So, when I bought the Stealth BoMberW, it came with the crappy factory tape deck, some turdy Bazooka 5 1/4s (they made them?) fronts, and stockers in the rear. Then, this summer, the antenna broke. All that is FTL. So, I decided to put something together.
At first, I was just going to get an antenna. Then I found out that BMW has their own special antennas that don't work with those you find at Advance and such, unless you run the antenna wire all the way up to the headunit. So, I decided that was a good reason to get a new head unit as well. Something cheap. Looked around for something used. Found it. But the dude kept flaking. So, screw that, hopped on Crutchfield. Found a nice Clarion, with USB and I-pod support, and good specs for $99. One thing I was really adamant about was that it would look at home in an '80s BMW. And this one does in deed. Seemed like a good deal. Then I went and got a nice extendable, tall antenna (Good for picking up AM) for $12 at Advance.
Then I thought about those pathetic bazooka speakers in the front. I had decent speakers in the rear (threw my spare Alpine Type Rs in there during the summer. WAAAAY under driven by the factory head unit, but better then the blown crap that was in there.), so I should at least get something for the front. Hmmm. Found some nice Polk Audios that I picked for $76 after talking to Scooter from Crutchfield. Nice guy. Helped me with the head unit, too.
Then I was like, "Hey! I have an old 4 channel amp laying around. I should install that too!". Thus, I ordered some RCAs for about $20, and got a nice amp kit and antenna cable extension from a audio friend of mine, Kevin, for $22.
All that came to about $225. Much more then I wanted to spend, and roughly $75 more then I paid for the car. :rofl: But, hey, if it sounded decent, and gave me the ability to play music off a memory stick, rock on!
So, I went through and re-wired the whole car. Installed the amp, new deck, all new speaker wire, and speakers. Ended up doing it the "right" way. Pulled all the seats, and the door sills. Ran the antenna, RCAs, front drivers side speaker wire, and remote wire for the amp, down the drivers side, in the wire channel. I then ran the power wire (battery in front in the 318 :(), and passenger speaker wire down the passenger side, in its wire channel. Not that hard, but the damn tabs were a PITA. Since I had the entire interior out, it gave me the chance/excuse to clean out the car for once, vacuum and whatnot. :D Actually looks presentable know. Just need to clean up the dash.
Now for the Rave. It sounds GREAT! Definitely sounds better then it should for the money. Probably due to the "free" amp and Type Rs. Sound quality was a pleasant surprise, and the bass, for not having a sub, is quite good. Haven't played around with it a ton, yet. Just did some minor tweaking on the head unit. Haven't messed with the USB access at all. Plan on putting some music on a memory stick tonight, to see how well that works. Anyway, wouldn't normally rave about something like this, but was actually really surprised how good it sounded, and that is saying something for me, as I am a bit of a stereo snob.
Some pics:
Shift knob was not my idea. Looking to get something else soon. LOL And, no, I don't have covers on the front speakers. Didn't like what came with them, and didn't have the desire to mess with the factory covers. Might after a bit.
Old JBL GTQ 240 I had laying around going to good use! (Yes, I know the amp isn't perfectly straight.)
BTW, thanks to Stereoinstaller for the help! :D
At first, I was just going to get an antenna. Then I found out that BMW has their own special antennas that don't work with those you find at Advance and such, unless you run the antenna wire all the way up to the headunit. So, I decided that was a good reason to get a new head unit as well. Something cheap. Looked around for something used. Found it. But the dude kept flaking. So, screw that, hopped on Crutchfield. Found a nice Clarion, with USB and I-pod support, and good specs for $99. One thing I was really adamant about was that it would look at home in an '80s BMW. And this one does in deed. Seemed like a good deal. Then I went and got a nice extendable, tall antenna (Good for picking up AM) for $12 at Advance.
Then I thought about those pathetic bazooka speakers in the front. I had decent speakers in the rear (threw my spare Alpine Type Rs in there during the summer. WAAAAY under driven by the factory head unit, but better then the blown crap that was in there.), so I should at least get something for the front. Hmmm. Found some nice Polk Audios that I picked for $76 after talking to Scooter from Crutchfield. Nice guy. Helped me with the head unit, too.
Then I was like, "Hey! I have an old 4 channel amp laying around. I should install that too!". Thus, I ordered some RCAs for about $20, and got a nice amp kit and antenna cable extension from a audio friend of mine, Kevin, for $22.
All that came to about $225. Much more then I wanted to spend, and roughly $75 more then I paid for the car. :rofl: But, hey, if it sounded decent, and gave me the ability to play music off a memory stick, rock on!
So, I went through and re-wired the whole car. Installed the amp, new deck, all new speaker wire, and speakers. Ended up doing it the "right" way. Pulled all the seats, and the door sills. Ran the antenna, RCAs, front drivers side speaker wire, and remote wire for the amp, down the drivers side, in the wire channel. I then ran the power wire (battery in front in the 318 :(), and passenger speaker wire down the passenger side, in its wire channel. Not that hard, but the damn tabs were a PITA. Since I had the entire interior out, it gave me the chance/excuse to clean out the car for once, vacuum and whatnot. :D Actually looks presentable know. Just need to clean up the dash.
Now for the Rave. It sounds GREAT! Definitely sounds better then it should for the money. Probably due to the "free" amp and Type Rs. Sound quality was a pleasant surprise, and the bass, for not having a sub, is quite good. Haven't played around with it a ton, yet. Just did some minor tweaking on the head unit. Haven't messed with the USB access at all. Plan on putting some music on a memory stick tonight, to see how well that works. Anyway, wouldn't normally rave about something like this, but was actually really surprised how good it sounded, and that is saying something for me, as I am a bit of a stereo snob.
Some pics:
Shift knob was not my idea. Looking to get something else soon. LOL And, no, I don't have covers on the front speakers. Didn't like what came with them, and didn't have the desire to mess with the factory covers. Might after a bit.
Old JBL GTQ 240 I had laying around going to good use! (Yes, I know the amp isn't perfectly straight.)
BTW, thanks to Stereoinstaller for the help! :D
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