2MCHCAR

+2. Ha, Ha! What does a guy gotta do to get a sticky on the W209 forum? Lets checkout that install bheng!

2MCHCAR

I didn't have good radio reception after the install, so I just finished installing a powered antenna and I'm having MUCH BETTER radio reception. Here is the unit I used and where it got if from:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_12044UA...t-Antenna.html

FYI, it's very important to ground this antenna.

bheng

interesting. i might need to use this. lol cuz i have poor signal otherwise.

where did you mount the window antenna? and can we ground the wire by tapping into an already ground wire?

2MCHCAR

I mounted this on the rear deck, behind the rear sun shade (so the antenna doesn't obstruct). If you disconnected the rear subwoofer, you can use the brown wire from the harness to connect it to ground. I grounded it on the underside of the rear deck where there is a nut/bolt holding the sun shade (I removed the nut, filed the area around the bolt till I saw metal, then attached a O-Crimp, then I bolted the nut back on). This is a powered antenna, so you will need a 12V DC connection, my Kenwood Head Unit has a wire that is used for powered antenna; so I taped Power into that. If your head unit doesn't have something like that, you would have to use a relay instead.

Newjd2

Funny as I was just reading this thread and was reluctant to bring it back from the dead...but since Carlos did already...I'll ask away to you two who have completed radio installs and get your input if you don't mind...

I just installed two 12" MTX subs with an MTX amp on my stock '04 headunit with a bass knob up front...the subs/ set up is amazing!...

Looking to now upgrade the headunit to a double din with navigation, bluetooth, iphone integration, steering wheel controls (which I know how to do)...blah blah blah...the works...

After reading it is apparent to me you really can't use the stock bose amp as it is lost through the fiber optic wiring...so I was looking to just buy a 4 channel amp (2 ohm), run it to my speakers and be all good right?...

If there's anything I'm missing within that plan...I'd appreciate your inputs...if someone discovered a way to keep the stock bose amp...then tell away also (pac converter)



Angelo

2MCHCAR

You are correct, without the factory head unit the fiber optic ring is broken and the Bose Amp will not work anymore. I'm okay with you getting a double din head unit and keeping the MTX Amp/Subwoofer combo; but I do not recommend getting a 2ohm 4 channel amp and keeping the factory speakers. I recommend replacing all 6 door speakers (2 tweeters and 4 woofers) and getting an amp that can run them properly. No matter which way you go, you still are going to have to splice the factory speaker wiring or run new wiring to the doors (harder to do). If you can install a head unit, steering wheel controls and a inline sub amp, changing out the speakers is cake.

Newjd2

So to keep the bose speakers I have to run all new wiring, run to a 4 channel and link it all to the hu...not horrific...not easy...lol...I was able to easily do my subs so we'll see how this goes...

I say 4 channel amp (2 ohm) for the speakers so the amp is compatible with the bose speakers (2 ohm)...so I don't blow out my bose speakers...

One more thing...How many watts does the factory bose amp have?...it's just a 4 channel amp or what?...

Thanks for the help...



Angelo

2MCHCAR

All your assumptions are correct. The Bose amp is 6 channel; Front Left/Right (Tweeter and Woofer share the same connection; tweeter has a inline X-Over), Rear Left/Right, Center, Subwoofer. I'm not sure how many watts it pushes.

Just some food for thought; your going to replace your head unit (with a much cleaner audio signal to your amps), your door speaker amp, and have already installed a Subwoofer with the matching amp. Everything you have listed will be aftermarket and likely better than the factory radio components, but your going to keep the Bose door speakers? They are not top notch speakers, take a look (the Bose speaker is on the left):

Newjd2

So I'd have to find a 6 channel amp...ok...awesome...lol...

I know it may sound crazy since I'm going aftermarket in every component, but I'm one of the few who is a firm believer if bose speakers...bose does a strong job in holding bass to the speakers, while still capturing the sound...unless that's just in my car...lol...

I have polks all around in my other car with a crunch 4 channel amp and 2 10" kenwood subs so I have a fair share of sound knowledge, but I still like the bose sound...may be a preference thing...i don't know...lol...



