X5 Stealth sub using Basslink II sub

mattkins99 · #1 02-11-2012, 11:45 PM

So when my wife actualy said she wanted more bass in the X5 I knew it would be my first project. :-)

After reading some reviews here, I decided to buy a Basslink II off Craigslist hoping it would fit in the cubby hole behind the right passenger side panel in the back.... it didn't and worse, after hooking it up, it didn't work. In troubleshooting, I actually took the thing apart and found the woofer was ok, it but the amp was bad... so, I started looking again and found a Basslink one for cheap... At this point I was already planning to build a custom box, but this was cheap, I already had all the wires hooked up in the rear of the car so I could test it this time. I bought it and it sounded great...

But again, it didn't fit in the cubby in the back and I didn't like having it take up space.... So, I found this post http://www.xoutpost.com/558750-post10.html and my mind started working.... Here's what I ended up with. Note I first tried to carpet the box, however, it's so tight I couldn't get it to fit. I also wasn't able to put the fuze panel back exactly where it was before. On the right side the bottom is screwed into the top mount point.

Sub:

Sub hidden:

My wife either listens to the radio or her iPhone so I took out the CD Changer and the space made for a nice place for an amp rack (Sony amp I had laying around from years ago is 200 watts bridged but didn't have a crossover, which is needed, so the little box on top is a crossover I ordered off Amazon.

Blade69 · #2 02-17-2012, 04:48 PM

What type of headunit do you have? I used to install stereos years ago. Even built a few boxes myself. I have the wide Nav radio...from what I'm told, is a PITA to hook up aftermarket anything. After seeing this, I'm reconsidering. Just need to find out what I need in order to hook up an aftermarket amp to the existing system. What size is that sub? It looks like a Kicker.

mattkins99 · #3 02-17-2012, 05:40 PM

I have the 4:3 nav so you have the same Harmon Kardon amp from my understanding. See the wiring from here.

http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...ctory-amp.html

My amp didn't have line level inputs or a built in crossover, but most amps have that built in.... that's really all you need. From a wiring perspective, it's not that hard.

As for the sub, it's the 10" woofer from the Basslink II that I bought and found was bad. I figured what the hell and tried to build it to see if it would work with such a small enclosure (I crammed the box with polyfill) Right now it's great but building a new box with a new sub wouldn't be that hard.

Blade69 · #4 02-17-2012, 05:46 PM

Oh ok. Cool. I think I have my next project now. But just from my experience, if you put too much polyfill in, it won't sound as good as the woofer need space behind it to move BACK and forward. Also the bass should be a bit "boomier", but still tight. Did you port the box at all?

mattkins99 · #5 02-17-2012, 05:53 PM

no, no space. I think it's a little over .5 cubic feet of airspace per the measurements from the link in my first post.

Blade69 · #6 02-17-2012, 05:58 PM

Hmmm....then believe it or not....a 8" may sound better. I'm going to do a little more research on it.

mattkins99 · #7 02-17-2012, 09:35 PM

I think it just depends on what the woofer is designed for. the pioneer in the link above is designed for this small of a space so that's probably what I'd go for if this sub blows. I'm not that worried though... the X5 is my wife's car and though she wanted more bass, she really doesn't play it that loud.

Blade69 · #8 02-17-2012, 11:01 PM

LOL...yeah...ask for it and don't use it.