Sub Enclosure Alternative from Sound in Motion
 

The folks of Sound in Motion who build my subwoofer box and probably one of the first boxes which mount into the factory location without modification are actually selling this "smaller" (space for a 10" sub) box.
The cost for the box is appr 1000USD (and before people start whining you need to know labor for this type of box is appr +16hrs). The box itself is build from MDF (no fiber glass!) and will fit into the OEM location and held in place via solid mounts.
I have no commercial interest in this but just wanted to pass on some info for folks who might be interested in an alternative from a reputable shop delivering top notch quality work. Sound in Motion can be reached via http://www.sound-in-motion.com/ or at 617.787.7744 (ask for Jim)

Below you'll find two pictures of the box itself

http://www.sound-in-motion.com/image..._subs/004a.jpg
http://www.sound-in-motion.com/image..._subs/004b.jpg


Hth,

Jan

Hey, Jan, what's your opinion of the HU-output-type-modification in this thread?

http://www.xoutpost.com/showthread.php?t=5002

Did SIM try this in your car?

Nope haven't tried it , but I did run across it when researching for my system. So far the best option seemed to be to work with the DSP amp as this would also avoid being too intrusive for the BMW OE system. I'd bet a dealer is less inclined to replace a HU if the DSP am has been removed (for example) ;-) ....

We might give it a try during the next "project" in the next couple of weeks (replacing the amps).

- Jan

That is indeed a nice box...but NOT $1000 nice :) I might consider one if it was sold at 1/2 price...even then, it's still expensive for an MDF box.

I'm certain this is a well-crafted box, and with making it out of MDF it certainly has a lot of shop time in its assembly. It certainly demonstrates that I was wrong about it being "impossible" to do out of MDF.

Hey Jan,

Would you be able to check with SIM and see what the volume of the box is. I just measured the depth of the area where the box would go and I can't imagine there being much cu. ft. if 3/4" mdf is used. If you can get the dimensions, I could figure out the cu. ft. Thanks

Well I don't want to start a long argument but you usually get what you pay for. It's a very labor intensive job and done right it will take a while.
However to each their own :) . If you add up the time it might take chasing all of the issues with a 1/2 price install/box it might turn out to be "cheaper" to do it right from the beginning :rolleyes:
Before I started in IT I spent +10yrs in high-end car stereo and electronics, I've seen a lot of bad installs (and done on the cheap), it's amazing what some people get away with. It is very hard finding a shop which one can trust installing a quality system (I had an offer from another stereo shop do the same install SIM did for half the price... Still went with SIM and no regrets).

Folks like Ken, SIM and others will stay behind their work and not bail if you run into problems/rattlers/issues.....


Just my 2cents,

Jan

Jan...I'm not arguing about it being a labor intensive project on any custom installs...it's far from it. I understand and respect that it DOES take time to do things right and I don't mind paying for it. I'm just saying that it should only take alot of time to do the FIRST enclosure, but that should only be on the FIRST one. After that, they should be able to crank it out pretty easily with all dimesions available and thus, should be able to lower the price that way (I'm sure they are much smarter than to "reinvent the wheel" on every enclosure they sell for the X5). And I do very much agree with you that "you get what you pay for". But I would have to want it really badly to spent my hard-earned $1000 on an empty sub enclosure...that's just my opinion :)