Well Gang,

Directions arrived tonight and I took the day off tomorrow to do the install. Will do my best to document and if all goes well, I will be listening to it the same day. Stu has a head start and already posted some helpful pics. I hope to do he same. First impressions will follow.

Also, once installed, if anyone in the Bucks County PA or Mercer County NJ areas would like to hear the system, I would be happy to oblige.

Mark

 

Hi All,
Added a few more pix to Flickr, only have about 2 hours each night work on it then up at 5:00 for work again the next day… I’m taking my time and wrapping all wires and soldering all connections. I relocated the Subwoofer controller to the panel under the steering wheel which works much better for me since I have my Radar control mounted in the other location. More pix will come. They are in no particular order since I just got the instructions tonight so the pix are a bit jumbled up; Kevin gave me heads up on what to start on that didn’t really need too much instruction but now I can get the other stuff done that I’m not as sure about with the instructions which are very clear and legible. I hope some of the pix can help others or at least be interesting to some...
Enjoy,
Stu
http://www.flickr.com/photos/digital...7629768965607/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/digital...7629768965607/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/digital...7629768965607/

 

Good luck on it tomorrow Mark , I guess you will be jamm'n before me...... but I'll get there hour by hour

 

My install was FAR from plug and play and I could have gotten it done in a weekend so Kevin's kit sould go pretty quickly. I look forward to everyone's thoughts on it.

 

QS, I could get mine done quicker but limited on time during the week as I only have a few hours each night after work and it takes the first 30-45 min to get back into what I was doing the night before…lol. What type of system did you do QS (do you have pix to share?), sounds like it was a lot more complex that what Mark and I are doing... I just liked the fact that Kevin’s was in fact a plug-and-play type system. 20 yrs ago I would have went crazy on an install but I’m just not as into it like that now that I’m older…. I still may do a little custom shelf just to make it a little different at shows but nothing too WOW, I like the fact that it’s an all stealth install. I will still have the option to put back the shelf the came with it for long trips that will have luggage in the boot..

 

I am in the thick of it now. So far about 3 hours plus and still lots to do. I will document a few changes to the instructions to help people out but so far everything is going pretty well.

This is a lot of work and I am following things exactly as documented in the instructions. If it weren't so darn cold out, I would be making better progress. Pics will follow!

Mark

 

lol @ Mark, it is a lot of work, but FUN!!! and when you do only a few hours a night it take almost 30-45min to get back into it then it’s time to start winding down for bed....I should have waited till Friday and Sat and just did the whole thing but we have a drive on Sat I would like to go on it so any little bit done during the week helps. What issues are you having with the instructions? So far everything i did before the instructions has been right and the steps after getting them have been pretty clear and straight forward, I only have a question on mounting the amp that I just sent off to Kevin.

 

I'm sure the Soundstage will be awesome. I just added the IA Subwoofer to my stock 10-speaker HiFi system and couldn't be happier (unless I had the full Soundstage, I guess). IA kits their stuff really well -- everything is labeled and organized meticulously. Yeah, I'd be tempted to jump into the install, but no use guessing wrong and having to redo anything. Good luck with the installs!

 

I know what you mean. When I was waiting on some pieces I kept doing little things that normally wouldn't take long at all but because I had to R&R a bunch of stuff each time it added a lot of unnecessary time to everything.

I do have pics I've just been lazy about posting them. It's more complex but only because it's a fully active system. Kevin's setup is tuned for MINIs so it doesn't require the complexity of mine.

I'm running this:
Alpine IVA-D800C
Alpine RUX-C800
Alpine PXA-H800
Alpine KCE-400BT
JL Audio HD900/5
JL Audio HD600/4
MB Quart QSD-210
MB Quart QSD-164
Sub will be either a Kicker C15d or a Soundstream SPL160 (either way, yes, a 15 in a Clubman ;0)

Nothing super fancy but it sounds great. Knowing the drivers in the SoundStage setup you're going to be very, very impressed. I've run the 4" and 8" of those drivers and I was not disappointed at all.

 

Well, I have spent all day and could not finish. I took it slow and took pictures. I have the speakers installed, amp installed, battery back in the car and just have to install the subwoofer and tidy up the wiring to finish up. Should be an hour or two tomorrow.

The instructions are pretty good but I found a few small things that would help to know.

1. When you go to take off the lower trim by the doors, the clips go both ways and you have to push one way for half and then pull another way for the other half. I think he hints at this but a little more help would have prevented me from breaking two clips.

