SL/R129: After Market Sterio
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 924
Likes: 3
From: Socal
1991 300sl 5 speed manual
After Market Sterio
How do I install an after market sterio in my SL?? How do I hook the new sterio to the old amp?? Or should I have the old head unit repaired? JJ
Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 96
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2007 E63, 2015 Tesla, 2013 911S Cab
I cant get a straight answer on this. Supposedly if it's a 1999 or later there is an optical connection between the head unit and the amp. Some places tell me you need to replace the amp and speakers and others tell me they can use a converter and still use the bose amp. Does anyone know the definitive answer here?
Thanks,
Eric
Thanks,
Eric
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8
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sl320
i got the sl320 1996 and my radio was so bad the buttons were falling off. so i my dad got me a kenwood radio pice of crap! but it works and i dont know becuase i did not install it but they anly put the radio in did not chnage anything else . i hope that helps
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 924
Likes: 3
From: Socal
1991 300sl 5 speed manual
The problem Im trying to avoid on this is if I hook up the new sterio to the MB amp I dont want the amp on all the time when the car is off. I had an after market set up installed at Circuit City a few years back and cost me a battery this way. JJ
Almost a Member!
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 51
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From: Piraeus
300sl R129 Lotec turbo, 300sel 6.3 w109
I changed the stock becker with a full stereo jvc,new better speakers, sub woofers etc. This mod can be done but you have to take it to a stereo expert, because he has to put new cables all over the car, and this could take at least 6 hours! (door removal, carpet removal etc...) Thats the only problem.If you decide to do it tell to the expert to remove the carpet from the side of the co-driver and place the cables from there. There is a small hole next to rear wheel which goes into the trunk. (this hole goes under the hood trunk hopefully!) Good luck!
Last edited by o_Anapodos...; Mar 9, 2007 at 05:01 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 391
Likes: 6
From: So California
2000 SL500
Save yourself money and keep your current system. I have heard some of the retrofits and quite honestly for the amount of time and money I have not been impressed.
I really think you should talk with these guys.
http://www.carstereohelp.com/
http://www.carstereohelp.com/top10Ys.htm
http://www.carstereohelp.com/strmercedes.htm
http://www.carstereohelp.com/mercedes.htm
http://www.carstereohelp.com/stereor...L500TunerR.htm
I really think you should talk with these guys.
http://www.carstereohelp.com/
http://www.carstereohelp.com/top10Ys.htm
http://www.carstereohelp.com/strmercedes.htm
http://www.carstereohelp.com/mercedes.htm
http://www.carstereohelp.com/stereor...L500TunerR.htm
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Newbie
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22
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From: Sydney, Australia
1997 SL280
My view is that if you replace it, only do so with a Mercedes branded one, as nothing ruins the look of the dash more than a non Mercedes stereo, especially some non-matching silver thing with blue lights. The cockpit doesn't lend itself to disco bling stereos....but perhaps I am old-fashioned.
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 290
Likes: 3
it's not hard to install a new head unit. I installed a Panasonic "Ghost Face" in mine... it was pretty much plug and play. I got a Mercedes harness and connected the appropriate wires to the harness supplied with the radio. You will also need an antenna converter cause the antenna plug on a Mercedes is different than the standard type.
I forgot what color, but I believe it was the orange wire on the harness that goes to the amp.
It's seriously not that hard. Oh and it'll only take like 20 minutes to do if you have the harness... a little longer if you cutup your exsisting harness.
I forgot what color, but I believe it was the orange wire on the harness that goes to the amp.
It's seriously not that hard. Oh and it'll only take like 20 minutes to do if you have the harness... a little longer if you cutup your exsisting harness.
Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 132
Likes: 2
From: Dallas, TX
2007 Mercedes SL550 Sport
I had mine replaced at a stereo place. they put in new pioneer cd/mp3 head unit, the bose amp was disconnected and they had to do rewire to speakers. the stereo is 4x40 amp so it is powerful. the draw back was that the radio reception was poor (somehow lost the amplified antenna reception). took it back and they put an aftermarket antenna hidden over the dash. the reception is much better. now I need to change my door speakers as the sound quality changes with the weather outside. warmer the weather better the sound. hey, it 's a 97 SL500. speakers are 11 years old.
Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 132
Likes: 2
From: Dallas, TX
2007 Mercedes SL550 Sport
update: bought 2 nice 6.5" speakers for $50, and replaced the stock bose in the front doors. man what a difference. sounds awesome. I left the factory tweeters in place. if you get a speaker that already has tweeters built-in, then you can disconnect the facory ones. mine was 3-way speakers which had the tweeters on them, and now with the factory tweeters I had to lower the treble on my sound so it's not getting too much tweeter. overall happy. also the speaker were not rewired as the stereo place had told me they had to do.
