Front speakers 77 240d - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DCM · #1 06-15-2002, 04:43 AM

I updated my radio last week and need to replace the original front speakers to something more powerful.

Crutchfields only offered rear speakers and I do not have or need those.

I understand that the original speakers are an odd size so do not know where to start looking or what to ask for. Thanks

omegabenz · #2 06-15-2002, 05:03 AM

My 83 300CD and my 82 300D both take 4" round in the front, and 5 1/4" round in the back.

Scott "SCLJA"on the forum from La Jolla, Ca has a stereo shop and he helps out a lot on the forum. Try asking him. I know he will know for sure on your car.

Austin

Holson Adi · #3 06-15-2002, 06:23 AM

Yeah, the Pioneer 4"'s that I bought dropped in perfectly. I made a pair of Pioneer 6.5" speakers fit in the back by enlargin the opening a lil bit.
The 6.5" pioneers are quite low in profile that's why I didn't have to mess with the frame of the car.

tcane · #4 06-15-2002, 04:23 PM

I used to install, sell, and manage a store selling car and home stereo, TV's, etc. Four inch speakers will fit in the dash, but some speakers may need to have the outside frame trimmed to fit into the opening and if use coaxial speakers some of them will have the tweeter/mid-range component higher than others requiring trimming the reinforcing ribs located on the underside of the speaker grill.

As Holson Adi wrote, 6 1/2" speakers fit in the rear deck pretty easy (standard cut-out is for a 5 1/4" speaker). If you really want great sound, then you can install 6" x 9" speakers in the back using spacers to raise them above the level of the rear deck (this is what I did). The rear deck has double wall metal and is very hard to cut, much less the fact the fuel tank is underneath and also the vacuum box is bolted to the underside of the read deck (both can be over come with effort). I used a piece of cloth nearly matching the color of the carpet on the rear deck to cover the speakers - looks nice, protects them from the sun/heat, and hides my expensive speakers from a thief looking to steal my stereo (I also have a 10" sub-woofer in the med kit) and not seeing the speakers does not provide a clue to what else I have stereo-wise.

You may also want to consider component speaker systems for the rear deck. Great sound with more flexibilty placement-wise and easier to mount in most cases.

Match the speaker's power handling capability to your stereo's output to get the best sound.

Good Luck!
Tom

The Warden · #5 06-15-2002, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tcane
I used to install, sell, and manage a store selling car and home stereo, TV's, etc.

You used to install and sell stores?

sorry, couldn't help it

So, let me see if I have this straight...there are 4 speakers total, with two 4" speakers in the dashboard somewhere and two 5 1/2" or so speakers in the rear deck?

I like the idea of putting 6x9's in, though...I've got a set in a speaker box sitting in my truck's halfcab right now...sounds very mean

tcane · #6 06-16-2002, 12:44 AM

Warden:

Well, I deserve that - I usually write more clearly than that!

!

Actually, I did build the custom made sound boards & displays containing the speakers, head units, amp, etc. to display car and home stereo systems. I also installed car stereos and home stereo systems in addition to selling stereos/TV's/video/etc. and managing the store. However, I did not install and sell stores!LOL!

You did not mention which M-B body style you're talking about. Assuming it is a W123, then 2, 4 inch speakers are in the dash under grills. The back/read deck has openings for 5 1/4" speakers and 6 1/2" will fit with a small amount of work. Component speakers will also fit with a bit more works. 6" x 9" speaker will fit, but take more effort and time depeding on the speaker (large magent and/or deep speaker will require more work versus a speaker with a smaller magnet and shallow, etc.). Some 6 x 9 speakers may only need one spacer ring to raise it high enough to mount correctly. Other 6 x 9 will need two or more spacer rings to raise them high enough to mount correctly. To me the spacer rings don't look good and one reason I used cloth to cover the entire read deck (heat and thieves the other reasons). The cloth cover installed pretty easy the way I did it and it has pretty clean appearance.

Tom

The Warden · #7 06-16-2002, 06:09 AM

Tom, again, I was just being feisty.

Do you by chance have any pics of your rear deck? Not having had the opportunity to get a close-up look at what the rear deck's supposed to look like (still Benz-deprived, for a little bit longer at least), I kinda have an idea of how you did the carpet...but again, I'm curious.

Thanks!

