I am going to buy a new Alpine stereo for my 300E.

I would like to keep the existing MB fader as I think it is quite handy.
Is there any reason why I shouldn"t

My car has 6 speakers (4 front) 2 rear. The Alpine has 4 channel.

I will get the shop to do the install, but I want some advice on the install to make sure the shop knows what they are talking about, and they are right about the install options.

I don't plan on buying any amp.

Is it a basic install? Can I keep the fader? Will it affect any of the performance if I do?

Does anything have to be re-wired like the speakers or is it just as simple as replacing one head unit with another plus the fader stuff?

How much labor do you think the shop should charge? (so they aren't ripping me off)

thanks.

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'90 300E
Lowered with Eibach Springs
Mouldings and bumpers painted body color
Clear front corners
94/95 W124 Taillights

I don't know about the 1990 model year 300E's, but several years had an amp and receiver in the trunk, so the speakers / head unit / antena are wired to the trunk. If your car is set up this way, then the speakers and antena wires will have to be replaced, and rewired up to the head unit.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I have no amplifier in the trunk.

So can I keep the fader? is there any disadvantage to keeping it?

Would the install be basic?

Any help would be appreciated as I don't know much about car audio.

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'90 300E
Lowered with Eibach Springs
Mouldings and bumpers painted body color
Clear front corners
94/95 W124 Taillights

I'll bet you do have amps in the trunk. Pull out the trunk liner that runs across the back and maybe the passenger side side liner. There should be two amps tucked in there.

Steve

I would pull the stock indash radio to see if there is an antenna wire back there. I just did another install on my wagon, and I think it is best to bypass the fader. It zaps some power, and degrades my sound quality.


Frankly, I would do the install myself. Save a few bucks. There is a diagram of the color floating around here somwhere.

Oh yes, if you look toward the back of the cubbyhole where the stereo goes, you will see the wires going to the dash speakers. I connected the front speakers that way, and it sounds good.

Oh, and also, plan on replacing those stock speakers. They cant handle the bass that comes out of a new deck, and they distort.


But definitely try to bypass the fader. You will be glad you did!

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

definitely need to bypass the fader..
otherwise you will be changing the ohm load on the deck amp, and eventually toast your alpine.
if you have seperate amps in the trunk it may be better to work those into the system.
definitely make sure to get a good installer, a few extra bucks is worth having things work down the road.. good luck.

if you have woofers in the front doors then you have an amp to power them. keep it intact so that the new alpine will feed the amp and run the woofers in the door. you should get rid of the fader as it doesnt serve much purpose and only detirorates the sound quality. you have the fader in the alpine.

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Whether you think you can or cannot, Either way you're right!. by Henry Ford.

Here's what makes it more difficult.

For a few years, 1993 definitely included, Mercedes ran the system off of 2 ohms, instead of 4 ohms, which is the standard today. If so, it won't work.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

If your car is a 1990, your radio is a Becker BE1480, a two channel unit. If you want to use the new radio with only two channels, that is ok, the fader will divide the signal. If you want to eliminate the dash fader and use the deck's fader, that would be ok too, you would need to do some re-wiring so that all four channels are used. Many will suggest removing the dash fader to eliminate distortion. I think it depends on the condition of the fader.

Be thankful yours is not the BE1432 - the two piece radio which is difficult to replace.