wassup61

Bass can be greatly improved in the sedan. i have an 04 with bose and audio 30. Boy the bass wasnt there. Until that is, when I went to the dealer and told them about the ENTIRE rear shelf rattle (in reality, just the speaker grille.) they took out the rear shelf, dynamatted the metal parts in the trunk from the opposite side, put in foam insulation and filled the rear deck with expanding foam. It bumps now and can vibrate my seatback. WHAT A DIFFERENCE.

Jeff

PS. Someone sat in the back of the car while I played the THX sub intro. They asked me why my car sounded like a movie theatre.

vraa

A lot of people don't realize that insulation should be on of the first things needed to do to a car for optimizing the sound, but then again, it's heavy stuff.

wassup61

Not exactly. Remember that when the foam expands it weighs no more than it does in the can. If you cant stand to have a 16 oz can of foam and about 2 lbs of insulation put in your car you need serious mods... LOL

Jeff

vraa

Oh you're using the foam.
When you said that you had the deal dynamat the trunk, I thought you were using real dynamat, which is really heavy insulation.

wassup61

Dynamat jsut the lower portion on the inside of the sub shelf, where it has holes and bare metal. Best of all.... DONE FREE OF CHARGE UNDER WARRANTY!!!!... would have cost 500+ according to invoice.

Jeff

vraa

Oh free of charge. I think I might ask BMW if they can help me out then! What is it with German cars and rattles!?

wassup61

Its high tech, duh.!! All high tech stuff rattels
Jeff

Outland

It all rattles when you crank the bass. My buddies FX shakes so hard I expect screws to drop out.

MB-BOB

I wonder if spraying the expanding foam insulation alone will improve the bass? If so this could be a quick and easy fix for those who want more bass.

What do you think? What type of foam insulation should one buy, and any hints on how to install it?

My inclination would be to seal the subwoofer area in the package tray only. I suppose you should avoid getting the foam directly on the speaker, so I guess there would need be some method for creating a coffer dam around the speaker, and another coffer dam separating the left side speaker section from the rest of the shelf. Thoughts, please?

skahung

You think I can get my dealer to do that for my Harmon/Kardon System?

wassup61

Probably. Just tell them that the rear hatshelf rattles like mad at random times and that you expected better from a Mercedes. Also tell them that you have tried holding down the hatshelf with someone driving and that helped.
JEff

drexappeal

Jeff,

Thanks for the tips, cuz I've been dreading the possibilities (or non-possibilities) of upgrading this sound system. I wish I would've researched these boards before ordering the Bose in my car, but now I have the dilemma of how much a pain in the butt upgrading the sound system will be.

Now that you've given this info, I'm gonna ask the dealer to do this when I have my Service B!

much thanks,

drex

wassup61

BOB,
Do not get the foam in the woofer enclosure. it will prevent the speaker from resonating like it should. Instead, insulate the rest of the hatshelf. Also, if possible have the dealer do this because it requires removal of the C pillar trims and rear seats (if you dont have folding ones.

Drex,
I saved you about 5gs in labor and parts to upgrade teh sound system, I am glad I could help. think about it this way: since there is yet to be a cost effective interface with the MOST or D2B fiber networks in our cars, you would have to replace the entire system... (wiring, amps, speakers, pretty much rebuild the interior to rip the wiring out.) Most of the 5gs that i was quoted for a new system was labor to remove the bose and install the new stuff... good luck with the hatshelf.

Jeff

drexappeal

Jeff, that is exactly what I was thinking! The time, money and labor involved to screw around with the fiber optics was giving me a headache (figuratively speaking)...Although I Love seeing custom speaker setups in cars, I'd rather have a semi-permanent solution until or unless I decide to spend the thousands of $$ to do system upgrades.

This way, at least I'll hopefully get it hooked up for free, under warranty and have the system sounding better with added bass. I just hope that I approach it in the right manner so that they do everything properly and don't just "mickey-mouse" the job.

drex

Kar don

Any Boston area dealers? Ya right! Try Viti in RI.

foofkie

i had the same exact problem with my car. i just got back from bringing it in for the complimentary 3k mile service. i told them about the problem. it appears that they fixed it, after stuffing all this white wooly type thing under the hat deck (which they said they removed and reinstalled). the rattling/vibrating that came from the back everytime the bass was up high appears to be gone now. all under warranty. i was very pleased

drexappeal

foofkie, would either you or Jeff post the exact wording (on the invoice) for whatever fix they did? When I go into my service B, I'm going to have them do this.

Thanks in advance.

drex

wassup61

hey,
My invoice says "Insulate and Soundproof Rear Deck to prevent Rattle"


Hope this helps.

Jeff

Blake P

I always noticed a slight rattle from the rear deck and the other day I realized it was the rear sunshade rattling. When I put it up, the rattle goes away. I would like a more permanent fix though, since I don't usually use the sunshade.

wassup61: Which dealer did this for you?

drexappeal

Thanks much, Jeff.

I really appreciate it.

drex

drexappeal

Jeff,

Thanks to your info, I think they fixed it. I haven't checked yet, but I can tell that they did something. According to the invoice, it said that they added felt lining to the hatshelf. I don't think that's enough, but if it's not is there any way you can post some pics.

That way, if they didn't do exactly what they did to your car, I'm gonna make a complaint again and have them do it right.

amdeutsch

Drex

There is a thread in the audio forum where I posted a solution found on a German forum including pictures.

drexappeal

Nice...Thanks amdeutsch! Will check that now, before I go home.

drexappeal

Okay, I was reading your thread, amdeutsch and I'm not sure if the fix they did was exactly what Jeff got done or the pic that you posted on your audio thread (btw, the german forum link didn't work).

Anyways, according to my invoice they replaced the hatshelf and they applied felt in the hatshelf. According to what you guys indicated, there was a "foam" or "silicon" that could be applied, in order to keep the foam sealed tighter.

Regardless, I'm gonna check while I'm going home. If I still hear a rattle, I'm gonna bring it back next week (after I've gotten my brake pads installed).

Jeff, if you have anymore information from your invoice that could help me, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks.

drex

integlikewhoa

Im looking to buy a 06 c280 and have always upgraded my systems to meet my needs. I was thinking this time to keep the vechile stock and order the premium sound. Do you guys recommend paying the extra cash to have the harmon kardon system in the vechile or to order it stock and upgrade later. I hear you talking about alot of money to upgrade. Is that from any stock system or the premium stock system? Please explain thanks JIM