Sorry all for the lack-o-communication about Sam's audio.

Long story short, I didn't get to take Sam home with me on Saturday.

They were willing to stay until the job was done no matter how late, but Rod suggested/offered to let me take their van home and he'd personally bring my MINI to me on Tuesday evening. He very well understood both my disappointment and not necessarily wanting anyone else to drive my car, however he wanted to be sure the job was completed to my, and their, satisfaction and not RUSH it. For a number of hours I resisted the idea but eventually went with it.

A few things to note:

Pictures

This wasn't their first job on a MINI, but was their first R56 and there are significant changes, especially the doors (mainly an issue for adding Dynamat).

Doing a full Dynamat of the doors appears to be a time consuming and involved process on the R56. It requires taking out the window and then the door internals which are one big solid piece (see picture 1-8 in my gallery to see the window-gut units after being removed - one is on the floor, the other is flat on the workbench). Putting everything back is also apparently quite difficult requiring more than one person.

The window needs to be adjusted/calibrated after being replaced (CAI has done this part many times on other BMW's).

Apparently Dynamat only needs to be strategically placed. It doesn't need to be covering every square inch to be effective.

In a non hifi audio system, the front speakers are made in the Ukraine and the rear 6x9's are made in Belgium. All of them are paper thin and very low quality even to look at. I took pictures of the new and old 6x9's side-by-side from the front and side.


On the plus side:

Rod is honoring their original labor estimate.

I didn't get to drive home with an acoustically enhanced Sam, but at least their full-size Ford van sounded better than the stock system in a MINI.

They have an additional two days to make sure everything is dialed in perfectly.

Since Rod will be driving Sam to me, if there is anything he notices during the 2 hour drive he can remedy it for me immediately.


Sam's temporary all seat delete:



-------------------------------------------------

Oh, and Robin, I was incorrect in my Roadkill/Dynamat comments. There wasn't any change made to my order, they just haven't upgraded their invoice system with a different part #. They've nixed Roadkill and favor Dynamat.

Welcome back to US soil Don.

 

OK. Just got a call about Sam.

I've been told that he's all done and "sounds phenominal".

Can tomorrow come soon enough :impatient :impatient

 

Better a delay than not getting it done right.

I've been reading about the difficulty with the door. Doesn't sound fun.

Yup, it mainly dampens vibration of the panel it is on, rather than being a sound barrier. However, not having any experience with where the strategic locations would be, I tried to put it everywhere I could. I think I added close to 20 lbs. of Dynamat.

I don't see a "made in..." on the HIFI 6x9s, but they do have a "GB" so perhaps they are made in Good Britain.

I'll bet they will be quoting higher prices for Dynamat in the doors on future R56 jobs.

Something about that looks very familiar.

Ah, so Roadkill isn't better than Dynamat? Or, do they favor Dynamat for other reasons?

Tuesday you should have Sam the Soundwise, and I will be installing Dr. Caligari's Cabinet. Let's hope it turns out to be a very sound day.

 

I knew I made the right choice by accepting the home delivery option, though it was very hard to leave Sam behind on Saturday night. I'm itching to hear my MINI music hall. I know it's all in the ear of the listener, but based on the amount of time I spent around the guys at the shop, I feel very comfortable believing the "phenomenal" comment.

These guys truly know their ****. I was at the shop almost the entire day on Saturday and there was a constant stream of people who were either repeat customers, or a referral. They would spend time talking to customers and answering questions and giving tips, even if the customer wasn't planning on buying anything from them. (Robin, there is a toll free number I know that you could call if you need some tips)

I don't remember the exact conversation about Roadkill vs. Dynamat, but I believe I heard a comment about the durability/thickness of the aluminum layer being better w/Dynamat.

You are correct Robin, I know for a fact that future R56 door jobs would be significantly higher than mine

Sweet, so you're going to be done with the final stage of your rear-seat delete and dialing in the tunes from your cabinet?

Curious though Robin, have you named your car Dr. Caligari or are you making some reference to either German expressionism, or the novel "Interface"? If you haven't named it, have you even picked a gender for him/her yet?

Did your 6x9 hifi speakers look any better than the ones out of Sam?

