ML500 Aftermarket Headunit - PLEASE help!
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4
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From: Australia
ML500
ML500 Aftermarket Headunit - PLEASE help!
Hi all,
Firstly let me say thanks for providing a GREAT site for Merc owners. I recently purchased a 2002 ML500 and have really enjoyed the car so far. So what's my problem you ask?
I have searched the site before asking this question, but couldnt find the appropriate answer.
Well I am trying to install a Pioneer 7550 DVD/MP3/TV head unit into my ML. I have managed to install everything EXCEPT for the speakers in the new headunit. The new deck works perfect at the moment without audio. I could not find the speaker wiring and thought I was in trouble when I saw the optic fibre connection. After speaking with a Merc dealer, I was advised that the speaker connected to an AMP behind the instrument cluster. All I needed to do was unplug the clip and tap into those wires. After removing THE ENTIRE panel below the instrument cluster, I found what looked like a small box that could have been the AMP. However, none of those wires seemed to be for speakers.
Can someone please help me. Installers in my area are very reluctant to do an ML for fear of damaging something. I've got great picture in my new unit, but NO SOUND
Thanks in advance for any assistance provided.
Cheers from downunder!
- Snoop
Firstly let me say thanks for providing a GREAT site for Merc owners. I recently purchased a 2002 ML500 and have really enjoyed the car so far. So what's my problem you ask?
I have searched the site before asking this question, but couldnt find the appropriate answer.Well I am trying to install a Pioneer 7550 DVD/MP3/TV head unit into my ML. I have managed to install everything EXCEPT for the speakers in the new headunit. The new deck works perfect at the moment without audio. I could not find the speaker wiring and thought I was in trouble when I saw the optic fibre connection. After speaking with a Merc dealer, I was advised that the speaker connected to an AMP behind the instrument cluster. All I needed to do was unplug the clip and tap into those wires. After removing THE ENTIRE panel below the instrument cluster, I found what looked like a small box that could have been the AMP. However, none of those wires seemed to be for speakers.
Can someone please help me. Installers in my area are very reluctant to do an ML for fear of damaging something. I've got great picture in my new unit, but NO SOUND
Thanks in advance for any assistance provided.
Cheers from downunder!
- Snoop
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,559
Likes: 4
From: Las Vegas, NV USA / London, UK
GL320CDI / C63 Edition 507 Coupe (EDP) / E63 S (on order) / G500 / Smart Brabus
Originally Posted by Snoop
After speaking with a Merc dealer, I was advised that the speaker connected to an AMP behind the instrument cluster. All I needed to do was unplug the clip and tap into those wires. After removing THE ENTIRE panel below the instrument cluster, I found what looked like a small box that could have been the AMP. However, none of those wires seemed to be for speakers.
Although your dealer is correct that you need to bypass the amp by hooking your head unit directly to the speaker wires coming out of the amplifier, there's another issue. Your speakers are Bose, and they are low impedence (1-3 ohms depending which speakers you are talking about). Because of this, your head unit will probably not drive your existing speakers properly. Plus, you have a subwoofer, and if your head unit won't drive a subwoofer, you are going to have poor frequency response.
Anyhow, to answer your question: remove the connector from the amplifier (there should be one big connector; your car may also have one smaller connector in addition to the fibre optic connector, they changed the 2 connectors to one in MY2002 production I believe). The wires coming from the amp with a single connector should be:
13 + 21 left front door speaker
14 + 22 right front door speaker
15 + 23 left rear door speaker
17 + 25 right rear door speaker
11 + 19 subwoofer
16 + 24 rear speakers (left + right)
(I couldn't find an exact wiring diagram for your situation, ML500 with Bose and no CD changer and no MCS ... non-USA. But this should be close as the amplifiers seem to be the same part.)
Hope that is helpful.
-s-
Last edited by scorchie; Nov 29, 2004 at 11:08 PM.
