2003 CLK 500 Radio Replacement
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From: Maryland
2009 E350 AMG
2003 CLK 500 Radio Replacement
I want to replace the radio in my wife's 2003 CLK 500 with a unit that has Sirius satellite radio. Her car does NOT have a navigation unit. Can anyone recommend a radio?
I done a little reading on this forum about issues with certain Bose components, so I plan to have it professionally installed. Any words of wisdom or advice is greatly appreciated.
I done a little reading on this forum about issues with certain Bose components, so I plan to have it professionally installed. Any words of wisdom or advice is greatly appreciated.
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The only complication with Bose is that there are is no analog audio wiring in the dash - it uses fiber optic to send to the amp in the trunk, then it's analog from there to the speakers. Also, most people are not happy with the sound of the Bose speakers without the special equalization provided by the OEM radio and amp, so they replace them. I put a Pioneer AVIC in the C240 (non-Bose) and it has it all - Bluetooth, iPod, Sirius, NAV, etc. I like it, but it's not as polished as some system. My advice is to really play with them in the display to make sure it works way you want.
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W209, E46 M3 (dead), S54 swapped E46 Touring
https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class...tion-w209.html
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Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Maryland
2009 E350 AMG
Thanks guys. I do understand the Bose equalizer issue. I owned a pair of Bose 901's and Bose 6.2's for over 25 years for my home stereo. Great sounding speakers, but because of the equalizer I had to have separate amps driving each pair.
The fiber optic "thing" was news to me, so I went to a professional installation shop for advice. They recommended an Alpine replacement, but to the Bose "issue," this would require new speakers as well. I'm also curious as to how they would connect the Alpine unit to the CD player in the glove box.
I looked into the Dynavin system; it doesn't appear to have Sirius satellite radio, which is the main reason I'm trying to replace her existing radio.
The fiber optic "thing" was news to me, so I went to a professional installation shop for advice. They recommended an Alpine replacement, but to the Bose "issue," this would require new speakers as well. I'm also curious as to how they would connect the Alpine unit to the CD player in the glove box.
I looked into the Dynavin system; it doesn't appear to have Sirius satellite radio, which is the main reason I'm trying to replace her existing radio.
Last edited by jfpearsonjr; Feb 13, 2013 at 09:01 AM. Reason: Added more information
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W209 CLK Renntech Widebody, C140 CL600 V12, AP2 S2000, NSX Twin Turbo, R8 V10
The only complication with Bose is that there are is no analog audio wiring in the dash - it uses fiber optic to send to the amp in the trunk, then it's analog from there to the speakers. Also, most people are not happy with the sound of the Bose speakers without the special equalization provided by the OEM radio and amp, so they replace them. I put a Pioneer AVIC in the C240 (non-Bose) and it has it all - Bluetooth, iPod, Sirius, NAV, etc. I like it, but it's not as polished as some system. My advice is to really play with them in the display to make sure it works way you want.
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Thanks guys. I do understand the Bose equalizer issue. I owned a pair of Bose 901's and Bose 6.2's for over 25 years for my home stereo. Great sounding speakers, but because of the equalizer I had to have separate amps driving each pair.
The fiber optic "thing" was news to me, so I went to a professional installation shop for advice. They recommended an Alpine replacement, but to the Bose "issue," this would require new speakers as well. I'm also curious as to how they would connect the Alpine unit to the CD player in the glove box.
I looked into the Dynavin system; it doesn't appear to have Sirius satellite radio, which is the main reason I'm trying to replace her existing radio.
The fiber optic "thing" was news to me, so I went to a professional installation shop for advice. They recommended an Alpine replacement, but to the Bose "issue," this would require new speakers as well. I'm also curious as to how they would connect the Alpine unit to the CD player in the glove box.
I looked into the Dynavin system; it doesn't appear to have Sirius satellite radio, which is the main reason I'm trying to replace her existing radio.
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