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  #1  
Old 07-10-2005, 11:35 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 87
Question regarding new Alpine HU for my 126

Yesterday, I picked up Alpine's new CDA 9855 for my 88 560 SEL. It's an
excellent unit. It'll control (with two optional parts) XM Radio and my
Ipod and will play MP3 and WMA Cd's. And it had three pre-amp outs,
built in EQ and crossover.

I plan to add a 4 channel amp, anything from a Kicker to a JL audio
for the dash and rear deck. And I may add a separate small amp to
run to new 6.5" inch speaker in the current door sub openings. I'll replace
the speakers all the way around.

I'd like to go ahead and have the unit installed now as it might be a
few weeks until I decide and purchase the rest of the system.

With that in mind, is it possible to wire the Alpine in with the current
amps and console fader using the pre-outs? Do the factory Beckers
have pre-amp outs to run to the amps in the rear or are they like the
old 'power booster' amps don't actually use a pre-amp signal. The
alternative is to use HU power directly to the speakers but that would, I assume, eliminate the stock subs.

Thanks,

Bill

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  #2  
Old 07-11-2005, 01:06 AM
mikemover's Avatar
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Quote:
Originally Posted by backstage1
Yesterday, I picked up Alpine's new CDA 9855 for my 88 560 SEL. It's an
excellent unit. It'll control (with two optional parts) XM Radio and my
Ipod and will play MP3 and WMA Cd's. And it had three pre-amp outs,
built in EQ and crossover.

I plan to add a 4 channel amp, anything from a Kicker to a JL audio
for the dash and rear deck. And I may add a separate small amp to
run to new 6.5" inch speaker in the current door sub openings. I'll replace
the speakers all the way around.

I'd like to go ahead and have the unit installed now as it might be a
few weeks until I decide and purchase the rest of the system.

With that in mind, is it possible to wire the Alpine in with the current
amps and console fader using the pre-outs? Do the factory Beckers
have pre-amp outs to run to the amps in the rear or are they like the
old 'power booster' amps don't actually use a pre-amp signal. The
alternative is to use HU power directly to the speakers but that would, I assume, eliminate the stock subs.

Thanks,

Bill
I'm not sure if the Becker amps you're talking about require pre-out signal or not, so I can't help you with that....

but no matter what, I would DEFINITELY bypass the factory fader on the console.....they are NOTORIOUS for degrading the sound quality. They are low-quality faders to begin with, and they always are dirty, crusty, and sticky inside just because of where they are located.

Mike
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  #3  
Old 07-11-2005, 01:58 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 87
Trust me, I know about the fader. I've cleaned mine so it's
not as bad as some. The deal is I'm talking about a month to
six weeks. If I can get away with a simple dash install without
getting into the console or running new wire, I could enjoy the
HU now rather than leaving it in the box while I round up the rest
of the system.
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  #4  
Old 07-11-2005, 04:53 AM
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Location: Southern California
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Quote:
Originally Posted by backstage1
Trust me, I know about the fader. I've cleaned mine so it's
not as bad as some. The deal is I'm talking about a month to
six weeks. If I can get away with a simple dash install without
getting into the console or running new wire, I could enjoy the
HU now rather than leaving it in the box while I round up the rest
of the system.
I am with MIke on this one. I've had alpine HUs in my 84 300SD, 91 420SEL and daughter's 89 300TE. The 300TE has the alpnine HU with iPod interface.

Not that hard to do the right install now and then when you get the other goodies, slide out the HU and install the new goodies. In fact, it is easier on the W126 than the W124 because there is more room inside.

Good luck and enjoy the sounds.
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  #5  
Old 07-11-2005, 11:35 AM
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Ok some answers.

The becker amps, and there are two of them, behind the rear seat back, on each side of the car, are speaker level in, speaker level out.

The pale in comparision to the output of the alpine deck you just purchased, and will probably also overdrive it at higher volume settings.

Your best bet is to run 4 new sets of speaker wire from behind the center console to the amp harnesses, and tie the alpine to the speakers directly. Its really easy, especially in a w126 where the front carpet just clips out.

No way to use preamp level outputs etc.... However rewiring and running the alpine's internal amp will bring you a pleasant surprise as far as sound compared to the factory becker system.

Take care,

George
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  #6  
Old 07-14-2005, 07:16 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 87
Thanks for the info guys. A funny thing happened along the way.
My 560 threw an a/c belt and I took it to my shop to get a new
one. The compressor is gone, which means replace the dryer and
expansion valve as well. They told me $1600 in parts and it could
go much, much higher. Worse case scenario (if metal got into the
system when the compressor went out) a $3600 job. I paid $3900
for the car.

I was about to invest a thousand to fifteen hundred for a sound
system and $400 in replica wheels, and another grand to fix a few
non-emergency items on the car. This was the last straw. I'm not
a mechanic and Ben's the shop I use in Austin is 45 miles away.

It's been around 100 every day for weeks here in Central TX. I've
been driving my wife's car while she's out of town but I baked in
the Benz. Long story short, I drove over to BMW of Austin and bought
a 2000 Z3, a car I've been looking at for a while.

I turned down their trade offer but the BMW salesman drives an early
80's MD diesel sedan and used to sell Mercedes. He turned me on to
an excellent mechanic that does German cars and Lexus. He charges
$25 an hour. He's doing the same repair for $900. And the guy's an
ace mechanic, he's in his 40's and his Dad, who was an MB mechanic
in Venezuela had him tinkering with cars when he was a little kid.

So I've got a great mechanic in the Austin area if anyone needs one.

I'm going to put my Mercedes up for sale when I get it back. I'm tempted
to keep it now that I've found a good mechanic but will probably let it
go. And the Alpine is going in the Z3.

Bill
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  #7  
Old 07-14-2005, 07:53 PM
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I believe I spoke with you a while back.

$1600 is absurd for that repair! My buds 300E's compressor puts out 40/90psi high and low side... it's about dead. It's $440 in labor only, around $850 with a rebuilt compressor and $1050 with a new one.

Hate to see ya go but at least it's in a vehicle from Germany.
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  #8  
Old 07-14-2005, 11:01 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Palm Springs, CA
Posts: 166
I got the 9847, and I love it. It has great sound and looks beautiful in my 126 300sd. With the lights set to amber it looks very oem'ish. It's all black, and it doesn't have all of the flashing-blinking displays and that really suits me.
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  #9  
Old 07-15-2005, 01:20 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 87
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hit Man X
I believe I spoke with you a while back.

$1600 is absurd for that repair! My buds 300E's compressor puts out 40/90psi high and low side... it's about dead. It's $440 in labor only, around $850 with a rebuilt compressor and $1050 with a new one.

Hate to see ya go but at least it's in a vehicle from Germany.
Thanks, Hitman. This new mechanic in Austin is doing the job with
3 hours labor at $25 per hour. Total job: $900. The problem is that
Ben's the shop I've been using is in a big building on 5th street in
Austin, a prime area. From what I understand, property taxes on
that shop are nearly $30,000 per MONTH. That's why they charge
$75 per hour and max price for parts.

While it's nice to have wireless internet access and good restaurants
and coffee houses to hang out in while the car's being worked on, I'll
take $25 per hour labor any day of the week.

I'm getting the air fixed because it would be hard to sell it w/o it in
Texas especially this time of year.

The "Frau"'s been great but I gotta tell you the Z3 is sweet. It's a 2000
with the 2.5 liter, Oxford Green with 30k on it. It's a lot of fun to drive
and I don't think I'll be visiting the mechanic once a month with this one
or paying $45 to fill it up.

Of course I'm going to miss that trunk.

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