C-Class (W204) 2008 - 2014: C180K, C200K, C230, C280, C300, C350, C200CDI, C220CDI, C320CDI
Old Jun 9, 2015, 02:02 PM
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front door h/k speaker retrofit (how to)

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Old Jun 30, 2013 | 12:17 AM
  #101  
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From: Manchester, ME
10' C300 Sport and 07 Ducati S2R
Thank you SOOO much Vic! I really appreciate what you've done here...
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Old Sep 18, 2013 | 08:54 PM
  #102  
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c180
Hi guys, i want to change my 2 original tweeters ( audio 20, not harman kardon ) for other best. What the guys recommend with a simple instalation? I think 100-150 usd is good to me.
Thanks everyone !
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Old Dec 21, 2013 | 07:50 PM
  #103  
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From: Denver, CO
2013 GLK 350 4Matic
I am very disappointed. I bought the 60.9 component speakers, and the woofers ended up NOT fitting on the stock housing with any of the adapters. I had to remove them completely, then use an adapter for the hole. Everything looked good clearance wise, so I put everything back together. Windows won't go up...they are rubbing. Great...5 hours of cutting with a dremel and working in a hot garage, and now my windows won't go up, so I will have to disconnect everything tomorrow and take it into a shop. I had read time and again in here that the Infinity speakers bolt right onto the stock housing for the fronts, but this is not true for the GLK. I thought it was pretty difficult work and wish I had just paid to get it done. The rears fit on the stock housing with an adapter ring. The fronts disappointed me.
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Old Dec 22, 2013 | 02:08 AM
  #104  
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S213
I´ve never read that they would be an easy fit?


I have myself always recommended fitting the h/k speakers because of the bolt on nature.
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Old Dec 22, 2013 | 10:12 AM
  #105  
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From: Denver, CO
2013 GLK 350 4Matic
Originally Posted by vic viper
I´ve never read that they would be an easy fit?

I have myself always recommended fitting the h/k speakers because of the bolt on nature.
I've noticed a lot of people opting for the Infinity upgrade and doing it themselves. The GLK is supposed to be a match for the C class from an audio standpoint, but I learned the hard way that it isn't. At least not for the front speakers (which also have the housings riveted from inside the door panel, and the housings are not as wide, so you cannot bolt the new speakers directly to them like I did on the rear doors).
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Old Feb 1, 2014 | 01:19 PM
  #106  
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From: Bucharest, Romania
2010 C-Class 200CDI
Hi Vic,
Where could I get the speakers at a decent price, in Europe? I've also read that you work at MB. Could I get the parts from you?

Thank you!
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Old Feb 3, 2014 | 01:02 AM
  #107  
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From: Boston, MA
MB '12 C250 Sport
I'm taking out a FULL HARMON KARDON set from a new 2012 C250. I just put in new FOCAL K2 power 6.5 in front and rear. If you want my OEM brand new HK's you can have them. Just cover shipping and a little something for my time.

Edit- so my installer says to keep these HK's in case I sell the car or trade up. However, if someone wants to pay $250 I will do it. That will cover USPS Priority Shipping to USA or Canada. All the speakers are brand new, I just bought the car last month from a MB dealer with only $6k miles. I can provide a copy of the receipt so you know these speakers are brand new. They sound incredible, MUCh better than the speakers in the model w/o the sound package. The sound package was like $3-4k so $250 I think is a great deal. Let me know!
Thanks,
Greg
Boston
TEXT 617five95-SIX448

Last edited by bostongreg; Feb 6, 2014 at 01:11 AM.
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Old Feb 4, 2014 | 12:15 AM
  #108  
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2008 C300 Sport 4matic
Originally Posted by bostongreg
I'm taking out a FULL HARMON KARDON set from a new 2012 C250. I just put in new FOCAL K2 power 6.5 in front and rear. If you want my OEM brand new HK's you can have them. Just cover shipping and a little something for my time.
PM sent.
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Old Jun 7, 2014 | 01:18 AM
  #109  
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From: DFW, TX
09 C300 4matic
So, I tried this little mod and now I can't hear anything from the two lower speakers. I'm positive I plugged the speakers in properly and yes the speakers are functional, just not in my car, apparently.

