Custom Fit 10" Subwoofer Enclosure
 

Just browsing on eBay and came across this little gem. It's a custom subwoofer box for the X5. I can see the company has sold 10 of the enclosures so surely somebody on here has some experience with it?

How easy was installation? Was the fitment ok? Difference in sound from stock?

BMW X5 E53 1999 2006 Custom FIT MDF 10" SUB BOX Subwoofer Enclosure Bass | eBay

I might give one a try next week!

I'm one of those ten that purchased, i love the sound. The install was the easiest thing i've done on my X5, although that last inch getting it to drop took a little persuasion. Fit is perfect once you drop it in, you might need longer screws for the fuse assembly above it.

May I ask what subwoofer you're running with it? Also where did you mount the amp?

I'm using a Pioneer TS-W254R and installed my amp on the reverse side, after i removed all the dvd and mounting rail.

Damn it, now I want one

I have a BSW subwoofer box that I no longer use..pm me if you have. Any questions

Those look slick... 0.4944 is decently good for a ~300w 10" sub. I wonder what the max top mount depth is. Stuff some polyfill in there and your sub will sound even better. Might have to consider this...

hmobe53, any other details you can share about it? Does it come with that nifty looking grille?

Edit: How much was it to get it to the states from the UK?

Tried to PM you but your inbox is full. :nanana:

Try again. It is fixed!!

Shipping cost to Australia would be a deal breaker.

Now I want one too. Do you need to cut a hole in the panel with the grill to get it to fit or is that opening just for better sound?

Referring to this picture:
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/FawAAO...cS/s-l1600.jpg

I am willing to bet you have to cut the hole to clear your sub. Otherwise they wouldn't include it. I'm guessing on that, but BSW didn't include one because they didn't have to. I made my own grille panel like that and the BSW setup sounds a lot better.

They may just be including it for sound quality, but I'm guessing they need the extra clearance for the 10" sub as opposed to BSW's 8".

Thanks - I kinda figured that as well, but was just hoping otherwise. I don't mind cutting the hole if it's absolutely needed for optimal sound quality but it would be nice to make that assessment first (i.e., listening w/ and w/o the panel on) before making the leap to cutting up the panel. Can anyone that's installed this, confirm whether the grill is needed?

The JL Audio Sub is 10" and fits perfectly in the side well and does not need a grill spacer as the one from RadioWorld. Essentially it sits stealth behind the OEM side well cover. If you chose to add a speaker grill then one could do this but is not necessary.

I assume you mean the JL Sub "Stealthbox" for E53's and not a 10" JL Subwoofer with eBay box from the UK in the original post? At $600 for the Stealthbox, I was hoping for a cheaper option that didn't sacrifice the panel (e.g., $100+50 for shipping the UK box + $100-150 low profile 10" subwoofer).

You get significantly better sound quality (+ a few db's as well) by cutting the hole in the panel. From my experience it also helps to reduce rattles in that right side area. For example, I used to get horrendous rattle from my fuel door until I cut the hole in the panel. And that's just the 8" BSW version. YMMV though.

Yes I am referring to JLs stealthbox. I picked up mine for $325. Yes the regular MSRP is pricey but a perfect fit and large enough subwoofer. I like a system that blends in with the surroundings of the X5 environment. If I were to cut a hole I would do as Crystalworks did on his application. A factory like integration

Got it. Nice find on the $325 Stealthbox (cheapest I've seen is $549). I hate the thought of spending that much money on a stereo upgrade to a 10yr old car, but I agree with the factory-like integration and OEM look. If I built the box myself it'd probably look like a 6-year old's birdhouse.

Apologies to the OP for "stealing" this thread. Lots of options to think about. Thanks.

I failed to think about the cutout! I'd prefer not to cut out the stock compartment lid. However to gain better sound I guess using a more stock looking grill would be ok. I personally think the grill they've used in the eBay listing looks terrible. Something along the lines of this might look better IMO:
http://www.woofersetc.com/media/cata...kte-10g_2_.jpg

Yeah that looks much more in line with the interior of the X5. If you are going down the route of cutting a hole in the trim, just acquire a interior side access panel from the wrecking yard and cut one of those and save the original for future vehicle sale. That way you get the best of both worlds.

