snipu

Hi all! Its my 1st post here, been member for a while thou.
I have searched whole forum for this info, but i cant find any usefull information :S What im looking for, would be pictures of leading power from engineroom to trunk. Tipastars guide looks helpfull, but all pictures are just red X.. Anyone have this guide backupped?

bumpnzx3

No pics- but I can guide you.

Look behind the battery- you will see a black rubber/plastic square- about 1"x3" with several plugs. Take one of the plugs out (widen the hole if you need to fit large guage wire through. I was able to fit 3ga. I then took off all of the bottom trim/sill trim from the front to back of the car as well as the back seat. There is a "tray" of sorts that runs along the floor of the car to the wheel well area. From there there are several wires that run up and over the wheel well and into the trunk. I just ran mine right along with all of that wire. From there- it's up to you- depends on your install.

drexappeal

Excellent reply. If you guys get some pics up on this thread, I may add it to the Aftermarket/DIY sticky!

This is very useful information.

drex

bumpnzx3

http://www.imagestation.com/members/bumpnzx3

I have a build log of everything with my Mercedes. I need to add several more pictures since my install is a heck of a lot closer- but feel free to take whatever pictures you would like from my account to help post a how-to.

snipu

Hi there! That text explains how to do wiring pretty well. I will lead powercables to trunk and install some new bass thanks to your very simple guide, and maybe i also take some pictures. =) Hopefully i dont brake anything

snipu

One thing! Where would be best place to connect ground cable at trunk? Thanks for answer already! =)

bumpnzx3

Sorry- just now noticed there was a reply to this.

On either side of the trunk, behind the tail lights there is a "hole" for lack of a better word, that's carpeted over. Pull that back and you will see a 1/2" white plastic/rubber plug. Yank that out- and use that as a spot to put a bolt through a ring terminal- and you are set. Also be sure to sand the paint away around the area in order to get a good ground contact. I liked this spot because I didn't have to drill a hole through anything. Be sure to use groud wire as big or bigger than your main power wire going to your power dist. block or amp.

Harry Madan

just a side question?
could u not get the power from the cigarette lighter in the trunk, or wire a cigarette liter in trunk from the sam-unit (i think) and then run the power from there. ?

bumpnzx3

i wouldn't think so. the size wire that feeds the power to both of those spots you mentioned would't be large enough to carry the current that an amp needs- at least anything of any real power anyway. i would also guess that you might end up risking blowing a fuse of some sort trying to pull more current through whatever circuit the cig lighter is on- than what it's meant to.

RES

Depending on how many amps you need to draw, the rear SAM has a large power wire direct from the battery behind it with a large terminal you could tap into. I would put some protection in line to what ever you are powering. The way I was going to do it if I wanted to power a larger amp. Was to change that wire out for a larger gage. It connects at the main power block in front of the battery I believe using just a round terminal and goes to the rear SAM and connects with another round terminal. Just upgrade gage and run the amp from that.

bumpnzx3

I could agree with that- if you use a larger guage wire back to the SRAM- that would probably work. For some odd reason I just like to leave as much of the factory wiring in any car as stock as I can. Hence the reason I tracked down the plastic harness and metal crimp connectors to make my own pigtails for the radio harness- all the way from across the pond in Europe.

I use KnuKonceptz for all of my wiring in the installs I do. Their Kolossus 4ga actually has enough wire strands/area to be just a shade under 3ga. I've used that for loads up to 150amps and it's worked out fine.

snipu

Thanks to all for info, wich was very usefull! I ran 16mm powercable to trunk from drivers side, and also at drivers side at trunk, behind carpet, was nice groudinng point already! I installed 600watt amp from SPL Dynamics, and 10" DLS Iridium sub. Not that nice installation thou, but VERY great boost to original soundsystem Next step would be HU change, was thinking JVC DV-AVX2 unit.....

c230ftw

In your spare tire wheel well scrape a little paint off drill a hole attach ground wire thats how i do most of my systems pretty nice never fails.

c230ftw

Great description! The only thing I'm going to need to research is how to remove the rear seat in my 2006 c230. Anyone know how to or throw me a link would be helpful.

When you get the power cable through the plug into the cabin where is it located?

bumpnzx3

Can I venture a guess you haven't had the spare tire out yet? The wheel well is plastic- at least in my '06 C230

c230ftw

OMG no way??? Thats crazy...well I guess it saves weight but dang Mercedes makes everything more complicated than it needs to be lol.

bumpnzx3

yep- just in front of it the full metal unibody stops but a piece on each side that appears to be a frame rails (even though it's not) and this plastic basket, for lack of a better word, sits in there.

Rick

There is also a FUSE BLOCK in the trunk on the left side. You can tap into fuse #17 for 12v switched (only on with ignition active) power and ground to the bare metal subframe in that fender well.

c230ftw

So you wouldnt need to use the remote if you were to use the rear fuse as power?

Rick

...and you woudn't have to take out the firewall plug, molding, carpet, back seat and subframe seal either...

bumpnzx3

how large of wire feeds the fuse block? i would be willing to bet it's nowhere near large enough to feed a subwoofer amplifier. it would certainly work for a remote turn on though.

c230ftw

I just went to look at the fuse block and it only showed fuses in a row from 1-16 no 17? Also how would you tap into that fuse with an amp power wire?