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Timmay77's stereo build (complete aftermarket system)

354K views 612 replies 78 participants last post by  DennisCooper 
#1 · (Edited)
I am in the process of tearing out EVERYTHING from my 01 M5 and putting a complete aftermarket system in. I will update this thread as things progress. Let's start with the parts list of the new stuff...

Alpine IVA-W505 - 7" 2 din multimedia station
Alpine NVE-P1 - removable navigation drive (no vss needed)
Alpine PXA-H100 - Imprint module
Alpine DHA-S680 - DVD/CD Changer
Alpine SPX-17REF - 6.5" component set
Alpine SPS-500 - 5.25" co-axial rear fill
Alpine SWR-1242D (2) - 12" DVC 4 ohm subwoofer
Memphis Audio 16-MCD1000 - 1100x1 @ 1 ohm sub amp
Memphis Audio 16-MCA2004 - 4 channel amp

Pac TR7 - Video bypass module (illegal I know, I don't want to hear it :byee55amg)
PAC SWI-JACK - steering wheel control module

Mounting kit for deck from Ebay
eBay Motors: BMW 5 series E39 double din bezel &complete install-kit (item 360119388261 end time Jan-04-09 12:07:28 PST)=

Now for some pictures....

Hole in dash where the Nav monitor used to be.....


Rear deck removed, speaker for the PDC. (Thanks DouglasABaker)


Subwoofer location. These are actually mounted from the bottom, but the screws have to be removed from the top.


GPS antenna (I think) on drivers side under the rear deck


Radio antenna (I think) in the drivers side rear pillar


Driver's side rear speaker loaction


Passenger's side rear speaker pod. Much larger than I thought they would be.



Trunk after my DSP Amp, Radio module, and CD changer were removed.


Wiring harness where I am going to tap into the speaker wires.
 
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#504 · (Edited)
Update:

Please ignore the dirty garage and car..... Crappy iPhone pics too, sorry, I was in a hurry to get to work.

A Pillars installed. This is what the passenger side looks like with the speakers installed. Still need to build a speaker grill to cover the L3. I also need to build a grill to cover the L8 in the door. (It can barely be seen in the lower corner of the first picture.)

I just ordered the parts and the program to make an RTA with my laptop to properly tune my system..... :)










Oh, and BTW, this thing sounds amazing, even without subs and the driver's side speakers. LOL. Just need time to finish hooking everything up!
 
#506 ·
I am officially jealous. Even if your car is slower than mine... me want.
 
#508 ·
Crappy iPhone picture of the finished (for now) A Pillars.



My partner in crime working on some trim panels. (I plan on recovering the entire trunk before Timmayfest. I am just not happy AT ALL with the current finish....)

 
#509 ·
Can you fit the eq int he glove box? its one of those set it and forget it type things. Hiding it there would also give you easy access when needed. Also remember tuning it to the flattest response possible MAY not sound good to your ears, so keep that in mind.
 
#510 · (Edited)
I will actively use the memory positions so I would like to keep it within reach. I have had several systems that I tuned flat with an RTA. I am pretty familiar with what it SHOULD sound like. LOL. This really isn't anything new, but for the first time, I OWN the RTA and don't have to go to a shop to tune it........


EDIT: Let me rephrase that.....

What I am looking for really isn't a FLAT response. I am just looking to eliminate any extreme peaks or valleys that may be present from mounting my speakers off axis. I am sure I am hot in the 1k-4.5k region. It just sounds a bit "tinny" sometimes. I am also not very good at tuning the higher end, 6.5k and up. It just hurts my ears to play only those frequencies and try to accomplish anything. LOL. I would much rather stick a mic in the car and happily sit outside with my laptop and EQ controller and do all of the adjustments!
 
#511 ·
Great Job Timmay! Love the progress reports. One possibly silly question though...I have had A pillar mounted speakers before and was planning on doing the same when I install the system on my M...but I thought it is not recommended for A pillars with SRS Airbags. Did you disable yours or there are no issues with our cars....maybe the bags are higher up in the pillar? Cheers.
 
