Cryptnotic

BrabusCClass,

Here's how you find it. You do a search for "metra 99-8711" on Google and you find both the Metra page and a page for an online shop called www.sfxaudio.com. There, you'll find the kit on sale for $29.99 (USD).

BrabusCClass

Cool! Thanks.

QC1

I think the reason you wont find the 2002 C-Class Metra in the product listing is because it just came out and they havent updated there site yet. If you dont want to order online you can stop buy your local car audio installer and they usually get it within 2-3 days. Thats how it is up in Canada and we usually get everything slower then anyone so you shouldn't have any problems.

KJ-TypeR

Actually, the C230K is my GF's car. She's not an audio nut like me, so the only thing we are doing to her car is:

JL 10w3 Sub in the spare tire compartment
JL 250/1 Amp

We are leaving the rest of the speakers in (she has the Standard Stereo) unless some people with the standard stereo provide positive feedback after upgrading just their speakers.

The Stereo stuff I listed is for the 2002 BMW M3 I have on order from Town&Country BMW.

If you do decide to change your speakers, I'd love to hear how it sounds. If my GF has her subs in by then, we can show you that since we are both from Toronto. If I were to upgrade the speakers for her, I'd look for the most efficient high end speaker I could find. Anything with a big driver wouldn't run properly off the stock stereo.

Cryptnotic

KJ-TypeR,

Check out this new M3 install:

http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...=194762&page=1

By the way, I had the stock speakers (standard) in the C230K and they sound much better when driven by a higher-end head unit. I had a Kenwood Excelon 615 hooked up for a while and it sounded much better than the same speakers driven by the stock head unit.

The only problem was how it looked. I might put it back in if I can get the Metra dash kit. Although now I have MB Quart PSD216's in front (amplified by two channels of a JL Audio 300/4) and a JL 12W6 in the hatchback (driven by a JL Audio 500/1), so making the stock speakers sound good isn't necessary anymore.

I also need to figure out how to get an ignition switched line to the head unit area, since the stock unit turns on and off by using the CANbus.

Jim Banville

I would like to add an amp between the stock radio in my '02 C240 and stock speakers. Do you have the details on the colors of the speakers wires coming out of the back of the radio? My "02 C240 has a 10" sub in the rear deck. I assume it would its own pair of wires coming out of the radio.

thanks!
Jim

KJ-TypeR

Hey, thanks for the info. My GF loves the steering controls too much to get an aftermarket headunit! =)

We're hoping that we can get enough volume out of the stock speakers if we turn the bass down and let the sub play all the bass.

Cryptnotic

If you're going to replace the speakers, I would suggest installing an external amp. The head unit is technically a 25 Watt x 4 amp, however the amplification provided by the little chip in the head unit doesn't sound as good as a "real" 25 watt x 4. It uses an ST TDA7454 amplifier IC. It is very efficient, however efficiency is not equal to sound quality. I think the system is similar to what Tripath sells. They call it "Class T", and it's sort of a hybrid of Class AB and Class D.

Unfortunately, there's no way of getting any audio output from the head unit without opening up the head unit and soldering your own RCA preamp outputs onto the board. Well, that news isn't exactly that bad, since the board is well labelled once you open up the head unit.

TNat

Maybe you guys can help me out here. I am pleased with the overall sound quality of this install, but it is lacking one thing. The 10w7 puts out much more bass then i thought. Everyone cant believe that I am only running one ten. However, it only hits the really low frequencys clean. With the type of music that i listen to(rock,funk,club, and some rap) I am losing alot of mid bass, even with the two JL 6.5s. Vocals and highs sound great, but i can barely hear the electric bass or lower registers of the synthesizers. Im thinking to lose the rear 6.5 and customize the lower door panels to house one of those JL 6.5 subwoofers in each panel. I'll even do the front so that the tweeter and woofer are close for better soundstaging. My installer told me to keep the setup i have now and just add an EQ, but I still dont think it will be enough. Anyone have any experience with these 6.5 inch subs. There should be enough room to customize a small box in each door, but will they hit the certain frequencys that i am looking for cleanly.

Cryptnotic

TNat,

It sounds like you just need to tune the settings on your amplifiers and head unit. Specifically, you'll want to play around with the crossover frequency of the low pass filter on the JL 500/1 and the crossover frequencies of the high pass filters on the JL 300/4. I have the same amplifiers, so I know what I'm talking about.

Also, you can adjust the relative level of each amplifier by adjusting the "input sensitivity" screws. Check out the JL Audio site. They have lots of PDF files on recommended settings for their amps. Start with one of their recommended settings and then tweak from there.

KJ-TypeR

Try changing the low-pass crossover point to a higher frequency. 120hz should sound great. Let us know how it goes!

TNat

No good.

I tried everything with that sub. It just gets really muddy with the higher frequencys. I've tried the crossover on the HU and the 500/1 amp seperately. Im gonna drop off the car to the installer and change a few things. Thanks

Liming

For mounting Kits,
call Alcester Car Audio in UK
www.alcestercaraudio.co.uk
For Wiring Harness,
call Becker of North America for adapter cable # 5000.453-276
www.beckerautosound.com
To keep the stock amp, use any headunit with 4V pre-out.
Buy a set of RCA plug assembly (radio shack) and two 2-channel ground loop isolators for coupling (circuit city or best buy).

Citron

I am doing a new install, and until I decide on new speakers, I want to use the factory speakers for the moment.

A few questions:

Does the stock (non-bose) system have an amp other than what is included in the head unit?

Does anyone have a wiring diagram for the audio system?

Will this becker wiring harness give me wires to splice a new Head unit too?


Thanks,
-C

session

The non-bose stock system has no external amp. Also, I had to use a VW wiring harness to install my aftermarket (Alpine) HU.