The one I used is a cheapie from Ebay. If you used some grille cloth behind it though... would be a great OEM look. Even without the cloth I am pretty happy with it though.

http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/o...C_0035%202.jpg

Looks great! Considerably better and more OEM than that eBay pic.

This site has saved me a lot of research time and it's a good source of opinions and experiences. I thought I'd throw my two bits out there as a new member. I had an 8 inch powered Bazooka tube that I originally had in my 993 before upgrading the sub. The X5 stock stereo was good enough that I added the Audiovox Media Bridge ($150 + $50 install) to integrate my iPhone/ipod and added the Bazooka ($40 install) to the existing system and threw it in the back. For me, that was a good balance of $ and sound for the X5 as a daily driver shuttling kids/dog around and running errands.

But having just finished the stereo project on our e30, I thought about adding a 10" sub to the X5. With technology getting better and cheaper, I thought this $100-$150 option might be a good one instead of spending $600+? on a BSW system.
BassLink - Infinity US
or P300-12 - Punch Single 12" 300 Watt Amplified Subwoofer | Rockford Fosgate®
for less than $200.
It won't thump like the e30 but it could come close (I think) to the BSW 8" (although It definitely can't improve on the fit of the BSW).

I like a subwoofer that is a custom fit enclosure to fit where the OEM system resides so that no loss of rear cargo space is encountered. The JL stealth for the X53 fits well and sounds incredible in the X5. Yes it does cost more than some of the aforementioned subs but custom fit and performance is always going to be this way.

so whats your review on the sound quality of this?
its an amazing price and good looking box (which sadly will be hidden)

I would find a "sacrificial" side panel at a wrecker and cut it up. that way if I didn't like how it sounded / looked, I'd still have the original to reinstall! Ive been lazy and haven't installed my sub yet, I think its the longest "subwoofer install in progress" in history! lol! might have to get on it! thanx for the push!!!

So where y'all placing your amps?

Looking for ideas as I am bit by the bug and planning to upgrade the low end with a Polk MM1040 in the stock box and maybe go all out with a full active front stage which will have me needing 5 channels of amplification.

I want to have it all hidden and been pondering where to put the amps for a while now and I'm stumped!

I placdd my (subs) amp behind left rear removable panel

if my spelling sucks in this post its cause im typing on a tablet.

No worries CW, not a gramer natzi. :)

Yeah thats something I forgot I saw somewhere, thank you for bringing that up! So an amp there wont hit the CD changer and the bracket? Been looking at amp dimensions and they run about 2" tall nowadays.

You'll need to remove the CD changer and bracket in order to install the amp there, unless you can find a small amp that you can rigged to be mounted on the extra slot(s) above the CD changer. The alternative is to remove one of the floor plastic trim and put the amp there (I believed this is how Bavsound recommended on amp placement on their install) - But I'm a stickler for having all the stock pieces in place.

I'm intrigued and is very temped to update my setup to this (inexpensive box that looked fairly well made) - will definitely free up a some of the trunk space back. But too lazy to move my amp over to the other parcel (currently resides in the right parcel where the stock sub is located).

Oh I should state I don't have a C changer (and this day and age neither should you) 😉

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Thanks dkl for the insight!

The area bavsound made mention to is one of the places Im looking at, but few of the amps I am considering fit there.

I also need a place for one more 4-channel for the front stage.

Need to poke around some more back there and see if I can find a place to stuff it in.

Cw, yeah, changing out casette tapes isnt so hard, I'll just get that tape holder insert that fits in the center console. :D

For those who bought this RadioWorld subwoofer...Any updates/reviews and install pics?

I will sell my BSW box for cheap...pm me if interested

Your box is full.

Cleaned up

After all these years, how are people feeling about the cheaper e-bay boxes?

Hey Guys, have you ever thought about placing an Active-Subwoofer in the spare-wheel compartiment?

Just as a suggestion, this is how I got more Bass in my truck.

I am very happy with this solution, great acoustics and easy connecting to the battery and speaker tap-off from the radio-module.
And it's 100% Stealthy!

AXTON AXB20STP

Hey all,

In the process of installing the eBay stealth box and Im wondering if anyone else has had issues with fitment due to the gas-door locking mechanism.

My box doesnt seem to fit right and Im thinking its hitting the bracket for the gas-door lock.

I wouldnt do this myself as I wanted to keep the spare wheels/tire for emergencies