i've done a search on this topic and not too much has come up. On the MBUSA web site it says my 500SEL has an 11 speaker bose beta sound system. I only count 10 speakers...two in each of the front doors (4), one in each rear door (2), and four in the rear deck (4)...there seem to be grills in the dashboard but that would make 12 speakers so I assume there's no speakers there. Is there a hidden subwoofer or something somewhere? I'm planning on upgrading to a clarion head unit and MB Quart speakers all around, not sure about amps yet...seems like it'll be a big job. Thanks for any info you can provide.

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Chris Singh
1983 300D
1990 300E Black Pearl Monotone w/ chrome AMG monoblock II 17", custom multimedia system

1993 500SEL brilliant silver w/ AMG monoblock II 19"

http://benz.mp3car.com
http://stormworks.max3d.com

The other speaker you are looking for is right by the rearview mirror and it acts as a center fill speaker. If you look up you will see it but it is kind of small.

Please reply and let me know if you find it

George,

Thanks for the response. I'll check it out today when I leave work. It's going to be interesting/expensive/tedious to do any kind of speaker upgrades on this system...the wiring alone will be a monstrous job, unless I choose to stay with the existing wiring...hopefully it's not too tied into the bose amplifier. As much as possible I'd like to avoid pulling up carpet and removing seats etc...should I be able to swap speakers and the amp and use the existing wiring?

Also, is the 6 disc changer rom 1993 an alpine unit? i'm thinking about a CVA-1000 or 1005 but I'm hoping it will be compatible. Thanks for the info.

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Chris Singh
1983 300D
1990 300E Black Pearl Monotone w/ chrome AMG monoblock II 17", custom multimedia system

1993 500SEL brilliant silver w/ AMG monoblock II 19"

http://benz.mp3car.com
http://stormworks.max3d.com

First of all the seven individual amplifiers that are in your system are not bad. If you are looking for more bass just add a seperate amplified sub box in the trunk. If you want better overall sound just replace the head unit and the results will impress you. If I were you I would just leave the whole thing alone because you are dealing with possibly the most complicated car in the world. I am wondering if you will add your S-class to your web site because I love to see pics of these great Mercedes-Benz automobiles!

George,

An installer friend of mine has told me that the Bose system in my 500SEL is "proprietary" and that if I swap out the head unit, I'll have to swap out the amps and speakers too...can you verify this? (anyone else reading, please feel free to chime in) Although the current system is adequate, it is showing its age and it just doesn't have the crispness of newer, high quality components. I wanted to upgrade in stages, with the head unit first, then the speakers, but if I can't swap out the head unit by itself then I have some things to think about...also does anyone know the brand of the factory CD changer and if it is compatible with current Alpine head units (or any others on the market). Thanks...

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Chris Singh
1983 300D
1990 300E Black Pearl Monotone w/ chrome AMG monoblock II 17", custom multimedia system

1993 500SEL brilliant silver w/ AMG monoblock II 19"

http://benz.mp3car.com
http://stormworks.max3d.com

The CD changer is likely Alpine, but the wiring is MBZ proprietary...won't hook up to any Alpine head units.

However, that changer is compatible with most '92-'95 Benzes so would be easy to sell if you commit to upgrading your whole system...BTW, I seriously doubt you can change just the head unit; Bose is notorious for setting up systems that are impossible to mess with!

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

Michael,

Thanks for the info. I guess I'll have to wait for now...I have big plans to do the whole multimedia thing with the 140 but it'll have to wait for awhile...it should give me better time to plan my attack though I can only imagine MB Quart components all around and two or three (!) 12's in the trunk, an LCD motorized screen head unit by Alpine or Clarion and LCD monitors in the headrests...plus the book PC system from my soon to be sold 300E for DVD, Mp3 and GPS navigation...should be awesome, maybe I'll put a fridge in the trunk and just move in Now I just gotta figure out how to pay for all of it

On another note, looking at my engine bay, then looking at the engine bay of my 300E, how in the @#%#@ did they shoehorn that monster in there? Pushing my 500 up past 135 with ease makes me only wonder how brutal the acceleration in your 500E must be! Thanks for the info, and I'll keep posting as I make progress.

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Chris Singh
1983 300D
1990 300E Black Pearl Monotone w/ chrome AMG monoblock II 17", custom multimedia system

1993 500SEL brilliant silver w/ AMG monoblock II 19"

http://benz.mp3car.com
http://stormworks.max3d.com

Yeah, the 500 goes real well; before I bought it I was torn between a 500E and a 500SEL; power won over comfort I guess (not that a 500E is slumming it!).

As to room, there's not an inch of underhood space extra I can tell you; but the way the car accelerates at 100+MPH makes it clear why they did it

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

Flipsyde,
Did you ever upgrade your system?
I am just seconds away from ordering the Kenwood DV-2100 Navigation System and the KVT-910 head unit with 6.5" screen for my 92 500SEL.
What I'm need help on is:
What the heck do I do with the complete audio system? Can I spare any of the speakers? open_air subs? I have no problem springing for new amps, but where does the madness stop?
If anyone has done this, would they be kind enough to share what they've done?

Joel

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Joel P. Davis
1992 500SEL