[chrisknight]

Hi folks

If i fit an amp in the back where is the easiest place to run the cables, and is it an easy job to remove interior bits?

Hope some one can help me

CK

[LordOfTheFlies]

I posted my install notes on this thread:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...642#post925642

I would say that unless you are an expert, expect to spend two solid days (i.e. weekend) working on removing the panels, designing your layout, replacing speakers, and running wires. It's kind of a pain in the you-know-what but I had a great time learning about my car. I did it at night after work over a few days until I couldn't stand it anymore and had to take a day off from work to finish it.

People had mentioned that one should run the wires along the passenger side of the car (US, Cooper S) since the main power lines were on the driver side to avoid engine noise. I still get a little bit of engine noise but I usually have the music pumped up so loud that I don't notice it. I ran my wires behind the glovebox as well and it was kind of a pain to get that sucker out and back in properly.....

I'm assuming that you are going to power the front speakers as well.....I also created a false floor and the cables actually go from the boot via the backseats, down beneath the plastic molding of the door sills, up the side, under the glove, and into the center console (perhaps this paragraph is a more specific answer to your question)

Btw I had it ripped open 2 weeks after getting it.

[chrisknight]

Thanx lord of the flies!

The speakers are already fitted (MB Quarts in front, Philips in rear), so i guess this makes things a bit easier. I too was thinking of fitting a false floor, How easy is it to remove the plastic covers for the door sills? Are we talking a real big job, and do the pannels at the rear have to be removed? Sure looks more difficult than my old VW Polo!

Chris

[LordOfTheFlies]

Quote: Originally Posted by chrisknight

Thanx lord of the flies!

The speakers are already fitted (MB Quarts in front, Philips in rear), so i guess this makes things a bit easier. I too was thinking of fitting a false floor, How easy is it to remove the plastic covers for the door sills? Are we talking a real big job, and do the pannels at the rear have to be removed? Sure looks more difficult than my old VW Polo!

Chris

You should do yourself a BIG favor and go to the dealer and buy a pack of the yellow panel clips. I guarrantee that you will bust some of them when trying to put the panels back in. Do a search on the forums on removing the rear panels - it's not that hard but a little tricky..........Also, I kind of popped the plastic piece next to the door sill out....didn't quite remove it...but the clips that hold that part in are quite strong....The rear seats have to come out, the rubber seal for the trunk, the seals for the front doors, quite a bit has to come out.....

Building a false floor is very easy. I just used 3/4" plywood, measured it out to 13" x 36" I believe (you should really measure it out), leaving enough room for some slack, and cut some 2" x 4" legs for it. I designed, built, and installed it in about 20minutes. The best part was getting the rear cargo mat so that it fit perfectly over the false floor, thus not requiring me to carpet the darn thing.

[DCM]

heres some pics of when i did my install, like lord of the flies says, give yourself a couple of days. www.dmellors.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

[ccoston]

I built a false floor as well to put the amp under. I haven't posted pics yet, as I haven't received my etched plexiglass with the Mini logo etched into it (thanks Danny for hooking me up with Auto Acoustics, they were a bit slow to respond but I got what I wanted). Once I get my package (I eagerly await the mail every day), I will install it and post pics. I think it turned out nice so far. My false floor isn't the whole length of the cargo area, it starts where my sub box ends. It has a vent on each side of it that is about 2 inches by 10 inches, with a metal mesh filling those holes. Those are for the amp to breath. In between them is where the plexiglass will go to show off the amp. I have to the far right of the cargo area under the false floor an 80mm computer case fan which runs at 12 volts, and it's wired into the remote lead for the amp, so it's only on when the amp is on. It pulls air in from one vent, across the amp, and out the other vent. I did this before I realized my amp has fans that do the same thing. Go figure... you buy a decent amp and it has that stuff! I built my false floor out of 2 pieces of wood glued together (one on top of the other) for a specific reason. I used a 1/4 inch sheet of hardboard (it looks and feels like MDF) as the bottom sheet, and a 1/8 inch sheet on top. That way the plexi and metal mesh is mounted to the bottom of the 1/8 inch sheet, so there isn't a huge amount of depth looking from the top. You'll see what I mean later when I post the pictures. It turned out well. I carpeted with black carpet... maybe one day I'll get some better quality carpet to use or have it wrapped in vinyl or something.

Oh... you're original question. Installing an amp is different in a Cooper and a Cooper S, as the battery is in a different location. I have a Cooper, which has the battery up front. This is the more difficult install, as you do have to run your wiring down the sides. I chose to pull all the side paneling and all the seats and run power down one side of the car and the signal/speaker wire down the other side to minimize any chance of interference. Getting the extra yellow clips is a GOOD idea, because they are flimsy and you'll break a few trying to put panels back in. Make sure to spend your time lining the clips to the holes BEFORE hitting the panel to fasten the clip. I also suggest spending the extra money for a 4 gauge wiring kit if you are in a Cooper and plan to have a subwoofer.

[chrisknight]

Is it possible to run the power wires and line input leads down the center of the car i.e. underneath the handbreak moulding and cup holders etc?

[chrisknight]

Is it possible to run the power wires and line input leads down the center of the car i.e. underneath the handbrake moulding and cup holders etc?