Ron in SC

1992 300E.

I want to run a power cable direct from the battery to the amp.

Where is a good place to run wire thru firewall? Somewhere with an existing grommet.

Brian Felts

I found a rubber plug just behind the battery in my 95 E 320. I did have to remove the passenger kick panel and used a coat hanger to fish it down.


Brian Felts

ashman

behind the battery is a plastic panel, remove that and you will see the grommet. punch a hole int he grommet, run the wire in, and fish it down. then run it downt he passenger side and into the trunk.

You will need to remove at least the bottom seat custion, but may have to remove the backrest too to get it in the trunk.

Runt he biggest cable you can, at least 4 guage, but thicker is always better. 2 or 0 gauge. The longer the cable the thicker the gauge should be.

If you plan on adding more amps then run thicker than 4 gauge.

I have 4 gauge right now powering 2 amps and a 2 farad capacitor. I'm going to do a dual battery system soon, so I plan on running 0 gauge to the trunk mounted battery and then run 4 gauge tot he amps from that battery.

Just gotta get the battery isolator or combiner to do it and the 0 gauge cable. It is just not the top thing on my list of projects I want to do.

AshMan

Brian Felts

True about the back seat. The seat has to come apart and then there is a place to run the wire on the Driver Side left shoulder behind the back of the seat and it will run right where you need it.



Brian

X03

i just finished wiring my amp and everything, so if you still need help, let me know and ill try to post some pictures

CDP

post some pictures!

Ron in SC

Thanks to all for your responses.

I ran all the wires down the center tunnel under the console except the power wire which I ran down the passenger side. I wanted to keep it away from the other wires to prevent the possiblity of interference. There is a conveniently located grommet right behind the battery.

Below are a couple of photos of the wiring in the trunk before it was connected to the amp. I tapped into the 12 pole connectors on the two small stock amps so I did not have to run new speaker wire.

The amp has 40 watts RMS per channel at 2 ohms times 4 channels and it works well. I took it out of my 420 SEL before I sold it 6 years ago so the tuner and amp were just sitting around waiting to be used.

X03

haha looks like somebody beat me to it.....and yeah my DIY is kind of crappy, i dont exactly feel like taking all the pieces apart since i just put them back....=P but heres the best i can do...

first pop open the hood - then open it vertically by pushing the button on the drivers side then passengers






then take this plastic piece out, comes out easy


you will be able to see a hole where you can then run your power cables

X03

the wire will come out through here




then take out the carpet on the passenger side







now you dont have to take this part out unless you are doing your headunit as well (only partial instructions)





okay back to running the power cable
unscrew these 2 and just loosen it to give enough room to slide the cable through and under the carpet

X03

now to take out the backseat

X03

passenger side power cable will come out in the trunk


drivers side for the RCA cables


where i put the ground - put it behind the brace because the screw isn't big enough to hold the cable in place







HOPEFULLY that helped...LOL

Ron in SC

Below is photo of amp.installed and wires connected.

Mercules

Nice job man! Did you replace the speakers too? I been trying to find out what size will fit in the front and the back to I can change them.....

Ron in SC

One my installation I did not replace any speakers, just tapped into the two 12 pole connectors so I could use existing speakers. I had the amp and tuner laying around so I used them. I did not want to send any money on a radio for this car so being able to use parts I had sitting around was good.

I'm sure the sound I have now will not compare to the systems of the folks who have replaced speakers. The sound I have is far superior than the stock system ever was. The new system also has a CD player and a balance and fader that actually work and a quite powerful distortion free amp.

AMG_Fred

wow that is an amazing write up!!!

how much did that box and sub cost you? did you make the box yourself? if the car is someday mine, would you like to help me do that? i don't like the stereo guys by here...

X03

haha thanks! I would be more than happy to help you wire the cables through your car. I would also recommend you buy a aftermarket headunit too. Yeah, I know im going to get bashed for this, but I bought my subs off propertyroom.com its a police auction site like ebay for 70 bucks, but just FYI get a sealed box not ported (ie. holes like mine) because it just echos more and isn't as clean sounding. Well just let me know whenever if you want to get this done over the summer.

ksing44

I'm not planning to work on my stereo just yet, although I am envious of you guys with new awesome systems. I am just posting to say that it is great that people take so much of their time to help each other with what they have learned about their cars. These forums are great, when they are populated by genuinely helpful individuals.

AMG_Fred

http://www.propertyroom.com/cgi-bin/...aunbr=60936815

that is the enclosure that you have right? ill try to find a non ported one... but how many subs did you put in there??? it doesn't come with any correct?? and lastly, how much did your woofer cost?? i really liked yours. but im not looking for it to be as powerful as yours. im a fan of bass, not an audiophile

YNVDIZW124

HEY X03 do you want to make that install look clean??? I got this guy who cuts wood panels and makes boxes for cheap. The only thing you gotta do is to upholster them so i'll help you with that too!! look at my post in the other forum...

X03

i bought the 2 Kenwood 12"s with the box and everything included. all i needed were the wires and the amp. The only thing I dont really recommend is the fact that they sometimes dont list what the model number of the subs are. Because you really dont want to go in there and buy a potentially POS sub and then get screwed over. When you said you liked how mine looked, was it just because of the box? because if you want it ill just sell it to you for like $1 after i get another enclosed one and then you can just find a couple of 12's and you'll be having a headache in no time

btw, ynvdizw124 can you give me the link to the other forum? because if he has some boxes for cheap then let me know

YNVDIZW124

This guy is cheap because he makes pine furniture for my dads store and he's going to hook me up with the boxes. Im going to do dynamat my whole trunk this weekend and by next week i'll be making templates of the wood that is going to be cut. Look at the other forums for my contact info or e-mail me.

Since i saw the sounds systems at the meet next meet we should have a sound off!! By that time i'll finish my system and this time i won't bring the wife so it's gonna be all business here!!

CDP

I'll happily take that challenge. in the middle of summer though. : ]

YNVDIZW124

Then i guess we have a sound off!!! Anyone gonna bring an spl meter? hope you got w6 JL subs

CDP

lol...Mine probably wont be installed and readny until mid summer or the end.

X03

haha sounds good....get it SOUND? rofl...