FAMUBER

Had my E for a few months now but only did a few cosmetic mods (pics coming soon). Had a full system in my old 05 C230 and was starting to miss it so I decided to just go all out on the new car.

Work was done at Audio Xcellence (www.audioxcellence.net). Worked on it all day Saturday and still not done yet but i'm pretty excited and wanted to share it with everyone.

List of parts:
NAV-TV W212VIM Kit
AudioControl LC6i Converter
Alpine PDX-F4 Amplifier
Alpine PDX-M12 Amplifier
Alpine SPX-17REF Components (Front)
Alpine SPX-17REF Components (Rear)
(2) 12" Alpine SWR-1243D Subwoofers
Kicker 4 AWG Hyper-Flex Power Cable
Scosche EFX Audio Cables

All the parts:


Taking the front apart to install the SPX-17REF Components:


Test fitting the box:


12" Alpine SWR-1243D Subwoofer


AudioControl LC6i stashed in the trunk with all the other cables:


Box for the subs:


Frame for the amps:


Installing the box:


Back of the box:


Mounting the amp frame:


Mounting PDX-F4 amp:


They thought the white would go with the car but I may have them change it:


more pictures coming soon after everything is done.....

K-A

Damn, musta cost a lot! Not something I'd personally spring for (I'm happy with the sound), but I'm sure it'll sound wicked, and more power to you for going through these lengths to please your audio needs.

IMO nothing looks worse than a big heavy box in a trunk (I had my old setup custom fitted into the spare tire well in my old car, after having about 2-3 different boxes back there), but they seemed to refine the look in your cars setup.

Also, through my experiences, I found that if you want a more ominous boom, it's usually better to turn the speakers facing the rear of the trunk (although, you also push the sound to the license plate area, promoting more trunk rattles). But you get a cleaner and crisper bass pop with it facing the front (better quality sound all in all IMO).

Tjdehya

Very nice, it looks very promising. I was thinking about just adding some Subs but I just haven’t done it and I am not sure if I will. I can’t wait to see some more pics. Also keep your expectation for the bass low. I don’t know what the C-class trunk was like but unless you have folding seats the E-class trunk is well insulated.

hyperion667

wow K-A, you're even an expert on the boom boom huh?


oh, and picture 6, LOL..........

RNBRAD

Very nice!! IMO I think with that system you should of opted for the DQL-8 versus the LC6i due to the system not having any equilization capabilities. Let us know how it sounds.

Pntblnk

That looks like a killer set-up and ALOT of work to install. I don't know how you can handle anything louder than the stock unit. I was commenting to my wife over the weekend that this is the first stock car stereo that will maintain clarity at a level that is too loud for me to comfortably listen to.

....and that's after shooting guns, riding straight pipe Harley's and a good bit of head banging for the past 20 years.

Enjoy your tunes and start thinking about those little miracle ear
do-dads.

Or maybe one of these to listen in stereo!

BPhillyBenz

Great. Please post results...

ngerstman

I tip my hat to you!!! I might have considered such a venture in my yute, but I'm basically resigned to live with what comes in the car. I still have my 2001 e55 with the amazing Pioneer Premier p7 and p9 head unit and digital eq/crossover with Focal Utopia speakers, Zapco Reference amps and JL Audio woofers(I was never willing to gave up my trunk, so the woofers are 11 inch free air mounted on rear deck, not optimal but ok). Will the system integrate with the Mercedes command system in any way? And if so can you get truly high end sound if it doesn't bypass all of that stuff? You must have a ton of faith in those installers. I will live vicariously through you. Keep us posted. Regards. Ned.

FAMUBER

thanks for all the comments...i figured since I'm still young i might as well pull off a full custom system once in my life before my trunk is filled with baby strollers and what not.

@K-A: it was a recommendation by the installer to have it fire inside to reduce trunk rattle. hopefully it'll sound better like he said it will. he also gave me full access to the spare which was my main concern when putting a box in but he still pulled it off.

@hyperion667: lol oops! didn't mean to have that in the picture lol

@PntBlnk: my hearing is long gone!...had my first system in my civic about 12 years ago. now at work when people come in for their lunch branch, everyone questions me why I listen to the TV so loud. it's funny that you said that because i typically turn the stock head unit to the highest volume and always wondered why it couldn't be louder. it is a great stock system but i do miss the bass. i originally was going to have the navtv work done only but then kinda got sucked into everything else.

@ngerstman: i'm pretty **** about my cars and probably would never let anyone tear it up but I do trust my installers. this is the 3rd car they've done for me as well as all my friends car. check out their website (www.audioxcellence.net) for the other work they've done. luckily I know them pretty well so it didn't really cost me an arm and a leg....just an arm and thigh.

Gsc

Any pics of the final install?

HRPOWER

OP my friend you are a genuis.

I love it.

I thought you might be the perfect man to advise me.

I recently added a JLXD400 to my factory speakers.

I took the rear doors down to as low frequency as possible and left the front OEM as they are - it sounds pretty remarkable sometimes.

I was trying to add a sub but do not want to cut the car, and the Harmon K sub does nothing if I ordered that.

Would you recommend that , if I am happy ISH with the sound now, I can upgrade the OEMS with something...

That being the case? What would your recommend?

- Secondly I was thinking of just replacing the rear doors with two 6 inch subs but my fitter really hates that idea....But surely some sub is better than using two rear OEMS on a high pass.

Gsc

Cant we just a hi-lo module and add a sub + amp?