#8 06-16-2002, 12:53 PM

The front speakers in my 76 are located in the kick panels forward of the doors. I bought some kenwood 4" speakers but the original hole was not deep enought for them. I fabricated an additional kick panels out of 1/4" plywood and wrapped them in black vinyl. I had to install them at a slight angle (tight at the door and tapering in towards the engine) They look great and almost original.

joeywarren · #9 06-25-2002, 06:06 AM

Hey Tom, I have been hawking this thread and thought I'd add my request for pictures of your W123 saloon audio installation.

I have a 230 1983 (UK), and need to install a sympathetic upgrade to the existing (original) system in the car.

I have 2 original speakers ready to replace with the pioneer 4" and am really looking at needing something bigger on the rear deck... your pictures would no doubt help somewhat...

In your opinion, where do you think the best place for amplification would be?

thanks in advance

SUNRG · #10 12-15-2006, 10:29 AM

i also need to replace the front speakers on my 1981 240D. i've heard some 4" speakers drop right in with no modifications while others require some work.

if you know of a specific model that will just drop in with no cutting, modifications, etc.. please post.

thanks so much!

SUNRG · #11 12-16-2006, 08:52 AM

anyone?

Mark DiSilvestro · #12 12-16-2006, 09:44 AM

My '82 240D originally came with 3" dash speakers. They were made with offset rectangular mounting plates that screwed to the dash with four screws. One of my dash speakers was missing, but the PO had left a pair of aftermarket 3" Kenwood accoustic-suspension speakers in the trunk. The Kenwoods are round, with no mounting plates, except for two mounting tabs at opposite ends. Only one of the Kenwoods was any good so I used it as a temporary substitute for the missing OE dash speaker. With just two mounting screws, the Kenwood fit OK, but without the factory offset there was a gap at one side of the Kenwood that I had to fill with some thin foam packing. Not great but sounds OK, roughly equivalent to the remaining OE dash speaker. The 3" Kenwoods are a commonly availible dash-speaker replacement.
Yesterday, I picked up an OE dash speaker from an '85 W123 300D wagon. It's a 4" accoustic suspension speaker and is designed to clip into the speaker hole without screws. If it will fit my 240D dash, I'm going to try it and see if there's any improvemment. If so I'll try to find another matching 4" OE speaker to upgrade my remaining 3" OE speaker.
I can't say about 4" aftermarket speakers, as I don't have any to test.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Mark DiSilvestro · #13 12-16-2006, 10:48 AM

Well, I just went out and tried my 4" Becker 300TD speaker. It fits perfectly and seems to sound marginally better than either my 3" OE speaker or my makeshift 3" Kenwood. So I'm leaving the Becker in place and may look for a matching one to upgrade the remaining OE 3-incher. I may also look for a compact powered subwoofer that can go under one of the front seats, like the Blaupunkt unit someone posted about on the Audio Forum awhile ago.

The PO must have had some monster amps/speakers in this car, as all of the OE speaker harness was disconnected, but fortunately not hacked up! I found lots of fat blue and orange twin-lead snaked under the floormats and rear shelf. Aside from that, all the PO left me was 3 blown speakers and an 8 year-old Eclipse radio with a dead CD player. I've 'temporarily' installed a Pioneer cassette radio and pair of 100 watt 5-1/4 Pioneer rear speakers that a neighbor pitched out last year. I wired it through the OE harness and fader to the dash speakers and it seems to work pretty well, though later if I'm feeling ambitious, I might install the Becker Europa Cassette from my retired '72 250.

Happy Motoring, Mark

charlie19 · #14 12-16-2006, 10:59 AM

About 2 years ago I replaced the front speakers in my 79 240D with some Sony ones from Pep Boys. They dropped in with no problem and work great, no rattles, etc.

Mark DiSilvestro · #15 12-16-2006, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlie19

About 2 years ago I replaced the front speakers in my 79 240D with some Sony ones from Pep Boys. They dropped in with no problem and work great, no rattles, etc.

Do you remember if your OE dash speakers were 3 or 4 inch, and what size Sonys did you install? Did the Sonys screw into the original mounting holes or did you have to drill new holes, adapt or modify anything?
I've found that many aftermarket speakers have oversize rims, lips, tabs or some other features that make it tricky to mount them in some factory speaker locations.

My OE speakers were 3 inch, with mounting screws and a flange shaped to just fit the speaker recesses in my dash, but the later W123 300D 4 inch speakers simply dropped in the holes, then were held in by attached spring clips.

Happy Motoring, Mark