Help with Alpine Install in 94 E320 Wagon - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

kwontumspeed · #1 01-17-2010, 08:03 PM

First., let me say that I'm pretty savvy with installs - used to work at Hifi Buys doing installs on the side in high school...but these freakin Germans!

My CM2194/1492 took a dump. I lost the front speakers and assumed that it was the built in amp in the head unit. I just replaced it with an Alpine CDA105. The whole install went without a glitch until I got the "DC Error" message on the faceplate. This means a short somewhere. I ISO's it and it was the connection to the front right speaker. Unconnected, the whole system works fine. Try to connect and the head unit shuts off and gives me the error message.

I started to realize that maybe it wasn't the built in preamp in the 1492 but that I may have a amp in the rear somewhere that is powering both my dash and door speakers and the Alpine isn't expecting this so it gives me the error. And possibly the only reason that the front driver's side speaker works (not the door, tho) is that there is a voicecoil in there for the phone.

Am I on the right track?

If so, what is the correct way to connect to the rear amp and make the whole front of the system work? And can I do away with that and power everything through my preamps in the Alpine?

Can someone simply explain to me the architecture, etc? So I can understand how everything is wired? I know, I should've done more research but I didn't think at first that I had a complex system in this wagon and that it was a direct connect...

Robert

jaimekop · #2 02-06-2010, 10:12 AM

Robert,

Your car is equipped with the Active Bass system. You may have noticed that your front door speakers never had much going on and the dash speakers did all the work. Thats because the door speakers are actually only bass speakers. There is an amp in the back of the car next to the rear windshield washer tank. Its quite common for these to have water damage because of their location.

Have a close look, and have it rebuilt/exchanged by the guys at Becker Auto Sound. Its not that expensive.

The combination of a modern head unit and the original amps/speakers really sounds good. If you have speaker problems, new replacements are available from the dealer for pretty cheap. The system is well balanced from the factory and if you do any big changes, it will take alot of work to get it sounding good again. I'd go as far as saying that modifying the original system devalues the car (at least to me).

I have a '95 E320 wagon with the same setup, running a modern Becker headunit connected directly to the factory wiring harness without any modification, and it sounds great! I did have to replace one front speaker due to some crackling.

Good luck!

Jaime
'95 E320 - Becker Cascade
'83 300D - Becker Cascade
'79 300SD - Becker Mexico "Retro"

85 DSEL · #3 02-06-2010, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaimekop

I did have to replace one front speaker due to some crackling.

Good luck!

Jaime
'95 E320 - Becker Cascade

Jaime, I also have a ' 95 E320 wagon that is in need of a new front (drivers side) speaker and actually just learned how they come out of the dash! Was this a difficult job, assuming you did it yourself? I want to place a factory spec speaker back into the hole. What speaker did you use to replace the original one?

jaimekop · #4 02-06-2010, 04:01 PM

Hi Dale,

Its not very difficult... you snap up the strip that runs front to back along the speaker grill. This will expose a small screw or two (can't remember exactly)... remove them, and pry up the grill. Now, you just pry out the speaker, it snaps into place.

Get a new speaker from the dealer. As of last year at this time, they were still available.

Jaime

85 DSEL · #5 02-21-2010, 08:17 AM

Went to the dealer to check on getting one factory speaker for the dash on the 124 and the guy there suggested that I look at after-market spkrs. He said since theirs have been sitting on a shelf in a warehouse someplace for 10+ years, I probably would be better off getting after-market since they would have the newer cone materials instead of paper, etc. Makes since.

Now the issue for me is finding a shop that I can trust! I stopped by a place not too far away and of course they stared talking replacing the entire system (you drive a Mercedes so SURELY you would want to SPEND the MOST money possible, right?!) After convincing them that dash speakers are all I am interested in he then started telling me that "this one" or "that one" SHOULD work for me! They had a set of 4" Boston Speakers for $120 and $45 installation

Crutchfield online does not show me what size these round dash spkrs are. Somewhere here I read that they are ~ 4-5/8" round? Also, I chickened out trying to remove the trim strip that reveals the screws for the grilles! Was using a small flat blade screwdriver and was scared that I'd slip and puncture the dash vinyl. If anybody has a fool proof way of doing this, I would surely appreciate it. It's not that I cannot afford to pay "them" to do it, but I like doing my own work where I can on my cars 'cause I trust me!

I know that I'm not going to rip me off!

jaimekop · #6 02-21-2010, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 85 DSEL

Went to the dealer to check on getting one factory speaker for the dash on the 124 and the guy there suggested that I look at after-market spkrs. He said since theirs have been sitting on a shelf in a warehouse someplace for 10+ years, I probably would be better off getting after-market since they would have the newer cone materials instead of paper, etc. Makes since.

It doesn't make sense! A speaker sitting in a warehouse in a nice plastic bag and cardboard box for years is in much better condition than one sitting in a dashboard under a piece of glass with sun beating down on it.

Go find a new dealer, and order a new speaker!

Jaime

85 DSEL · #7 02-21-2010, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaimekop

Go find a new dealer, and order a new speaker!

Jaime

Oh yeah! I forgot to mention the price for ONE speaker at the dealer...

$80.

I'm still pondering that one!

65beto · #8 06-10-2015, 02:48 PM

Hello, Im having a problem with my aftermarket head unit (Alpine with BT) ever since I have bought the car last year. Someone really messed it up on the install. I noticed I also have the amp from factory in the trunk and an Clarion under the front pass carpet.
The issue is, decent sound up to 1/3 of volume, after hat point it distorts pretty bad. I have two small speakers on the dash, two on the doors and to on the side rear panels.
When I move the Fader to the back speakers, I realized it moves the power not only to the back panels, but also to the doors (is this correct?) and when a switch the fader to the front, only the dash get the juice muting all other four (doors and back panels)
The head unit has 4x45W and the Clarion has another 4x45W, but I only running 6 speakers and the sound is aweful. What gives?

Thank you in advance.

Lou.