I've seen other threads for the standard MC but none specifically for our beloved R55s. I want to do an install and was just looking for ideas. The Navigation and Audio threads have great info on technical data but I'm looking for some visual inspiration!

Please Help!

 

With all the room in the hatch under the floor, doing something hidden would be very, very easy. I'm going to try and go under the front seats.

 

Here are a few shots of my rear hatch area. Its a 5 channel amp powering alpine speakers all around. I quite like the setup and you've never know that it was there except for the huge increase in sound quality from the crappy factory system. It won't rattle neighbours windows, but that wasn't the goal

Here is the hatch normally

Here's the sub and amp

 

i don't know anything about car audio, so here comes a dumb question.

with the amp and sub mounted directly in the floor does that mean you can't really put stuff in the back? wouldn't anything on the sub, especially, run the risk of damage like puncturing the cone?

 

If I didn't have the floor above the sub (the flat floor that is part of the travel package) keeps everything safe. I haven't put anything super heavy in the back, but I've stored things such as my bike, camping gear and groceries and there has never been an issue.

 

fair enough, thanks.

 

Could you post your box design and let me know what you use for an audio source (factory unit (speaker level line-in) or aftermarket headunit?

I just purchased a rockford fosgate 8" sub and it calls for a small 0.23 cu.ft box so I'm pondering building that and placing it down where the spare tire would be (I don't have one, I have runflats).

 

Well I went ahead and built my box anyway.
The Rockford Fosgate 8" sub is perfect for me. It has a nice punch and is more than enough bass for my needs. The best parts are that I can take it out in a couple seconds and I didn't have to lose any part of my normal storage area.

Note: The box for the sub is actually very small. What you are seeing is a top plate that covers the spare tire area. I made that entire board the top of a small box that sits in the foam tray that is where the jack is kept (still there too!)

Sad blurry pictures below :(

 

I've finally made some progress with this.

You can see some pictures here.
http://www.exackley.com/2012/03/03/subinsparetire/

Feeling good about it all so far. Been fun, but man it has been a long time since I've built a speaker box. This one isn't pretty but since it won't be visible, I don't care too much, just needs to be strong.

Since the shape isn't exact, I'm not sure how much cu/ft of space I have, but I'm sure its more than .50 which is the minimum for this speaker.

I do have one question, does anyone else get moisture in the spare tire well? I can't figure out where it's coming in. I don't want this box getting wet. I guess I could paint it to seal it?

More coming as soon as I can get some more time.

James

 

If you need to seal it use fiberglass resin. Paint takes FOREVER to seal MDF because it's so porous.

 

When I bought my MCS R55 I had a puddle in the trunk. So far I attribute the water from someone blasting the back doors with a power washer. I skip the touchfree car wash to keep water from getting in and do it myself.

Since water in the truck was on my mind when I built my box, I made it out of MDF, sealed all the seams with silicon. Then when it was dry I coated the entire box (inside and out) in a truck bedliner coating. It came out awesome, it's bulletproof and waterproof.

My box also is .23 cuft, so it actually sits in the foam tray that sits in the spare tire well, so the box isn't on the floor either. It's worked flawlessly and the sub pounds much better than anticipated for an 8".

 

Hello again,
Made some more progress today.

The sub and box are in and I even did some prep in the area where the amp is going to go.

I ended up doing something similar as 2hondafreaks. I had a can of rubberized coating and used that. Probably not quite as strong as the bedliner, but I'm sure it will seal just fine.

You can see my pics here.
http://www.exackley.com/


James

 

Here's my set up

 

That looks like a really nice setup, the custom tuning that you would be able to do would be great. I just couldnt give up my trunk space, too hard to carry the gear of a 2 year old already.

 

It took me awhile to find out the setting that I wanted (4 months?). The Harman sound system sound good, but I really wanted more power, clarity and brilliance. Set up is 10" RF sub RF amp 200w bridged to power it, RF 4 channel 400w amp to power Polk audio 3 way 6x9, polk audio 6" midbass, 3 1/2" Boston acoustics for vocals, JL ZR for the front pillars, extra JL ZR for the back.

 

Thanks.

 

http://www.exackley.com/2012/04/24/m...b-almost-done/

I am very happy over all. I’m really surprised it sounds this good with only using the speaker level outs with a relatively cheap amp/sub.

If anyone is interested, the MB Quart ONX1.1000D is just about the biggest amp you can fit in that space.

Now as always I just wish I had more EQ/Level control. The 45hz boost helps, but not always what I want. It will have to do for now. Oh I for got to take a pic of the boost controler, I mounted if just next to the shifter, down low. Nice spot.

I planned on getting more power than I’d need and I was right. But that’s ok, I like to run things like this at 60% anyway, especially when they are on the cheaper side.

James

 

How many cubes of air do you have in the box

 

I'm not exactly sure, I never filled it to test.

The facts I do know are.
About 22" round inside.
But with a "flat" edge (towards the back of the car) so not a full circle.
Nearly 6" high inside.


James

 

Hey guys, I've been looking over the pics and the look very good. But are there other options. At the same sense, if you want the best you pay for the best. I'm also thinking about time & money. When I was younger, I would do all my work. With kids & work in the stream of things. My time & money is very limited. I would like to upgrade the sound system but what would be the best way.

 

No worries. You could easily build a support scaffold to wedge between the cover and the floor. Just make four thin wooden slats and cut a notch to clip them together. It would take less than 10 minutes to cut one up and it wouldn't even weigh more than a large pizza with everything on it.

 

Any more pics of subwoofer boxes made to fit in the spare wheel well of a Clubman?

Thanks

 

Hello,
I didn't end up keeping that blog up to date.
Here are all the pics I have of my sub install, as well as a few other pics.
http://photo.exackley.com/Cars/2010-...1440694_N29QJ3

 

Thanks for the pics, looks great, trying to do something with the amp in there too.

 

10tw3 with powerwedge and JX500/1

Top closes and barely sits on the grill, so going to try and find some rubber weatherstripping to put down on the rails to slightly elevate the cover.