Sub and amp Install

[Heino 1]

Okay so yesterday i decided i was going to try something new and try save hundreds and do it myself.

So i did abit of research and came across a way to install my sub and my amp of my factory headunit which is the BMW BUSINESS one with the tape deck. i bought my parts and went home to install it. About 3 hours of wrk later i had my amp and sub all wired up and had full control over the bass gain and also the bass controll on the headunit. It worked exactly the same as having a aftermarket headunit Installed.

It is very cheap and i could possibly make up some kits on wat i used if others are intrested it was very simple.

1. I ran a Remote wire from the headunit to the amp so that it turns on when the radio goes on.

2. ran wires from the rear speakers to the converter unit i bought and the RCA's out to the amp.

3. From there everything else was exactly the same as a normal install.

If anyones is intrested i could go and buy the stuff needed and make up some kits.

[matt45 1]

all amps ive owned have had high level input which eliminates the need for any converter... what kind of amp are you using?

[huff3r 347]

Is this converter to switch 2 X speaker wires into 1 X RCA?

Also... where'd you get it? haha

[Heino 1]

mine had one of those too. in the box. which i have no idea where it is. but the benifit of this is that you get to use the gain setting so you dont have overpowerd just BAAASSS! you have full control over the entire system. Where as if you use the speaker lever input which you are talking about the only control over you sub is the bass setting on your standard headunit. But you sub is running at full power the entire time where as i can change the gain which limits the power which goes through the amp t your sub making it not as YUK bass.

[Heino 1]

Is this converter to switch 2 X speaker wires into 1 X RCA?

Also... where'd you get it? haha

Correct. it runs off your rear speakers and into the high to low converter. and the you plug RCS's into the otherside which easily plug into your amp. It works like a dream. And its a easy thing bought from jaycar. but i wnder if i buy bulk if i could get it cheaper for The RCA's. the CONVERTER, and the extra wires.

[matt45 1]

my amp has level, gain and bass controls?

[Heino 1]

my amp has level, gain and bass controls?

through your speaker level input. Wow nice amp. mine only has it through the RCA input. which most amps only have that i believe according to specialists who wanted to charge me 250 to do the job.

[huff3r 347]

through your speaker level input. Wow nice amp. mine only has it through the RCA input. which most amps only have that i believe according to specialists who wanted to charge me 250 to do the job.

My amp has that too haha. Benefit of getting a $60 second hand blaupunkt i guess

[Heino 1]

My amp has that too haha. Benefit of getting a $60 second hand blaupunkt i guess

Mate if your keen to do it i can get all the stuff for you and i can send it down. and you just pay for the bits and peices and the shipping. Its piss easy to install.

[Heino 1]

Oh and im using a 800w earthquake amp valued at $250 bux so its not crap...

[bimmer boy 21]

Heino, you reckon this will work on E39 BMW Professional stereo?

[Heino 1]

Heino, you reckon this will work on E39 BMW Professional stereo?

It works on all sterios its not just for BMW's so if you want you can come check out my set up. its very clean works like a dream just as good as my old sounds if not better. *my old sounds were ALL aftermarket.*

[Heino 1]

If you have a sub and a amp already. then it should cost you at max only 40-50 for it all!

This is with the high to low level converter, the wires, and the RCA cables. The rest is just free. just your time and effort.

Edited December 15, 2010 by Heino

[bimmer boy 21]

I might just have to do that then. I like the factory head unit and the sound from my speakers it just lacks on the bass end of the scale so to be able to hook up a sub and amp would be great

[Heino 1]

I might just have to do that then. I like the factory head unit and the sound from my speakers it just lacks on the bass end of the scale so to be able to hook up a sub and amp would be great

Its deffenitly possible. just need commonsence and bits and peices. A monkey could do it tbh.

[*Glenn* 854]

Just be very careful with your electronics on your new car Heino. I would also advise upgrading the battery as well.

[polley 916]

$250 for the amp? Thats on the cheap side of amps.

[matt45 1]

I might just have to do that then. I like the factory head unit and the sound from my speakers it just lacks on the bass end of the scale so to be able to hook up a sub and amp would be great

did it last weekend in the E39 ... makes the stock system soo much better ... there is absolutly nothing wrong with the stock 10 speaker system that i have in mine other than the fact it lacked bass. Even the guys at rapid radio agree unless something in the stock system is actually broken there is no point in replacing it unless u intend on spending a crap load of money.

The E39's are easy to do because they have the stock speaker amp in the boot so there is already a remote wire there and all your speaker wires and of course the battery.

Can have a look at mine if u want to see what it looks like installed (basicly all you do is splice into the rear speakers).

My sub/amp is by no means expensive, but it is enough to take the strain off the speakers to give bass, which is all i really wanted.

[matt45 1]

$250 for the amp? Thats on the cheap side of amps.

yes just remember its better to have a bigger amp than your sub so that the sub doesn't over draw and poke the amp. Also same goes for amp vs battery as glenn pointed out.

In mine im not worried about the battery because the amp and sub a low power and not even turned halfway up. Also the battery in the E39 looks like it could run my house

[*Glenn* 854]

Its not so much the battery that I would worry about...its the alternator & the rist of spiking any of the control units. If the battery is over 3 years old and you can also fit the next size battery ... I would do it to be on the safe side.

[matt45 1]

At what point is it recomended that one starts running a Cap in the setup?

[*Glenn* 854]

At what point is it recomended that one starts running a Cap in the setup?

Not sure...Maybe Jochen could help with that one...I'm no audio expert

[Heino 1]

Just be very careful with your electronics on your new car Heino. I would also advise upgrading the battery as well.

Thnak you glenn i will be. and yes i think a new battery would be a good idea at some point in time,

[bimmer boy 21]

did it last weekend in the E39 ... makes the stock system soo much better ... there is absolutly nothing wrong with the stock 10 speaker system that i have in mine other than the fact it lacked bass. Even the guys at rapid radio agree unless something in the stock system is actually broken there is no point in replacing it unless u intend on spending a crap load of money.

The E39's are easy to do because they have the stock speaker amp in the boot so there is already a remote wire there and all your speaker wires and of course the battery.

Can have a look at mine if u want to see what it looks like installed (basicly all you do is splice into the rear speakers).

My sub/amp is by no means expensive, but it is enough to take the strain off the speakers to give bass, which is all i really wanted.

Yea I quite like the system as is but with a bit more bass would be nice.. Yeah man maybe get some pics of it if you can. Im guessing your system is a DSP type?

Would I benefit you reckon if I just put in a better amp and upgrade to a sub later on?

I just dont like the look of having a sub in the trunk

Edited December 16, 2010 by RJS

[matt45 1]

Yea I quite like the system as is but with a bit more bass would be nice.. Yeah man maybe get some pics of it if you can. Im guessing your system is a DSP type?

Would I benefit you reckon if I just put in a better amp and upgrade to a sub later on?

I just dont like the look of having a sub in the trunk

Mine is Non-DSP, you cant really upgrade the factory amp AFAIK it has all the crossovers etc built in.

I dont really like having one in the boot either you can get "compact versions" the kicker ones are really good (altho exspensive) they have a nice skinny box that can be push back against the seats.