W108 Speakers

[billhard]

My 280SE originally had a Becker Europa mono AM/FM in the dash. The first owner updated the deck in the 1980's, installed some odd surface mount Pioneer speakers on the doors and punched 6x9 inch speakers into the rear parcel shelf. I had thought of going back to the stock setup but with the rear deck cut and the becker missing it seems that ship may have sailed.

I am considering going with a Europa II, fader in the glove box or a modern retro style head unit like this one. If I go this way I'd want stock looking front stereo speakers for a W108. The one's pictured below are from a w108 being parted locally that I bought.

My questions are:

1. Are these correct for a 1972 model year or should they be square? I see both using google image search.
2. Where exactly do the mount on the kick panels and at what orientation? I've seen both shapes, different orientations of the rectangular speakers, additionally mounting both high and low on the kick panels. look here.
3. Finally, if I wanted to go back to stock, how hard is replacing the rear parcel shelf carpet and repairing the holes from after market 6x9 inch speakers? Anyone done it?

[Shortsguy1]

I can only help with your third question. If your car is anything like my early w115, the rear parcel shelf is a thin metal surface, covered by a thin particle board panel (maybe 1/8"), with carpet glued to that panel. When I remove the rear seat back, the particle board panel and carpet can lift right up. If you are a perfectionist, you could just recarpet a new, similar thickness panel from a hardware store. Or if you are more pragmatic, you could just lay new carpet over your existing shelf. Either would be indistinguishable from the outside. It would not sag into a 6x9 hole. Either way, I would say that patching the hole in the metal shelf surface would be overkill in anything other than a show car.

Regarding your first questions, I think the answers are hiding at this website:
1492_1994_05

Check out the pdf for "1968-1972 stereo" Installation Instructions. It gives the recommended locations for those speakers that you have.

Good luck!

[Tomguy]

Those are what was in my 72 up front. The first pic in your album is what my driver's side looked like. I can't tell if the 4th pic is what my passenger side looked like or not because I don't have any pics and it was so long ago.

[JMela]

Becker USA has a 'classics' division, you might check with them.

[Larry Delor]

They look correct for the '71 model year, .. can't imagine that they would change from one year to the next. Orientation looks to be correct also.
Do you have rear speakers also, or just the 6x9 holes?
The fader knob should be on the dash - I imagine you want it in the glove box so you don't have to drill a hole in the dash?

[ScooterABC]

I think putting the fader in the glove box is a great idea. I might suggest that while you are modifying your glove box, consider adding a 12V cigarette lighter plug for charging things. Very convenient. You can also add an MP3 input in the glovebox (or where ever you like).

[vandor]

My '72 has the rectangular speaker boxes.

Mine has a fader knob on the dash as stock.

[124Coupe]

My all original 1973 has the square speakers on the front kick-panels as shown with a Becker Europa II stereo and dash mounted fader switch.