Got an S500 question for all you SL lovers

[Webstersavenger]

Hey guys I’m new here, but come from ASGS.NET. (I still love my baby.)
This is an S500 question but i dont think that the SL's are that much different in this area. i could be wrong but plz read.

I need to remove the rear right door panel on my 99 S 500 the speaker stopped working. I wanted to know if you guys had any advice on how to do it with out snapping anything off or doing something worse like popping the air bag. That would not be fun.

My second question is for anyone that knows a lot about the S 500’s. I bought the car with a full Alpine system in it and I can’t find the brain unit. Would anyone know where you could hide it? It’s a big unit and I would have thought they would have put it in the trunk but yeah right… they guy that put in the system was stupid and did a piss poor job. I have spent the last two Saturdays fixing up his work.

Anyways any info I can get form you guys would help.

Thanks
~Dave~

[bwheitman]

Hello,
I had a 92 S class, I loved that car. You got a good car! one of the last ones.
My advice on the speaker in your rear door would more than likely be that the wiring could be a problem. I am sure you may have already checked that. The cars come with a bose unit, there is a large amp located above the drivers side rear wheel well in the trunk, it is a black box with heat sinks on it. When these fail they usually cause speakers to go out. My car had a very large Sony amp put in it's place since the Bose unit was not available. The unit is mounted behind the gray trunk material, it is in front of your vacuum pump.
Removing your door panel is pretty simple, just remember that you need to disconnect your battery first. Then remove the screws near the latch on the door, then the cover for the interior door handle, and there should be some cap with screws under them near the armrest, It just pops off. Be careful not to pry too hard, be patient and go slow. After all the screws are out you can then remove the panel by popping the snaps around the outside of the panel trim, after these are popped up you can raise it up and over where it goes down into the window channel. My S was a lot older than yours and those Bose speakers were all in great shape, so I would check the wiring and the amp first before removing the panel. Good luck!
Brian