Where is it?

I am thinking of installing a complete Alpine System in the car.

Replace stock speakers. Head unit and Amp. Any suggestions?


I also would like to know if anyone was able to custom fit a double din in a W140? That's a stretch I know.

Thanks In advance.

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1993 400SEL (W140) 281K
1999 S500 (W140) 163K (Sold)
2002 S500 (W220) 72K
1999 S500 (W140) 88K
You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war.
Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

The amp is located above the left rear wheel well behind the left trunk side panel. It is about 12" long and 6" by 6" and it is bolted with 4 phillips machine screws.

Scott@lajollaaudio

__________________
The Mercedes Specialists Since 1986

the FM receptor, and a few tpre-tuned Equilizers are back there.
Why would you want to replace the factory system anyway, it's perfect?

__________________
"If I teach you half of what I forgot, you'll still have enough to compete with most people"

Thanks for the advice.

I may not replace the Amp and the speakers after all.

I am going to replace the head unit and put a CD-changer and se how it sounds first.

I like the way the factory system sounds very much, but I am not very keen on the head unit and the limited functionality and the fact that it locks up if the power was removed. One side of my tapes does not play very well I only hear right side speakers but other side is OK, so if I wanted to hear the full speakers I have to manually flip the tape, I cleaned and no luck.

A wireless remote controlled head unit with a CD changer sounds better to me.

BTW. Do you happen to know what the color codes are for when replacing the head unit. Thanks in advance for your help.

__________________
1993 400SEL (W140) 281K
1999 S500 (W140) 163K (Sold)
2002 S500 (W220) 72K
1999 S500 (W140) 88K
You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war.
Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

I just happen to have a 93' also, and I know how cumbersome that head uinit is to use! I havent had that tape problem (YET), but I dont listen to tapes much anymore. The factory CD changer broke, so I had an Alpine Changer installed, and it runs through an FM modulator, do you think this affects the sound quality?

__________________
"If I teach you half of what I forgot, you'll still have enough to compete with most people"

Hey Benz_man600

I don't think that a new head unit will make it worst, if any thing it should make it better.

I have a 1992 Pontiac BonnevilleSSEi mine is white though.

__________________
1993 400SEL (W140) 281K
1999 S500 (W140) 163K (Sold)
2002 S500 (W220) 72K
1999 S500 (W140) 88K
You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war.
Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

Our Bonneville is Maroon (read: Burgundy) It's not actually mines. It's my mom's (I'm 16). The S500 is my dads, and the 300SE was given to me when my pops bought the 500! The Bonnevilles OK, but it doesnt hold a candle compared to the S500!

__________________
"If I teach you half of what I forgot, you'll still have enough to compete with most people"

I also have a 140. The sound system is nice, but I like bass in my music. Could I just add a new HU and amp and subs to the existing system? Or just the amps and subs.

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1985 500SEL 124k miles
2001 Honda Civic EX

You cant just add to the Bose Betta II sound system. If you notice, there is no EQ settings on the head unit of the system. Why? Because the system continuously optimizes tone quality by itself without you knowing it. Kinda like the auto sound leveling! Any addition of speakers will throw the sytem off. It might send some highs to the rear sub-woofers, and send the lows to the mirror mounted front-tweater! You might be able to splice in another amp in with the OEM amp in the trunk. Dont know, but this might cause trouble too. You got the bad version of the Betta II system. MB changed the digital settings in '94 (?) so it would "thump less". Theres nothing you can do but stick with it, or take chances!

__________________
"If I teach you half of what I forgot, you'll still have enough to compete with most people"

There is no reason why you can't replace any of the components of your system if you go about it in the right way. If you want more bass then the first thing I would do is hook up another amp and replace the subs with a pair of 10"s. The way I would hook up the amp is to use the stock sub outputs and hook up a high to low level adapter to feed the inputs.
If you want to replace the stock hu then I would use an oem4 soundgate device to drop the level of the new decks speaker outputs to match the input of the factory amp. If you do replace the hu then get one that has not only 4 speaker outputs but also a pre-amp sub output to drive your new sub amp.
If you want to replace the stock amp then I would pick a good 5 channel amp or a 4 ch and a mono amp for the sub. Here is a pic of a 140 car I recently did. Even though the factory speakers a 2ohm most amplifiers can drive them alright, the only thing you will loose is equalization that is internal in the amp. (it is the only way bose can make their speakers sound decent) Good luck!

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
The Mercedes Specialists Since 1986

So it would probably be best to leave this one up to the professionals. I wasn't considering doing this one myself, but thanks for all the info. I'm assuming this would be a costly operation anyway.

__________________
1985 500SEL 124k miles
2001 Honda Civic EX

If it is cheap I would worry about the quality of workmanship.

Scott@Lajollaaudio

__________________
The Mercedes Specialists Since 1986

Could you give me a ballpark figure if you include the labor and the parts needed.

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1985 500SEL 124k miles
2001 Honda Civic EX

Depending on what products and to what level you want to take it , this guy spent $5,500.00 on his system. You could spend anywhere from $2000 to $10,000.

Scott@lajollaaudio

__________________
The Mercedes Specialists Since 1986

Wow I was a bit low with my estimate. Thanks for all your help though.

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1985 500SEL 124k miles
2001 Honda Civic EX