Installing subwoofer into e60 530i

I have a 2006 530i without the navigation system. My car has the smaller HUD and iDrive system. I wanted to know what I'd have to go through to connect an equilizer, amplifier, and subwoofer in this car. I have a 2200watt amp and a set of 12" Cerwin Vega Strokers just collecting dust in my closet. Are there proper connections in the back of the HUD system? Would connecting these aftermarket items possible cause electrical problems with the car?

You may want to consider posting here ----> http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=53 for a potentially better response!

Thanks!

Anyone have any experience with this????

That link you gave me has half of the viewers that this forum has.

Try e60.net; they are much more into modding there. You'll need something to get a proper low-level signal, the E60 uses a fiber optic system for audio; you won't find any RCA's around.

Try reading this topic on the E60 forum. It might help you figure out what you can do.

Add aftermarket amp & sub-woofer

Originally Posted by BrianBSL

Try e60.net; they are much more into modding there. You'll need something to get a proper low-level signal, the E60 uses a fiber optic system for audio; you won't find any RCA's around.

only the e60's equipped with L7 use FOS.

yea, just do a search on e60.net or ask a question if your needs are more specific.

I'll check out that website. Thanks for the link.

Any updates? I would definitely help if you could come back with your findings. that way others wouldn't have to continued to be referred elsewhere for answers

I've installed a sub in my E60. The easiest way is to tap the signal coming from the HU in the trunk, where it enters the factory amp. Mount your aftermarket sub amp back there (convenient because the battery is back there too), and you're good to go. It's actually the easiest car I've ever installed a sub into. I don't know off hand which wires you need to tap (it's a big bundle going into the factory amp), let me know if you can't find them anywhere on the forums and I'll dig it up. Oh yeah, there's also a wire that turns the factory amp on/off that you will need to tap to make sure your aftermarket amp turns on/off too. And +1 on e60.net Great forum over there for us e60 owners.

Originally Posted by dbpack

I've installed a sub in my E60. The easiest way is to tap the signal coming from the HU in the trunk, where it enters the factory amp. Mount your aftermarket sub amp back there (convenient because the battery is back there too), and you're good to go. It's actually the easiest car I've ever installed a sub into. I don't know off hand which wires you need to tap (it's a big bundle going into the factory amp), let me know if you can't find them anywhere on the forums and I'll dig it up. Oh yeah, there's also a wire that turns the factory amp on/off that you will need to tap to make sure your aftermarket amp turns on/off too. And +1 on e60.net Great forum over there for us e60 owners.

thank you, if you have time please do post a detailed description with pictures if possible. thanks
this project will be set in a few weeks, still waiting to order the subs/amp amp kit/ Line Output Converter 2 Channel.

How well were u able to hide your wiring?

Originally Posted by baker2vegas

thank you, if you have time please do post a detailed description with pictures if possible. thanks
this project will be set in a few weeks, still waiting to order the subs/amp amp kit/ Line Output Converter 2 Channel.

How well were u able to hide your wiring?

Okay, first thing you need to do is empty out your trunk for easy access. Next, remove both side panels inside the trunk. Just turn the black plugs 90 degrees and they pop out. This will give you access to the battery on the right, and the factory amp on the left side.

So, first disconnect the battery so you don't shock yourself. Find the amp on the left side of the car. It's a silver box with a bundle of wires going into it...fairly easy to find. Remove the bundle of wires from the amp. There's a little sliding thing to disconnect the bundle...it's easy to figure out once you see it.
Here's the wires coming directly from the head unit that you'll want to tap to grab your signal from:

Left + Black/Red
Left - Black/Violet
Right + Black/White
Right - Black/Brown
On/Off White/Violet

I had to cut the black fabric tape that was wrapping the wires so I could access them. Just tap those wires and you should be good to go. You shouldn't need an LOC. To control the power to your amp, tap the thin White/Violet wire and connect directly to your amp. This will ensure your amp turns on/off when the car goes in and out of sleep mode (just like the factory amp). Make sure you do a good clean job tapping into the wires...they will still need to feed a signal into the factory amp so the rest of the speakers make sound

Plug the bundle of wires back into the factory amp and you're done grabbing a stereo signal.

Most people seem to mount the amp either hanging under the rear deck, or on the flat part of the left-side panel (the one that covers the factory amp...this is what I did). I've also read that some people that have smaller sized amps were able to fit them UNDER the panel so they stay stealth...if you do this make sure you take cooling into consideration. Also, the back of the rear seats is another option (this is what I did on my e46).

That's about it, running power to the amp is pretty easy since the battery is already back there. You should be able to figure the rest out. BTW, I did this install on my '05 530i, no nav, standard audio (not logic 7).

Hope that helps.

Did you mount the sub (s) in the trunk or in the car (under the seats)? If you mounted the sub in the trunk, how much base gets through to the cabin?

Originally Posted by BlackHorse

Did you mount the sub (s) in the trunk or in the car (under the seats)? If you mounted the sub in the trunk, how much base gets through to the cabin?

My sub is in the trunk. I'm driving a JL 10w7 with a JL 500w mono amp. Plenty of bass makes it into the cabin. When I want more, I drop the ski-pass, but rarely need to do this...the 10w7 is a GREAT sub.

Originally Posted by dbpack

My sub is in the trunk. I'm driving a JL 10w7 with a JL 500w mono amp. Plenty of bass makes it into the cabin. When I want more, I drop the ski-pass, but rarely need to do this...the 10w7 is a GREAT sub.

