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  #1  
Old 11-04-1999, 12:56 PM
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Location: Cincinnati, OH, USofA
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What speaker replacement options do I have with this model. Spcifics I think are
Front dash speakers. Door speakers. Rear shelf speakers.

Wanting to know sizes and dimensions?

It appears that this is a 8 speaker setup.
The wife drives it mostly and wants to upgrade
I'm thinking 1st to do the dash speakers and Rear shelf speakers.

If I replace the factory AM/FM/Cassette with a aftermarket Blau or Alpine, what's the normal installation , buy a kit. drop the fader control and run separate wires to each speaker?

Any hints appreciated.



------------------
Mike Mullins
71 250 Coupe
92 400E Sedan
90 944/S2 Cabriolet

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  #2  
Old 11-04-1999, 03:17 PM
Adamou
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I would suggest you to make the installation by a professional. If you know a lot about car audio and have lots of free time then go ahead. It is getting really complicated when rewiring the whole car specially when you have 8 speakers on an amp.
Can't help you on the size of the speakers...
The Alpine head unit is a good choice but I would take a look at other brands, depends also on the style you like and would like in an E series.

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WEB Site : http://www.adamou.dpn.ch
A.S.C. 1999
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  #3  
Old 11-08-1999, 01:51 PM
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Location: Cincinnati, OH, USofA
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In replacing the head unit, is it anyones expirence that they removed the fader from the setup?

Thanks,
Mike



[This message has been edited by Webmaster (edited 11-20-1999).]
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  #4  
Old 11-09-1999, 02:13 AM
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Mike,

Adamou did offer some sensible advice. Trying to rewire a 400E is not as simple as you imagine... theres an awful lot of trim to come off. If you break something your on your own. If you take it to a shop, and they break something, they'll pay for it.

On the speaker sizes, I cant remember either, as they tended to change from yr to yr. My Euro 300CE doesnt even have door speakers ;-)

Your 400E might even have aftermarket speakers in (if you're not the orginal owner obviously!) Best way to find the sizes is to measure them. In most cases you can squeeze a slightly larger speaker in.

Please can we not have harsh words on this forum?

Brian



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Brian Drought
1991 300CE
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~drought/
ICQ: 2180069
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  #5  
Old 11-15-1999, 11:54 PM
fmajid
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I am currently working on replacing my sound system in my 94 E420. I also replaced the system, if it can be called that, on my 88 300TE.
Here is what I have discovered. The cutouts on the dash are 4,5/16" and really permit nothing larger than a 4" speaker. In almost every case, an adapter must be fabricated to install dash speakers.
E class cars since 1992, I believe have amplified door speakers, at least, as standard. 400E might have a standard premium system. On a 1994, this means, amplified (1 way) units in dash and doors, with 3 way units on the rear shelf. This appears to be an interesting sound system design, since in almost all cases, detailed sound staging should be created in front of the listener and not behind !
Anhow, I intend to replace the dash units and leave the door/ rear units for the moment.
My recommendation for the moment would be to obtain a wiring diagram for your car from your friendly MB dealer.
The easist alternative thereafter is to replace the dash units with some high quality coaxials. Good brands are Polk, Infinity (expect to pay less than $100). Better brands are JL Audio, MB Quart etc, but these are typiclly in the $150-$200 range. Also, your Becker will not fulfill the potential of the latter - underpowered. A qualified sound shop will be able to install these for $25-$35.
I could continue for a couple of pages, yet. Almost done as much research in MB sound systems as I did in my Masters
Hope I have been remotely helpful..
farrukh
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  #6  
Old 11-20-1999, 11:17 AM
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This I think's a real tricky one, folks. In my '92 500E I have an Active Bass Sound System. Likely it's in 400Es as well as many 300Es. It's an okay setup, but an absolute nightmare to upgrade 'cuz you really need to do the whole darn system... speaker-only upgrades might actually hurt. I've added a 10" self-amplified sub in the trunk, but because of the humongous gas tank in between the trunk and passenger compartment you barely hear it.

If you open the trunk, pull back the inner panel to the right, up by the hinge. Behind it lives the radio (in-dash is a slave unit; no brain) and amp/crossovers. That amp's dialed into the (approx) 5 1/2 in lower door woofers, and the one way full range speakers (about 4") in the dash. The dash units are likely only asked to serve up mids & highs but they're definitely one way speakers, not single cones or coaxials.

On the back deck are about 5 or 6" one way speakers pointing straight up, and if you're in the back seat and you're looking rearward there are two little tweeters splayed at different angles behind (closer to the glass) each woofer. They point into the passenger compartment, and because tweeters are so directional they look like they're trying to disperse the high end evenly.

Not as good as the system I did in my wagon (Boston Acoustic tweeters spraying at the windshield in front on the dash, with 6 1/2" woofers cut into the doors. BA 4 1/2" coaxials into the rear doors, with bass blockers. Installed a Sub tube with 2x61/2" run by around a 120Watt Fosgate Amp. Alpine 35Wx4 CD head unit) but I don't want to drop a grand or two right now to upgrade my 500E.

Sorry for the bleak picture, but I'm likely in the same boat. Good luck!

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Best regards, Michael
'92 500E
'88 300TE
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  #7  
Old 11-23-1999, 05:22 PM
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Location: Cincinnati, OH, USofA
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Thanks for the info, Like fmajid and Mike suggested, I have bought a replacement head unit and Changer. A Blaupunkt Aspen Cassette ( I still have a ton of these) and 10 Disc Blaupunkt CDC-A080 changer for the trunk.

