Quote: Originally Posted by bfisher I used a Pioneer Premier Head Unit - with Sirius satellite tuner. I used a Pheonix Gold amp - 4 x 75W (into 4 ohms) and 1x300 (bridged) into the Sub (dual coil 2 ohm in series to 4 ohm) Speakers: I used MBQuart 4" two-way in the dash, MBQuart 5.25" two-way in rear deck, and CL-5 5.25" midrange in the door. The doors and front speakers are wired in parallel (makes 2 ohm). Sub is a 10" Kicker. I used Dynamat Extreme almost everwhere, and switched to Cascade soundproofing for the rest. My goal was great sound and yet have it look stock. Only thing you notice is a different head unit (but it's subtle and still looks classy), and the cutout in the first aid kit. However, since it's just a port from the trunk - it looks small and doesn't bely the sub under it. Here are some pics: Door with the 5.25" mounted in it. Trunk showing Amp and Sub: The silver brackets are holding on the sub grill but more importantly - they are about 1/4" above the sub - so if I do have to put something heavy in the trunk - it's not resting on the sub itself. Head Unit: Back deck - first aid kit cutout for trunk sub Beck Deck - under the first aid kit How much was the Pioneer Premier Head Unit - with Sirius satellite tuner?

I bought most of my stuff at WoofersEtc, CarDomain and SonicElectronix. I don't remember which I bought the head unit at - but it seems to me it was ~$155. Plus another ~$90 for the Satellite tuner.

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1995 E300D - 225,000 miles - White Exterior, Grey Interior - original owner

Oh wow, sounds like it was a decently priced...

Hey bfisher, is your amp mounted to a board pushed up to your back seat? Or is it screwed to the seats? I am having reservations about screwing mine to the actual seat. Gonna make the fiberglass enclosure for the subs in the spare tire well this weekend! It should be great! That would be phase one. Phase 2 would be run all the wires from the front of the car to the trunk. And on and on....

Thanks for your reply!

P.S. Is there a classified area so I can post some of my stereo stuff?

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Small Stable:

2002 C240 My first and certainly not my last!

the craigslist in your area or ebay.

Sorry, I meant in this forum.

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Small Stable:

2002 C240 My first and certainly not my last!

No, there is a fuel tank in between the trunk and the back seats - and I wouldnt want to screw into that!

What I did is took out the thin molded carpeted liner that protected the fuel tank from the trunk. I put it on a piece of 1/2" (or maybe 3/4", can't remember) MDF and traced it. I then cut this out so I had a perfect fit (requires a little wiggling to get it in).

I drilled a couple holes for my wiring to come through. I then installed sound dampening material to both sides of it (Cascade because I ran out of DynaPro Extreme (although I like the Cascade now that I've used it)) and installed auto carpet to the board (combination of spray glue (everwhere) and staples (on the back)). Cut out the carpet where the holes are and ready to install.

To install it to the car, I bought 3 small 90 degree brackets (Lowes) which I mount to the board and screw it up into the rear deck. I did not screw it down into the trunk floor (I didn't know what was underneath). It is very solid and stable - no worries about my amp moving!

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1995 E300D - 225,000 miles - White Exterior, Grey Interior - original owner

you can try parts..

Thanks bfisher! That is exactly what I was thinking of doing (with the angle brackets). I am not sure if our gas tanks are in the same place but, I did not want to screw into anything around there knowing it was close! I bought some Cascade based on your recommendation and plan to put it into and around the spare tire well (where my sub enclosure is going). Even though the plastic will not rattle as much as metal, I bought a trunk kit to put everywhere else. My subs will fire upward like yours, did you double the amount of deadener to the trunk lid?

I should have some pictures by next week!

Thanks b-cat! I'll check it out!

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Small Stable:

2002 C240 My first and certainly not my last!

Does anyone know any US retailers of Becker HUs?? I'd really like a Becker Monza 7886 or 7882 but I don't want to pay $600 for it.

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Daily Driver: 02 E430 4MATIC
In the family: '03 E500 // '04 ML500 // 64 220SE

Nope, I just installed deadener everywhere I could in the trunk. No double layers (not sure, I assume it would help but never tried it). It took me forever to install this stuff in the trunk. There are so many places to put it...

I'm a firm believer in this stuff - it makes a huge difference! The sound stays in the car - very little "leaks" out!

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1995 E300D - 225,000 miles - White Exterior, Grey Interior - original owner

Oh, I totally agree. I used it in my last car (the one I competed with) and although the car was fairly sound proof, the deadener sure helped quiet the rattles. I would love to hear a car with a nice system in it that has had the entire car draped in this stuff. You have probably seen them on custom car shows. I have heard people puting several hundred pounds in their cars.

I also thought to put the dynamat where you can not see it. Is that what you did? For example, my trunk lid has some material covering it but it does not cover all of it. I would put it under that material. The great thing about this stuff is, you don't have to cover every square inch of metal.

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Small Stable:

2002 C240 My first and certainly not my last!

Very nice...silence on the outside...a concert within.

Ah, yes!

BTW bfisher, why do you like the Cascade over the Dynamat so much? I may run into my first snag before I even I get started. I bought some Cascade on eBay and it might not be here before my friend arrives to help me with the sub enclosure. Oh well, my fault. So to fix the problem, I may buy some regular Dynamat at the local shop. I suppose I can use the Cascade somewhere else. What do you think?

Thanks!

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Small Stable:

2002 C240 My first and certainly not my last!

I didn't bother with the trunk lid. It probably wouldn't hurt, but I didn't have enough material and felt it more important to install it while I had everything ripped out. I could always go back and install it on trunk lid later. So far, I don't think it needs it.

I was impressed with both (Cascade and Dynamat Extreme). I started with the Dynamat Extreme, and when I ran out, I tried Cascade.

The Dynamat Extreme felt heavier. The Cascade felt lighter (so I was concerned if it would work - but it sure seems to). The problem I had with the Dyna was that it's tar-like (inside). This "tar" does get out and makes whatever its touching sticky/gummy. Also, I cut my hands up on the foil installing it (I started wearing leather gloves which stopped that). Cascade gave me none of those negatives (and cost less on eBay).

Both seem to do an equally good job of noise reduction and vibration cancelling. I do not know how they will stand up long term (after heat/cool of summer/winters, etc). Due to ease of use (and apparent properties of improving sound), I would go with Cascade again.

I may put it on heavier than needed... I bought a Dynamat Extreme "whole car kit" and used almost all of it just in the trunk. If I was to do it again - I'd use at least 2 whole car kits. I installed it in the trunk, under/behind back seat (especially wheel wells), rear floor, front floor, inside front doors (as much as I could easily get to), on the inside of the door panels, and a little bit in the front footwells. It's not covering everything, just where it was relatively easy to get to.

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1995 E300D - 225,000 miles - White Exterior, Grey Interior - original owner