Lewtz 2002 E46 M3 - Hopefully Clean and Clear "Fun" Build

L

Lewtz

New member
Ok so some info:

#1 - I am looking for advice, suggestions, help. Any info or ideas are welcome. Please give reason why, as I like to learn. Thanks!

CAR: 2002 E46 M3

---Background: About 5 yrs ago, I was looking at cars in the 25-35k range. Nothing stood out to me. Nothing I saw did I know I wanted to keep for any length of time, let alone more than 5 yrs. Now, I've got a very peculiar way with money. I like to buy once if possible. I'll spend extra on nice things that will last or things I know I want to maintain. So I had always wanted an e46 m3. I'm not a BMW guy. I don't want other BMW cars. But I've always loved the styling of an e46 m3. If I had not ended up getting this I probably would have ended up with some other pre-00's car. To keep and fixup. Others.. like 510 Datson, Maybe a fullsize 80's truck sported out. Hell maybe even a 61 Continental, who knows. I like all kinds of things. But I ended up with this. Found a decent one with only 68k miles and seemed "well enough" taken care of for $16k.

---So things been paid off a while, and I was taking care of other bills and such, and finally this yr decided to start getting the m3 to where I wanted it. Been slowly fixing odd little things, maintaining some major things, and finally with Black Friday picked up some wheels, headers, exhaust. And now I'm moving into the Sound part of it.

---Sound Goals: Fun. Clear but not SQ 100%. Price Range I'd say is "midrange:. IE: 2500 total right now. I've found that like a lot of stuff you want to find the sweet spot of 80-90% performance. B/c that last 10% or so is where you get into 4x-5x the cost.

---Active Goal: Get something in the Car so it doesnt sound like balls. 2 Way Clean Install, nothing Fancy, just clean.

---Longterm Goal: Undecided

Current gear: Stock everything, except Pioneer DEH-80prs headunit. HK stock crap.

GEAR:
Bought so far: (for records)
 Audiofrog GB60's
AudioDynamics 2112 12". Seemed like reasonable "basic box" sub till I decide what I really want to do. Probably, only use 1. Was just cheap.
MMATS SQ 4100, )..figured it was a steal to use for 2way upfront.
MMATS 1000.1 Mono Amp.

Considering:
Tweets: (40mm roughly max depth)
1) ScanSpeak Illuminator D3004/6020-00 Tweeter Textile Dome
2) Maybe something cheap from Parts Express? Enlighten me

MidRange/Woofer Door 6 1/2": (70-74mm absolute max depth, prefered <70mm)
1) Audiofrog GS60
2) Morel?
3) Has to be slim.

DSP? Helix?

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Car NOTES: Stock Stuff
In the doors, three speakers each door, 6 total for the front stage as follows:
2x Tweeters
37mm/1.5inches overall diameter.
The dome is about .5-.75 inches.

2x Midranges (Top of door next to tweeter) 60mm/2.3inches overall diameter.
37mm/1.5inches overall depth/height.
53mm/2.0 magnet diameter

2x Midbass(Bottom of door)
160mm/6.29inches diameter metal speaker basket overall. Cone is 120mm/4.75inches.
Overall depth/height of speaker 65mm/2.5inches
Overall magnet diameter is 71mm/2.8inches
The overall diameter from bolt hole to bolt hole on center is 190mm/7.4inches on the PLASTIC mounting flanges of the adaptor the speaker is mounted in.
Also there is spacer/ring between the speaker and the door panel that offsets this driver from the door panel by 10mm and has roughly the same overal diameter as the driver. There is some additional space better this ring and the grill, about 20mm to be had with some careful triming.
Speaker Midbass is marked 21watt, 3ohm btw.


PLACEMENT: 2 ways
Remember: The Speakers are all placed in Door Card by Default. Will Post pics.
Up Top in front of door handle is a tweet and 2" midrange
Down Below knees on door is the 6.5"
Must Consider when thinking of speakers also being way off axis.
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Will Add Pics and Such Just Getting Started
 
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The midrange & tweet will work well together ! They meet your specifications .
Timbre and tonality will be spot on !

If coherent sound is not that high on your list , just mix -n- match whatever !
 
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ROFL, ok hold up there partner. Guess I should have explained or adjusted pricing earlier.

I think there was some pricing differences we missed. when I said 2500-4000, I should have probably specified that more. 1200 tweets not in the deal.

I'm more thinking 500-800 "front stage". I've also mostly settled on a 2way setup for time, due to just using DEH-80prs network mdoe to save from me from having to buy a DPS right now.

Picked up a mmtas 1000.1 amp on another deal other day.

So mostly down to just deciding on front stage 2 ways at moment. Thinking about keeping it simple with GS10 and GS60 and calling it done and saving more money. I've spent a ton for me, (about 6.5k recently) and it's drained all my "fun money" savings mostly.

At this point It's really down into that 500-600 preferred really. b/c still need to buy wiring and such actually.

So inhand is:
mmats 4100
mmats 1000.1
AD 2112 subs x2.
 
No problem , mmats & audio frog w3rk !

I believe that german's really know how to make things . Engineering geniuses !
I.E. German domination , Stonehenge "archer" = german , WW 1 , WW 2 equals germans , Linear Power , Brax , Helix , MB Quarts , your car , et cetera.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonehenge_Archer

I figured you were at the 'Top of Your Game' !
 
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OK so yeh here is where I'm sitting:

Bought:
AudioFrog GB60
AD 2112 12"
Mmats Sq 4100
Mmats 1000.1

To Buy:
Audiofrog GB15

Undetermined: (not stinger, b/c aesthetically I hate their stuff with their name plastered all over it looking all late 90's fast and furious)
DSP
Cables (probably knukonceptz?)
Fuse Blocks and such?

Can't think of anything else I'll be missing right now for a 2way setup:

Oh add-ons.
USB Port
Voltage/Amp Readout.
 
Well the Audiofrogs I bought look like they may be lost or something, buyer protection FTW... but thats ok...

Why?

Went up to Pineville NC today and talked with the folks at AudioMasters. Got to listen to Morel finally, and I'm sold.

Going to be working with them, let's see where this goes.
 
blockrocker said:
That's too bad about the frog's. What line of Morel's are you thinking?
Click to expand...

My pockets are not super deep, so it's going to be 2 way for time. Either Hybrids or Elate's.. or a combination of Raw drivers in that price range. Still getting details on some pricing and working out setup options. My initial thoughts are the Hybrid 6.5 with the Elate MD350 tweet. We will see. That way those would work upgrading the 2.5-3" midrange in the middle of them down the road when I probably go 3way. And kinda keep me under that 1k spot right in middle of what I'm looking to spend at this very moment on the front stage speaker.s
 
I had the Hybrid 6.5 set years back along with the Ultimo SC 12" subwoofer - and can honestly say it has been my reference setup since then.

You know what they say, once you go Morel...
 
I'm sorry you disappeared from the site last year.
I hope you will show up and update this thread. I have a 330cI that I'd like to share ideas with you on.

There is an NCSQ meet up next weekend 5/15/21 that's not terribly far way (3 hours or so)
Hope you can make it up.
 
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