I know some of you have added 6X9 speakers in the rear decks of your cars, and I know it requires a lot of modification, but do they look good? I don't think I could get too much out of 5" speakers in the rear (bass-wise atleast) and I can't quite afford a sub + amp yet (although I'm very seriously looking into that Subaru unit) so I want something somewhat affordable that will be atleast temporarily satisfactory. Maybe 6.5" speakers would be better? I don't know, maybe you guys do..........

Remember, keyword is "affordable"


Alex

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1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

FWIW, I put 6 1/2" speakers in the back of my car without having to cut any metal. I did have to enlarge the pre-cut holes for the factory speakers in carpeted particle board. The sound was adequate for me.

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2001 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Turbo Diesel - 4x4, auto, 3.54 gears, long bed
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'92 300D 2.5 Turbodiesel - sold
'83 300D Turbodiesel - 4 speed manual/2.88 diff - sold
'87 300D Turbodiesel - sold
'82 300D Turbodiesel - sold

Alex:

MB factory speakers are very good -- make sure a replacement is really better before you go chopping away!

I think the speaker cutout is into the ventilation duct under the shelf -- it is in the 115s, anyway, so you don't want to cut through into the trunk space.

Consider a "box" like some factory systems where the speaker is above the shelf rather than under it -- the magnet will still probably fit into the factory hole underneath. This is an infinite baffle installation, so it won't matter if the speaker is flush or not as long as the box around it is sealed off.

My brother and I spent three nights welding up the mess a stereo shop made of the shelf/trunk area of his 300d to keep the noise and cold air from the trunk out of the car.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Yes, you can put 6.5 inch speakers in the back! In my opinion, this would be a better bet than the 6x9 speakers, because you don't have to cut much on the back deck. Also, a 6.5 inch speaker sounds better than a comparable 6x9. This is just my opinion.

Agreed, I will go with 6.5" speakers. Now for picking them, should I go with component speakers? or just the regular single unit ones? I can put the tweeters on the seatbelt pillars facing rearwards, or the rear pillars by the passengers' heads. Sound like a good idea? Would component speakers be a waste? I know I definitely want to add that Subaru subwoofer unit, just not now (financial constraints). Thanks!

Alex

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1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

Component speakers aren't necessary in the back... unless you're going to be riding there the majority of the time. If you're upgrading front speakers however, components are definetely the way to go, because you can get superior sound imaging up there where it counts.

Crutchfield has a JBL 4" component system on sale for $80, what do you think? I have a set of JBL components in my MG and they seem ok (although the MG isn't the best place to critically judge speakers).

Alex

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1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

I forgot to mention that I have 4" pioneer speakers in the front now.

Alex

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1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

Hey, 80 bucks sounds like a good deal. JBL makes good quality stuff, and you won't be dissapointed. Have fun experimenting with tweeter placement! It takes patience, but you'll be VERY happy with your end results. I've found that the best (and easiest) place to hid the crossovers that will come with the component set, is under the plastic dash panels.

I think I have picked out a pair of Pioneer 6.5" speakers for the back that I like. I would like to ask first though, how much of the rear deck am I going to have to slice away to get these to fit in. Also, is the depth clearance more than adequate? I think the pioneers are 2.75" deep. Thanks

Alex

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1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

Ok, I bought a pair of Pioneer 6.5" speakers and want to install them along with a new headunit. What did you guys use to whittle away the rear deck board to fit the new larger speakers? Thanks

Alex

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1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

Here's how I installed my speakers.

1. Remove the rear seat entirely. Remove the bottom cushion first, and then pull off the rear seatback. There are three nuts. Two are on the bottom near the wheel wells, and the third one is under the center armrest.

2. Remove the first aid box. It's held in only by a couple of screws.

3. Slide the shelf towards you. If it doesn't move at first, don't worry. Pull harder. It might take some force!

4. You can put some Dynamat or similar material on the metal under the parcel shelf. (I highly recommend this, since you have it disassembled anyway).

5. Use something sharp to trim the holes. Heavy duty wire cutters work great.

Installation is the reversal of removal.

And you rewired everything? Where did you route thewires? Thanks

Alex

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1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

My stereo is also completely rewired. I pulled new speaker wire along the same paths as the vacuum lines, generally speaking. For the rear speakers, the wire goes under the rear floormat then up under the carpet directly below the rear seat, then under the rear seat cushion, under the rear seat back, and up to the speakers. It's been a long time, so I don't remember 100% specifics, but I can take a look (and snap some photos) if you like.

- Nathan
'83 240D "Steiner"
'00 New Beetle TDI

Nathan,
That would be great if you could take some photos, but please please don't go way out of your way for me. Thanks for the wiring idea, I think I may do it the same way you did. It sounds easy enough. How did you get it under he carpeting under the bench seat?

Alex

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1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside