W202 replacement speakers - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Hocky · #1 07-21-2003, 05:41 AM

Wonder if anyone can help me with my search for replacement hifi speakers which will fit in my 1994 Euro C180. It now has 2 tweeters on the dash corners and 2 midrange paper speakers on the front doors, 2 muffled up, low range paper speakers on the back doors and 2 muffled up low range paper in the back shelf. Why did Benz choose this layout I really don't know as the sound is sh--! Hardly any high fidelity sounds coming from the tweeters, you have to struggle to catch them unless the music has plenty of cymbals sounds, etc. The bass is actually just low tone aka the high/lows of the 60's type of amplifiers. Must be the capacitors or coils fitted to them causing this degradation. I would need 2 or 3ways, but they must be able to fit in the small cut-out sections in the doors, etc. Looks like a new hifi radio set would be needed too and maybe a seperate power amplifier to boot. Any advice form the audio experts or those who have done this to their cars will be appreciated.

#2 07-22-2003, 03:24 AM

If your car is like mine you should be able to fit some 6x9s under the rear grills, with some modifications to mount it. You could easily fit a nice set of 6.5" speakers back there too, depending on what you want. I'd forget about the speakers in the rear doors. Who needs 'em?

Your speaker quality must be quite a bit different than mine b/c my USA spec setup only ever lacked deep bass, which the basslink makes up for quite nicely. From your description though, it sounds like we have the same size and locations of speakers.

Anyone know about changes in the W202 audio system over the years, in different models and in different countries?

hocky1 · #3 09-02-2003, 06:08 AM

C230 Reich rocket.
Mine are what size I don't know as I haven't taken them out yet. Sounds like yours are the same as mine. Its the 2 front door ones which have a lack in bass and high notes. The 2 rear door ones sound very muffled and the rears are even worse. Looks like they have attached a few elect. condensors or coils to reduce the high and low notes for what I can't guess. The dash tweeters are ok, but too soft and hardly sound any good unless I run cassettes which have highs higher than my cds. Now since my last post, the left front door speaker is vibrating a bit and gets bad with the lower sounds on cds and cassettes. I usually turn the low and high controls all the way up and still its not really hifi??? Sounds a lot more like lofi.....LOL Seems the vibrations caused by the speaker trying to sound the low bass, but the plastic front piece cannot take the cone's vibrations and cause it to vibrate against the plastic door frame. Someone has told me to use some silicone on the edge to stop this vibration. I am afraid the stuff will set permanently and I won't be able to reopen it if needed. What do you suggest???

#4 09-02-2003, 01:55 PM

Hi hocky.

As I see it you have a few choices.

1) Patch up the problem by applying some
silicone and hope it doesn't come back.

2) Replace the front door and rear deck speakers
and rewire the whole system and do away
with the sound restrictions now in place.
Remove the rear door speakers totally.
It looks like all speakers exept the tweeters
are 6.5".

3) Built custom speaker pods for the front
doors and replace the OE speakers with
nice quality aftermarket ones.

4) Buy or make kickpanel pods and mount some
components or coaxials in those and not use
the front locations at all.

I sure there are more.

Hope this helps.

Louis.

guydewdney · #5 09-02-2003, 08:18 PM

kenwood, in the UK at least, do a set of replacement components - did reasonably well..

guy
(ex 202 owner)

hocky1 · #6 09-04-2003, 09:35 AM

It looks like I have to take out one speaker to look at its real dimensions and compare this with potential aftermarket ones of the same size. The real problems will be finding one with a rear magnet which is not too much bigger than the OEM's in depth and width. Then I will have to look for one with midrange/tweeter assembly on the front which will not hit the plastic grille in the front of it. Does anyone have the exact measurements of the OEMs and the ones which will fit for replacement without needing any mods on the grille, housing and so on??? If someone can post a picture or photo of the OEMs and replacement with dimensions I will be most grateful.

guydewdney · #7 09-05-2003, 05:06 AM

if i remember correctly, the speaker is a very odd shape - you have to have an adapter plate.

its easy to get to the speaker - its not a door card off job..

look under the front edge under the speaker plastic pod, theres a phillips screw. remove, then unclip the cover from the door card. bingo - one speaker.

As I said earlier, Kenwood do a replacement set c/w adapter plate.

Guy