I recently acquired a 1990 300TE with the stock Becker stereo system. I am curious if anyone here knows what size speakers fit in the rear door handles? I am thinking it is the same size as the rear speakers of a 300E/D sedan.

Reason I am curious is I have a complete high end system (Alpine, McIntosh, ADS) from my departed 1987 300D (cracked head; do not buy these cars!) and was wondering if the speakers would just drop in. I know the front 4" speakers will fit but am not sure about the rear.

Also, I might just want to replace the stock Becker AM/FM/Cassette with a Becker CD unit and pass on the whole installation which will probably cost me at least 650 just for labour to install all my crap. Any recommendations on a becker am/fm/cd unit that will just drop in and replace my existing unit?

Regards,
Carl

 

Hey!
I just installed a complete new system in my 89 300E. It sounds quite sweet.
To find all the measurements, go to crutchfield's website.
www.crutchfield.com
I really don't recommend the becker. Go with some new equipment. Also, get rid of everything while your at it.
I know that Sony's head unit is quite nice. It has several audio effects. The CDX-MP70 has an MP3/CD player that works well with Benz's. It has NEVER skipped on me. It is also pretty cooperative with XM. Not to mention it works with your power antenna. The head unit also adjusts the speakers so that they operate better when installed in doors. It makes it sound like they are next to you.
If you will be installing new speakers in the front, get Infinity Kappa's for the front. They are real good in indash installs that are by the windshield. Or as they say in England, the windscreen.

If you will be doing a whole new install, just post another thing to this forum, and I'll give you my bad advice.

Good luck!

 

Thanks for the reply on the 300te stereo. I did just as you suggested and ran the crutchfield query for a 1990 300te and it came up with "no speakers for this car" and plenty of cd players. As for a CD player, I've already decided it will be an Alpine or Nakamichi (cd45). I have a pair of A/D/S 4" coax speakers with seperate crossovers (stuff them in the dash) that I know will fit in the dash.

So, my only question, really, is the exact size of the speakers in the rear door handles and what is the maximum height of an amplifier that can fit under the rear seat. With the amount of gear I have laying about the only stuff I would need is a pair of speakers for the rear doors and a CD player (already have three Alpine high end am/fm/cassette units with a 6 disc changer). The main reason for switching from the am/fm/cassette-cd changer to a single cd unit in the dash, for me, is to avoid the additional expense and hassle of installing the CD changer. And, where would I put the damn thing? There is little room in the rear of the wagon for a changer unit and I do not want to install it in the rear storage compartment. Hence, the decision for a single play CD unit.

The ADS speakers require a fair amount of good power with excellent current. Think high end home audio amps vs japanese junk (almost all of it). The internal amps of an in dash unit is simply inadequate. Either one of my amps, an old ADS ph15 (50w x 6 channel, biampable) or the McIntosh mc420 (4 x 50, electronic crossover out) would work fine. The McIntosh is a much superior amp but also is almost three inches in height so fitting it under the seat is a concern. The ADS is much slimmer but has know reliability problems; dimensions will dictate.

Ever listened to ADS speakers? They are a major step up from Infinity, which are decent speakers for the cost. Think of it like the difference between a Linn LP12 turntable and an entry level Reg P2 table.....

I am passing on any sub installation due to the complexity of fitting one and making it work correctly.

Nice car; hope I have better luck with this one than that horrible 1987 300D. This is my fifth benz (450se, 280ce, 300CD, and current 300TE). My favourite was the 300CD and it was the least expensive to run both on maintenance and fuel. It also pulled hills better, especially at altitude, than the little straight six gas motors in the 300TE (or my old 450SE....true). Those 5 cylinder turbo diesels were noisy and smelled but they ran like hell. I gave up trying to find a nice one here that did not require major work after several months of searching and bought the w124 300TE.

Regards,
Carl

 

Now, just to clarify, you mean the speakers in the rear doors, below the handle?

My 300E only has speakers in the front and the back by the windshield and rear window.
My Rear speakers were "5 inches" supposedly, but with some metal cutting, I was able to get a 5.25 speaker in there.
I'll take a look at those 300"T"E's, and see what mercedes stuck in there...

I am aware that in 300Ds, 300Es, 300CE's, 500E's, & 300TEs they all have different setups. I'll see what I can find out.

 

ADS 5.25" speakers fit fine in the rear of a 300E (or 300D); the trick is to install them from inside the trunk. They will not go down through the cabin. These rather large magnet speakers fit just fine via the trunk with nary a cut to the car so you leave it in original condition. That is what I had in my 1987 300D which should have the same speaker specs are your automobile.

Regards,

Carl