Hello,
Im looking to replace the front speakers in my 83 240D. Id like to find something that wont require modifying and will allow me to still use the original grill.

Im leaning towards boston acoustics se45 4 inch speakers.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_065SE45/Boston-Acoustics-SE45.html?search=boston_se45&skipvs=T

Ive read that s45, the previous model, fit nicely. Anyone know if the current model -se45- will fit?

I had also considered polk db401, older models apparently fit. But the tweeter height looks way too high.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-DA3HCsye1Jp/p_107DB401/Polk-Audio-db401.html

Any other suggestions for speakers currently being made? Thanks!

I'm in the same boat with ya Benzedrine with my 1982 240d. I got to do something with this POOR sound. Reminds me of the OLD AM radio days!! I want the original look but great sound! I'd love to swap out the original Becker too, but will likely not due to keeping it original looking. Maybe I can figure out how to wire a ipod connection instead?

According to Crutchfield niether of the speakers you selected fit our cars

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2006 Jetta TDI DSG 320k miles
1997 Ford F150 325k miles 4.2L V6 "Work Truck"
2008 Tundra 225k miles 5.7L
1982 240D.....sold
1984 300D...Totaled OUCH!
1985 300D Turbo 222k miles "Dos" sold to 79Mercy
1986 300SDL 98K miles "The Beater"....sold
1987 190E 2.3 16v Euro spec 115K miles....sold

Yea that confused me. For my year and model crutchfield has a mistake and seems to think all four speakers are the same size. They have the correct rear size only. My original 240d front speakers are 4 inches.

Benzedrine, I saw this post a little late. I've done several 123's now. I use an infinity Kappa 4" speaker. Yes, the tweeter does stick up a tad bit high, but it works well. I trim about 1/8 inch from the screw gusset (on the grill) so as to make up for the extra metal under it. I bend down one corner tab on the speaker and it sets down in there very flat. When you install the grill, it barely is noticable that it sticks up about 1mm on the one side. It does not vibrate and they sound as good as a 4" speaker can. I only use them for clarity and sound stage but they make a small amount of bass for you. You'll have other speakers to fill in the low frequencies anyway. Let me know what you choose. I'm always looking for new options. Andy

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Andy
71 350SL (sold), 81 380SEL, 84 300D (just sold), 85 190D (sold), 91 300E, 93 190E (just sold), 79 240D (sold) , 83 240D (living on in my other cars) an 83 380SEL (sold) 82 380 SL and 85 300D. Just bought a 95 SL500.

Just a quick update- I eventually went with Boston Acoustics SE-45.

After removing two of the speakers mounting tabs, it went in perfectly- and the factory grill still fits in place.

The speaker tabs were easily removed by bending back and forth with a pair of pliers.

I probably could have got away with removing just one tab.

To my ear they sound great, especially for such a small speaker. Totally personal, but I have always liked how Boston Acoustics speakers tend to sound.

In the rear I have Boston Acoustics S-55. They fit nicely except for being unable to use the factory grill. The grill that came with the speaker looks nice though. I think the current model se-55 looks even better.

Thanks to the help from here, Ive sorted out all my audio issues. Can't thank you all enough.

Did you have to use a Spacer for the rear speakers ?

Did you have to use a Spacer for the rear speakers ?

I can answer that.

I've used BA S55 speakers on the hat tray and no spacer is needed for rear clearance. I think I will be painting the BA grills black and then screwing the OEM grills to the tops of them. It will look more like an OE install, but with a elevated grill.

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2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid SEL Premium (Sparky)
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It's a car not a science experiment! Open the throttle!

Any updates on the SE-45 speakers? The Wal-Mart specials in the 240D blew courtesy of Gotye last night and I want to get some good speakers this time. At $40 the price is right too.

Boston Acoustics SE45 4" 2-way car speakers at Crutchfield.com

Can you guys let me know if there is some trick to getting the front speaker grill covers off? I removed the one screw on each side, but cannot seem to slide the grill cover off. It is stuck, or clipped in place, near the windshield. Is it necessary to remove the whole front dash?

I have a 1979 240D and went with the Boston Acoustics SE45 for the front.

After you remove the screw the covers should pop off with a little twisting.

I did end up ordering the SE45 speakers as well and they should be here tomorrow according to Crutchfield. I haven't ordered anything from them since I was in High School in the 90's.

I'm looking forward to seeing how well the Boston speakers work. I have an '83 240D and when I got a modern stereo for it in '07 (it has since been stolen =P) the guy at Best Buy ended up rewiring stuff through the ignition to keep the stereo from blowing out my old speakers! I'd like some modern ones for it, even if re-rewiring it is involved.

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1983 240D, 272K+ miles (odo broke)

I'll take pictures and do a writeup whenever I install them. It looks like its going to be about 2 weeks before I have a chance

I have the older s45's in my 83 300D and they sound great although light on base. I complemented them with a 10" powered Bazooka tube and an Alpine iDA-X100 head unit and the system sounds great. I think I going to pick up the se45's for my 85 300CD and mate it with the Alpine CDE-134HD head unit (which includes high definition radio) and a 6" powered Bazooka tube. My original Becker Grand Prix doesn't work.

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85 300CD Signal Red/Tan sold
83 300D Manganese Brown 109K
97 E420 Midnight Blue 197K sold
98 BMW 328i Vert White 100K, sold
95 BMW 525i White 125K, sold
93 BMW 525iT Red 193K, sold
95 E320 Green Wagon 125K, sold
94 E320 White 127K, sold
85 300SD 156K Grey (Annie), sold
84 300D Lapis Blue 170K (Judy), sold
99 ML 320 Black (lease), 1998 C230 White (lease)
00 Honda S2000 Red (lease)
86 Mercedes 300E (sold)
84 Porsche 911 Red (sold), 1965 Porsche 911 White (sold)

Well I installed the SE45 speakers and I am amazed at the sound quality for such a small speaker. They fit perfect after removing two of the mounting tabs. Here are some pictures with the wal-mart specials that I replaced.