W115 300D odd dash speaker size?

[300decel]

I removed the grille expecting a 4x10 or something similar, but my speaker measures about 8.25" x 3.75" overall. I could not replace it with a 4x10 without hacking the dash and losing my grille retaining holes.


What the heck do I have in there?

[Idle]

You are correct that this is an oddball size. Reproductions are available but then seem quite pricy.

A popular fix is to mount two smaller speakers in the hole using the frame from a blown factory speaker. This involves a bit of cutting on the old speaker to make an area to mount the two new smaller ones but it by far the least expensive option.

This would be a good time to install speakers in the package tray under the rear window. There are original factory grills available on Evil Bay, again, quite pricy. You would also need a fader but these are not that hard to find and not difficult to wire into your existing wiring.

[300decel]

Thanks for the reply. I have an nice older period correct Audiovox AM/FM head unit I'd like to install in place of the dead Kenwood cassette deck.


The car has a (factory?) push-pull knob next to the AC controls that appears to turn two rear speakers on and off. Can the single speaker output of the Audiovox actually power three speakers, or should I just run it to a dash replacement?


Thanks, Mark

[Mike D]

https://www.ampire.de/RetroSound/Car-Specific-Solutions/Mercedes-Benz/Mercedes-Benz-W108/Mercedes-Benz-W108/RETROSOUND-Speaker-4-x8-101x202mm-piece-Neodym.htm?shop=ampire_en&SessionId=&a=article&ProdNr=R-48N&p=2472


Another option.

W115 6 Speaker Install DIY

[Idle]

Originally Posted by 300decel

Thanks for the reply. I have an nice older period correct Audiovox AM/FM head unit I'd like to install in place of the dead Kenwood cassette deck.


The car has a (factory?) push-pull knob next to the AC controls that appears to turn two rear speakers on and off. Can the single speaker output of the Audiovox actually power three speakers, or should I just run it to a dash replacement?


Thanks, Mark

I can remember installing these older units in cars during the 60s and they seemed to power three speakers with no trouble. For the youngsters out there a three speaker system was quite common even as a factory option since many units back then were not stereo so three speakers just spread the sound around. And it worked.

I don't remember ever seeing a factory push pull switch for the rear speakers but the early upper consoles do have a hole there to the right of the A/C switch. These were usually covered up with a small Mercedes emblem that looked like a large button stuck on the console.

But if the dealer were to install a rear speaker set up on a 114 or 115 this would be a great place to put such a switch. A factory four speaker set-up was usually reserved for the S class, like the 116, but if a customer had the money the dealers could easily install a four speaker system into any Mercedes built.

[300decel]

Some great info in these replies! Much appreciated.

[Idle]

There is another option...

Mercedes had some surface mounted speaker grills for the 114 115 cars that mounted under the dash on the kick panels. These were small square speaker mounts that screwed into the body with some rather long screws. There was a metal base to hold the speaker to the body of the car and a plastic grill that snapped over them.

I have seen these but I can't testify as to how they sound.

It was popular then to cut holes in the doors to mount the speakers but the door side pockets didn't leave any room to do this. So Mercedes came up with he speaker mounts for under the dash.

I think the speaker size was around a four inch or perhaps a three and one-half inch.

You might check out Evil Bay for these. They are rare in good condition but they do come up now and then.