Convertible Ski-pass Subwoofer...custom install

Hey guys,

I know my vert bros will appreciate this. I wanted to have more bass in the car but I didnt want to takeup trunk space seeing as how we barely have any already. My only option was to buy the BSW ski-pass subwoofer set up for like $699. Fvck that, I decided to create my own ski-pass sub box.

So here you have it. A 10" kicker sub (free air) providing me with lotsa bass, even with the top down on the highway! Its clean, compact and stealthy. It sounds great and Im so happy I built it myself (with help from a friend whos an engineer)....

hey, i have the exact same sub in my vert!!

Nice. Can you cover it back up for a stealthier look or does it need to be out in the open?

DAC

Originally Posted by EVMadman

Nice. Can you cover it back up for a stealthier look or does it need to be out in the open?

DAC

Like mine?.......

both look good. nice work fellas.

Originally Posted by bngu1

hey, i have the exact same sub in my vert!!

Nice! Did you do a ski pass sub box also? Post up some pics??

Originally Posted by EVMadman

Nice. Can you cover it back up for a stealthier look or does it need to be out in the open?

DAC

Yes I can cover it up no problem. Suprisingly it still sounds good covered up

here is my setup in my 330Ci Vert. i used those "Great Stuff" foam sealant to seal the edges that's why you see all that extra stuff at the edges.

Originally Posted by bngu1

here is my setup in my 330Ci Vert. i used those "Great Stuff" foam sealant to seal the edges that's why you see all that extra stuff at the edges.

Same place i put my amps. I figured in the Florida heat that they would go into thermal overload protection but it has yet to happen. I was going to add a fan but so far no need to. I Have a similar kicker amp but mine is 600x1 had that thing for over 10 years and still going strong.

Are all of these setups on Harmon Kardon units? if so, is it as easy as swapping the factory sub with an after market one?

Nice upgrade guys!

Originally Posted by ap123ap

Are all of these setups on Harmon Kardon units? if so, is it as easy as swapping the factory sub with an after market one?

well, i have HK but i swapped my Head Unit out with an Alpine Double Din

I need one of these boxes they look great! Was thinking of going with the square kicker though - is there an advantage or reason you guys picked those subs? Who wants to make another box?

Originally Posted by M3man2001

I need one of these boxes they look great! Was thinking of going with the square kicker though - is there an advantage or reason you guys picked those subs? Who wants to make another box?

for one, it is cheaper. the other thing is that i chose that sub because it is free air so it works virtually in any setup.

Originally Posted by ap123ap

Are all of these setups on Harmon Kardon units? if so, is it as easy as swapping the factory sub with an after market one?

I have the HK system, and left the stock amp in place, still driving the front and rear door speakers. My Kicker amp drives only the sub. Mine's not as clean an install though- looks really good, may have to build something like this too.

Originally Posted by Adamo99

I have the HK system, and left the stock amp in place, still driving the front and rear door speakers. My Kicker amp drives only the sub. Mine's not as clean an install though- looks really good, may have to build something like this too.

cool. so where did you take the audio feed for the amp? did you just use the feed that was going into the stock sub?

What the...you can pull that thing between the two back seats down?

Originally Posted by ap123ap

cool. so where did you take the audio feed for the amp? did you just use the feed that was going into the stock sub?

Wondering the same thing - I have the stock HK system and my sub doesn't even seem like it works - just going with an aftermarket sub and amp seems like a good start. How did you feed it?

I took the audio feed from the full-range signal being fed into the stock HK amp, and ran it to my Kicker amp. (700.5, I think- it's a 5-channel amp, but I'm only using the subwoofer channel for now). The Kicker amps are great, because you don't need any line-level converters, adapters, or anything. Just tap into the signal wires, connect some RCAs, and plug right into the amp.

I used the instructions from the BSW installation guide for the BSW ib110 subwoofer system:
http://www.bavariansoundwerks.com/pr...e-M3-3-Series/ - look under 'install info', and download the PDF.

Did you remove a ski bag or just punch out the sheet metal?

If you removed a ski bag, let me know the dimensions of it and I might buy it from you for $75.

^^ not sure if this question was directed at me, but the HK system in my vert had a subwoofer that swung open and closed to allow for skis/etc to be passed through the opening. No sheetmetal blocking the subwoofer opening.

I merely unscrewed the subwoofer assembly, disconnected the wiring harness, and removed the whole thing. Right now, I have a small subwoofer box that sits in the trunk, taking up a bunch of space, so I'd love to build it into the opening with some MDF and a free air driver, like the examples above.