I'm updating the audio system in my '85 300D. My new (to me) head unit (Alpine 7930) has no amplifier. I'm mounting the amp to the sheet metal panel (backed up by glueing a plywood panel to it) which covers the fuel tank in the trunk. This means I need to run 4 RCA interconnects along with the amp remote turn-on wire from the headunit to the trunk. I also need to run the wires for the front speakers from the trunk up to the dash. I'm running all new speaker wire so I ripped out the original stuff. I now think that was a mistake. I should have used the original speaker wire to pull the new wires through the contorted channel that runs under the rear seat up through the center console. Is there a reliable way to run my new wires through this channel? Is there a better way to rout these wires?

The only right way is to do it the right way. Pull the seats and the rugs...Only takes a short time and by the way you can't pull the wires with the old ones because they are anchored with permanent ties thru the car. It might seem like a big job but in the long run it is easier. Front seats are 4 10mm bolts and the rear seat bottom comes out easy and the back seat has 3 8mm self tappers....

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83 300CDTurbo 307,000
2005 Honda Element 266,000
56 Nash Ambassador Country Club Special 34,000(under restoration presently)

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/car-audio-multimedia/125099-123-install-extreme-dynamat.html

I already have the rear seat out. Like you said, that's easy. I hadn't thought taking the front seat out and then the carpet would expose a good routing path. That is what I'll do this weekend. Thanks, ramblin.

The rear speaker wires that I already pulled out ran down the center console, next to the automatic transmission shift lever. At that point, they burrowed in next to the console tunnel and reappeared out of an enclosed channel under the rear seats. I would like to use that same path to rewire. Does this channel become accessable when the front seats and carpets are removed?

At the risk of being argumentative, why in the world would anyone go to all of that trouble to run speaker wires? With the back seat out take the door sill plastic pieces up and run the wires under there. Drop the front dash panels and you are there. The wires are invisible and there is no thrashing around with the center console. Nor do you have to remove the front seat. Perhaps some folks just love pain.

MB ran the wires that way because the speaker control was on the console. I assume your unit has a fade and balance control built in? If so, you hardly need to route the wires through the center console.

Just one man's opinion.

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Don
'85 500SL (Euro) - 186,000 w/a complete restoration and engine rebuild at 154,000
'95 C280 - 174,000

The reason that is the suggested method is that if you run wires and RCA's in that suggested way the possibility of leaving lumps in the carpet and the possibility that the sill plates will not fit back in correctly is probable. Although this seems like a lot of work it is not...

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83 300CDTurbo 307,000
2005 Honda Element 266,000
56 Nash Ambassador Country Club Special 34,000(under restoration presently)

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=125099

There are no bulges in the carpet since the wires lay on top of the carpet under the sill plates. The only reason I can think of that the sill plates might not go back on would be because you used Monster Cable. Then, the point would likely be moot because the wires probably wouldn't fit through the tab holes on most speakers.

I've had the seats out of several MB and never considered that as not being much work. It's a pain in the rear end and far more effort than is necessary for simply running speaker wires.

To each their own I suppose.

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Don
'85 500SL (Euro) - 186,000 w/a complete restoration and engine rebuild at 154,000
'95 C280 - 174,000