Speaker amp wiring

[Mike G]

I am in the midst of installing a new sterio in my 1991 500sl. The system install has gone pretty well but I am trying to splie into the subwoofer amp under the passenger footwell.

I am having trouble figuring out what the subwoofer wires to the subwoofers are. I have a subsription to Alldata and their diagram does not match what I have. The colors attached to the factory amp harness are as follows:

Brown
Black
Black -yellow
Black-red
Gray
black white
brown (a second one)
red
white (thinner wire)
yellow (thinner wire)
red (thinner wire)
blue (thinner wire)

One of the reds and the two browns appear to be thicker guage wire. I assume that the last four are the wires going into amp for each speaker. I am not sure which ones are the outputs.

Anyone have a clue? Any help would be appreciated.

[bobterry99]

My schematic shows the following. There are five black wires and no grey:

Power
Red/White = +VDC (Terminal 5)
Brown = GND (Terminal 9)

Inputs
Left (or right?) = White (Terminal 16)
Right (or left?) = Blue (Terminal 10)
Common = Red, Yellow (Terminals 11, 15)
Shield = Brown (Terminal 8)
Remote Turn-on(?) = Black/Red (Terminal 3)

Outputs
Left(+) = Black/Yellow (Terminal 6)
Left(-) = Black (Terminal 7)
Right(+) = Black/White (Terminal 1)
Right(-) = Black (Terminal 2)

[Mike G]

Thanks for that help.

What I am seeing is that rather than a second black output, mine is gray (at terminal 2). This is consistent with my alldata diagram.

This help saved me alot of time.

Thank you.

MG

[GCalo]

Where are you folks getting these audio system schematics?

I need one for the 02 CL500.

AudioLink makes a device to bypass the Bose amps so that you can install your own amps and better drivers. Their device allows full function from the OEM deck, CD changer, nav system, etc. They are at http://www.linkmeup.com.

However, I am having trouble finding a schematic of the 02 CL 500 Bose system.

Any ideas from those you have?

[Mike G]

I have a subscription to Alldata's Do It Yourself service. It's cheap and has been really helpful.

However, in this case, a wire that alldata says is black, is gray in my car. However, I am told that this is pretty common with wiring diagrams.

MG

[bobterry99]

Mercedes own startekinfo.com website has schematics, diagnostic manuals, and more. It costs $18 for a 24-hour subscription.

[GCalo]

Bob,

Many thanks for that absolutely invaluable information.

I did go to that site and I found the info I am after.

The AudioLink product ties into the outputs of the M-B sound amplifier control module.

I am changing out all the drivers in the car, adding a better sub-woofer, adding all electronic crossovers and amps.

This will dramatically improve the audio system, and I'll have full function of all Comand items!

[Mike G]

I have been working with Scott at Lajolla audio. (http://www.lajollaaudio.com/main.htm#) He set me up with an Alpine deck, rear speakers and an amp. He is installing speakers for me on rear bin lids (I sent lids to him).

Scott is a great guy who really knows these cars. I would have preferred taking the car somewhere to get this done, but noone in Chicago understands these cars. So, I called Scott and he set me up. He made the harness for me that made the job a breeze.

Cant wait to turn it on.

MG

[GCalo]

Mike,

I have spoken with Scott as we are in LaJolla quite frequently.

I'll be there this W/E, and I'll try to get with him. I understand that he is quite good.

I'll be doing a similar thing to my CL500 as that system is terrible for what that car costs.

Thanks for your advice with AllData, but the M-B site was right on the money for $18.00 thanks greatly to Bob for the reference!

regards

[Mike G]

Scott really knows these cars. He knew exactly where everything was and where the best places to run wires and mount the amp was. I was impressed by how well he knew the 129.

The only reason I had a question was that I did not want to bother him over the weekend. He ended up answereing my wiring question first thing Monday morning.

MG

[GCalo]

Mike,

The SL is a very popular car here in California, and it's more so in Southern Ca. So, I am not surprised that Scott knows that car so well. I have one but have generally no complaints with its sound system. It's the CL500 and the S500 series that need improvement.

The tough cars to rework the audio systems are the CL500 and the S500, because all the audio functions are housed in one amplifier module with 6 channel outputs that average a puney 40 watts per channel.

There is an optical digital link from the Comand and the CD to this amplifier. Getting good audio out of that optical link has been a mystery, but I think we may have cracked that code!

So all of you wanting to expand upon your audio systems w/o losing all Comand functions, stand by because a remedy is on the way!

We may even be able to give you 5.1 output from this digital link. All radio, CD, Comand, and phone audio would come through the 5.1 system with no change in the OEM functions! You would have DTS, Dolby Digital, and Dolby Pro Logic sound in your car in 5.1!

There will even be a separate sub-woofer output so you can get rid of that riduculous Bose make believe low end system!

Naturally, all separate amps will be required with new drivers, but that will have fantastic benefits, and we'll be able to guide you on the driver choices that will fit!

[Mike G]

Ok,

New problem. The wires in the trunk remote unit do not match the colors on the wiring diagrams. I am looking for left and right speaker wires.

I have:

Grey/green
Black/red
grey/black
black/white
white/green
grey/yellow
brown.

The colors do not match my wiring diagram at all. Any help would be appreciated.

MG

[Mike G]

I just figured out what I was doing wrong. I was looking at the wrong harness. They all looked alike once I had it all apart.

Thanks anyways.

MG

[GCalo]

I have the factory wiring diagram for the SL 1990 through 2002 if you need any further assistance.

BTW, I did meet with Scott at LaJolla Audio this W/E. He's most pleasant and extremely knowedgable. You can certainly put your trust in him.

He's been in business a long time, and he knows what he's doing.

[Mike G]

Scott is great. Higly recommended.

The radio is in and it is amazing. Hard to believe, but I want to drive this car even more now.