Could this be speaker polarity?

Found this online, "You have the speakers wired out of phase. The speakers are cancelling each other out. You need to reverse the speaker wires on one side of the car. Do not reverse the wires too all 4 speakers or you will still have the same problem. You have them like this.
+ ~
~ +
you need them like this
+ ~
+ ~
I know this doesn't seem like it would cause any problem, but it makes a big difference."

I don't understand how that would happen though if everything (connections) is OEM.

Last edited by Alexdfw; Jun 7, 2014 at 12:29 PM.
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Old Jun 7, 2014 | 02:51 AM
  #110  
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From: DFW, TX
09 C300 4matic

You can't really get the fully effect, but there is absolutely no bass and the speaker seems unusually quiet. Did I do something wrong? Excuse the song, it has good bass.
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Old Jun 10, 2014 | 12:23 AM
  #111  
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From: DFW, TX
09 C300 4matic
It was a crappy speaker.

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Old Feb 4, 2015 | 03:18 AM
  #112  
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MB C180
Why the photos in the first post are not shown?
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Old Feb 4, 2015 | 08:29 AM
  #113  
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2008 Mercedes Benz C300 4matic Sport
Originally Posted by charmingchan
Why the photos in the first post are not shown?
It seems that over time the photos and many posts disappear. Fortunately the photos can be seen here https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ml#post5697112
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Old Feb 5, 2015 | 09:08 PM
  #114  
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MB C180
Originally Posted by codeblue5007
It seems that over time the photos and many posts disappear. Fortunately the photos can be seen here https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ml#post5697112
Got it, a million thanks.
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Old Feb 5, 2015 | 10:20 PM
  #115  
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2009 C300
Where did you order the Action 20 speakers?

Thanks
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Old Feb 5, 2015 | 10:43 PM
  #116  
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MB C180
Originally Posted by Halfpap
Where did you order the Action 20 speakers?

Thanks
I just ordered a set of six original new HK speakers for W204, 2 tweeters, 4 6.5" from Mainland through internet, costing only around US$200. Waiting to be delivered. Will test to see how they sound. The seller said that they are from Custom & Excise, guess what it means?
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Old Feb 10, 2015 | 01:20 AM
  #117  
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From: Everett, WA
2013 C250
Hi, anyone knows where to get the extra retaining clips or what's the part number for it? I have a 2013 C250 (North America), if there's any difference with the part number.
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Old Feb 10, 2015 | 08:47 AM
  #118  
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Originally Posted by rookiezxc
Hi, anyone knows where to get the extra retaining clips or what's the part number for it? I have a 2013 C250 (North America), if there's any difference with the part number.
Which clips? The orange ones?
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Old Feb 10, 2015 | 09:13 AM
  #119  
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2008 Mercedes Benz C300 4matic Sport
Originally Posted by rookiezxc
Hi, anyone knows where to get the extra retaining clips or what's the part number for it? I have a 2013 C250 (North America), if there's any difference with the part number.
From the dealer. See Viper's thread. I believe he has a picture of the clips and the black plastic locking pin with the parts #. The last batch I got were white and not exactly the same, but they worked.
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Old Feb 10, 2015 | 12:47 PM
  #120  
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From: Everett, WA
2013 C250
@sincity and codeblue5007, thanks!! do u guys know how much is it at the dealer? Just trying to count how much money will I be using vs just asking a professional to do it
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Old Feb 10, 2015 | 01:01 PM
  #121  
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2008 Mercedes Benz C300 4matic Sport
From getthemercedesparts Part Number Part Description Quantity Core Price Price Total
0009918698 PANELING CLI 10 $0.00 $2.16 $21.60
0009917940 RIVET 2 $0.00 $2.00 $4.00
Sub Total $25.60
Shipping method - GROUND Shipping $7.35
Handling Fee $2.00
Tax $0.00
Total $34.95


