Replacing Speaker Grille Material

[mbboy]

The material on the speaker grilles of my 380sl are brown from age. So I was wondering if anybody here has ever replaced that material.

I haven't taken the grilles off yet, mainly because putting them back on can be a PITA. If I recall correctly, however.the exterior vinyl wraps around the back and is glued on to the backing.

So I imagine the vinyl can be removed, ideally without ripping it, the grille material replaced, and the vinyl glued back on. But then again, not everything I imagine turns out to be correct, especially when it comes to MB's . So any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[donbryce]

It's been awhile, and my memory is not that good, but IIRC, you need to pull back a strip of gummy tape-like stuff at the lower part of the grille on the driver side to reveal 2 screws. Remove the screws, then (this where I can't get a clear mental picture) pull down on the grille to release 2 hooks from the top of the opening. The passenger side is the same, but no tape. To put back on, what works best is a thin piece of flexible plastic, inserted behind the grille to help start those clips back over the lip. You'll see how this works when they are off. Just about any thin material would work to replace the grille cloth, which is glued on from the backside pretty much as you describe...and maybe you'll want to consider new speakers as well. Those stock ones are 8ohms and don't work with newer head units, which want 4ohm speakers...but that's another thread.

[RC4U12]

on my 450 you push up to remove the grill to remove and i think easier to put back in and screws are still on bottom.but maybe my slips are in backwards..Jeff

[mbboy]

Originally Posted by donbryce

It's been awhile, and my memory is not that good, but IIRC, you need to pull back a strip of gummy tape-like stuff at the lower part of the grille on the driver side to reveal 2 screws. Remove the screws, then (this where I can't get a clear mental picture) pull down on the grille to release 2 hooks from the top of the opening. The passenger side is the same, but no tape. To put back on, what works best is a thin piece of flexible plastic, inserted behind the grille to help start those clips back over the lip. You'll see how this works when they are off. Just about any thin material would work to replace the grille cloth, which is glued on from the backside pretty much as you describe...and maybe you'll want to consider new speakers as well. Those stock ones are 8ohms and don't work with newer head units, which want 4ohm speakers...but that's another thread.

Thanks Don. I already replaced the stock speakers with two Boston Acoustics 3 1/2's -- if I recall, correctly -- , so I don't have to deal with that. And I'll try using flexible plastic, as you suggested, to get the clips on again after I change the grille cloth, which will hopefully be as easy as it sounds.

Take care