When I was 16 my DD was the gold 300SD. I didnt have any issue with driving, being distracted or otherwise. I put a Pioneer deck in it, some Polk speakers and bought a set of infinity 12's off a friend (3 of them actually..powered by some wimp tiny amplifier..idk who set that all up) The early w126 sound systems definitely lacked any real bass response. I dont think adding a 300-watt subwoofer to that car will be a big issue. But then again I don't really know the kid that well to judge that. I can only speak from experience. I've always placed driving on the top of the priority list. Phone calls, texts get ignored until I get to my destination. Here's a decently priced MB Quart sub: MQ Quart RLP-304 (RLP304) 12" Dual 4 ohm Low Profile Reference Sub

__________________
Cruise Control not working? Send me PM or email (jamesdean59@gmail.com). I might be able to help out.
Check here for compatibility, diagnostics, and availability!

82 300SD 145k
82 300SD 265k
87 420SEL 230k
89 420SEL 210k
89 560SEL 118k
90 300SE 262k RIP 5/25/2010
90 560SEL 154k
91 300D 2.5 Turbo. 241k
93 190E 3.0 235k
93 300E 195k

Thanks to everyone for the very helpful responses!

__________________
06 E320 CDI "Benson", Platinum Blue, 174k mi
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black, 144k mi
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 128k mi
98 E300 "Murray", Silver, 128k mi, Stage 2 Rocketchip chip tuned, under son's care

Twelve other MB's owned and sold
2002 Honda Odyssey 241k mi (want to name it "Homer," wife won't let me)
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

He's already going to be driving a tank... give it some boom.

have him invest in dynomat for sure...
you might wanna have the sub replace the back seat... NOTHING is more distracting for a teen driver than FRIENDS in the car!!!
enforce a ZERO cell use while driving, and limit passengers to YOU... 16 is just too young with today's distractions, and high speeds...
a radio sounding good, is a good bargaining chip to eliminate dangerous trends while driving.
in my state it's actually illegal for any driver under 18 to have any passengers besides the parents...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Sounds like a good law to me. In RI, he can have one person in the car who's not a parent/guardian.

__________________
06 E320 CDI "Benson", Platinum Blue, 174k mi
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black, 144k mi
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 128k mi
98 E300 "Murray", Silver, 128k mi, Stage 2 Rocketchip chip tuned, under son's care

Twelve other MB's owned and sold
2002 Honda Odyssey 241k mi (want to name it "Homer," wife won't let me)
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

yup, and the penalty is revoked license until 21... how's that for incentive!

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Don't let him screw the amp into the fuel tank!!!! The tank is the forward partition of the trunk and that happens more often than you'd think. Some overzealous installer sees all of that real estate, holds the amp against it, and runs 2 inch drywall screws in to hold it...... and then it comes to the shop with a fuel smell.

__________________
90 300TE 4-Matic

Turbo 103, T3/T04E 50 trim
T04B cover .60 AR
Stage 3 turbine .63 AR
A2W I/C, 40 LB/HR
MS2E, 60-2 Direct Coil Control
3" Exhaust, AEM W/B O2
Underdrive Alt. and P/S Pulleys,
Vented Rear Brake Discs, .034 Booster.
3.07 diffs, 1st Gear Start

91 300CE parting

90 300CE 104.980
Milled & ported head, 10.3:1 compression
197° intake cam w/20° advancer
4° ignition advance
PCS TCM2000 running 722.6 trans, 600W PWM fan, water injection

Okay, maybe I'm super blessed or something, but I turn 16 in exactly two months, and the Mercedes-Benz that I own 50% of becomes 100% mine. I am trying to keep her all original, but will be installing a stereo with lots of BOOM! I love Christian Rap/Christian Hip-Hop(yes, there IS such a thing!) and I really want the BOOM of the bass! I love it! Good luck!!

You guys sound like your fathers you know ... let the kid be a kid! didn't hurt any of us.....

my $0.02

__________________
1987 300D 180k
1985 300SD 330k Helga
1992 300D Lola 269k- Sold
1986 325 coupe Bessie >300k Original engine(ODO Broke) sold
2006 2500HD Druamax Linda- Tows boat and looks pretty in garage thats about it

If he's mature enough to warrant you giving him one of your cars to drive, he can probably handle a subwoofer. Just be sure to remind him that hearing what is going on around him is important and that if he ever needs to concentrate to simple turn it off for a minute.

__________________
2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed
1997 E290 Turbo Diesel Wagon -traded for above, an amazingly comfortable car to drive, great drivetrain, but the rust, oh my god the rust
1992 BMW 525i -traded in
1990 Silver 300TE -Sold Loved the wagon, hated the M103
1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS -Sold, really should have kept this one
1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Slug" -Sold

X2
You need to explain to him that installation of a sound system like that is a symptom of "small mans syndrome" & all the hot chicks know that !! A sub is the last thing he wants !!

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

We have a similar law here for the first year of driving.

A wagon with the back seat folded away & a foam mattress in the back would be more useful for a young guy than a big sound system.

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

Large back seat and teenage son combo is about the only reason I'm glad I no longer own the SDL!

__________________
06 E320 CDI "Benson", Platinum Blue, 174k mi
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black, 144k mi
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 128k mi
98 E300 "Murray", Silver, 128k mi, Stage 2 Rocketchip chip tuned, under son's care

Twelve other MB's owned and sold
2002 Honda Odyssey 241k mi (want to name it "Homer," wife won't let me)
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

You asked for it.

When one of my two sons or five daughters "hounded me," I always referred them to my first response to their request and added:

1. Did I tell you no? Do you think I made a mistake by refusing your request? Do you think therefore I am careless of your concerns or perhaps you believe that I prefer to refuse you because I do not love you? Do you think I have made a selfish decision based on what I want rather than what is best for you?

2. Did I tell you wait? How can you not show me patients? Am I not patient with you?

Never-the-less, I always tried to do what was best for my children though looking back I see I did not always succeed. My greatest success was that they all now know that was my goal.

I like a good stereo. I also like the sound of a diesel engine. I waited a few months to ditch the factory stereo and speakers in my SD because I was enjoying diesel clatter. The sound of taking off and turbo whine is better than music.

__________________
1984 300SD Orient Red/ Palomino
1989 560SEC
2016 Mazda 6 6 speed manual
1995 Ford F-150 reg cab 4.9 5speed manual