I'm finally starting to make progress on my project to upgrade the
stereo in my 1999 BMW M3 convertible.  I bought a couple of Brax X2000
amps from Autophile, one to power the front speakers, the other
(bridged) will probably drive a single 12.5" Boston Acoustics sub in
the trunk, though I've also considered a pair of 10.5" BA's.

The plan is to install CDT ES-643 speakers up front along with a pair
of CDT Up Stage tweeters in the windshield pillars.  CDT and Peter
Lufrano (thanks Peter!) both agree that I should install the 6.5"
woofers in the door panel and custom fabricate kick panels for the 4"
mid-ranges and 1" tweeters.

Easier said than done, but I'm sure I can fumble my way around the
kick panels, though links to DIY sites over and above what I might
Google would be appreciated.  I do need to know if there's a target
volume (cubic feet) that I should target for the kick panel holding
the mid-ranges and tweeters. Am I correct in assuming that the
tweeters should be sealed in an air space separate from the mid-range
speakers?

With respect to the 6.5" woofers in the door panels, does anyone out
there have any experience doing this in this model car? Do I need to
worry about "boxing" these speakers?  The door panel on these cars has
a pocket that extends most of the length of the door, so I'll need to
do some custom fabricating I imagine.

I'd like to match the existing cover on the door panel (don't know if
it's vinyl or leather yet) as close to perfectly as possible.  Any
suggestions as how to best do this?  My most brilliant (?) idea to
date is to buy a "spare" set of door panels that I can modify to suit
my needs and then install them and save the original panels.

Finally, I have yet to pull out the original factoy deck.  When I do,
Pat Mole has said that I'll probably find either twisted pair or
balanced output leads (see http://tinyurl.com/35qtv).  How do I tell
the difference?

Any helpful comments and suggestions are most welcome and a big thank
you to everyone who helps.

Bob
Ontario, California