[W126 Coupe] replacing radio

[Dick Spellman]

Hey Tad:

Your 82 uses 4X6 in the rear without any problems.  The front speaker 
opening will accept a low profile 4X6 speaker.  That is to say, just 
avoid a dome tweeter that sticks up above the edge of the woofers.  I 
picked up a set of Polk 4X6 after last years holidays on a buy 1 pair 
($100) get 1 pair free.  I did have to make a slight modification to the 
front speaker openings by removing 1/8 inch along the opening edge 
nearest the seating area.  Using a Dremel this took about 1 minute.  
There is absolutely no sign of the inner edge being modified, still 
looks like factory installation.  Archives no doubt reference other 
brands that are a perfect fit.

If you buy a receiver from Crutchfield and provide your make, model, & 
year of car they will include a free kit for adapting the original wire 
set for speakers and receiver.  It's just a matter of choice in deciding 
to replace the wire or not.  My preference is to replace it and know 
I've got a clean set-up that won't give me trouble later on or right 
away if I had a hidden problem and did not know it at time of 
installation.   Nothing like taking everything apart a second time so I 
just do the whole job with new wire once and I'm done with it.

Purely for reference purposes see: 
<http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Bb5yiO6jYnX/cgi-bin/ProdGroup.asp?g=51500&cm_re_o=kwufEzM*l5TN99*5TDvDii>  
These inexpensive speakers fit your car.  I think you could make a 
slight modification and get them to fit the front as well as I mentioned 
above.  This receiver comes with the aux input adapter for $160 
<http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Bb5yiO6jYnX/cgi-bin/prodview.asp?i=113MP4032&g=300&search=kenwood+4032>  
Probably a dozen others that will fit and look okay if you stay with 
black facia on the receiver.  The display can be programmed to be off 
(black) when you are not using the remote.  Touch the remote it lights 
up for tuning or whatever and goes black again a moment later.

All kinds of deals should be advertised right after the holidays so for 
maybe $200-260 you could get a package that looks and sounds good.  I'm 
still one for tight bass and always prepare and add a sub-woofer and 
that is my justification for pulling new speaker wire.  Got to pull 
cable for the sub anyway mine as well do the whole thing at once.

-\Dick

 Tad Heckaman wrote:

> Well, I looked up prices for Nakamichi head units... ouch. They look 

> nice and would match the MB perfectly, but I am not willing to spend 

> that much on the car just yet. I'd like get everything running 

> smoothly first. For now I'm just looking for a cheapish head unit so I 

> can listen to my tunes.

>

> From what it sounds like, the best thing to do it replace the head 

> unit, replace the wires running to the speakers, and replace the 

> speakers themselves. I have never installed speakers in a car before, 

> I assume the holes for the speakers are measured in centimeters? What 

> sizes should I be looking for?

>

>

> Thanks!

>

>

>

>

> On 12/22/06, *dolans1 at verizon.net <mailto:dolans1 at verizon.net>* < 

> dolans1 at verizon.net <mailto:dolans1 at verizon.net>> wrote:

>

>     I second the motion on the floor, Nakamichi over Sony. The Sony

>     will do just as the name states, xplod, Sony is a trash head unit.

>

>     >From: Scott < scottk at skelleyco.com <mailto:scottk at skelleyco.com>>

>     >Date: 2006/12/22 Fri AM 02:14:08 CST

>     >To: 'Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists' <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com

>     <mailto:mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>>

>     >Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] replacing radio

>

>     >I'm personally not hot on the flashy graphics and "look at me"

>     design of most of the new car audio gear, in a car like this. If

>     by chance you are concerned about finding something in keeping

>     with the character of the car, take a look at Nakamichi. Expensive

>     tho.Scott Kelley

>     >      From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com

>     <mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com>   [mailto:

>     mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com

>     <mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com>] On Behalf Of Tad   Heckaman

>     >Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2006 4:06 PM

>     >To:  Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists

>     >Subject: [W126 Coupe] replacing   radio

>     >

>     >  So its Christmas time, and I am, one way or another, getting

>     a   radio to replace the one in my car. Currently it has a cracked

>     screen and now   turns off randomly. What should I be looking for

>     in a radio that will work in   the car? I assume just having a

>     line out would work, correct? I am really   wanting one that has a

>     built in aux port so I can plug my mp3 player into it.

>     >I stopped by Circuit City to check out what they had, and this is

>     one that   seems like it would work:

>     > http://www.xplodsony.com/xplod/headunits/CDX-GT310

>     <http://www.xplodsony.com/xplod/headunits/CDX-GT310>

>     >

>     >Any ideas?

>     >

>     >Thanks,

>     >--

>     >Tad Heckaman

>     >'82 380SEC

>     >

>     >

>     >The MB Coupes Website!

>     >W126 SEC Mailing List

>     >Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>

>     The MB Coupes Website!

>     W126 SEC Mailing List

>     Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>

>

>

>

> -- 

> Tad Heckaman

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

> The MB Coupes Website!

> W126 SEC Mailing List

> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.


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