Angelo

larcklorn

I first have to say - great work on all of the cars in this thread. I just picked up an 06 CLK350 cabriolet with the Harman Kardon system and standard command head unit (non color display). I am looking to have Bluetooth, Aux, and Nav and keep the functionality to the steering wheel. What is the best double din head unit to go with right now and wiring harnesses that are needed? Are speaker replacements necessary? Best looking dash kit out there?

Benz8

hell yea i did not know there was a thread of sounds.... hell yea i love subs and slumping. i got a alpine double din head unit and one 13in JL Audio in my car hits really nice i got more plans want to chane out all the old factory to maybe jl or something else dont know what size do we have in the doors any body know for a clk320 04

dynomite05

I believe its 6.5".

Benz8

str8 thanks dyno..

bheng

which 13 did you get? w6 or w7? what kind of box?

i got a 12w6 in mine. hits quite nicely. lol loving it every single day ! !!

Benz8

you know it i love JL but unfortunatley i got a W3 because it was such a great deal and i had a box custom made which cost me around $160 i will try and take pics of my set up soon.. i love my double din though i just need to dynomate it it had a little rattle to it

bheng

haha your telling me. i got a jl 12w6. its sitting in a ported box tho, nothing special. knocks pretty hard when i need it too. overkill ifyou ask me.

yup double din is the way go to. honestly when i changed mine about a year ago, most ppl thought it was stock so i was very pleased with how everything turned out.

and honestly i cant get rid of all the rattling. i did the trunk and doors. im too worried to rip apart the cabin so i can dyno that

dynomite05

I have a 10w7 sitting in my living room waiting to be installed.

Benz8

hell yea clean look and classy especial for the benz some one has to get a thread going for some pictures of their sounds..

msaturbo

I have a 2003 CLK with the fiber optic (DP2) system. I replaced by am/fm cassette headunit with a Pioneer Navigation system. The installer said that I couldn't use the steering wheel volume controls because they are fiber optic.

Is that true or is there a device to make this work?

Also, the am reception is crap. Does the universal antenna from Crutchfield really improve the reception?

Thanks for any help or answers.

Mark

bheng

you can retain the steering wheel volume controls

use pac audio products which let you custom your steering wheel controls or use pi-ca.r 131. that latter is the model i used. it allowed me to retain steering wheel volume and gave me a neat dash thing that says pioneer on it. haha

Stillpt12

Thanks for the great descriptions of what you did! I have a Bose OEM on a 2005 CLK-320 convertible. What would be the simplest affordable upgrade on the radio/CD sound system?

2MCHCAR

Upgrading the Bose radio is not easy or cheap. If you change the radio, you must rewire the speakers to use the new radio since you can not reuse the Bose Amp. If you replace the speakers, you have to get a 2ohm speakers and even if you do get them, it might not work since the system has a microphone and may not be able to handle the different SPL (the radio volume will go up and down randomly).

Maybe you can let us know your goals (better overall sound, more base, bluetooth, navigation, etc) and your price range; that way we can steer you in the right direction!

hotcorner216

how much if you dont mind me asking?

2MCHCAR

Today I attempted to reuse the factory powered antenna, below is a link to the information I posted on another thread:
https://mbworld.org/forums/4955345-post14.html

Success! I removed the aftermarket antenna and reconnected the factory antenna. After testing the radio and verifying that reception was terrible, I tapped into the black wire on the c-pillar and BOOM! Crystal clear radio reception using the factory powered radio antenna!

Edit (added the pics from the other thread):
1. The wiring harness from the back of the radio, (A5) is 12V switched when the radio is turned on.

2. Pin Legend, note (A5) is 12V switched when the radio is on.

3. If you don't want to enable it through the radio harness, you can tap your antenna 12V switch via the black cable going into the antenna amplifier, located on the driver side C pillar.

4. The wire diagram for the connector for picture 3 (X1/22), the antenna amplifier is A2/71.

bheng

sorry for the nub question... carlos

wheres the c pillar?