#512 ·
I disabled the airbags by disconnecting my battery and touching the CAR SIDE leads together to discharge the capacitors. I then went and had some lunch just to be sure any extra power was bled off. I disconnected the airbag plug from the unit and used a 3.3 ohm 1/4 watt resistor on each side to keep the airbag light from coming on. Once I hooked the battery back up, I still had an airbag light until I borrowed a fellow members Peake tool to reset it. All is well.
 
#513 · (Edited)
Geez...I was not expecting that answer! Kudos man. U really went all out! Sigh..dont think I would wanna do that. Its a pity as I have these custom made CNC machined tweeter pods. There were a rage in Singapore when I worked there. They bolt onto the A Pillars and have a ball socket joint so u can angle them very easily anytime to get that sweet spot. May have to see if I can mount them in the corner of the door then. Heres a pic of the pods with my Morel Supremo Picolo tweeters. They normally come in shiny chrome or matt silver but I had mine anodised black.

 
#514 ·
I own 3 cars, 2 with A pillar air bags (the family SUV and the M) and one without (my winter car). I am pretty much the only person in the front seat of the M so I figure I can live without them. My current cars where the first I have owned with A pillar airbags and I have survived up until now without them. Some people do not like that attitude, but I am cool with it. I don't drive 100+ mph, so "This is a faster car it needs.... blah blah blah" stuff doesn't apply to me.

Great approach to speaker pods! Fully adjustable, that's the way to roll!
 
#516 ·
:) Bring out the RTA. Just sold an Alpine head that had the time correction facility built-in if you had access to the optional mic.

Proper way to set t up, kudos, mate.
 
#517 ·
Thanks.....

My PXA-H701 has the same feature, but since I am using a 3 way active set up, it will not work, it shows "ERROR".

My channels:

front 1 - tweeters
front 2 - mid range
rear - midbass
center - rear fill
sub - sub
 
#518 · (Edited)
A quick update......

I am getting my hands on the new Alpine INA-W910 before it hits the shelves. My buddy at Alpine scored me one as a demo unit!

My key features:
Full optical audio from HU to processor, including Ipod.
Selectable rear/front camera input.
Built in Nav unit (my W505 has a removable unit)
Built in HD radio.
Updated screen technology.





ALPINE ELECTRONICS INTRODUCES THE INA-W910 AUDIO/VIDEO/NAVIGATION SYSTEM

Back January 6, 2011
This Premium System Connects to HD Radio, SiriusXM, Pandora and Bluetooth

