Cant get enough bump in my BMW

[jdub486 10+ year member]

I have an e46 3 series sedan and just cant get much thump out of it. I have a

12w7 powered by a Phoenix gold xenon 600.1. It is in a 2.25 cu ft ported box tuned to 32hz. It gets pretty loud, but nowhere near as loud as the same setup did in my old Nissan Maxima. The BMW trunk is really sound deadened and completely sealed from the cabin. The seats don't fold down and there is no ski pass. I took the rear speakers out and that helped let some bass into the cabin. The amp is tuned properly, crossed over at 70hz and below and subsonic at 25hz. I am thinking about cutting out the ski pass to see if that helps. Or, I may cut out the ski pass and mount an 8 or 10 inch driver in the cutout. What do you BMW owners think?

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[CrispedUp 10+ year member]

Not sure if the 3 series have these, but you might have the metal backing, between the trunk and back seat. I have that in my 5er, and barely heard anything but the trunk rattling.

 

[gs300tx 10+ year member]

I have the same issue with my GS, I think ur only option is to add more watts.

 

[Simek4life 10+ year member]

only 1 dub7...u need moar subs and pwr...

 

[skylineTT 10+ year member]

put the sub on a 1K amp

 

[grimreper912003 5,000+ posts]

Port the trunk? Just maybe?

 

[CadillacMatt 10+ year member]

Do something like I did with my car and either cut a port in the rear deck, or for something less conspicuous cut the metal backing between your trunk and cabin.

 

[IDSkoT 5,000+ posts]

Do something like I did with my car and either cut a port in the rear deck, or for something less conspicuous cut the metal backing between your trunk and cabin.

Put some grill cloth in between there, man. That looks hideous.

 

[jlaudioman18 10+ year member]

i use to have just 1 12w7 but i had it running of a 1200watt mono block amp....ib was in a dodge ram quad cab and i made a custom ported box that went in the console and fired toward the back....when it hit the lows it would make my steering wheel not just vibrate but bounce...made rear view mirrors fall off and still had sound quality........get a bigger amp

 

[infamous_e46 5,000+ posts]

I have an e46 sedan also just knock the metal plate it is only tack welded on in 6 spots and does not serve a purpose so make a ski pass I did it to my car u will need a mini sledge or a mini bfh and a chisel and 5 mns

 

[kotec123 10+ year member]

i dealt with the same problem....more drivers and more power will NOT be the most efficient way to go about this...

Find a way to make a custom fabricated bracket that will allow you to fold down ur seats.

Or like you said cut your own ski pass, but get it done professionally.

 

[jdub486 10+ year member]

Just realized amps are mounted behind the ski pass blocking it. I guess I will go with 1000 watt amp what is everyones take on JL 1000/1 vs PG 1200.1 vs Alpine PDX 1000.1? Maybe I will cut out some metal in the deck to port.

 

[shaneb 10+ year member]

Alpine has more SQness.

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[jlaudioman18 10+ year member]

go with DD m1a amp...its way underrated at 1200 watts rms

 

[infamous_e46 5,000+ posts]

I would not cut any metal out since e46's are notorious for having chassis flex and tearing out the rear subframe and the ski pass is precut the plate has 6 tiny spot welds you can tap the plate out with a hammer and a screw driver......