Home Forums Articles How To's FAQ Register
Go Back   Xoutpost.com > BMW SAV Forums > X5 (E53) Forum
Fluid Motor Union
User Name
Password
Member List Premier Membership Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Xoutpost server transfer and maintenance is occurring....
Xoutpost is currently undergoing a planned server migration.... stay tuned for new developments.... sincerely, the management


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-27-2020, 03:01 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Calgary, Canada
Posts: 2,191
Clockwork is on a distinguished road
Modifying factory sub box enclosure for 10" sub

Hi guys.
I know a few members have modified their boxes to accept a shallow mount 10" sub (I purchased an MB Quart Discus DS1-254 to play with, as it was new on Amazon.ca for $72) but I haven't seen any write-ups.
I'm still in progress with it but figured I'd share my journey with you, including pics.

I have a factory sub box in its hidy-hole but I hated the "sound" so I unplugged the harness and enjoy my aftermarket sub and box but as of late I'm noting, that even tho it's a low profile box, it's still taking up more room than I'd wish.
So whilst at a pick-n-pull spot, I got a broken sub box for free (was missing speakers already, and the bolt tab at top was broken, but all else was dandy...so I decided to modify that and if it sounds good, I will modify my factory one and use that in place of aftermarket setup. So here I am playing with the "busted" box first to see if it's doable with my sub selected.
I also read that since the factory sub box is tiny for a 10", you can make the sub THINK it's in a larger box by putting poly-fil inside to achieve better (larger) sound. I also read ppl push the loose poly-fil inside BUT that loose fill can actually lodge itself between the sub come and voice coil and heat up the sub and damage it, SO I decided to buy sheets of This poly-fil and spray adhesive it to the inside of box first. I did a few layers in the deeper areas and the lower body section.
Before any modifications, I put the speaker side of box onto a sheet of cardboard and traced outline of it. Easy.
Then I cut off the "higher elevations" of plastic till I had a flat perimeter. This took a while and was a PITA honestly. Cutting, grinding flat, checking flatness, regrinding more... Lather, rinse, repeat... I eventually got it.
I then had to determine the new sub cut out diameter and depth of sub and measure a few places inside box where the deepest and widest parts of box were.
Basically the new sub perimeter will be touching up against the lower BOX section as that's the deepest section of box.
So my cardboard template now needed a diameter cut out. Then it was done
Time to transfer this template to actual 5/8" thick MDF
I then used a clear adhesive. More expensive than DAP or other brands, for sure, but the cure time is much shorter than the 7-14 day cure time of others too.

ADVANCES: Aug 30, 2020

So I finally got back to cutting a 7cm by 7cm square out of the same 5/8" MDF to cover over the factory harness hole.
I also bought long Binding Posts (speaker terminals) and installed into new cut square block, after I measured out size of hole (approx 4.5cm) and then determined where to drill two holes for these binding posts.
I installed the modified box into my x5 sub area and then found out where I could mount the newly cut block with binding posts. Great success. No interference at all.
Then I removed the box and block with binding posts and then I (newly learned) soldered the 10 gauge wire to and then ran inside tiny hole.
I temp held the new block of wood to the box and then outlined it with silver sharpie markers to show where the adhesive.needs to at LEAST be.
Then I used the No More Nails Ultimate and smattered on the adhesive and pressed the two parts firmly for a few seconds. Then for good measure, I caulked the box perimeter.

In a few hours/tomorrow, it's time to mount my sub into box and then test

ADVANCES: Aug 31, 2020
OH SWEET JESUS, IVE CREATED A MONSTER.
This stereo is SICK, in a good way, not a Covid-19 way.
Super tight bass. ZERO rattles from box.
So glad I can hide my sub away now, giving me my trunk back.

PS: the black plastic tray that sits in front of sub box and the cargo shelf clips into, it needs to be trimmed for sub surround. See pic below.

ADVANCES: Sept 13, 2020
Finally cut the factory cover to make a hole for sub and then put a speaker grill over hole for protection. A pic showing how much of the front and bottom lip of cover that I cut (if I had my time back, I'd have made even smaller cuts on the bottom lip but in my application you can't see the extra wide cuts (mistake) so I'm happy.


Final Thoughts:
So extremely worth doing this (since I had the boxes) but now I'm torn, as this box was just meant to be a temp box to see if I enjoyed the sound and if so I was going to modify a perfect box. This box has no ear tab at the top so it can move in place and a bit of rattling from the entire box moving does occur from time to time.
So...do I find a way to attach the top of this box to the top bolt and secure tightly OR take my learnings and do totally same thing on another box? It's very time consuming and I'm thinking the Basser brand boxes have even more cubic ft interior as they don't have same curves as factory but are also more difficult to get into place apparently.
I'd recommend this to someone who HAS a good condition factory sub box already, but if a person needed to procure and then modify, I'd say just buy the prebuilt Basser brand box and be done.

Here are the pics finally.















__________________
I swear, my cars are like a girlfriend.
Sometimes its a rough ride, sometimes its smooth motorin'.
Sometimes she doesnt like how i treat her and sometimes i dont like how she behaves.
BUT at the end of the day, she loves it when I am inside her.

