Ricoj

2001 C320 with Bose fiber optic system, amplifier has failed. Dealer wants lots of $$$$$ for replacement amp, unable to locate exact model on ebay. A203-820-13-89.

Local stereo store says to bypass fiber optic system and replace with aftermarket stereo. Economically, this is a lesser price then the $1,200 the dealer wants for amp. Stereo store says, new head, (pioneer), can use current Bose speakers, sub woofer is questionable and wont know until new stereo is installed along with new amp. Obviously i loose the integration from the Bose OEM and steering wheel and OEM CD changer.

anyone run into this, your thoughts on pros and cons appreciated.

RJM

LILBENZ230

I've always heard that you can't power Bose speakers with a different headunit, but I don't know for sure. I do know that Bose amp failure is not common. Harman/Kardon on the other hand.. those fail left and right. Maybe someone on here that has removed their Bose system can sell you their amp?

Ricoj

Thanks Matt, amp failure came by way of water seepage through right rear quarter panel water channel. Would like to keep the current Bose system however, that is contingent on the availability of fininding a matching amp

LILBENZ230

Search the classified section on the forum.

samaritrey

i saw a bose amp on ebay like a week ago that sold for under $100. i should have bought it becase that is a good price and it was from a seller that i have bought from in the past who was really good and was pulled from an 01 c320. i would say check ebay as well as the fourms. as far as i know all amps for the w203 sedan bose systems will work i can't immagine they changed anything in that short of a span 01-04.

Ricoj

thanks Trey, will do, found a match in the UK for under $200, euromercwebstore. not familuar with their product history.

ggong5150

I've got mine, took it out of my 2003 C320 years ago.

durhamite

I've got the same problem in a 2002 C320 wagon... water came in through the rear weatherstripping. I would be interested in buying a used amp if anybody has one. Feel free to PM me and I'll get back to you. Thanks

Mbc&e

Hi, I got a 2001 c320 with BOSE sound system. I cannot find the amplifier in the trunk. I only find the Motorola device sitting between the spare tire well and the back seat under the carpet. Can you tell me where is the amp in the trunk under the carpet. Is it on the left or right side of the spare tire? Thanks a lot for your help in advance. I try to replace the amp since the radio works but no sound. I checked the fuses and all good. I want to test the amp.

benzmodz

Right hand side vertical trim.

Mbc&e

Hi, Do you mean it's sitting behind the vertical lining inside the trunk on the passenger side. Thanks,

Mbc&e

and near the rear side or back light? Thanks,

benzmodz

Stick your hand in there and have a look. There is so much to learn from exploring.

Mbc&e

HI,
I disambled the amp and also the radio. I got the pinout from BOSE of the amp and confirmed there is power (12 VDC) from the radio to the amp BOSE 4162. The radio also displaying channed changing properly. However, there is no sound or any noise at all. Base on that, can I conclude that it is the BOSE 4162's problem. I assume there should be at least some sort of noise from the speaker if the amp is ok but the radio is dead. Am I correct? can anyone give me some suggestion? thanks in advance.

Drummajorc

Not necessarily, the bose sound systems are run off a fiber optic ring system, or rather, all the components of the system (radio, amp, cd changer, etc) are connected via fiber optic cables in a closed loop. If at any point in that loop one of the components or cables have failed, then the entire system doesn't work because the light signal does not make it all the way around the ring (it starts and ends in the head unit, traveling through the various components and ends at the head unit), the end result is exactly what you describe, the radio works but no sound comes out. The solution is to find wherever it is that the break is occurring, given that the head unit is still operating, its probably not that. If you have the amp checked for failure and it has failed then there ya go, if not, then the problem is somewhere else in the ring (cd changer, cables) and at least for me, this was just too big of a pain to go all over the car and look for, so I had an aftermarket unit put in which bypasses the system entirely and just runs off good old speaker wires.

Mbc&e

Thanks a lot for your advice, Drummajorc.

Mbc&e

Hi, I disassemble the amp, radio and CD changer. I bypass the change since the radio said that it detected "No changer". However, there is still no sound from speakers. Can I do the follows:
a) connect back all connectors behind the radio;
b) only connect the power to the amp with ONLY and in and out of the fibre optic between the radio and the amp; ignore the other line in, line out, ... connection to the amp. Then, only connect a pair of speaker wire to the amp.
c) connect a regular home speaker to the amp. I know the ohm may be difference between the home speaker and the car speaker but I think it should be fine.
My objective is to start with ONLY the radio + amp + speaker to determine if any problem on the radio or the amp. Please advice any problem on that connection.

Can I only change the radio if the amp and CD changer are working?

Thanks for any advice.

Harms3

What is this plug for?

I have a pin diagram for this amp, but no info on what this plug is for.?

tjts1

That's the fiber optic loop.