-----------------

Shipping is absurdly expensive, but time is valuable. I would get 20 clips plus the two locking pins for the front doors.
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Old Feb 10, 2015 | 01:18 PM
  #122  
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From: Everett, WA
2013 C250
Originally Posted by codeblue5007
From getthemercedesparts Part Number Part Description Quantity Core Price Price Total
0009918698 PANELING CLI 10 $0.00 $2.16 $21.60
0009917940 RIVET 2 $0.00 $2.00 $4.00
Sub Total $25.60
Shipping method - GROUND Shipping $7.35
Handling Fee $2.00
Tax $0.00
Total $34.95


-----------------

Shipping is absurdly expensive, but time is valuable. I would get 20 clips plus the two locking pins for the front doors.
Thanks! I'm replacing all of them with infinity kappa though, do I still need the rivets? my understanding is that you need the rivet if you're replacing it with the plug and play h/k speakers. Which locking pins do you mean for the front door??
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Old Feb 10, 2015 | 08:05 PM
  #123  
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Originally Posted by rookiezxc
Thanks! I'm replacing all of them with infinity kappa though, do I still need the rivets? my understanding is that you need the rivet if you're replacing it with the plug and play h/k speakers. Which locking pins do you mean for the front door??
You do not need the rivets. Rivets are only used if you are replacing with OEM HK speakers and not the Infinity speakers. I am assuming you have already this thread: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...r-upgrade.html?

The only "locking pin" I know of is the square clip that is revealed once you remove the black surrounding trim around the window of the front door. I had the dealer replace the wood trim on the driver-side door under warranty before and they did not replace this clip. On the other door, I tried removing it and gave up and just broke it off.


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Old Feb 10, 2015 | 08:56 PM
  #124  
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2008 Mercedes Benz C300 4matic Sport
Originally Posted by Sincity
You do not need the rivets. Rivets are only used if you are replacing with OEM HK speakers and not the Infinity speakers. I am assuming you have already this thread: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...r-upgrade.html?

The only "locking pin" I know of is the square clip that is revealed once you remove the black surrounding trim around the window of the front door. I had the dealer replace the wood trim on the driver-side door under warranty before and they did not replace this clip. On the other door, I tried removing it and gave up and just broke it off.


"Rivets" is what getthemercedesparts calls those black square locking pins. They are not rivets as used by Vic Viper. To be clear, there is no riveting involved installing the Infinity Kappas. (Vic Viper used them to install HK speakers in the front with their own spacers but was unable to do the same for the rear speakers because the rivets were from the outside in. Hence the switch to Infinity speakers that fit right inside the spacers already mounted. )
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Old Feb 10, 2015 | 09:14 PM
  #125  
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From: Everett, WA
2013 C250
Thanks sincity and codeblue5007, my understanding here is that those are locking pins that are attached one each door and not reusable, therefore I should get a new one every time I open the door panel, correct?

Anyway, I found all these instructions from Akadan, Bill, VicViper and many other contributing MBworld, but I'm still not entirely sure how will I be replacing the tweeter since the housing size will not fit (Kappa Tweeters will be way bigger than the OEM, right?)

Still a bit nervous here since this is my very first speaker retrofit job. I took out a stereo from VW MK5 previously to attach an aux cable, but never did anything to the wiring of a car.

This job will requires me to:
- Open up 4 door panels.
- Use a tremel to sand all the previous fittings.
- Drill the holes using a 1/8" drill bit or smaller.
- resolder all the wiring.

Is there anything else that I should be aware of before tackling this retrofit, especially on how to do the wiring specifically?
Attached Files
File Type: pdf
W204 Front Speakers.pdf (3.72 MB, 1006 views)
File Type: pdf
Retrofit rear speakers part 1.pdf (893.2 KB, 671 views)
File Type: pdf

Last edited by rookiezxc; Feb 10, 2015 at 09:17 PM.
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