I am also thinking of cutting out in Sky Pass for the sound... but, wont it look ugly???

Originally Posted by dbpack

Okay, first thing you need to do is empty out your trunk for easy access. Next, remove both side panels inside the trunk. Just turn the black plugs 90 degrees and they pop out. This will give you access to the battery on the right, and the factory amp on the left side.

So, first disconnect the battery so you don't shock yourself. Find the amp on the left side of the car. It's a silver box with a bundle of wires going into it...fairly easy to find. Remove the bundle of wires from the amp. There's a little sliding thing to disconnect the bundle...it's easy to figure out once you see it.
Here's the wires coming directly from the head unit that you'll want to tap to grab your signal from:

Left + Black/Red
Left - Black/Violet
Right + Black/White
Right - Black/Brown
On/Off White/Violet

I had to cut the black fabric tape that was wrapping the wires so I could access them. Just tap those wires and you should be good to go. You shouldn't need an LOC. To control the power to your amp, tap the thin White/Violet wire and connect directly to your amp. This will ensure your amp turns on/off when the car goes in and out of sleep mode (just like the factory amp). Make sure you do a good clean job tapping into the wires...they will still need to feed a signal into the factory amp so the rest of the speakers make sound

Plug the bundle of wires back into the factory amp and you're done grabbing a stereo signal.

Most people seem to mount the amp either hanging under the rear deck, or on the flat part of the left-side panel (the one that covers the factory amp...this is what I did). I've also read that some people that have smaller sized amps were able to fit them UNDER the panel so they stay stealth...if you do this make sure you take cooling into consideration. Also, the back of the rear seats is another option (this is what I did on my e46).

That's about it, running power to the amp is pretty easy since the battery is already back there. You should be able to figure the rest out. BTW, I did this install on my '05 530i, no nav, standard audio (not logic 7).

Hope that helps.

Awesomeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...
Just did that, and it was a piece of cake... My local shop was telling me its a lot of work, and was charging 100 bucks after giving 1000 discounts ...
However, I need to open some passage... I have the bass full at the amp (used to have it at half in E46, pathways open), and still feel more than I can hear (car vibrates ).
In my E46, I opened the ski pass, and made room under rear speakers for the sound to pass...
Whats the best for this? Any idea?

thanks man

Originally Posted by dbpack

My sub is in the trunk. I'm driving a JL 10w7 with a JL 500w mono amp. Plenty of bass makes it into the cabin. When I want more, I drop the ski-pass, but rarely need to do this...the 10w7 is a GREAT sub.

How do you drop the ski pass :|... I have been looking at it ever since I bought the car (about two weeks now), and even if you move the hand rest down, there are numerous other layers, plastic, foam... etc..

Originally Posted by dbpack

Okay, first thing you need to do is empty out your trunk for easy access. Next, remove both side panels inside the trunk. Just turn the black plugs 90 degrees and they pop out. This will give you access to the battery on the right, and the factory amp on the left side.

So, first disconnect the battery so you don't shock yourself. Find the amp on the left side of the car. It's a silver box with a bundle of wires going into it...fairly easy to find. Remove the bundle of wires from the amp. There's a little sliding thing to disconnect the bundle...it's easy to figure out once you see it.
Here's the wires coming directly from the head unit that you'll want to tap to grab your signal from:

Left + Black/Red
Left - Black/Violet
Right + Black/White
Right - Black/Brown
On/Off White/Violet

I had to cut the black fabric tape that was wrapping the wires so I could access them. Just tap those wires and you should be good to go. You shouldn't need an LOC. To control the power to your amp, tap the thin White/Violet wire and connect directly to your amp. This will ensure your amp turns on/off when the car goes in and out of sleep mode (just like the factory amp). Make sure you do a good clean job tapping into the wires...they will still need to feed a signal into the factory amp so the rest of the speakers make sound

Plug the bundle of wires back into the factory amp and you're done grabbing a stereo signal.

Most people seem to mount the amp either hanging under the rear deck, or on the flat part of the left-side panel (the one that covers the factory amp...this is what I did). I've also read that some people that have smaller sized amps were able to fit them UNDER the panel so they stay stealth...if you do this make sure you take cooling into consideration. Also, the back of the rear seats is another option (this is what I did on my e46).

That's about it, running power to the amp is pretty easy since the battery is already back there. You should be able to figure the rest out. BTW, I did this install on my '05 530i, no nav, standard audio (not logic 7).

Hope that helps.

One quick question... seems like the amp is not turning off when I turn off/ lock the car... the light on the amp stays on..
How can I double check it... I used On/Off White/Violet wire, so if I check it with a volt meter, it should have power when the car is on, and no power when the car is off.. right?
Thanks again

I'd like to replace the factory amp with a Boston Audio GTS 750 6 channel amp I have from a previous car. I'd like to get the whole wiring diagram for the amp to see if I have enough wires to:
1. Install all three LOC's for the three inputs on the amp
2. Then output from the Boston amp and splice into the output for all speakers from the factory amp harness
I'm actually hoping to find a busted factory amp so I can make a harness and plug and play.
Thanks.

After a little more research I found that, in my case, the trunk amp is only for the subwoofers. I own the Bentley service manual for my car and I still can't find a wiring diagram for my audio system. If I did, I'd be able to figure this out no sweat. Is this posted anywhere?