Speaker Cut-outs

[e30pwr]

Well, I bought my 325 with a burnt out stock radio unit. So I'm just going to replace all of the speakers and HU. But for the speakers I am looking to go to something bigger in the rear deck. I have a 4dr so There are only 4" in the back. How much effort would it take to drop in a pair of 6.5" or 6"x9"?

I'm also wondering if any of you have dropped in something bigger, and what kind of cutouts you used to mock up/cut out the hole bigger to fit them in? Thanks for any help people!

[e30pwr]

So everyone uses the stock speaker sizes.

[whiltebeitel]

Someone cut up my rear shelf to put speakers in, and I want to punch him or her in the face, but if you really just want bigger speakers, pull out the parcel shelf and sawzall the metal under. It's only a rusty eta...


I kid! Have you looked at the raised speaker grilles on the premium sound cars (I think)? They seem like they would be more accomodating thean the black plastic dish covers.

[StereoInstaller1]

There are only 4" in the back.

Not in any E30 I have ever seen. Yours might be different, but it is a 5.25". I put Exile 6.5" in my GFs car as a temporary solution.

How much effort would it take to drop in a pair of 6.5" or 6"x9"?

If you have the later model rear deck it is no big deal to make a raised section that actually "flushes" the rear deck, making plenty of room for 6.5" or even a small 6X9.

Early model rear decks do not lend themselves well for that particular job though, so you might consider swapping to a late model rear deck and brakelight...much nicer looking IMO.

You could certainly cut metal to make room for 6X9s, I have done so many times. E30Idea fit freeking HUGE MA Audio 6X9s in his rear deck by cutting metal using my airsaw.

Personally, I do not care for rear speakers in an E30. I run 5 speakers total, just one sub and a set of components up front...in a "different" kind of install.

My GF really wants rear speakers, so she is going to get a pair of 6X9's below the side windows in her '89 coupe, and a single 10" in the trunk, ported through the ski hole. I am going to move her stock "Premium Sound" mids into the doors, leaving the tweeter stock. A small 4 channel amp will power the whole mess gracefully.

Luke

[smonkbmw]

stock premium rears ftw

[e30pwr]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'm going to just go with the stock 5.25" in the front and do raised 6"x9"s in the back.

[StereoInstaller1]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'm going to just go with the stock 5.25" in the front and do raised 6"x9"s in the back.

Wow. Well, I guess ghetto happens, doesn't it?

Rock on, bruddah!

Luke

[e30pwr]

Wow. Well, I guess ghetto happens, doesn't it?

Rock on, bruddah!

Luke

I meant to stay with the 5.25 size up front and see what the depth is on the back and if I can only raise a 6x9 up a 1/4" or so I'll do that otherwise it might just stay with the 5.25 in the rear.

[sweetride01]

I meant to stay with the 5.25 size up front and see what the depth is on the back and if I can only raise a 6x9 up a 1/4" or so I'll do that otherwise it might just stay with the 5.25 in the rear.

You have a lot to learn young skywalker.

You will "overpower" the fronts with larger rears. Go doing some Google-Reading on soundstage, sound-setups, etc, and maybe join a reasonable car audio forum as well.

You will quickly realize that audio setups are one of the hardest things to do right, especially in something size-limiting like an e30 (Read: my 6.5" fronts nightmare).
Probably best to go with the same size all-round or perhaps no rears at all. Do some reading and then ask "The Wise One" aka Luke or a few others, "the right questions"...

[StereoInstaller1]

You have a lot to learn young skywalker.

You will "overpower" the fronts with larger rears. Go doing some Google-Reading on soundstage, sound-setups, etc, and maybe join a reasonable car audio forum as well.

You will quickly realize that audio setups are one of the hardest things to do right, especially in something size-limiting like an e30 (Read: my 6.5" fronts nightmare).
Probably best to go with the same size all-round or perhaps no rears at all. Do some reading and then ask "The Wise One" aka Luke or a few others, "the right questions"...

Good lord, man...you make it sound like this shit is important or something. It is just car stereo, not like it really matters.

Luke

[sweetride01]

Good lord, man...you make it sound like this shit is important or something. It is just car stereo, not like it really matters.

Luke

Rofl Rofl You could say that I was really bored earlier.
I'm just trying to accentuate the amount there is to be learnt on the subject.

[e30pwr]

I have been looking into the car audio forums for my amp and sub(a small 10" to provide enough sound for the inside of my car and not the rest of the crowd).

But honestly I'm not into making this perfect. just something that can play sublime pretty well and whatever else. I like being able to hear my engine so it won't be blasting. I'm sure the stock locations will be fine with some rear fill.

[sweetride01]

I have been looking into the car audio forums for my amp and sub(a small 10" to provide enough sound for the inside of my car and not the rest of the crowd).

But honestly I'm not into making this perfect. just something that can play sublime pretty well and whatever else. I like being able to hear my engine so it won't be blasting. I'm sure the stock locations will be fine with some rear fill.

Now thats true. That was my aim also, and now that my setup is finished, I'm very happy. I would like to highly recommend Soundsplinter subs. I have a Rl-P 12" and it's all I wanted and more, it will give you plenty of bass but not too much if you don't thwack a huge amp with it. Also it's good for SQ - the main reason I got it.
I only have front speakers, I don't miss having rear fill, and don't think I notice. The Sub actually plays a lot more of the music and bass lines (depending on X-over settings I suppose) than one usually realizes, so it's not like the rear is devoid of sound. Chances are, only the back passengers would notice.

[e30pwr]

I'm getting a sub for free from a friend cus he still owes me money so I'm jsut going to use that sub, bridge a decent amp, and mount it right on the back of the driver side seat in the trunk. For speakers I'm thinking these 6" and these tweeters and put another set of the 6" in the rear deck for fill.

The sub will be in a ported box that will have a small PVC pipe used as the port so that you can still get the large thumps, while still getting the longer lower bass too.

[Jean]

Those Sony 6.5s are two way, so they already have tweeters, are you going to run the two ways and also add the 1" tweeters on top of that ? You might want to look into a 2 way component set of speakers instead...