'87 300E Rear Deck Removal

I'm in the process of upgrading the stereo and installing a subwoofer in my '87 300E. Could anyone give me detailed instructions on removing the rear parcel shelf ("hat rack" in Mercedes lingo)? Thanks in advance for your help.

David

Take out the rear seat and the back rest and the rest of it you should be able to figure out.

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Benzmac:
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
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I've removed the rear seat and seatback, but it still isn't obvious how to remove the parcel shelf.

David

David

What type of sub componets and install are you doing as I have been wanting to do this also. Currently I have a Bazooka in the rear foot well which I have to take out to haul four passengers. Thanks

John H.

Just did my 86 300E this week end, yes the rear seat and rear back rest must come out, also the head rest's must be removed, fist pry off the plastic peice that's on the deck, then with the rests in up position look down the hole, there is a lever down there that using a screw driver you push down on and release the chrome rest support lift the head rest at the same time. There is one in each hole (4). the side peices that the seat belt runs in also must be removed, they pull forward. (leave the belt conected). Just lay them to the side also in the first aid box were the bands hook to the little clips, there are philips head screws (2) that holld them down. The deck will be a little sticky when trying to pull up. It sounds like a major pain in the butt, well it is the first time. Make sure your out of the sun! and watch out for those 2 peices that the bottom cushion latchs too on the floor, they will cut your shines to peices. Good Luck, Chris C.

Chris,

Thanks sincerely. That is exactly what I needed to know.

John,

The subwoofer system is two 8" JL Audio W3 models (2 ohm configuration) subs in a sealed box of about 35" by 5.5" by 9" powered by a Soundstream REF644 at 150 watts/ch into 2 ohms.

Dave

Dave,

I assume you are mounting it under the rear shelf? Are you going to port it to the passenger compartment? Please let me know how it sounds.
I have been considering replacing my Rockford Fosgate front speakers with MB Quart 3 way componets (6.5"'s look like they will fit very nicely in the front door panels at the lower rear - 4" mids in the front speaker locale - tweets TBD for best staging). Are you running componets?
Am debating eliminating the rear speakers and use the rear shelf holes for porting to the sub. Or, to port the sub via elimination of the medical box in the center of the shelf.
Am very interested in your comments/experience. Thanks

John,

Yes, I am mounting the sub box under the rear shelf with "L" brackets. Its not going to be ported to the passenger compartment -- there's no port tube. Instead the speakers will fire directly through a hole that I will cut in the rear deck, where the medical kit used to be. The hole will be about 8 x 8 or 8 x 10.

I think that MB Quart 3 ways will sound very good in your car; I wish that I could fit them in mine. But, alas, I don't have the 6" stock door speakers in my '87. Instead I have the MB Quart RKB 110 4" coaxials in my dash. They're the ones with the Musicomp crossovers and sound very good. They don't go down vey low, though. Maybe to 200 or 250 Hz.

I'd be reluctant to remove the rear speakers in either your or my car. One reason is that in my car they help with the midbass. Another reason is that, because the factory front speaker locations aren't ideal from an imaging/staging perspective, having highs and mids in the rear actually improves imaging/staging somewhat over what the system sounds like faded all the way to the front. This is probably due to the fact that the front seats get a more balanced stage from the rear (more equal path lengths due to further distance from the rears speakers)than from the fronts.

If you like, send me your e-mail address and I will keep you apprised of developments.

Dave