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Hey everybody,

Time for me to join the party!

The Harmon Kardon factory system in my M3 just wasn't doin' it for me so I decided to rip err all out and do some WERK!

So here's what I started with:

1-M3-side.jpg

2-M3-interior.jpg

I didn't like any of the factory components, so I'm building it head to toe, here's a list of the main components:

Mechman 320A (to replaced the factory 120A)

One run each (power/ground) of 0 gauge OFC, front to back (stock battery is in the trunk)

Two XS Power XP3000's (jumped in on the group buy recently)

Alpine INA-W900 (As you will see later, this was quite a battle to install)

Alpine Imprint H100

Alpine Sirius Tuner

Coax signal cables

12Ga Knu Kord speaker wire for Mids/Highs

8Ga Stinger OFC for subs/highs amp

Hertz HSK130 5 1/4" Components

Rockford Fosgate Punch200DSM for the highs (OLD SCHOOL from 1993!)

DC Audio 2.0K

DC Audio XL12m2

This post sent with 100% recycled electrons.
2004 BMW M3
Mechman 280A
2 - XS Power XP3000

1 - XS Power D375

500F of Maxwell SuperCaps (soon to be 1000F)
iPadMini2

Dash mounted O-scope
Audison bitOne (Remote DRC MP)
Highs Amp - PPI Art A404
Hertz HSK130 (HSK165 waiting...)
DC Audio DC9.0K
2- DC Audio XL12m2

LEGAL             - 147.3dB @ 41Hz
OUTLAW         - 150.2dB @ 45Hz

OUTLAW         - 145.7dB @ 30Hz
JUNE 2014 SOTM WINNER

2014 COLORADO PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNER

SOTM BUILD:
http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/141656-wicks-e46-m3-build-bass-turbo-button-and-a-big-new-addition/page-68#entry2802026

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OK enough talkin', lets get this started:

First mission, rip out the factory alternator and wedge this Mechman 320A in its place.

3-alt-remove.jpg

Here's the factory alt (right) and the new Mechman (left). I was surprised that the Mechman is actually smaller.

4-mechman-compare.jpg

Took some elbow grease but I got it wedged in.

5-mechman-in.jpg

M3's have some hard cooling lines that I needed to loosen and get around in order to bolt the Mechman in.

Since I'm using copper lugs and I want the most conductivity I can get, I hunted around eBay and found this:

6-no-ox-lube.jpg

Electrically conductive grease that fights oxidation. I used a small dab on all my lug connections to help lower any possible voltage drop across interconnections.

Here's the welding cable I found. 0ga OFC called "Radaflex". I was skeptical but damn this stuff is FLEXIBLE and not hard to work with at all.

7-radaflex.jpg

Similar temperature specs to KNU as well so no comments about underhood heat. :drink40:

I wasn't impressed with ring terminals and wanted to go with copper lugs. Problem being, I didn't want to strip extra insulation at the bottom of the lug in order for my to solder the lug to the wire. Sooo I come up with this:

8-drill-lug.jpg

Drill a hole in the top of the lug. Gives me a tight connection between lug and insulation and allows me to solder from the top of the lug and make sure that I have full solder coverage! :good:

9-solder-lug.jpg

Here she is all heatshrunk, not bad.

10-lug-heatshrink.jpg

Mechman is installed and 0ga is connected:

11-mechman-in2.jpg

Ground wire is connected to the bottom bolt of the alternator, since this particular Mechman didn't have a separate ground lug.

Cables all run to the other side of the car and looking good.

12-radaflex-routed1.jpg

13-radaflex-routed2.jpg

BMW E46's have a battery compartment under the hood that isn't utilized (battery is in the trunk). Looked to me like a great place to run the wires and mount my main fuse.

14-radaflex-routed3.jpg

15-battery-hole.jpg

The compartment even had a rubber grommet location that was perfect to feed the 0ga through.

16-battery-hole-wires.jpg

I have more plans for this area but I'll leave that for later....

This post sent with 100% recycled electrons.
2004 BMW M3
Mechman 280A
2 - XS Power XP3000

1 - XS Power D375

500F of Maxwell SuperCaps (soon to be 1000F)
iPadMini2

Dash mounted O-scope
Audison bitOne (Remote DRC MP)
Highs Amp - PPI Art A404
Hertz HSK130 (HSK165 waiting...)
DC Audio DC9.0K
2- DC Audio XL12m2

LEGAL             - 147.3dB @ 41Hz
OUTLAW         - 150.2dB @ 45Hz

OUTLAW         - 145.7dB @ 30Hz
JUNE 2014 SOTM WINNER

2014 COLORADO PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNER

SOTM BUILD:
http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/141656-wicks-e46-m3-build-bass-turbo-button-and-a-big-new-addition/page-68#entry2802026

sig-sized6_zps0265e669.png

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Love the pre-Bangle BMW's.

Me too! :good:

Wanted one of these FOREVER!