2. You need to take out the driver's seat. It makes it much easier and since the car is so small it permits more room to move around.

3. The picture of the amp cutout is sideways. I started to cut but looked at it ten times until it was clear. Cut VERY carefully towards the front, that is where the fiber optic cables are for another accessory.

4. It makes it much easier to run all your feeds at one time. You will need to run feeds to and from the amp for line lever audio, the amp turn on lead and DO NOT forget to run the speaker wires for the tweeters in the A-Pillars.

5. Wires start to get pretty tight running along the outside edges of the car but they do seam to fit. I think the wiring diagram he provides is very clear and detailed enough.

6. Do not forget to make all of the amp adjustments he recommends before closing things up. It is pretty hard to reach the amp after the fact without removing the passenger seat and then you can't have the battery connected if the seat is out or you will get an Airbag warning and have to visit your dealer. On some of the installations the amp is in the boot and this would make it much easier to adjust.

7. Every wire and part is in the kit and very little is left to chance. Unfortunately, the speaker cable was missing from my kit. Luckily, I had some at home so no problem.

The kit specifies 8 hours to complete and I think that is very accurate. It will take longer if you take your time and try to take photos and have a neighbor stop by and missing a tool you thought you had and it starts to rain but your top is down and...........

I will finish up tomorrow and report back. I will also post photos. TBC!

Mark

 

More pics!

 

More!

 

yet more!

 

again!

 

looks great Mark, you got alot done, I didn't get much done as I had to take care of my Mom tonight.... and I guess i'm screwed on the airbag thing sine I drove the car back into the garage with the seat out....lol... oh well....just hope the dealer will be helpful with this....I saw "NOT TO DO THAT" after i had already done it.....

 

Mark - Heads up for next time or anyone else that has yet to do this, the door sill cover does not get removed by pushing or pulling left or right. That's only how you insert the clips into the panel. To remove the panel from the car the easiest way is to remove the door seal rubber and then push or pull the panel towards the middle of the car. I found it easiest to start at the rear of the panel and work my way forward. You might have a clip or two that slips out and stays in the car but you can just pop those out and put them back into the panel before reinstallation. This will ensure you don't break any.

Stu - Someone with a BT tool can clear it as well.

 

Thanks for the tip on the panels. I will double check the directions as he may have mentioned that but itcwasvnot clear to me. Sorry to hear about the airbag Stu. I was very careful about that.

Phase 2 today and I will complete. Stay tuned for final pcs and first impressions.

Mark

 

Added a few more pix for anyone intrested...not much done today...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/digital...7629768965607/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/digital...7629768965607/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/digital...7629768965607/

 

nice pics Fig and Stu, you guys are kinda swaying me to get this kit in the future.

 

Well Gang!

I have bad news and more bad news! I made a lot of progress on the system and went to complete yesterday but did not get any sound. I spoke to Kevin and we did some troubleshooting. Luckily, I have everything necessary to troubleshoot and Kevin was on the phone with me the entire time.

It turns out the wiring harness shipped with the kit is wired backwards. Nothing would produce sound but when we put the meter on the harness, we figured out why. He has sent out an email and is getting replacement harnesses out as quickly as he can. I am hoping that it will be hear tommorrow but that might be wishfull thinking.

I have installed all speakers, the sub and the amp. Right now my seats are out and the two side panels along the bottom are removed. Eveything else is back to normal. I thought I saw a CEL but just turned the car on and after setting the time, it seems fine.

The sub fits snugly and rather nice with the new panel in the boot. I will say you must pay attention to how it is supposed to be installed. The woofer goes on the left as you face the trunk. I almost had a heart attach after having drilled my car and mounting it to find out that the panel has a cut out for the woofer and I thought I had it in backwards. Luckily, I followed the illustration and all was fine. Maybe I am dense but just a heads up to people about to do this.

So far it has taken way longer than expected. The kit says 8 hours and that is possbile if you are very good, fast and things are all there. I probably could do another one in that timeframe if needed but I only have one Mini!

Since I don't have any sound, I can't give first impressions. I will take a few more pics soon and then, once the new harness arrives, I will post impressions of the sound. Kit looks factory once installed and you will never know it was upgraded once complete. I am totally into stealth and like that.

There are a few things I do not like and probably the biggest one is the recommended placement of the sub level control. It looks like crap double stick taped in the center console next to my aux in. Also it really doesn't fit well. I like Stuart's approach much better and may relocate it very soon. Luckily, you don't have to take much apart to do that.

