190E (W201) 1982-1993: 190E 2.3, 190E 2.6, 190E 2.3-16, 190E 2.5-16, 190 D 2.2, 190 D 2.5, 190 D 2.5 TURBO, 190E 2.5-16 Evolution I, 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II

Kenwood radio install issues

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Old Aug 25, 2024 | 04:44 AM
  #1  
Mollymademesane's Avatar
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‘91 190e, ‘07 CLS550
Kenwood radio install issues

i’ve read all the posts on all the forums and watched all yt videos, i can’t find this exact wiring anywhere

1991 190e 2.3-8 6 speaker system with original becker radio but alpine from 93 was in it when i got it, so the speaker wiring is weird. Not sure what happened there

I have blue and blue/brown for left speakers (white connector) and red and red/brown for right speakers (black connector). Seems normal enough.

however when I hooked it up to the radio, it didnt work. Radio turns on and works fine but no sound. Battery test on speakers produced no static.

i was able to disconnect these (aftermarket?) adapters from the picture and soder that to the radio, it gives me sound but only from dash speakers.

my guess is the rest either go through the amp, which could be dead, so no sound coming through? If so, could i just bypass the amp and connect the wires directly?

thank you


Wiring to the speaker how i found it, allegedly stock

Aftermarket adapter?
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Old Aug 25, 2024 | 11:32 PM
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1991 190E 2.3
I'm a little confused as to which radio is currently in the car and which radio you're now trying to install?
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Old Aug 26, 2024 | 12:33 AM
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‘91 190e, ‘07 CLS550
Originally Posted by 190Efan
I'm a little confused as to which radio is currently in the car and which radio you're now trying to install?
Currently the "stock" CM2191 Alpine is inside. I'm swapping it out with Kenwood KMM-x705

I managed to wire the dash speakers, however I cannot get sound to door or rear speakers.
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Old Aug 26, 2024 | 12:53 PM
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1991 190E 2.3
The original radio that your car came from the MB factory with was the Becker radio and not the Alpine radio. Apparently, a previous owner took out the original Becker radio and added the Alpine so the Alpine is not the original stock radio. It sounds to me like whoever added the Alpine radio tampered with the original factory wiring in some way. I think my suggestion at this point would be for you to contact the MB Classic Center to find out what that original wiring set up for the Becker radio was and get your car back to that set up. The you can work from there to install the Kenwood radio.
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Old Aug 28, 2024 | 01:47 PM
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From: Southern Illinois
, 2023 BMW X4, 1991 190E
Originally Posted by Mollymademesane
i’ve read all the posts on all the forums and watched all yt videos, i can’t find this exact wiring anywhere

1991 190e 2.3-8 6 speaker system with original becker radio but alpine from 93 was in it when i got it, so the speaker wiring is weird. Not sure what happened there

I have blue and blue/brown for left speakers (white connector) and red and red/brown for right speakers (black connector). Seems normal enough.

however when I hooked it up to the radio, it didnt work. Radio turns on and works fine but no sound. Battery test on speakers produced no static.

i was able to disconnect these (aftermarket?) adapters from the picture and soder that to the radio, it gives me sound but only from dash speakers.

my guess is the rest either go through the amp, which could be dead, so no sound coming through? If so, could i just bypass the amp and connect the wires directly?

thank you


Wiring to the speaker how i found it, allegedly stock

Aftermarket adapter?
My 1991 2.3 has the Alpine radio not becker. But when I purchased the car (2023) it had an after market radio and the Alpine one in the trunk. I sent the alpine radio off to the place in NJ and had it over hauled, ( get the cassette working). All I know is the wiring was a mess. Not sure about the 6 speakers but I know I have 4 working and the balance knob on the console does transfer sound. I will have to check to see about the door speakers, that's news to me. I have no dial illumination . Probably missed hooking up one wire. GOOD Luck.

Last edited by Isawelvis; Aug 28, 2024 at 01:50 PM. Reason: additional info
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Old Aug 28, 2024 | 02:20 PM
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‘91 190e, ‘07 CLS550
Originally Posted by Isawelvis
I have no dial illumination . Probably missed hooking up one wire.
Yes you did. Blue wire coming out of the original power harness is for illumination. If you install an aftermarket one though, you dont need it.
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