ICE upgrade

[PPH]

Dear all,

I am actively new to this forum but have been following it for a while.

I own a 2018 Exige in Black Metallic with EX460 upgrade by KomoTec and am using the cold (and wet) season for some upgrades including ICE.

The setup will be quite simple:

- Headunit

- 4CH Amp incl DSP in the dashboard

- Subwoofer in the passenger foot space

- Extended range speakers with important Xmax (EAD H100HD MK II) in the dashboard.

 

I started disassembling the dashboard, removing the original speakers and steel supports, replacing them by 10mm aluminium rings that subsequently

were bonded to the dashboard (alumnium charged epoxy glue and aluminium putty).

 

The speakers will be glued on the dashboard rings and they will be fixed with anither 10mm ornamental ring that will hold the protection grill. 

 

I am uncertain on about how to finish the ornamental rings and see three options (plus one - I need your help there):

a) Anodizing as the other interior aluminium Lotus parts - afraid of reflections

b) Painting in metallic black as the interiour colour pack - may be too much?

c) Powder coating in a colour close to dashboard colour - may be too boring?

d) Anything else you might think of!

 

Thank you in advance for your feedback and comments!

 

 

Patrick

Edited November 17, 2019 by PPH
Typo

[MrP_]

Personally I’d trim the dashboard and spacers in the same non reflective material as anything shiny will be a huge distraction. 
 

Looks like a good project thought. Are you mounting the amp where the airbag goes?

[PPH]

5 hours ago, MrP_ said:

Personally I’d trim the dashboard and spacers in the same non reflective material as anything shiny will be a huge distraction. 

That’s what I’m afraid of as well, even if from a purely esthetic point of view a contrast might me nice.

As it will be difficult to nicely bend leather or faux leather around the ornamental ring due to its relatively sharp corners, a matte black paint or powder coating matching the dashboard’s colour seems like a more practical option.

5 hours ago, MrP_ said:

Looks like a good project thought. Are you mounting the amp where the airbag goes?

As I do not want to delete the Airbag, I am thinking if squeezing the amp behind the trinket and above the subwoofer.

I am not sure if and how it will fit, so I might need to reconsider this.

[MrP_]

6 hours ago, PPH said:

As I do not want to delete the Airbag, I am thinking if squeezing the amp behind the trinket and above the subwoofer.

I am not sure if and how it will fit, so I might need to reconsider this.

You could mount under the dash and make a bracket so it hangs underneath instead. If its thin enough you won't even see it

 

6 hours ago, PPH said:

That’s what I’m afraid of as well, even if from a purely esthetic point of view a contrast might me nice.

As it will be difficult to nicely bend leather or faux leather around the ornamental ring due to its relatively sharp corners, a matte black paint or powder coating matching the dashboard’s colour seems like a more practical option.

 

Maybe a brushed finish might work?

[PPH]

On 18/11/2019 at 09:15, MrP_ said:

You could mount under the dash and make a bracket so it hangs underneath instead. If its thin enough you won't even see it

I think that would be a smart solution as it would preserve easy access to the (hopefully never needed) fuses.

The amp is quite small (L: 183 mm x W: 146 mm x H: 50 mm) so once it is finally released I can start and try accomodating it in various places and see what works out best.

[PPH]

After several trials I got the rings powder coated in matte black.

I think they look pretty nice.

I now need to fix the grilles to them.

[PPH]

As the powder coating took more than expected I went for a 2-DIN conversion from SSC

This is how the „guts“ of the dashboard look now:

 

The kit came with flexible pipes for a different AC plenum so I will be replacing them with rigid piping between dashboard and plenum.

[PPH]

I did many installs but the cabling in the Exige is demanding due to space constraints in my opinion.

 

 

On a positive note, fitting the side vents with a chrome ring was very easy and I think they look great:

 

[PPH]

Worked on the wiring loom and it starts looking decent:

 

[PPH]

Grilles fixed to the rings with Sikaflex:

 

[PPH]

As I got got caught up with other things I am just posting progress now.

The wiring is finally final (I undid the previous one as I was unhappy with the looks):

 

[PPH]

I finally decided to install the amplifier behind the air scoop on the driver‘s side.

I built it out of multiplex wood that was subsequently painted and fixed on the available threaded bars:

 

 

[PPH]

Amplifier finally installed... it really shouldn‘t be larger

[PPH]

This slowly starts looking like a car again:

 

 

[PPH]

This weekend I focused on fitting the remote control for the amp.

I had to 3D print a new front panel for the remote that I subsequently bonded to the the left side “pocket” of the A-Pillar / Side Sill.

[PPH]

Finally all re-assembled and running

 

 

[PPH]

In order to compensate for the extra weight of the audio equipment I decided to install a LifePo battery.

I designed a plug and play battery holder that was 3D printed in Carbon Filled Nylon  and was finally delivered today:

[PPH]

Battery without charge control:

And with charge control:

Edited March 6, 2020 by PPH

[Five50]

Great work! Keep us updated 👍

[Akajak]

great work, a real labour of love

[PPH]

Finally, last step was the subwoofer install.

I had built an MPX enclosure for a JL Audio 8W6v3 but ultimately settled for a JL Audio fibreglass enclosure hosting a 10W1v2. After fitting an spacer (powder coated aluminium) I was able to fit a 10W1v3 that offers higher XMAX and better power handling.

I also replaced the alumium cover in the center of the car for the RHD drive one as I did not lile the look of a square box (subwoofer) being partially hidden by the triangular shape of the LHD cover.

After tweaking the amps DSP, I have to say that I am happy with the final result.

I think I am done with the ICE 😀

 

Lastly, I cut the original carpet and had it piped for an OEM look.

[Five50]

Looks great!

[PPH]

Thanks, I appreciate the positive feedback.