Subwoofer for 87 300SDL: uhh, where? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rektide · #1 07-24-2011, 07:50 PM

Hi all,

I put in some mid-grade components in my 87 300SDL a long time ago, right after I bought the car. Since then, there's been a passive crossover network filtering out the lower parts of all my songs. I, uh, need to fix this. Where can and where should I mount a sub in the car? What have others tried?

What about subs underneath the back seat? I'm not entirely sure what the area is, but it looks like there's a hollow metal chamber underneath the seats, and that I could hole saw out & mount a 6" forward facing "sub" there? (not very sub at that size...)

I was hoping the hatches in the back, underneath the rear glass, would work well for mounting an 8" subwoofer in, and indeed, they're just over 8" wide, but after removing the driver side one it became apparent the fuel tank leaves only a very shallow area... I forgot to take depth measurements, but even a 3" deep driver might be a problem! There are shallow 8" subs, even a couple that have the dual voice coils I'm looking for. Like the front "shallow" 4x9 speakers, it's definitely a compromise and definitely not ideal, but there'll be something for it.

If I wanted to be brave and do some damage, I might try cutting away at the metal that holds up this rear deck & mount further back; mounting further back would avoid the fuel tank altogether.

As for the actual mount in this rear area, I really don't know what to do. A one foot by one foot by one inch wood plate would be ideal; I could route out a support lip encircling the mounting hole & flush mount it, then just screw the thing into place. I suppose plywood would work, maybe I can find some MDF to suit.

Anyone mounted a sub in a 300SDL before? What size speaker; did you go 8" or larger? What did you fab up to perform the mounting? Anyone mount a sub anywhere else in the car? What options are out there?

Any thoughts would be great. Experience or anyone whose seen it done, that'd be superb: kinda mystified right now.
- rektide

sixto · #2 07-24-2011, 08:16 PM

I thought about it with my SDL. What I planned to do was run a bandpass feeding 2-3" holes in the deck where it hangs past the fuel tank. You'll hear a good sub through the fuel tank but that means there more bass outside than inside.

Sixto
87 300D

scottmcphee · #3 07-24-2011, 10:50 PM

You could mount it like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M9GjeeUk-4

compu_85 · #4 07-24-2011, 10:59 PM

Do you think one in the trunk would be totally ineffective? I've seen ones that mount inside the spare tire, taking up no trunk space.

-J

tbomachines · #5 07-24-2011, 11:16 PM

I put 6x9s in the storage compartment area on my SDs back deck and a 12" sub and box in the trunk. The trunk is fine and you can port it into the passenger compartment if you desire. Ive got a writeup, I'll throw in a link when I get off my phone

Edit: here you go http://benzbeat.blogspot.com/2011/02/w126-300sd-custom-6x9-speaker-and-back.html

Easy to make, sounds fantastic, looks good and not gaudy. The 6x9s have enough bass by themselves to carry the low frequencies, but the addition of a 12" & ported box in the trunk completes it. I currently have the sub and amp in my 300E, the 6x9s with no HPF sound great paired with 4x6's in the front.

BodhiBenz1987 · #6 07-24-2011, 11:34 PM

I have a 12-inch Polk in the trunk of my W124. I have thought about adding ports to the hatdeck, but honestly, the bass inside the car is pretty solid as is. It's definitely louder in the cabin than standing outside the car (I'm always amazed at how well the sound is isolated inside these cars). I don't listen to tremendously bass-heavy music, but what I do listen to gets a really nice kick with that sub in there. I suppose if you wanted some really serious bass you might want to mount something on the deck or maybe port it out of the trunk like tbomachines said.