2003 Q45 Audio System Upgrade

[win1]

Hello all my name is Winfred and live in Barstow, CA I am a one man shop called Audio Elegance. I do custom installs and had a buddy on mine come through with his Q and wanted to do some system upgrades this is what we came up with. He wanted Nav, Bluetooth, IPod Control, and Satellite Radio, only down fall was we could not get rid of the factory screen using the Kenwood KOS-V500 I was able to install everything he wanted everything came out nice. Goal sound Quality, and stealth install. So enough talk and on with the pictures right so here we go.

Factory screen

Factory with Kenwood controls[img] http://www.icixsound.com/vb/ic...5.jpg [/img]

Factory screen with Nav

Drivers door with Edead and Elemental Design mid/bass

Drivers kick panel with tweeter installed

Passenger door with Edead and Elemental Design mid/bass

Passenger kick panel with tweeter installed

Drivers rear door Edead and component set

Passenger rear door Edead and component set

Now for the trunk's amp rack which houses two Elemental Designs amps a 9.4 4channel for components and 9.2 bridged and the Kenwood KOS-V500

Amp rack with cover

Subs are Image Dynamics IDQ 10" D4V.2 in custom enclousers

The trunk floor covered with Edead before and after

All in all the system came out nice the sound quality of the system is awesome high and center of the dash. The owner was very impressed with the out come I have a few little more tweaks to work out though. Will post more pictures of the dash later this evening. Hope you like it. :o)

Here are some additional pics of the monitor and quality wasn't that bad either.As you can see not to bad, if there's anything else you would like to see or discuss please don't hesitate to ask.


Modified by win1 at 9:21 AM 4/9/2008

[gammer_ghn]

Very Nice Hooow much???? lol im guessing 2k

[ddrumman]

Beautiful! I like it.

I would guess higher than 2k. Which ID are the subs? Are they IDQ or ID? They're not IDMAX are they?Did you try to put the tweeters up on the pillars ala G50(94/96 Q45)?

I have my tweeter in my MG low like that.



Nice job!

[win1]

Subs are IDQ 10" D4V.2 and the location for the tweeters are nice because I tried different location, and this was the best sound is high and center dash right in front of the monitor with seperation on both ends. Sound nice

[marksport]

Winfred, do you have pics of the remote/buttons for controlling the Kenwood KOS-V500 unit? I take it that this is a base Q45 with the 5.6" screen, since the sport and premium models have the 7" screen with the factory navigation.

[gammer_ghn]

Well he owns a shop and its his friend so im thinking a brotherly price... nice job on the car very lovely!!!

[win1]

the system is controlled by remote that comes with the unit. The picture quality came out nice I will post pictures shortly.

[marksport]

the system is controlled by remote that comes with the unit. The picture quality came out nice I will post pictures shortly.

Can you show me a pic of the remote itself? Is there a way to use the factory steering wheel buttons for the Kenwood unit? And when you use the factory climate control, does it overide and display on the screen or do you manually switch between the factory display and the Kenwood display?

[maxnix]

Nice work, but I reall ydobn't understand tweeters in the footwell unless your ears are also on your ankles.

Why the Kenwood instead of an AVIC Z2?

[paranoidjack]

Nice work, but I reall ydobn't understand tweeters in the footwell unless your ears are also on your ankles.

Why the Kenwood instead of an AVIC Z2?

I ask the same question-I was looking at the Z2

[marksport]

Nice work, but I reall ydobn't understand tweeters in the footwell unless your ears are also on your ankles.

Why the Kenwood instead of an AVIC Z2?

AVIC Z2 replaces the factory screen, which is not physically possible due to the depth of this unit. Even if you replace the factory screen with an slim aftermarket screen, you have to find or make a harness that allows the factory video to come up when you use the controls such as the HVAC/fuel consumption unless you do those without knowing what the settings are. I wouldn't like having those small buttons so deep in the dash, not comfortable controlling unless you're a contortionist.

[marksport]

I ask the same question-I was looking at the Z2

You guys also need to remember that he did this on an F50, not a G50 or Y33.

[maxnix]

Can't shorten that tunnel? In JDM I think they have an 8", but it pops up partially.

