1999 Mercedes e300

[dieselworks]

My radio volume control is not functioning properly. Also the CD changer after about 15 minutes shuts off.
So I'm looking into going aftermarket. I've tried to look up a kit but haven't had any luck.
I did find the tools needed to remove the radio/cd unit. Also connectors that connect to the Mercedes radio harness. And the adapter needed to connect an aftermarket stereo to a Mercedes antenna.
But that's about it.
I have an old alpine I took out of my 85 300sd that works great and that's what I'd like to upgrade to.
Roddy

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[speednjay]

Give crutchfield a call. They have the plug n play kits. When I had my 99 diesel a while back I think I got the wire adapters at Best Buy.

[dieselworks]

I also found out that it's makes a big difference if the car came with a alpine or Bose radio. The Bose conversation is a little more complicated.
I won't know until I get the removal tool to find out what the car came with. Hopefully it has the alpine.

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[party]

Not sure about your model but typically Bose stereos are advertised as such.

You can run your VIN to see if Bose stereo was optioned.

[dieselworks]

found out the car has a becker radio. Which explains the volume control issue. doesn't have bose which is much simpler to convert to an aftermarket cd player.
waiting on the replacement items but once I get everything it should be installed within an hour.
The vin info worked great. no mention of bose but I did the checks described by crutchfield installation specialist. found no evidence of bose.
I did find out that if your car has a bose system then a different wiring harness is needed that has rca plugs for preamp(s). also a stereo that has rca cables (preamps) is needed to augment bose.
Hopefully this helps someone going through the same process.
Roddy

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[party]

The non-fiber optic Bose stereos of this era can be given speaker level, but the volume can be a bit touchy and easy to overdrive.

[speednjay]

I’ve wired a few Becker’s. Nothing really difficult. 8 speaker wires .. and a ground .. positive and a few switched wires for the antenna ect

[dieselworks]

my understanding is that the wiring harnesses can be spliced together. The original cage that locks the stereo is removed. the new cage that comes with the new radio is installed. hook up the harness that connects to the factory harness then hook up the new radio harness to the new radio. Then slide the new radio into the dash. put the trim ring that comes with the new radio. and you're done. no more worried about having to have a code to activate the factory radio if you disconnect the battery.
been told it usually takes 15 to 30 minutes to accomplish the task. I'm thinking the 15 minutes is the guy who does this for a living and 30 for a novice. all in all not as difficult as I thought going into this.
although the bose system will take much longer and require more components.


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[party]

Bose and non-Bose are the same process so long as it is non-fiber optic Bose - unless you want to use RCAs for Bose in which case it's actually a bit quicker as you don't have to crimp or solder those connections if using the harness with RCAs on it.

Other than that you're correct. Once you put everything together on the bench it should only take about half hour or so to get the stereo installed in the car. Just make sure to have the correct necessary install supplies (radio removal tools, harness, and antenna adapter).

[Hogweed]

if you have the standard factory system its super easy....if your car came with the bose system (with pre-amp) you have to make a wire to for the connector connect to the amp power (blue wire)_ or else you won't hear anything.
i just converted my 99 e320 and went through this first hand. stock plug makes everything light up but you don't get any sound because the amp isn't 'lit'.....made the wire and it was fixed

Originally Posted by dieselworks

My radio volume control is not functioning properly. Also the CD changer after about 15 minutes shuts off.
So I'm looking into going aftermarket. I've tried to look up a kit but haven't had any luck.
I did find the tools needed to remove the radio/cd unit. Also connectors that connect to the Mercedes radio harness. And the adapter needed to connect an aftermarket stereo to a Mercedes antenna.
But that's about it.
I have an old alpine I took out of my 85 300sd that works great and that's what I'd like to upgrade to.
Roddy

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[party]

Most harnesses that I've seen come with the amp turn-on lead. Something to be mindful of when buying a harness is that most mid-90s on up cars used the same ISO connector only difference being that ign and constant power are reversed on some applications, so make sure that the one you buy has them correct for MB or will have to swap leads.

These following two are correct.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007WRQG2/ref=psdc_15729931_t3_B0002BEQKM

https://www.amazon.com/Metra-70-1784-Wiring-Harness-Volkswagen/dp/B0002BEQKM/ref=pd_sbs_107_2/140-2506849-2013548?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0002BEQKM&pd_rd_r=a9e101b7-e85e-4939-9d2c-e24f892ae8a8&pd_rd_w=99y9r&pd_rd_wg=Gl9ap&pf_rd_p=52b7592c-2dc9-4ac6-84d4-4bda6360045e&pf_rd_r=0MFXJG9NERFBR984RMV8&psc=1&refRID=0MFXJG9NERFBR984RMV8

[dieselworks]

i installed my cd/radio yesterday and found out that the settings wouldn't set. I then remembered that the constant power and switched/ignition power is reversed on some models. That would explain why the settings would need to be inputted every time I powered up the radio. That mention that the constant power was reversed.
My understanding is 98 up Mercedes e series have the constant and switched/ignition power source reversed. In order to correct this condition all that is needed is to cut the red to red wire connection and the yellow to yellow wire connection. Splice the red to yellow wire (2) times and reinstall and now your settings will be in memory.
Roddy

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