mikischu

Hi Everyone,

Has anyone ever tried to add a center channel speaker into a w209 CLK350 facelifted car that didn't come with one installed?

Are there mounting points there already or is it not possible?

I'm adding an amplifier, so I'll have an extra channel for the center.

Cheers.

Kevwood

It should be quite simple, when I did my audio system I replaced the center speaker with an aftermarket speaker. Pop the center dash grill out and you see on the underside there is a speaker bracket moulded into the casing, a (if my memory serves me correctly) 3" speaker snaps right in, I modified mine a little and put in a 4".

Now, you mention that your adding an amplifier, are you retaining the OEM head unit or replacing it? If you are replacing it, does the new head unit have a center ch out? If you are retaining the OEM head unit, is your amplifier bridgable (to produce a mono signal) and if so, what is the RMS (not peak) wattage?

mikischu

Cool time to go 3" speaker shopping.

Oh wait.. Follow up question. My area where the center channel should be, is actually an air con vent. Is it multi purpose in the cars with a center channel?

Decided to keep the original head unit since I want to retain all the steering controls, the displays in the dash and also I think it looks nice.

Speakers in the doors have been replaced. 2 way focal 6.5" splits in the front and coaxial 6.5" in the rear port.

I went and got a 4 channel amp which gives me about 140w x 4 channel. It's bridgeable.

Put it all in now and while its a huge improvement, I'm itching to do a bit more. So I'm going to add something like a JBL MS-8 to try do the sound stage setup. I'll be able to run a center channel speaker off that since there's a built in amp in it.

Will also add a extra amp and a subwoofer next week. A Morel ultimo 12".

This is my first audio upgrade, so I've already made a few sub optimal decisions hehe, but when I'm done ill do a write up so others don't make the same goofs I have.

Kevwood

Very good & good luck. If you need any help along the way, let me know, I have a tad bit of car audio experience...

Yidney

You don't have a speaker under that big grill in your dash? Anyway, be careful poppoing it up if you have not yet. It's a thin alumiun piece folded over a heavy plastic frame. 6 clips - two along the edge closest to you and two on each side. Make sure you get under the platic frame to pop it up. It's about 3/8" thick.

mikischu

Yeah my car didn't come with a speaker there. That grill acts as a big climate control air vent.

It's actually useless because it causes my windscreen to fog up like crazy if I open the vent.

Hopefully a speaker will fit in there

Thanks for the tip / warning. I'll be extra careful.

the88g

Did you managed to get this centre speaker connected in the end? I was wondering what is the most hassle free method of getting speaker cable to that area?

Cheers

Gurminder.

megacrazy

There's plenty of room to get speaker cable in that area. However, if you're trying to get it in there without taking off any interior panels then that's not going to happen.

the88g

When you say interior panels, I hope you aren't referring to the large dashboard on top which is the width of the car? As for the other panels, they are already all off including the glovebox. I think maybe my attempts at routing the cable is incorrect - will try again after work.

megacrazy

Well, if the head unit is out you should definitely see a way to run a wire there. Did you take off the speaker cover?

mikischu

Have you double checked to make sure that the air vent /speaker grill can actually hold a speaker?

When I was looking at doing this, the photos of the vents with speakers looked different from my existing one.

eBay had a few speaker compatible grills for sale, but these seem to also come with the parking sensor display bit, so it's another thing to change out.

I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to switch that part out, but just keep that in mind and good luck.

megacrazy

If you buy one you need one without the parktronic display. You can't simply remove that part as it would leave a gap.

the88g

In the end I managed to reach the cable, shoved my hand right behind the stereo on the right hand side. Sorted. Thanks all.