[win1]

Sorry for getting back with you so late. I use a PAC VCI-X to interface with the factory screen. With the VCI-X you can toggle back between factory setting and after market set up with no problems. What you have to do is find the RGB, SYNC, and Ground wire from the screen tap into them and you are good there. Now from Kenwood I used the KOS-CV100 RGB to composite vidoe adaptor which connects to the VCI-X and KOS-V500. The V500 is your A/V Controller which you can add amps, speakers, dvd player, camcorder, bluetooth, iPod, rearview camera. The V500 also has speaker level input, and controller that you can adjust when you switch from factory to after market so the music want be blasting, you tap into full range speakers left and right side and you are good to go. As for as sterring wheel controls using the PAC SWI-Jack you will have control for volume up and down after you program it in. I hope I have shed some light on this install. I am working on a write up on how everything was done and will post very soon.

[win1]

Marksport is correct if the cars a/c controls, fuel consumption, voice control, and tire pressure wasn't controlled through the system you would have no problem placing the AVIC-Z1 or any other aftermarket unit in the car, but that's not the case here.

[win1]

The tweeters in the kick panels or excellent location, the sound quality is outstanding. The sound is mid-dash and speaker seperation is very nice. When I demo the vehicle my buddy thought that the factory bose tweeter in the dash were still connected. Nope they are unplugged and he was amazed. So there is no problem with the location at all.

[seldomseen]

The new OS looks very nice! I never knew the F50 had a version that wasn't equipped with Nav. Interesting. lol I especially like the custom trunk speaker enclosures. I'd buy a pair for my Q if available.

[marksport]

Sorry for getting back with you so late. I use a PAC VCI-X to interface with the factory screen. With the VCI-X you can toggle back between factory setting and after market set up with no problems. What you have to do is find the RGB, SYNC, and Ground wire from the screen tap into them and you are good there. Now from Kenwood I used the KOS-CV100 RGB to composite vidoe adaptor which connects to the VCI-X and KOS-V500. The V500 is your A/V Controller which you can add amps, speakers, dvd player, camcorder, bluetooth, iPod, rearview camera. The V500 also has speaker level input, and controller that you can adjust when you switch from factory to after market so the music want be blasting, you tap into full range speakers left and right side and you are good to go. As for as sterring wheel controls using the PAC SWI-Jack you will have control for volume up and down after you program it in. I hope I have shed some light on this install. I am working on a write up on how everything was done and will post very soon.

Winfred, I had an Alpine IVA-D310 installed where the cassette deck used to be. I haven't been able to figure out how to run the PAC ALP-SWI as no one has done one yet. Can you give me any info/advice on how to wire it up?

[win1]

Seldomseen email me at [email protected]

[win1]

You are using the PAC-ALP-SWI to inter face with you sterring wheel controls right? I think you might need the PAC SWI-JACK instead I will check it out and get back with you ASAP.

[xerexabante]

Win 1

I recommend that this is an instant sticky. You have my vote. If it counts. Congrats We F50 people have been looking ofr this for a while from tape deck adapters to fm modulators.

To me you are the God of the F50 Stereo Upgrade.

[gammer_ghn]

^ im with skippy haha great job yet again!!! and xerexabante sorry i had to!

[win1]

Hey thanks for compliments, but if anyone needs any help I'm here to help and yes I am doing a write up on how I intergrated everything into the factory screen, just a little busy with work and my part-time hobby installing custom stereo systems. Once again thanks for the kind words.

[xerexabante]

I appreciate kind words all the time for myself and others. Respect is what I live on. I have built 3 buisnesses in my life and I am old school. I hung around my dad and his buddies. I seldom have friends same age as me. That is what sucess is all about.

Once again I remommend this as a STICKY. I also posted this on the M side as well to have more people enjoy their cars.

[Q45man1]

Nicely done. I need one of those upgrade for mine. Quality of work speaks for itself.

[ExecutiveA4]

looking hott!

my car stereo installer and i was wondering what "third-party interface" did you use to connect the kenwood to the oem/factory screen -- we tried some eBay ones which was super crappy. any brand or model number would help. any wiring diagram or schematic underneath the panel of the HVAC/screen/vent would help too... it's like a gazillion wires in there!

thank you in advance...

aloha from sunny hawaii,

mikeyhttp://[email protected](808) 688-8388

[ExecutiveA4]

awesome!

and a quick run-down list of all the components/parts used would be helpful as well... i love NICO... you guys rock!

mikey

[mackvensive]

wow that looks like that took alot of patience and knowledge thanks for the pics and info i will soon search for a device that adds dvd to my factory nav with good quality

[Q45NYC]

with the new screen installed did that make alot of the knobs on the center console useless?

[seldomseen]

The factory stereo on the F50/Q45 is decent...but could certainly benefit from a tad bit more solid bass. I have read that adding sub in the trunk is a waste of money because sound doesn't penetrate the back seat well---since the gas tank is located there.