The newer ones are an acquired taste, I guess.

This post sent with 100% recycled electrons.
2004 BMW M3
Mechman 280A
2 - XS Power XP3000

1 - XS Power D375

500F of Maxwell SuperCaps (soon to be 1000F)
iPadMini2

Dash mounted O-scope
Audison bitOne (Remote DRC MP)
Highs Amp - PPI Art A404
Hertz HSK130 (HSK165 waiting...)
DC Audio DC9.0K
2- DC Audio XL12m2

LEGAL             - 147.3dB @ 41Hz
OUTLAW         - 150.2dB @ 45Hz

OUTLAW         - 145.7dB @ 30Hz
JUNE 2014 SOTM WINNER

2014 COLORADO PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNER

SOTM BUILD:
http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/141656-wicks-e46-m3-build-bass-turbo-button-and-a-big-new-addition/page-68#entry2802026

sig-sized6_zps0265e669.png

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Super clean so far, doesn't even look like a high powered beast is being built right now. More pics please

DC SOUND LAB NUT HUGGER

Currently Own
4 - 18" lvl 6s (m3) w/full Carbon Fiber option

2 - DC 5k

lvl 4 motor

lvl 2 motor

On 8/2/2013 at 8:13 PM, n8ball2013 said:

this is much worse. Its old n8 without the time or patience to hold fucking hands. I'm supposed to be doing school work but yet here i am making sure jr fuck fuck isn't trying to poke the other kids with a stick.

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Awesome whip man, me too though, the new M3's are not nice looking at all...

The e46's will always be THE m3 to me.

Tuned for this.

i shook this one kids hand and it just folded in mine. long story short i fucked his girlfriendso.. yeah..

You want this to happen to you? Give decent handshakes people.

I was gifted with an innate ability to distribute wholesale ass beatings in a timely and orderly fashion.
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Super clean so far, doesn't even look like a high powered beast is being built right now. More pics please

Thanks.

Yep, going for a clean, stock look until you unleash it....... :woot:

Gots a lot more pics comin'.......

This post sent with 100% recycled electrons.
2004 BMW M3
Mechman 280A
2 - XS Power XP3000

1 - XS Power D375

500F of Maxwell SuperCaps (soon to be 1000F)
iPadMini2

Dash mounted O-scope
Audison bitOne (Remote DRC MP)
Highs Amp - PPI Art A404
Hertz HSK130 (HSK165 waiting...)
DC Audio DC9.0K
2- DC Audio XL12m2

LEGAL             - 147.3dB @ 41Hz
OUTLAW         - 150.2dB @ 45Hz

OUTLAW         - 145.7dB @ 30Hz
JUNE 2014 SOTM WINNER

2014 COLORADO PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNER

SOTM BUILD:
http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/141656-wicks-e46-m3-build-bass-turbo-button-and-a-big-new-addition/page-68#entry2802026

sig-sized6_zps0265e669.png

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Love that Beamer! Super clean!

Thanks! :drink40:

This post sent with 100% recycled electrons.
2004 BMW M3
Mechman 280A
2 - XS Power XP3000

1 - XS Power D375

500F of Maxwell SuperCaps (soon to be 1000F)
iPadMini2

Dash mounted O-scope
Audison bitOne (Remote DRC MP)
Highs Amp - PPI Art A404
Hertz HSK130 (HSK165 waiting...)
DC Audio DC9.0K
2- DC Audio XL12m2

LEGAL             - 147.3dB @ 41Hz
OUTLAW         - 150.2dB @ 45Hz

OUTLAW         - 145.7dB @ 30Hz
JUNE 2014 SOTM WINNER

2014 COLORADO PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNER

SOTM BUILD:
http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/141656-wicks-e46-m3-build-bass-turbo-button-and-a-big-new-addition/page-68#entry2802026

sig-sized6_zps0265e669.png

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Awesome whip man, me too though, the new M3's are not nice looking at all...

The e46's will always be THE m3 to me.

Tuned for this.

Thanks.

Yep, E46's to me are IT! Best blend of performance, style and comfort.

Moar good stuff coming....

This post sent with 100% recycled electrons.
2004 BMW M3
Mechman 280A
2 - XS Power XP3000

1 - XS Power D375

500F of Maxwell SuperCaps (soon to be 1000F)
iPadMini2

Dash mounted O-scope
Audison bitOne (Remote DRC MP)
Highs Amp - PPI Art A404
Hertz HSK130 (HSK165 waiting...)
DC Audio DC9.0K
2- DC Audio XL12m2

LEGAL             - 147.3dB @ 41Hz
OUTLAW         - 150.2dB @ 45Hz

OUTLAW         - 145.7dB @ 30Hz
JUNE 2014 SOTM WINNER

2014 COLORADO PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNER

SOTM BUILD:
http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/141656-wicks-e46-m3-build-bass-turbo-button-and-a-big-new-addition/page-68#entry2802026

sig-sized6_zps0265e669.png

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