BMW 325
This used to be Rod's daily driver, an E30 series 325.
This car had the torquey 2.7 eta motor in it, developing something like 170 ft
pds of torque at 2000 rpm. This had a host of mods in the suspension,
engine, drivetrain, exhaust, and a several sound systems (another testbed for
CAI) including one setup with dual Kicker XPL 12" subs, dual Kicker 6.5" vented,
and some high end Vifa then JL Audio coax's up front. Later the subs
changed to a single JL 12W3 and dual 8W3's all in their respective chambers,
amps have been Kenwood, then old Fosgate, then more old Fosgate. Subs
finally were a single Soundstream Exact 12 and dual MTX 6000 series.
That's how you learn about different setups and equipment, by trying several in
the same car. There are no other variables other than various system
settings. Each of these systems had strengths and weaknesses.
The front speakers were finally Soundstream Exact 5.2 2-ways. Very smooth. We'll miss the Soundstream that we used to love...they built some really nice speakers in the good old days. . The final incarnation in this car, before I sold it to my buddy Chad had 3 Rockford Fosgate Punch 200 amplifiers. About 800 really clean watts, from back in the early days of Punch fame... |
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The subwoofers are: One Soundstream Exact 12 12"
sub, in a sealed enclosure of 1.5 cubic feet, heavily stuffed with Acousta Stuf, and
within the same box, there are also 2 chambers each with one MTX Thunder 6000 8"
subwoofer, .367 cubic feet per side. I use Bass Box Pro software, it's been great. With
this enclosure, I get many benefits with plenty of rumbling low end and plenty of mid-bass
"punch". Great for rock and roll, new age music, modern rock, any well-recorded
classic rock, classical, jazz, the entire range really comes through. Head unit is a
Kenwood top of the line for 1999, with a Kenwood 10 disc changer under the driver's
seat. Stinger wire throughout, and flush mounted 1 Farad monitor cap One solid box! Lined inside (mat and spray) and out (Roadkill Pro mat), 3/4" MDF, glued screwed, braced and stuffed with Acousta-Stuf. |
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Hatchbacks are much easier to install subs in! The solid, airtight trunk of this car simply wouldn't allow the bass to freely vent into the interior. I couldn't hear much from the subs, excepted some muted, dull sound. The trick was to make an opening in the rear package tray that would allow bass to enter the cabin without any restrictions. I made an opening and fashioned a grill that looks pretty low-key on the rear deck. I listened to the system before and after, and the difference is like night and day. |
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