I would like to replace my Bose system with aftermarket but I have received conflicting info re: the ability to re-use the existing speakers, if not, why not??? Any advice or info is welcome. Thanks, Steve

So your question is if you can reuse the factory BOSE speakers out of the SL500? I'm sure you could, will it be a direct fit depends on which speakers and car they'll be going into. Just keep in mind their size, mounting, and impedance (resistance, ohms). Most likely they are powered by an amplifier, so if you just hook them up to another cars headunit, they might be underpowered or sound distorted.

Aren't Bose speakers typically of lower impedance than most others? I was thinking they were 2 ohms as opposed to 4.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

I think I didn't explain this properly. I want to keep the speakers and replace the Bose Stereo and Amplifier with another brand. My thought was to splice into the speaker wires and keep them. I've been told it would not work and I never received an explanation as to "why not". Someone told me these speakers had their own pre-amp? Is that possible? Does anyone know if they can be just plugged into another car stereo unit? Thanks, Steve

It's probable, my HK speakers from my M3 were 2 ohm (powered by HK amplifier). However I've tested them with Beckers headunit and they work fine, just don't go blasting the volume or you;ll overdrive the headunit = distortion, heat, and then failure of headunit.

The difficulty will come in wiring... I would assume the wiring scheme was: Headunit > Wiring > Amp > Wiring > Speakers. The wires for the speakers run directly to the amp, which most likely isn't near the headunit. Instead there is another set of wires connecting the headunit to the amplifier. So you can see there is no direct connection from the headunit to the speakers (in a factory wiring-sense).

Also I'm not familiar with each model, but some factory Bose systems were fiber-optic or digitally connected (between the headunit and amplifier). If your goal is to install a new headunit and amplifier in the factory locations... as long as the connections are regular wires (copper), then it should be fairly straightforward and definitely doable.

In the end, mixing OE bits and aftermarket bits won;t result in a great combo. Just because they are factory Bose or HK or whatever, typically they still suck (maybe slightly better than the generic systems in econoboxes). Do it right and replace the headunit, amplifier and speakers as a unit. Ultimately the speakers will have the greatest influence on sound, next to the headunit, and then the amplifier.

My experience with the speaker wiring in Benzes is that it is very small gaugue and should probably be replaced with a heavier gauge wiring anyhow. If you do use the stock wiring, though, it probably has some connectors you can take off your HU and solder onto the replacement. That makes connecting and disconnecting it much easier.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

You need an impedance matching transformer. Crutchfield or ebay has them.

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99 ML320
94 SL600
92 SL500
95 E320 Cabriolet
87 560SEC
86 300SDL Grease Car
80 380SLC Euro

13 Fiat Abarth
02 Maserati Spyder Cambiocorsa
00 BMW Z3
90 Rolls Royce Silver Spur
80 Ferrari 308 GTSI
88 Jaguar XJS12 H&E Edition
99 Land Rover Discovery

Has anyone done this? I'm thinking of using a different manufacturer and amp. I haven't torn anything apart yet. I thought it might be possible to replace the Bose Amp with another manufacturer and a different "head" unit that fits into the dash and use the existing wiring for power and connection to the same speakers. I'd like to know if anyone has tried this with a '95 Mercedes of any model. The amp is located behind the drivers seat in a compartment on the back ledge.