So, we going to have a sound-in soon? I'm sure I'll be up for a nice drive one of the coming weekends, if you'd be around maybe we could meet up in Carmel/Monterey for lunch?

 

I'm more and more inclined to have the front done by someone like them, but it may not be soon.



Yup. However, the only audo thing about the cabinet is 6x9s moved and replaced by Infinity Kappa 693.7i. No amps, no change to the other speakers. Some day...

No, just a reference to a horror film cabinet. This thing was a nightmare to make with multiple angle saw cuts that had to fit perfectly. Actually, its nickname during assembly was the Merrimac because it reminded me of a model of the Merrimac I built as a kid.

As for names for my MINI, it still hasn't told me what it wants to be called. I was thinking of Arthur Dent from So Long and Thanks for All the Fish, but the friend who helped me with the cabinet is named Arthur and he might take it personally. We were making this difficult cut on the table saw and each thought the other was watching the narrow strip of birch plywood that was being cut off... The saw sent it flying into the door of the MINI with enough force that the plywood shattered.

I was thinking of a name of a Celtic god, but they are mostly water deities, or gods of war.

Oh well, perhaps it doesn't want a name.
They look much the same. Perhaps the HIFI just adds an amp and four tweeters. On the other hand, they are supposed to be 2 ohm while the standard are supposed to be 4 ohm.

This weekend I finally go down to Los Angeles for a high school reunion (there were two, I missed the one last weekend). However, after that, I should have time. If you are inclined to come to Carmel for lunch, I can show you a nice run out Carmel Valley road to Arroyo Seca. Or, there is always Hwy 1 to Big Sur.

 

Wow, tell us more tonight after you see the finished install and hear your mobile MINI concert hall.

Great pictures, looks like a scary process best left to the experienced or strong hearted (Robin).

Please take some pictures of the finished install, it will be nice to see how they tucked away all the wires and bits.

Did you do any dynamat in the floors?

Emily, I bet you will be amazed.

And thanks for the welcome back, I had a great day Sunday after getting back Saturday night, but I'm having a sleep cycle problem for the past two days, just exhausted in the mornings so I sleep very late. Perhaps on Wed. back to normal.

 

O M G !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The difference is like night and supernova

Rod delivered Sam to my door around 6:30 (it was a freaky thing to see someone else pulling up to my house driving my Sam ). Rod showed me a few things and watched my glee with my first earful. We then gabbed a bit before he headed out in his van.

After finally prying myself out of the driver seat I headed into the kitchen to make something for dinner. Wouldn't you know I noticed that I was out of milk (I'd need that in the morning you know), I had to "force" myself to go back out to the car to drive to the neighborhood Trader Joe's.

Started driving and even though I didn't need to use the freeway to get to the store I hopped on 101. I was amazed by the fact that I could hear everything so clearly, even at a low volume. There was also this strange rumbling sensation that I believe they call base . Turning off the music confirmed that my MINI is now a very small 'luxury' car... not totally silent, but a noticeable improvement.

My quick spin to the market turned into a 20+mile freeway cruise.

Between ditching the runflats and now the dynamat, I'll definitely be needing cruise control, and NAV speed alert setting to keep me safe from the law. WAAAYY to easy to go fast and not notice it now.

Anyway, here are a few quick picks of the only real visible traces that anything was done: My subwoofer/amp stealth box with the lid on:


Amp and subwoofer without the lid.


Amp cabling. The amp/subwoofer box is tightly fitted in the bottom of the boot, but isn't bolted down. They purposefully have it this way so that in an emergency I can put down the rear seats and have enough slack to move the box to the seatbacks and access my tools and my full size spare.

 

Unixgal (nice name) I hate to admit it, but I've been anxiously waiting to find out what your finished job looked like. I'm really amazed at the great job they did for you, love the back lid, fantastic!

Hope you're enjoying your ride! I went to the East Bay dealer today for my first test drive of a Mini, got to admit it was a blast! Looking forward to getting my order in :-)

 

You outta figure out how to drive it into your house and listen to it inside too. I bet it kicks some serious ukw. Looking at the photos it doesn't seem like the type of job I'd be tackling with my buds after some Buds.