TORRANCE, Calif., Jan. 6, 2011 - Alpine Electronics of America, Inc. has combined integrated navigation features, comprehensive media playback options, hands-free calling, and Alpine’s renowned sound quality – into one easy-to-use unit. The INA-W910 audio/video/navigation (AVN) system is loaded with today’s highly desired digital sources for entertainment and information. The INA-W910 is ideal for system building and can serve as the base for any size system.
Audio Features
The INA-W910 is a 2-DIN system with a 7-inch WVGA motorized display. Besides being an AM/FM/CD/DVD receiver, it offers the best in digital audio sources. HD Radio® comes built into the INA-W910, a first for an Alpine 2-DIN system. HD Radio’s static-free, all-digital broadcasts can be enjoyed via the INA-W910 without any subscription fees. Users can also listen to HD Radio multicasting, allowing them to access HD2 and HD3 multicast channels above and beyond the main FM HD Radio station. iTunes® Tagging is available, allowing users to tag songs they like for later purchase from the iTunes store.
SiriusXM Satellite Radio service is available on the INA-W910, using the new SXV100 SiriusXM Connect Vehicle Tuner Kit (sold separately, SiriusXM subscription required). Alpine is the first manufacturer to offer head units that connect to the SXV100, and the INA-W910 is the first 2-DIN system with this compatibility. Similar in size to a deck of cards and with just one cable to connect to the INA-W910, installation of the SXV100 is quick and easy. Channel name, number and category, plus artist and song name, are all visible on the INA-W910’s 7-inch screen. The INA-W910 stores up to 18 SiriusXM station presets and offers SiriusXM features like SiriusXM Replay™ allowing pause, rewind and replay of up to 30 minutes of live SiriusXM content; Song Alert™; Artist Alert™; Game Alert™; and iTunes Tagging.
Pandora® internet radio opens up another set of audio content offerings for the INA-W910. The INA-W910 can control the Pandora app from an iPhone. When listening to Pandora, information such as artist, song, album and station name, plus album art are displayed on the INA-W910. Pandora’s iconic Thumbs Up/Down rating system is easily replicated on the INA-W910 via the dedicated soft keys. New Pandora stations can be created based on a particular song or artist, with a press of the soft key. Play/Pause, Skip Forward, Station Listing, Bookmark, and Info (which toggles between various viewing modes) are other Pandora controls that are available via soft keys. All Pandora actions made via the INA-W910 are saved and applied to the user’s main Pandora account.
The INA-W910 meets the specifications for the “Made for iPod® and iPhone®” compatibility. Song, artist and album information, plus album art can be displayed on the INA-W910 if this information is available on the iPod or iPhone. The INA-W910 features iPod Passenger Mode, which allows back seat passengers to play their iPod or iPhone through the INA-W910’s audio system, using the device’s own controls.
“The INA-W910 brings together the most popular digital entertainment sources – HD Radio, SiriusXM, Pandora, iPod and iPhone -- into one easy-to-use unit,” said Steve Crawford, vice president and general manager, aftermarket business unit, Alpine Electronics of America, Inc. “Combine that with built-in Bluetooth wireless technology and traffic-aided navigation, and you’ve got the best of all worlds.”
Navigation Features
The INA-W910 has a robust navigation system with pre-loaded NAVTEQ maps of the U.S. and Canada, more than six million NAVTEQ Premium Points of Interest (POIs) and voice-guided turn-by-turn driving instructions. Lifetime traffic service via NAVTEQ RDS is included. This service does not require a separate module or activation – it’s ready to go right out of the box. Automatic rerouting and traffic incident lists are available in 98 markets in the U.S. and Canada. Increased map detail makes it easy to browse maps without compromising performance. An intuitive menu layout and easily accessible hard buttons at the base make operating the INA-W910 a breeze. Drivers who prefer to have track and artist information on screen while they’re listening to music can simultaneously get route information through the GuideView™ Window, which is a picture-in-picture window that displays the next turn maneuver, a compass, or speed limit of the current street. Drivers can tap the GuideView Window to get a vocal repeat of the driving voice prompt.
Bluetooth Wireless Technology Features
Hands-free calling is available from the INA-W910’s built-in Bluetooth® Wireless Technology module, powered by Parrot. Features such as echo cancellation and mic gain adjustments provide the ability to fine-tune the Bluetooth sound quality, for virtually any vehicle interior. Contacts in the user’s phonebook can be rapidly scrolled through and searched by name. It also remembers the last call volume, has call waiting, and can be configured to announce navigation guidance during a phone call. Users can keep the navigation map on screen and still make a call, and POIs like restaurants can be called just by tapping on the POI icon.
Sound Quality Features
The INA-W910 continues Alpine’s legacy of sound quality. The INA-W910 has a built-in 18W RMS x 4 amplifier (at CEA-2006 power ratings), three 4-volt pre-amp outputs, 7-band EQ, time correction, crossover, and a 24-bit Burr-Brown Digital-to-Analog converter. To tackle the lossy nature of compressed digital music, Alpine’s proprietary MediaXpander™ technology restores richer playback more true to the original recording. For the ultimate sound system upgrade, the INA-W910 also connects digitally to the PXA-H800 IMPRINT audio processor (sold separately). The PXA-H800 provides a wide range of audio tuning features, including automatic acoustic correction, road noise compensation, and other advanced sound field, sound tuning and system building capabilities.
INA-W900BT AVN System with Blueooth
Continuing for 2011 is the INA-W900BT AVN system with Bluetooth wireless technology module. The INA-W900BT includes several of the same features found in the newer INA-W910 including a built-in 18W RMS x 4 amplifier (at CEA-2006 power ratings), 3 pre-amp outputs, 7-inch WVGA motorized display and integrated navigation system. It can play iPod or iPhone music and is compatible with HD Radio and SiriusXM Satellite Radio (separate modules and subscription required).
Pricing and Availability
The INA-W910 will be available for in May, price is TBA. The INA-W900BT is currently available for regular MAP of $1,149.95 or at a promotional MAP of $999.95 at participating U.S. retailers through March 2011. The PXA-H800 will be available in April for $699.95 MAP. All Alpine products will be available at authorized Alpine dealers. Please visit Alpine Electronics of America, Inc. to locate a retailer. The SXV100 will be available at retail for $69.99 in March 2011 through SiriusXM’s distribution channel.
Pandora® and Pandora® internet radio are trademarks or registered trademarks of Pandora Media, Inc. SIRIUS, XM and all related marks and logos are trademarks of SIRIUS XM Radio Inc. and its subsidiaries. “HD Radio” is a trademark of iBiquity Digital Corporation. iPod, iPhone, iTunes and Made for iPod and iPhone are trademarks of Apple, Inc. The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Alpine Electronics, Inc. is under license. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.
About Alpine Electronics
Alpine Electronics is an automotive electronics manufacturer that provides consumers and leading auto makers with audio, video, navigation and driver assistance products. The company specializes in system integration solutions with innovative vehicle entertainment and information technologies.
Alpine’s R&D and manufacturing facilities in Japan, China, Europe and North America ensure that all products address the real world requirements of drivers in each market. The company is committed to developing safe, comfortable and eco-friendly automotive electronics products.
For more information about Alpine Electronics, visit www.alpine.com. For more information about Alpine’s aftermarket products, visit www.alpine-usa.com.
 
