Shortcuts and Recommendations/Suggestions for Installing a Stereo in the X5

[justben]

My car is a 2001 3.0i non-dsp with the following:

Kenwood KDC-x794 Head Unit w/iPod interface
CDT 6.5" Components up front and 6.5" coax in back doors
8" Kicker 2 ohm L5 in separate box (for now, getting ready to do custom box to hide the sub)
MTX Thunder 6504 75x4 and MTX Thunder 2301 Class D amps

Here are a few things to let people know about when I think back on my car stereo install, some advice:

1. Buy extra door panel fasteners - you can never have too many and are almost guaranteed to break at least one.

2. Be VERY careful when hooking/unhooking wiring harnesses. replacements are expensive and you will pull your hair out looking for the problem.

3. DO NOT buy a wiring kit. Piece one together. You only need about 5' of power wire and ground wire. The battery is located in the trunk.

4. Run an extra ground wire to your head unit if you are going to ground your amp(s) to the battery to eliminate ground noise.

5. 5.25" or 6" speakers are the easiest to install.

6. ***Cut the part of the speaker baffle between the speaker and door to mount your speakers and LEAVE IT OFF. It improves sound quality tenfold. A demonstration: talk to someone with your hands cupped around your mouth then remove your hands. Which one sounds better? The same can be said when installing aftermarket speakers in the door. This made more difference than anything else I did.

7. ***The wiring harness that is recommended and sent by crutchfield is the INCORRECT harness. The one you want is for a 2002-up vw/audi/bmw (at least for a NON DSP bmw like I have)

8. Be prepared to spend an entire weekend working on your stereo if you want to have it done right.

Thanks for reading and feel free to post/pm with questions/sugggestions.