_______________________
'91 850i
'05 X5 4.4i
'09 Clubman S

Last edited by Clockwork; 09-13-2020 at 05:22 PM.
Reply With Quote

Sponsored Links

  #2  
Old 08-27-2020, 03:35 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,099
Purplefade is on a distinguished road
That actually looks pretty solid! Nice job with leveling the face of the factory box off, I'm amazed that you cut it flat, in my mind I was thinking build up the low spots, or lay a face over everything and then seal the gaps - your way will probably net you a much longer term solution and probably a better fit under the factory body panels as well - NICE JOB!!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-27-2020, 04:27 PM
crystalworks's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: SA, TX
Posts: 6,414
crystalworks is on a distinguished road
Cool project. Subbing for results.
__________________
2005 X5 4.4i Build 04/05 Maintenance/Build Log
Nav, Pano, Sport (Purchased 06/14 w/ 109,000 miles) (Sold 8/15 w/121,000 miles)


2006 X5 4.8is Build 11/05 Maintenance/Build Log
Nav, DSP, Pano, Running Boards, OEM Tow Hitch, Cold Weather Pckg (Purchased 08/15 w/ 90,500 miles)

2010 X5 35d Build 02/10
Nav, HiFi, 6 DVD, Sports Pckg, Cold Weather Pckg, HUD, CAS, Running Boards, Leather Dash, PDC, Pano (Purchased 03/17 w/ 136,120 miles)
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-27-2020, 09:28 PM
Purplecty's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Chicago NW
Posts: 849
Purplecty is on a distinguished road
Subscribed!
__________________
02 Imola on Black Dinan S2 4.6iS
00 RoyalRot on Sand/Black 740i Short Sport
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-30-2020, 10:48 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Calgary, Canada
Posts: 2,191
Clockwork is on a distinguished road
Ok, decent update.
I will continue to update the first post, so all info is in one post

Enjoy.
Getting excited to see if this is a bust or bonus.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
__________________
I swear, my cars are like a girlfriend.
Sometimes its a rough ride, sometimes its smooth motorin'.
Sometimes she doesnt like how i treat her and sometimes i dont like how she behaves.
BUT at the end of the day, she loves it when I am inside her.

_______________________
'91 850i
'05 X5 4.4i
'09 Clubman S
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-30-2020, 11:07 PM
crystalworks's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: SA, TX
Posts: 6,414
crystalworks is on a distinguished road
Nice work. Cant' wait to hear your opinion on the results. This is by far the cleanest way of getting good sound in an X5. Having a sub box in the corner that is, whether modified OE, or aftermarket box.

Interesting binding posts. Did they take to the solder fairly easily? Some of those I find I have to use acid and/or grind the gold coating off them before the solder will bind.
__________________
2005 X5 4.4i Build 04/05 Maintenance/Build Log
Nav, Pano, Sport (Purchased 06/14 w/ 109,000 miles) (Sold 8/15 w/121,000 miles)


2006 X5 4.8is Build 11/05 Maintenance/Build Log
Nav, DSP, Pano, Running Boards, OEM Tow Hitch, Cold Weather Pckg (Purchased 08/15 w/ 90,500 miles)

2010 X5 35d Build 02/10
Nav, HiFi, 6 DVD, Sports Pckg, Cold Weather Pckg, HUD, CAS, Running Boards, Leather Dash, PDC, Pano (Purchased 03/17 w/ 136,120 miles)
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-31-2020, 01:18 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Calgary, Canada
Posts: 2,191
Clockwork is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by crystalworks View Post
Interesting binding posts. Did they take to the solder fairly easily? Some of those I find I have to use acid and/or grind the gold coating off them before the solder will bind.
I actually like these binding posts.
I melted a drop of solder in the post/cup first.
Then, I was able to push the 10 Ga wire in the hollow post, about 1" and then I heated up the bottom side of the gold post, while the solder wire was pressed on top of 10 Ga wire and eventually the post and wire got warm enough to melt the solder into wire and to post. Seems like a solid connection.
Time will tell

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
__________________
I swear, my cars are like a girlfriend.
Sometimes its a rough ride, sometimes its smooth motorin'.
Sometimes she doesnt like how i treat her and sometimes i dont like how she behaves.
BUT at the end of the day, she loves it when I am inside her.

_______________________
'91 850i
'05 X5 4.4i
'09 Clubman S
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 08-31-2020, 01:56 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Calgary, Canada
Posts: 2,191
Clockwork is on a distinguished road
My other option for wiring the sub to box and box to external amp wiring, was to use the factory harness and connector BUT those wires are much smaller gauge and also the connector was meant for a smaller 6" set of subs and those will not be as violent on the plastic connection as the single 10" (if it works properly) will be, hence why I decided against reusing factory harness and connector.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
__________________
I swear, my cars are like a girlfriend.
Sometimes its a rough ride, sometimes its smooth motorin'.
Sometimes she doesnt like how i treat her and sometimes i dont like how she behaves.
BUT at the end of the day, she loves it when I am inside her.

_______________________
'91 850i
'05 X5 4.4i
'09 Clubman S
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 08-31-2020, 09:53 AM
Member
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: florida
Posts: 171
tmat1977 is on a distinguished road
heres is my set up

eonon stero with ibus usb dsp dummy signal aftermarket stealth box and amp in driers side cargo bin

check out my video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3XOwNBQTUc
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 08-31-2020, 01:33 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Calgary, Canada
Posts: 2,191
Clockwork is on a distinguished road
All done. Post 1 updated!!

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
__________________
I swear, my cars are like a girlfriend.
Sometimes its a rough ride, sometimes its smooth motorin'.
Sometimes she doesnt like how i treat her and sometimes i dont like how she behaves.
BUT at the end of the day, she loves it when I am inside her.

_______________________
'91 850i
'05 X5 4.4i
'09 Clubman S
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:54 PM.
vBulletin, Copyright 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
© 2017 Xoutpost.com. All rights reserved. Xoutpost.com is a private enthusiast site not associated with BMW AG.
The BMW name, marks, M stripe logo, and Roundel logo as well as X3, X5 and X6 designations used in the pages of this Web Site are the property of BMW AG.
This web site is not sponsored or affiliated in any way with BMW AG or any of its subsidiaries.