Hey all.

I finally got around to updating my system. I've got a 2005S and I had the HK which is decent for an 'upgraded' stock system but after my son shoved a handful of coins into the CD slot and fried the right output channel I decided it was a good time to upgrade.

I've had the HU in my garage since November and finally got around to getting the amp and speakers a few weeks ago. This past week was my first chance to get to work.

I went relatively low end for my HU but it's still got better features than the stock unit. I figure I can always upgrade to something really nice if I don't have to "upgrade" my car - as in sell the MINI.... kid #2 is on the way. At 6'5 with a wife at 5'8 AND TWO KIDS I don't know how this'll work out. Time will tell.

Anyway:

HU = JVC KD-G430 - $130
Amp = Alpine PDX-4.100 - $240
Rear speakers = Infinity Kappa 6x9 2-way - $125

I'm keeping the front speakers stock for now but their shortcomings are more evident now with the other new stuff. I'll probably go with Kappa 5" components to keep the stock look but I had to reel in my costs a bit so they'll have to wait.


Here's some pics:

XM adapters mounted under the dash shelf using velcro






I installed the amp in the boot cubby where the old HK amp was. It's a very tight fit but the Alpine PDX-4.100 is D class and runs at moderate temps. I'll let it run for a couple of weeks before I decide if it's really going to stay but a couple of others have installed it there with no issues so I doubt I'll have any.

The amp is mounted to the old HK amp bracket using an 18GA steel sheet metal bracket and a few nuts and bolts ($15 at Lowe's). The old HK bracket required a little bending to get a better fit.






One of the bolts that the bracket attached to had to be cut down about 3/4" to make enough room to make sure the amp would squeeze in. This is before I cut it.




Here's the bracket attached to the panel I cut out.








The new amp is in place. You can see the new 6x9 also. I didn't go with any extra sound dampening inside the 6x9 enclosure... maybe I should have but I was tired of waiting to finish. Stupid impatience!

All closed up.



The cubby cover will actually have to have the upper clips "clipped" a bit as the amp presses up the edge of the panel. C'est la vie. I could probably rework that, too. There's that impatience again.


Ultimately, aside from the HU, the system still looks stock. And I'm really glad I was able to stuff the amp in the cubby. My car's the family fun car but it's still a workhorse hauling stuff from the Home Depot and Lowes and that sorta thing so I really wanted to hide the amp (and not under the seat as I didn't want to have to run all new wiring. I kept all the stock amp-to-speaker wiring and I consider myself fairly discerning and I'm not disappointed with the sound to the rear speakers.

Now to get that $$$ so I can replace the door speakers....