Today was the day for the BSW sub install. I think I mentioned I purchased it in 2016- I didn't recall that it was nearly a YEAR ago in Feb, 2016. Well.. I *was* in the middle of a full-on kitten herding exercise with my home audio and maturing smart home project. This bit of speaker diddling with the car is nothing compared to the 12-year-long smart home process. Tons of work, many iterations, and there will be more. But that's a story for a place where we don't talk ab E53's.

The sub install was probably the easiest of them all. If you've ever been under the spare tire cover, or installed anything like a Bluetooth ULF, you'll be familar with the process for gaining access. Even if not, BSW's YouTube videos are still around. Follow them as closely as you need for the install.

The only things we needed to alter were a notch on the positive battery terminal and a similar notch on the module cover in front of the battery. Once notched, the cables needed to power the sub are easily routed. Again, the BSW instructions won't betray your mission here.

Comments ab the BSW amp: Yeah, it was a year ago. But I never broke the seal on the boxes. What we found is that the amp they sent had been installed on something, somewhere. The paint on the mounts was scratched as it would be from the most basic mount.

Indeed, when we got to the physical hookup, one of the terminals was stripped and would not clamp the speaker cable. This realization was aggravating, but it was solved by stripping the copper out of extra wire and using it to tighten up the threads. Also, one of the mounts had a screw stuck in it that looked like it's been cut off its mount. We cut the screw and were able to back it out. Not a new amp, that is for sure. I was dissapointed even if I'd bought on clearance. I didn't understand I was getting a unit from BSW that was used.

Anyway, once installed, it was time to fiddle with amp output and step-down balance. As shipped, the damn thing sounded like it was meant to rattle windows in other cars. It sounded like @ss. A few minor adjustments at the amp (tiny screws), and we were doing better. But it was still a bit too 'thump' for me. The step-down has a couple dials you can tune as well. In the end, it sounds pretty good and fills in some of that low that was missing. I can say that it was not at all worth $500 (to me) for the BSW sub.

But, like I said, I chose it. I'm not going to sell it. I might as well get the damn thing out of my storage room and into the car where it belongs. It also allowed me to button up the full speaker upgrade, satisfying my curiosity about what I'd learn through the whole thing.

I have thoughts ab an observation off to the side of this project. I'm not ready to share them bc I don't know if it's possible. I will look into it as I can and share what I've learned.

Sub installed- mostly.

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