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04-13-2021
#1
BMW E60 sq build (Helix/Ground Zero)
Thought I might make a small build thread on a E60 I'm working on for a friend. The owner had a budget set in mind, and left the rest up to me. She is fond of rock music, and I don't think she has ever heard a "proper" sound system, so this should be fun!
But to set the stage here, this car was bought used, and some previous owner had made some "upgrades" himself. The car has a base sound system, meaning just mids in the doors, no tweeters, and 6,5" underseat midbass/woofers.
The "upgrade" was at first sight a JBL 2x12" premade ported box (2ohm) running off two bridged channels of a noname "4x300W" amplifier (2x25A fuses), going into protect at the first heavy bass note. As it is no way capable of 2ohm mono And a 2005 BMW base head unit with a broken CD mechanism, meaning the only audio playback was from a DAB+ adapter (digital radio) using the aux input. (Norway has switched fully to digital radio now, and the FM transmitters are basically shut down over here, just some minor local stations on a handful of weak transmitters.
So that was the starting point.
Now for the upgrade. Starting fresh with a new headunit, I bought a 2din fascia kit, and a Alpine Halo9 headunit for the car. Amplification and sound processing will be in form of a Helix M Four DSP to run the front components, and a Ground Zero GZCA 3-0SPL M1 monoblock for the subwoofers. Way overpowered, but I had it laying around and it will only be run at 2ohm.
Front speakers are Ground Zero BMW plug+play upgrade speakers, 4" components in front doors and 8" woofers under seats. Subwoofers are 2x Helix Q10W in a sealed enclosure.
Progress pics coming shortly!
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04-13-2021
#2
Re: BMW E60 sq build (Helix/Ground Zero)
This sounds like quite an upgrade. It's a shame nice cars like this get "upgraded" in such poor ways. Really looking forward to pictures.
2002 330Ci & 2020 Tacoma
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04-14-2021
#3
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04-15-2021
#4
Re: BMW E60 sq build (Helix/Ground Zero)
Ok, now over to the more interesting part, the actual build.
Unfortunately, this particular car did not have folding rear seats, nor a ski hatch/passthrough (both options on the E60 model). That means that the trunk is sealed off from the cabin. But luckily not with a steel wall, just a plastic rear wall + carpet. So we took care of that.
Good passthrough, will finish it up with a trim ring. Still a plastic cover in front of this, between the wall and foldable armrest. Will make a opening in that as well, and some kind of grill to protect the subwoofers.
Removed all the layers of carpet and styrofoam to get to the botton of the spare wheel well. It's huge! But as it had some control box (for the rear parking sensors), and the depth wasn't really required for the amp rack etc, it was just cleaned up and put back. More than enough room in the storage compartment (top half of the spare wheel well).
Now comes the fun part (for me at least) since I have access to a range of fine machinery at the place the install is being done. CNC router, laser cutter, signage printers, vinyl cutters etc. I took some measurements of the space available:
Measured from the bolt in the center, that holds the spare wheel on cars equipped with that, and guesstimated a layout in the design software based on that. Then cut out the template on the vinyl cutter:
Had the shape pretty good, but saw that it didn't lay flat as there was a slightly raised section in the bottom left corner. So I adjusted the files a bit, made the center cutout smaller, and made this base from 19mm PVC on the CNC:
Now it can be clamped down and secured to the car with just a nut and washer for a secure mounting.
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04-26-2021
#5
Junior Member
Re: BMW E60 sq build (Helix/Ground Zero)
Def interested in your progress, especially how you finish the passthrough. I too have an E60 so I want to steal take notes and study your design lol
How difficult was running the wiring into the doors? Wondering if you had to drill out the connectors
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05-02-2021
#6
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05-10-2021
#7
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05-13-2021
#8
Re: BMW E60 sq build (Helix/Ground Zero)
Printers that can print directly on a sheet of MDF are pretty cool....
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05-14-2021
#9
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05-15-2021
#10
Re: BMW E60 sq build (Helix/Ground Zero)
Some cool things going on here
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