318ti.org forum

Go Back   318ti.org forum > Technical, Maintenance and Modifications > Interior and ICE

Notices

Interior and ICE For all interior and In Car Entertainment discussion.

.
» Recent Threads
solar panels for mobile...
Yesterday 01:16 AM
Last post by solar_czpt
Yesterday 01:16 AM
0 Replies, 267 Views
1997 manual 318TI M...
05-13-2024 09:38 AM
Last post by angwydwagon
05-13-2024 09:38 AM
0 Replies, 544 Views
The 318ti OBD-II engine...
10-19-2006 06:48 PM
Last post by kupkake303
05-09-2024 06:12 PM
211 Replies, 1,312,572 Views
Reply Share/Bookmark
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-13-2009, 06:32 AM   #1
bond007
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 13
iTrader: (0)
Default My rear speaker fix

One of my rear speakers bit the dust a while ago, so I pulled it out and contemplated how I wanted to fix it. I drove around for a while without it and didn't really miss it that much.

Anyhow, I finally got off my duff and started spending some time fixing other issues on my ti instead of my other project cars and the rear speaker was one that needed to be addressed. What expedited the matter was managing to get some radio reception (another story/thread entirely) with some bass and it was only a few minutes before it was the undoing of the remaining rear speaker...

I knew I was not going to buy another set of stock speakers but it was not too interested the 5 1/4" install that I saw. I know it is standard car audio install practice but I wanted to keep my install as close to stock as possible and invest as little as possible since the ti is just the daily-driver.

I found a pair of used 4.5" Eclipse speakers on eBay and knowing the brand reputation (I am/was quite fond of their minimalistic head unit design - good electronics/amplifiers, simple display and big knobs that are easy to feel) bid on them and scored the pair for $17 shipped off eBay.

Now, to the installation and some pretty pictures which detail how I decided to install them, which I think is unique. I don't recall seeing this method when I last looked, so if someone else has already done this and it's old news, my apologies...

First of all, I realized that while the stock speakers are not a single unit and the speaker can be separated from the bracket/enclosure. They are glued together, so VERY CAREFULLY using a sharp utility knife, you can break the glue and once you are done, release the catches (if they don't break) and rotate the speaker to separate it from the bracket. Again, be VERY CAREFUL with the knife, as you will have to apply significant pressure to break the glue so be patient and work SLOWLY.

Click image for larger version Name:	IMG_1509.jpg Views:	294 Size:	49.4 KB ID:	8591

Here is the end result, speaker and bracket are separated

Click image for larger version Name:	IMG_1510.jpg Views:	296 Size:	99.0 KB ID:	8592

The speakers I got came as such, which I separated from the speaker and removed the "grill"

Click image for larger version Name:	IMG_1512.jpg Views:	326 Size:	93.7 KB ID:	8594

I then took the install "ring" without "grill" and used the one item no ti owner can do without: JB Weld!

Click image for larger version Name:	IMG_1513.jpg Views:	303 Size:	85.0 KB ID:	8595

When I glued the ring to the existing bracket, I did so such that the screw holes were aligned with the tabs from the old speaker so you could slip the screws in. Once the glue started to set, I put the speaker in the trim ring "inverted" so that it weighted the whole thing down as a clamp as I didn't have much success getting standard clamps to hold the two pieces together without sliding the two pieces.

To conclude, install the speaker to ring after the JB Weld cures (6-ish hours, overnight preferable), solder terminal connectors salvaged from old speaker to new speaker (making sure to get the polarity correct - the black striped wire is "+" and generally the larger spade connector on aftermarket speakers but I verified by briefly pulsing both with a D-cell 1.5V battery and ensuring both moved "out" the same way), install assembly back in car and enjoy tunes with bass again.

Last edited by bond007; 09-13-2009 at 06:37 AM. Reason: Typos...
bond007 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-13-2009, 06:28 PM   #2
tiFreak
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: asdfasdf
Posts: 10,002
Vehicles
iTrader: (8)
Default

nicely done, it does look a little better than having the speaker mounting tabs all bent up
tiFreak is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Rear Speaker gc8_nate Interior and ICE 1 06-02-2008 03:37 PM
will 6x9 speaker fit rear mischief Interior and ICE 21 09-16-2006 01:51 AM
rear speaker 5.25 mounts mischief Interior and ICE 31 01-15-2006 01:10 AM
WTB Rear speaker 1996 328ti US and North America 8 08-10-2004 02:47 AM
rear speaker tcoloradoguy Interior and ICE 1 10-04-2000 03:39 AM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:07 AM.


.
Powered by site supporters
vBulletin Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©1999 - 2024, 318ti.org
© vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.2
[page compression: 65.77 k/75.83 k (13.27%)]

318ti.org does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information or products discussed.