Hmmm,

from what little information i can find on the BMW amps it looks as if there is a hig/low impedance input switch. make sure that it is set for HIGH impedance input. This is what is needed for the amp to not overload the OEM head unit.

Also why did you go for such a high wattage amp. This may be part of your listening enjoyment problems as the amp is just to powerful for and will over power the low wattage of the OEM amp. The gain on this amp is just to high to use as a sub woofer amp for the car. You probably should have gone for something in the 300-400 watt range so that you only had a gain of 9 db instead of 18 db of this amp.

Now if you had an amp tha twas pushing 200 watts a channel for the front and rear channels then this may be an appropriate amp but not for the OEM amp that only pushes 25 watts front and 40 watts rear.

 

Definitely right, this amp is too powerful. The only reason I went with this amp vs a smaller one is that they were sold out of the smaller one, and gave this one to me at the same price.

Since I moved the crossover to 100'ish, I haven't had the amp clip again. This weekend there's a Hispanic Heritage festival here on Fort Carson, with a car show and car audio competition... I am not hispanic, nor is the MINI, but I am thinking about entering the car in both competitions just to see how she does. Everything is unexpected with the MINI, she just might do ok! LOL...

Thanks for the input!

 

Ok all I just recreated this situation in mine... I have the hifi and tapped the signal before the amp... Guess what!? Mine will distort the stock amp and shut it down when you turn it up a little!!! Unless someone can figure out another option we will be forced to tap into the post amp signal...

 

Ok, I fixed the problem, apparently a aftermarket amp (not all) produce enough signal noise from the RCA's to cause problems with the stock amp. Even though the x9331 is non amplified I still added a LOC to the mix (connected to the female side) and my distorted sound and the stock amp shutting down no longer occurs. I assume the electronics (caps/resisters) keep the feedback from the aftermarket amp from going back to the stock amp and it stays clean and clear! I am so much happier with my sub stage!!!