to do?

I just posted this on the main Tech Forum too. Not sure what to do. I've been checking the threads and looking for the right DIY page to help with installing an Alpine deck in place of the original Becker unit. It looks pretty straight forward. Just need to know what will be needed to do the job right.

Any help in finding the right thread or DIY page is most appreciated.

Thanks,
Jason

checked the directions and am matching up the harness bit. still, the fader and speaker wires are a question. will look for the right thread/diy page.

Jason

where are the diy pages for a radio swap in a w124???
help.

Jason

There are always 15 people, give or take a few, that are on this audio forum. Can't I get someone to view this query?

I haven't done it, but I can tell you for sure that this is not plug and play. The original amps are in your trunk. From what I have read you are going to have to essentially rewire the speakers and the electrics.

Steve

There are always 15 people, give or take a few, that are on this audio forum. Can't I get someone to view this query?

Here are the DIY articles - look under W124. There is a stereo removal one that should help. I also posted an amp install for a W124.

http://www.mercedesshop.com/Wikka/DoItYourSelf

Which car are you doing? If it is the 300E, I'm familiar with that model. It is an easy replacement, provided you skip the factory fader (recommended). Pull the Becker out, wire in the Alpine and you're good to go. There aren't any amps in the 300E. Not sure about the CE, it may have some. You should run new speaker wire to the rear speakers, if it is the 300E. Easiest way. You can find the front speaker wires from inside the cavity in the center console (behind head unit). They should be green/black wires.

"There aren't any amps in the 300E."

Really? I believe you will find there are two amps in the trunk of 300E's. Now maybe it wasn't always the case, but clearly true in my '92 300E. I happened to be in New Jersey on business several years ago. Had two speakers out. Called Ed Ebel at Becker headquarters and he said stop by. He came out and replaced one of the amps to cure the problem.

Steve

"There aren't any amps in the 300E."

Really? I believe you will find there are two amps in the trunk of 300E's. Now maybe it wasn't always the case, but clearly true in my '92 300E. I happened to be in New Jersey on business several years ago. Had two speakers out. Called Ed Ebel at Becker headquarters and he said stop by. He came out and replaced one of the amps to cure the problem.

Steve


I was referring to his (and my) vintage. 1990-91 and later had an upgraded system.

Earlier ones, to my knowledge, only had the stocker becker head and four speakers (two in the dash, two in the rear deck).

300CEs had a different setup as well.

"There aren't any amps in the 300E."

Really? I believe you will find there are two amps in the trunk of 300E's. Now maybe it wasn't always the case, but clearly true in my '92 300E. I happened to be in New Jersey on business several years ago. Had two speakers out. Called Ed Ebel at Becker headquarters and he said stop by. He came out and replaced one of the amps to cure the problem.

Steve

Not in his '87.

You should bypass the fader.

Original 300E radios were two channel, and the fader splits that between front and rear.

ALL new radios are four channel, and if you run two of them through the OE fader, you'll lose half the power of your new radio.

Ditto what he said.

I don't do the installs myself, but I always have my stereo guy bypass the fader when installing a new h/u in an older Benz.

Other than the wiring issue, the Alpine h/u should slide right in the slot formerly occupied by your OEM radio.

Jason, which h/u did you buy?

I put in the base model Alpine CDE model with ipod controls. Not sure if its the best thing though. I did not remove the fader. I really need to. I really appreciate all the wonderful responses to my crazed posts. I was getting wigged out by the fader crap. Now I see that I do need to remove it. I think I'll try the solder technique. If if fails I'll just run new wire to the rear. I thought that I needed speakers right away because of the fader taking the signal down to half.
I think I have this post on here twice. I need to review the helpful answers and see about hooking up rear speakers with some bass. The Alpine has a subwoofer level adjustment, maybe that will help if I have an actual sub.

Thanks very much everyone
JAson

Cool. My recommendation to you as far as the simplest and most cost-effective route would be to add a four channel amp set to hi-pass for your stock speakers and add a sub in a box in the trunk with a separate amp, set to lo-pass. This is what I did in my '89 300E after a fair bit of research on this site and others, and the sound was good. Not phenomenal, but leagues beyond stock. With a good amp, the stock speakers will handle mids and highs pretty well. I used all Alpine gear, except for the sub (Infinity). The only thing I noticed with this setup was a gap between the deep rumble of the sub and the lowest response of the stock ~4" speakers (maybe around 200 Hz or so).

You definitely need to add a sub to get bass. I wouldn't bother fidgeting with door speakers or trying to enlarge the cutouts in the rear deck for 6" or larger. Some guys have hung subs from the rear deck and built custom enclosures. Easiest though, if you don't mind losing trunk space, is a sub and box in the trunk. You can port it through the first aid kit area.

Another little trick is that with the rear deck material, there are several layers of material. There is the upper carpet layer, and then a baffle material made of cardboard and other material - wood fibre? - underneath. From inside the trunk, you can cut away a section of the underlayer baffle and not cut the carpet. The net result is that you have a port that allows more sound into the cabin (only the carpet is left and it is porous) but since you haven't cut the carpet, you still have a relatively stealth install. I found I had adequate bass without having to do this, but it is an option.

Good luck!

Thanks for the rear parcel tray carpet idea. I was looking under there last night. Still need to remove the fader switch. The idea of a real 4 channel amp and then a sub amp for a woofer is cool. I do have a set-up from a friends wagon I can have. He's got a few cars with expensive stereos in them. The cars are crap but the stereos are good. He's into those early 90's toyota and subaru all wheel drive wagons. I've watched him put so much money into them and they are still cheap copys of better autos. he's also got a jeep and and newer beemer. Anyway I may take a wagon kit off him. Amp and sub and lots of speakers to choose from. I think building a bass enclosure for the trunk is pointless right now. Maybe later. What about putting in a subwoofer where the first-aid box is? Could the metal tray under the first-aid box be modified to hang a woofer there? Just a thought. Will let you know what i do next. First is the removal of the fader. Second an amp and third is a sub and woofer.

Thanks,
Jason