I'm installing a ham radio tranceiver in my 1990 300D 2.5 (124.128 with OM602.962), and I need to know where the best place would be to get a couple of 12V wires from the battery to the passenger side under the dash. I really don't want to rip too much stuff out to get to it, and I really don't want to drill any holes. I'm going to mount the radio under the dash on the passenger side. The antenna cable will run under the carpet in the wireway that leads to under the back seat, where it will then go up behind the seat into the trunk where the antenna is mounted on the edge of the trunk. I've already figured out the antenna cable routing (in fact I'm in the process of finishing it right now), so all I need to know is where to run the 12V. I pulled back the piece of plastic that protects what I assume is the voltage regulator and battery charging equipment behind the battery, and found a grommet that runs a bunch of wires into the car. However, I haven't been able to figure out where it ends up. I don't really want to drive out to the mechanic (around 35 miles round trip) just for him to show me where the correct grommet is.

Thanks in advance!

You’re on the right track: I have snaked wires from the battery into the passenger compartment in my 123 and 126s through the bundle of wires and grommet you noted, your 124 may be the same. You may have to pull back the carpet in the passenger foot well and remove the panel under the dash to retrieve the wire, but I have done it with my cars w/o drilling.

You might also consider the multi port grommet just behind the brake booster on the driver side. Several vacuum lines run through it. Could be an easier route.

Steve

For my 95 E300 (w124): If you "lay" on the front passenger floor and look up, there is a black cover plate that you can remove (1 or 2 screws, I can't remember, and some wiggling). The grommet comes out up there. Very easy...

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1995 E300D - 225,000 miles - White Exterior, Grey Interior - original owner

There are two black plastic plates, one on the underside of the dash, and one under the floor mat that has the SRS system wiring warning on it. I took off the one under the dash (one screw, much wiggling ) and didn't see much in terms of s the wires entering the passenger compartment. However I did see a silver pipe, maybe 3/4" in diameter running through a separate grommet. Judging by where this enters the engine compartment, the one with the wires is next to it either behind the other black plastic cover, or it's behind that foam stuff that everything metal seems to be covered with and is impossible to get off I would have done more looking around but it was by that time dark and dinner was ready.

At least I got something done today, I successfully fed a wire through the wireway under the passenger seat and into the trunk. Running wires under the floor is such a pain! It seems like every six inches you go you hit something under there. I did have to take out the vent under the front passenger seat to keep the feed wire from catching on the edge of the vent. To get it into the trunk I had to take out the screws that hold up the back of the back seat. After those were out, the seatback pulled up enough to get my hand in there to pull the wire through the grommet that runs the vacuum hose for the fuel door and trunk locks. So all I have to do now is get the power from the battery to under the dash on the passenger side, and my radio will be ready to talk

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Dale

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1...MG_2277sig.jpg

1990 300D 2.5 Turbo -155k
2000 E430 - 103k
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ecodiesel 4x4 - 11k
2014 VW Passat TDI SE - 7k Bro's Diesel
2006 E320 CDI - 128k Pop's Benz

Pre-glow - A moment of silence in honor of Rudolph Diesel

I just did this because I put a new Pioneer head unit in, with the iPod unit and the Sirius unit. So I ran a new power lead in just as the others have said. Take your battery out. You'll see the plug on the firewall where a bunch of wires go thru. Poke a hangar wire in there (white one if you've got it, so you can see it better) and when you are on the passenger floor looking up, after you've removed a panel or two there, you'll easily see your hangar wire. Tape the end of your new power wire to the hangar wire and pull it back into the engine compartment.

If I can do it, anyone can!

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D