 

Thanks. The great job isn't just in how the box looks either as I'm sure you know. It does look awesome, and other than the raised logo through the carpet, it'd be hard to know that there was even anything under it. I asked if they kept the dimensions of the box, they could probably sell them as part of a kit.

Congrats on getting ready to pull the trigger and then wait for what seems like forever.

I still need to figure out how to drive (fit) my MINI into the garage, let alone the house.

I'm not a big window-rattling fan, but it sure is fun to be able to do it and actually "feel" the rhythm.

 

Looks so nice and I'm glad you found the sound was to your satisfaction. I wonder if these folks want to do some work in Boulder?

 

Congrats. I look forward to hearing it. I'm jealous of your Dynamat in the doors, not to mention the audio hardware. Do you have Dynamat in the floor of the front, and firewall?

My audio has a very long way still to go. I got the cabinet installed and I'm very happy with the way it looks and will function for cargo. Just adding the Kappa 6x9s is like the difference between night and twilight. The Kappas sound clearer, but it seems like the crossover in the amp is just sending them mid-range. All the bass seems to be going to the large speakers in the door. The front speakers sound pretty muddy.

Here are some photos of the cabinet. Man, is this thing difficult to photograph -- black on black with some white and silver. Arrrrg. The top part of the cabinet and the speaker box are metalic black. The wood trim is Ziricote. Below the Ziricote is what Crutchfield calls Subwoofer Box Carpet. It is some kind of polyester felt, much like the "carpet" in the back of the MINI.



The same "carpet" material is used to line the storage area behind the driver's seat. It will probably get used for canvas grocery bags. Or, perhaps gear shift *****.



I still have some work to do with the wires.

I'll put together a separate post with photos of the construction, when I get time.

 

Wow that looks totally awesome Robin. I can see the hours you put in. Mighty fine craftsmanship. Nice built in kleenex box holder... practicality and good looks.

btw... with the camera lense you've been using you create some interesting perspectives of your MINI. The one of your cabinet from the side makes your mini look the width of a Hummer.

I'll be looking forward to seeing your mods in person.

Oh and about the Dynamat, I'll have to ask about the firewall and under the drivers seat. I did my darnedest not to distract them too much so I only peeked in occasionally. I know for a fact that they put some in the compartment under the passenger seat, which is where they put the JL Cleansweep.

 

Here is a shot from the back.



Things like or mat board or my photo portfolio can slide under the cabinet for about 40" to the boot hatch. What you see in the foreground is the OEM Boot Box in the original boot area.

The back of the cabinet is "Stone" texture paint that has been over-sprayed with black metalic. The back of the speaker box is smooth metalic black paint. The floor has a black pile carpet.

The cabinet was made of Finnish Birch Plywod. The speaker box is MDF. The blue things under the speaker box are antivibration pads.

 

Thanks.

Nikon D2x with a 12-24mm zoom. No other way to get it all in.

So, you don't have DSC?

 

I do have DSC, though I don't know where the computer is. They did tell me that the hookup for Sat radio is pre-wired there.

As an aside: Has anyone heard a peep out of Gary? Seems to be MIA (or he just doesn't love us anymore). If you're out there Gary chime in. Also have a happy 2nd month-a-versary with Demi.

 

Y'all have me thinking "stereo system" in my 'vert now. :impatient :impatient :impatient

And here I was...for the last couple of months believing, "LT is pretty much done; exactly the way I envisioned her".

*sigh*

 

Hmm, I thought the DSC computer took up the space under the passenger seat.

 

Done ??!!?!?! is it ever really "done"..

But do I hear the rumblings of the next wave of mods is about to hit ????

 

Well, AMVIV is coming...we only have 6 months left. And you know how insane modding activity gets before AMVIV.

 

Oh.. so I should be "clearing my schedule" now !! Oh my ..

 

 

Blair is now huddling in the corner mubbling something ...

... mods .. mods ... mods... they are everywhere... how to.. stop... cant tell... need to win lottery to get more time .. for mods... yeah thats it....

 

You've figured out how to buy time with lottery winnings

I knew you were a talented Engineer and everything, but WOW, you can manipulate TIME!

 

Blair still mummbling....

win lottery.. dont have to work.... day time hours "free"... more time for mods.... yeah yeah .. that will do it... now... how to win the lottery??

Blair passes-out in the corner.. ......