin]

Originally Posted by bmw135fan

Which shop qouted you $900 for a sub box? The one on the southside, near ipswich rd? Are they going to make it out of gold?

Hope to have a listen to your W6 once it is hooked up.

Northfield Car Sound at Nundah. The have some pre-made ones in the shop that fit cars like Falcons and Commodores but I reckon the one I got is better...

I'm planning on coming along to the next meet so everyone can have a listen then

- Harlequin

[BBK]

Originally Posted by OOOSQ

Bet you i could!

You're on!