#519 ·
Yeah, but will it display OBC information? :dunno:

Juat kidding! :haha:

This is a unit that I would very highly consider if it goes well for you, Tim. Thanks for being a pioneer when it comes to aftermarket AV equipment for our M5's.
 
#521 ·
Yes, I did read that and if I ever decide to go aftermarket, you will be contacted. I should have added that display on the monitor is not critical when it is displayed on the cluster. This thread will be very helpful to me, however, if I decide to tackle it myself.
 
#529 ·
I had a pair of Kicker Comps 10" free-air in my rear deck, they worked decently enough. Not the best speaker in the world, but they are cheap and sound better than the stockers. I think Peter had a pair Dynaudio installed free-air, but they are on the expensive side, he really likes them though.

The main problem is the rear deck will rattle like crazy, so I went with a pair of 12's in a sealed box.
 
#530 ·
#531 ·
If you WERE interested in building an enclosure, check out this thread.

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e3...my-custom-deck-mounted-sub-box-long-pics.html

I am going to do a similar build in hdhntr23's car, but instead of firing the subs into the floor, I am going to build a baffle ring and run the subs through the original OEM sub holes in the rear deck.
The thing is I want to save trunk space so wanted to get a smaller sub enclosure than stock or hide them in the spare tire well.
 
#535 ·
doh, I need to learn to read lol
 
#539 ·
Timmay, i have searched high and low on the internet and this forum but cannot seem to find any information about the radio cage and trim piece that you have. Where did you purchase these? I plan on using an Alpine double din unit as well. The cage looks like it says jenns-design on it. Is the double din trim piece from a BMW dealer? Thanks for the help. As it turns out, I have been slowly piecing this together and had my head deck unscrewed so I could get to the back of it easily and last week the head deck was stolen out of the car. Now that my insurance is pretty much paying for my entire stereo system the process should go much quicker now.
 
#542 ·
Tim you are a champion! I never would have the patience to endure all of the issues and rebuilds. Everything looks great! My hat is off to you!!!
 
#547 ·
My bad, range goes off the tank. It will still work. Clock will work to, but everything else is dead. Stop watches, timers, MPG's, everything else won't work unless you hook up a nav drive.

Not sure why this is even a debate, I proved this almost 2 years ago.....
 
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