I have had a few challenges with this install not related to my technical ability. I will post those with my first impressions. If the stars align, I might be doing so tomorrow. It would be nice to go for a ride with some music.

Mark

 

Mark - Sometimes things have to be done to the lowest common denominator. The gain control is a perfect example. Cutting carpet is one thing. Cutting a dash panel is something else entirely.

Having said that, I agree and an still trying to find a location I like for my JL's ****.

 

Thought I'd jump in here to answer any questions from others following this thread. As Mark noted above, there was a problem with the early harnesses (the part numbers for the connector ends were transposed in the assembly documents). We aim to have zero problems/issues, but unfortunately sometimes mistakes happen early in a production cycle or when changes are made. The amount of documentation required and the complexity involved in manufacturing and assembling these kits is quite high - there are over 100 items and more than 400 pieces in a full kit, coming from more than 40 different suppliers. I should mention that there are no concerns here for others - anyone with one of the problem harnesses was already contacted. Half the replacement harnesses were assembled and shipped today (Mark will have his in hand tomorrow), the rest will go out on Monday.

The Remote Level Control can be mounted in a number of locations. We've found under the center stack to be the best all-around location (Mark - it sounds like there may be an issue with the mounting on yours - it should fit nicely. Contact me directly and we can walk through it). Some folks have put them the center console/armrest area, but that complicates the wiring and is not a suitable "universal" method. Keep in mind that where Stuart has put his can be problematic for taller drivers knees and ability to reach the ****. Also, that "double-stick tape" is actually a 3M VHB tape with a specific adhesive - it is a very reliable, secure, and convenient mounting method. Versions of this tape are replacing rivets in many applications.

Mark also mentioned the installation time, that's something that will vary tremendously. Pro shops and very experienced installers can/will do it in less and some folks will take longer than the 8 hour guidance number. 8 hours is the best guidance I can give based on our time studies and experience. Personally, I think this stuff should be fun if you are going the DIY route, so I would urge folks to leave themselves plenty of time and enjoy the process.

If I can answer any questions for anyone, please let me know.

 

Hey Kevin! I was wondering when you would make time to chime in on this thread. I know you have been very busy making new harnesses and it looks like mine will arrive today via FedEx.

I understand that the location for the sub level control and some of the other things done in the kit are so the greatest number of people can install it. My center area right next to my aux in jack is sloped and only the underside of the toggle switch area is remotely flat. This makes the control stick out farther than I would like and makes the double stick visible. I am picky and everything else about the kit is completely stealth. No one would know it was ever installed unless they saw the power wire next to the battery. Not likely! It is easy enough to remount it somewhere else and there is some latitude in the wires.

As far as installation time, I would imagine if I had actually had everything in my kit and not run into some issues it would have gone a little faster. Also trying to take pictures to document it takes up a lot of time. This was supposed to be a fun one day project and I took a day off to play with my car. Unfortunately for me, it has turned into a several day project and I should be 100% completed today.

I am not complaining, it would have been nice if it went a bit smoother but I can not remember the last time I did a major mod and everything went super easy. I would caution people doing it themselves to make sure they have all the tools and all the parts laid out in front of them before they start. Have a couple of brews handy, calms the nerves and then dig in! I could do this MUCH faster now and have the mod bug again. Gotta see what else I can do to my Mini that is as cost effective a mod.

More thoughts later today so stay tuned!

Mark

 

I had to alter the placement of the sub volume control slightly since I already have a tiny garage door remote attached under the left side of the toggle switch panel. So I mounted the **** directly under the aux out "box". It is further back this way and less noticeable, and I figure I really won't be changing the level too often anyway.

I ran as much wire as I could yesterday, and today I take the door panels off and replace the speakers! I also seem to take a lot more time doing installs -I already had the sub, and it took me a long time. But since I had experience in taking off panels in the car, that part went much faster this time.

It is fun though, and I can't wait for the harness so that I can hear the finished product!

 

I have 1 question. Why would someone sell a complete kit like this with NO directions. I understand that if it was a straight forward install, but to tell you to wait for the directions baffles me.

On that note, I looked at StuRats flickr pics and it appears that you are doing a top notch install. Are tose crossovers that you you have wrapped in foam? Solderong all your connections, another sign of a quality control person. Hope it sounds good for you guys, let us all know. That looks like a shallow mount sub. Whose the manufacturer, and what kind of power can it handle safely?