The Unit puts out 140 watts peak with the capability for connection to stand alone amps later.

Right now I'm just interested in the unit and speaker replacements. Thanks for the sizing and old amplifier location information. Just what I was looking for.

As far as taking on this myself, I've done 3 other MB's and 2 Porsches I've owned since I was a teenager, now that I'm in the forties it's still the same, the only problems I have now is back bending underneath the dash. As far as expirence, An MB is nothing like a Gruman F-14 or MD F/A18 as far as complications in wiring goes. Years of expirence in the military avionics world translates into consumer electronics no problems.





------------------
Mike Mullins
71 250 Coupe
92 400E Sedan
90 944/S2 Cabriolet
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  #8  
Old 11-25-1999, 07:00 AM
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Mike,

Where did you put the changer? Its always nice to learn new locations for changers.

I've seen the wiring in a Tomcat... very scary. Do most military techs follow the principal of:

Q. Can I see it?
A. No, so it doesnt have to be pretty as long as it wont fall apart at Mach2.

;-)

Now, a CD changer in an F-14...theres an idea!

Brian

------------------
Brian Drought
1991 300CE
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~drought/
ICQ: 2180069
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  #9  
Old 11-30-1999, 05:42 PM
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Haven't mounted it yet.

Trying to decide where, any thoughts?

Hate using the top of the trunk\rear shelf for it will always be in the way when the trunk is loaded for vacation, down in the qtr. panel is used on pass. side w/ Battery. Drivers side contains Michelin tool kit.

Thought about spare tire well.

I dunno.

As far as changer in F-14

A few pilots strapped a Sony Walkman or Car Discman to their leg (depnding on R/L handed writer). Most strap a writing tablet to the other (Used for taking chinese carry out orders I think).

I have put many a instrumentation setup in the former backseat area for weapons development.



------------------
Mike Mullins
71 250 Coupe
92 400E Sedan
90 944/S2 Cabriolet
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  #10  
Old 12-01-1999, 01:58 PM
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As regards where to mount a CD changer, about the only options you have are:
* Suspended from rear parcel shelf (which is where they put it on my 500...and yes it DOES get in the way!)
* Inside the spare tire (perhaps wrapped in foam to keep it from banging around. Downside-not very accessible)
* Left rear well, behind the tire, facing up
* Semi-permanently mounted to the top of the battery cover in right rear...would restrict ready access to battery, but how often do you really go in there?

Hope one of these ideas helps....I've resigned myself to keeping the changer in the OE location

[This message has been edited by Michael (edited 12-01-1999).]
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  #11  
Old 12-01-1999, 03:26 PM
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Michael,
Thanks for the feedback. I like the thought about on top of the battery. If not I'm thinking the spare tire bucket. I was thinking lie you said putting it in some foam.

I pulled the cover off the rear speakers and it was a 5.25 with a couple of tweeters on each speaker. I was thinking after looking that I might replace this setup with a plate type speaker as it seems a 4x6 might work.

I didn't find the amp but I will keep looking.

One question, how do ou remove the present head unit. Stick something in the slots down at the bottem of the face plate?

Thanks, Mike
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  #12  
Old 12-03-1999, 03:06 AM
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How about glovebox, or under the glovebox above the passengers feet?

Also under one of the seats?

Would make access a LOT easier. ;-)

Brian

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Brian Drought
1991 300CE
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~drought/
ICQ: 2180069
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  #13  
Old 12-03-1999, 04:04 AM
Adamou
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In the glove box, it's impossible, it is too small, even if you remove the box itself. One of my friends fitted the cd changer in the door's pocket, it works fine but do never slam the door...

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WEB Site : http://www.adamou.dpn.ch
A.S.C. 1999
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  #14  
Old 12-03-1999, 11:26 AM
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US 400E's don't have a glovebox. Wife wishes they did. I don't have that much room under the seats. The Blau unit is approx 4" tall.

I'm not concerned about real easy access, with 10 discs I don't envision making a lot of CD changes.

As far mounting it inside and visable that would be a concern for me. much rather keep it out of site and locked in the trunk.

I definatley like Michaels suggestion for on top of the Battery.

The other is the spare tire well in a vertical position. (1st choice)

Does someone (Michael ?) have a wiring layout for the original unit or is there a kit for utilizing the origianl wiring.

Mainly Continous power, Accesory power, Antenna lead, etc.


Thanks, Mike




------------------
Mike Mullins
71 250 Coupe
92 400E Sedan
90 944/S2 Cabriolet
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  #15  
Old 12-04-1999, 12:05 PM
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Mike,

I'd call Crutchfield and see if a wiring harness converter's available. I never bothered; I simply figured out what was what and spliced a new Alpine harness onto it. However, I really only needed the antenna switch wire, power, and ground. I ran all new speaker wires and took the OE fader out of play (actually bored the switch mechanism out and installed an on/off switch for the sub). The wiring seemed very straightforward, though.

If you mount the changer to the battery door, I'd suggest attaching the changer brackets straight down into the battery door, and somehow use velcro to stick the changer to the side of the trunk so it doesn't flop over...I'm certain that most "hook" side velcro will stick to that compressed felt-looking stuff that lines the trunk.
Good luck!

------------------
Best regards, Michael
'92 500E
'88 300TE

[This message has been edited by Michael (edited 12-04-1999).]

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