We have a 93 500SEL that I am going to pull out the aftermarket Kenwood CD-Player and install a newer Kenwood tape player with CD/Shuffler controls and install the CD/Shuffler in the trunk.

I will need to get to the back of the center console to get the cd-holder hookup installed and was wondering do I have to remove the whole center console to do this or can I just loosen it and slide it back a bit? The center/shift/stereo/climate control console is all one unit and this is what I'm calling the center console. Not exactly sure how to do this and was wondering if someone had some tips on how to get to the back of this thing when installing a new stereo and head unit?

Someone also messed up the power antenna hookups because the antenna always goes up when the power is on for the car, regardless of whether the stereo is on or off. So thats another reason I need to get back there too.

Thanks!

if you need to get behind the radio then take the radio out and you should be able to access the wiring. The other thing you can do is pull the passengers side carpet out (it is one piece)by 1st removing the door threshold trim by pulling straight up. Then pull the entire front section of the carpet out of the car. This will get you side access to the console and facilitate running wires to the rear. The antenna trigger wire will usually be in the trunk coming off of the factory tuner box on the left rear side panel. Is there a factory cell phone still in the car? The antenna might be wired to trigger off of the phone as it is a am fm cell antenna. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Scott@lajollaaudio

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The Mercedes Specialists Since 1986

thanks, I appreciate the tips. I also sent you a personal email with a few other questions.

Cheers!

Anybody know where I can find a wiring diagram for a 93 500SEL? Either online or in hardcopy somewhere? Or do you know the color codes and functions of the wires that pertain to the wiring for the stereo in the center console?

I'm in the process of installing this stereo and the previous aftermarket stereo installation that was done on this car is a joke. So I'm having to guess what many of the proper wires are. Some are just dangling that have been previously cut and I'm sure they have a purpose, I just don't know what they are.

Thanks

Why dont you post a pic of the wires and I will tell you what is what.

Scott@lajollaaudio

__________________
The Mercedes Specialists Since 1986

Sorry it took so long to get a picture up and this is the mess that I inherited:



If you can help...that would be great. Everything works as is. I had to run a seperate attenna wire all the way from the trunk to the head unit cause the stock one was butchered. The main wire I'd like to find is the dimmer/illumination wire. I've tested all the wires you see on a volt meter, but none seem to change when I adjust the dash light illunation.

Wires I'd like to know what they are for:
- Green/Black
- Yellow/Black
- Light Blue/Black with plug end
- Pair of Grey/Purple wires that are crimped together, but not hooked to anything
- Pair of wires, one white the other blue that are in the white cable with the other wires for the front channel speakers coming from the deck.

Thanks I really appreciate your help

the yellow black wire comes from the factory phone and is a - trigger wire to mute the stereo(phone mute).

The green black is the speed pulse wire (vss) to allow the factory radio to adjust the volume by the speed of the car. (also used when installing a navigation system)

The light blue brown is the alarm trigger wire (not used in aftermarket install)

All the wires in the gray harness are the stock tuner's data cable that appears to be cut off and the wires are being used for other things. I would have to say for you to see what is hooked up in the trunk at the other end of the gray cable (will be on the drivers side by the antenna).

The gray purple wires should be the illumination wires but might not adjust with the dimmer control.

__________________
The Mercedes Specialists Since 1986

Thank you so much for your deciphering!

I have looked at the gray wire in the trunk and it looks very similar to they way it looks at the head unit. The previous owner/installer did something to it all. It looked to me that the gray cable on top of carrying the speaker wires was also the antenna too. Thats why I just bypassed it and ran a long antenna cable up to the head unit on my own.

Amazingly it all works good as it is setup.

I'll test the gray/purple wires with a voltmeter and see if the voltage varies when I adjust the dimmer switch.

Thanks again!....you da man!

Your welcome, I have seen some funky wiring for the antenna because poeple replace the radio without knowing what they are doing before they start and they look for an easier solution than running an antenna coax cable to the rear.

Scott

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The Mercedes Specialists Since 1986