The front speakers on my 260E are blown to all hell (I have no idea what the prior owner did to them...) and they need to be replaced. This is the first time i've done car stereo installation and i've removed the old speakers, but am baffled how to install new ones. I've not yet bought any replacement speakers, but all the ones I shop for seem to come with four to six screwholes, and yet my MB front speaker holes have no screwholes, but only the notches where the old speakers were clipped in. I've never seen this topic come up before in various MB speaker-install-howtos. Do i need an adaptor? when I buy new speakers, will they just magically fit? do i have to take a drill to my car an inch from my windshield?


any help to this newbie would be greatly appreciated :|

-k

This thread tells how I installed mine without drilling: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=26187&highlight=speakers+rubber

There are other technigues to be learned from the archives on what size/brand speakers fit - search "300E speakers" , and similar terms. There is also a stereo removal guide in the DIY tab at the top of the page. Enjoy!

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John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E

124 speakers are not a standard size. If you buy MB speakers they will snap in. Otherwise you will have to play around some.

The size is @5" and it is an odd size. I do a lot of 124 cars and I have found a speaker from a german manufacture that I sell that is not only great sounding but it also snaps in just like the stock speakers do and it has the factory speaker connector so it just plugs into the stock harness. It might be a 15 min. job max. Let me know if your interested they run $120.00 a pair and they are two way coaxial.

Scott@La Jolla Audio

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The Mercedes Specialists Since 1986

The exact measurement of the front dash speaker is 119-120mm, just a bit over 4 5/8". In addition to MB factory snap in speakers and the ones scott mentions, Blaupunkt also makes an exact replacement in this size if you want a snap in. Senior forum member (and excellent tech advisor) Stevebfl offers them out of his shop at contenental imports:

http://www.continentalimports.com/ic_114.html .

Or if you want to go more towards higher end, you can install a wide variety of 4 inch or 5 1/4" speakers (not all 5 1/4" speakers are that size, some are larger diameter, some smaller.) Diamond Audio makes a 4 1/2" speaker that could fit - make a thin metal ring of 5" outer diameter, 4 1/4" inner diameter, mount the speakers to the ring, and the ring to the dash. The Diamond Audios can also be bi-amped by switching a jumper if you are replacing your head unit at some point - the stock unit only has 2 amp outs. Some members have also reported good results with DEI (Directed Electronics Audio - they just bought a/d/s high end speaker co!).

Some of the smaller diameter 5 1/4" speakers have been made to fit by others on this forum from Boston Acoustics and MB Quart, among others. These usually require more amplification than the stock head unit can provide. The main constraints are the cut out hole in the dash, the depth behind the factory speaker grill, and the area between the grill mounts.

If you decide to drill the holes to mount the speakers, a flex extension for a Dremel tool to a drill bit will work, but I have had good luck with the adhesive rubber mounting I described above. Just remember to check the depth, height, and diameters of the speaker you are choosing. Check the archives for more brands and ideas as well.

__________________
John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E