[W126 Coupe] replacing radio

[Dick Spellman]

Hey Tad:

Seems like all of your questions are close to being answered except 
maybe soldering.  You should leave several feet of slack speaker wiring 
at each speaker opening so that you can hold the new speaker in your lap 
while soldering.  If you've never soldered before, all you need is a 
solder iron (25 watt or so), a small roll of solder, and a damp paper 
tower.  Then plug the iron in and heat it up until you see the solder 
easily melt when you contact the flat side of the tip.  Leave a drop of 
fresh hot solder on the tip and place the tip in contact with the metal 
blade on the speaker where the stranded wire is going through the hole 
in the speaker blade.  Ideally the flat surface of the tip is in contact 
with both the wire and the blade.  Run the solder over the tip and the 
wire until you see it flowing smoothly and filling the hole in the 
blade, coating the wire.  Let the work cool and snip off any excess wire 
from the speaker blade.

If during the solder process you see too much solder (a glob) on the tip 
that could just roll off, hold the tip out the door and give it a quick 
thrust to throw the excess solder on the ground vs. having hot solder 
land on you or your SEC.  Then renew a small drop of solder on the tip 
and go on to the next piece.

The slack wire on the front speakers can be taken up and pulled easily 
back to the head unit where you can trim off what you don't need as you 
place the speakers in the dash openings.  I'd still leave a reasonable 
amount loosely coiled at the speaker to permit speaker removal at a 
later date.  For 'in-line' splicing of wire to wire just google: western 
union splice to see how it's done.

That's it.  When all done with the solder iron, unplug the iron and wipe 
the tip away from you using the damp paper towel before storing.  Tip 
should be smooth, shiny for next use.

Regards,

Dick


Tad Heckaman wrote:

> Well, thats a good question.

>

> I was going to get rid of the fader since the car had separate amps 

> for the speakers, and I would have to bypass them and run the speakers 

> directly. Since it sounds like my car does not have the amps, and was 

> run directly off the radio, then technically just hooking up my radio 

> to the old wires should work. I also noticed that the Crutchfield 

> website said all I needed is a wiring adapter kit, which basically was 

> a female power connect and 4 female speaker connections.

> http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2002/120/h120701860-f.jpeg

> Not sure why it includes 4, since the back of the radio only has 2.

>

> The front speakers will basically drop right in, its the rear ones and 

> I wondering how to install. I may have to use the old brackets that 

> the car came with.

>

> I have access to passenger speaker and its wires by removing the glove 

> box. Will I have to remove the instrument panel to get access to the 

> drivers side wires? I could attempt to solder the speaker to the wire 

> without removing it from the car, although that will risk melting the 

> dash. :)

>

>

> Thanks,

> Tad

>

>

>

> On 12/24/06, *Axel Wulff* <axelwulff at hotmail.com 

> <mailto:axelwulff at hotmail.com>> wrote:

>

>     If your 10 cm dash speakers are anything like the ones I removed

>     from my '90

>     SEC, then the brackets have to be cut from the old speakers and

>     cleaned up

>     for reuse.

>

>     Why do you want to rewire the fader?

>

>     If you connect the speaker wires properly, it will work as before.

>

>     If you want to use the fader control in your new head unit, you should

>     bypass the fader and pull new wire to the speaker locations.

>

>     Regards,

>     Axel J. Wulff

>     610-731-5453 Cellular

>     610-572-4611 Home

>

>

>

>

>

>     >From: "Tad Heckaman" <douglash at gmail.com <mailto:douglash at gmail.com>>

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

>     <mailto:mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>>

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

>     <mailto:mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>>

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

>     >Date: Sun, 24 Dec 2006 12:56:44 -0500

>     >

>     >Thanks for all the tips, the 4x6 speakers will fit perfectly up

>     front. The

>     >back will need some sort of bracket to fit it, not sure if I can

>     use the

>     >existing ones or not.

>     >

>     >I assume the rear lines goto the fader as does the front, whats

>     the best

>     >way

>     >to get that wood panel up to rewire the fader?

>     >

>     >Tad

>     >

>     >

>     >On 12/24/06, RONNY GEENEN < ronny.geenen at verizon.net

>     <mailto:ronny.geenen at verizon.net>> wrote:

>     >>

>     >>  I tested a view years ago some 4x6 speakers for my 1984 300 SD

>     and I

>     >>find

>     >>out that plate speakers give you the best sound.

>     >>Today I think the two containers beside the speaker places are

>     the perfect

>     >>places for even 6x9 speakers and use the original room for a

>     small mid

>     >>range.

>     >>

>     >>Ronny

>     >>

>     >>----- Original Message -----

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

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

>     <mailto:mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>>

>     >>*Sent:* Saturday, December 23, 2006 12:37 PM

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

>     >>

>     >>Tad,

>     >>I think Dick's right about the 4x6 speaker size for the rear.  I

>     had

>     >>forgotten that the round speakers I used in the rear also required

>     >>modifications to work.  And you can certainly get 4x6 speakers

>     that are a

>     >>Dramatic improvement over what you have in there.  My comments

>     re. the

>     >>round

>     >>speakers reflect my preference to do the mods required to

>     install the best

>     >>speakers possible.

>     >>

>     >>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 *Dick Spellman

>     >>*Sent:* Friday, December 22, 2006 8:17 PM

>     >>*To:* Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists

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

>     >>

>     >>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

>     <http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Bb5yiO6jYnX/cgi-bin/ProdGroup.asp?g=51500&cm_re_o=kwufEzM*l5TN99*5TDvDii>><

>     http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Bb5yiO6jYnX/cgi-bin/ProdGroup.asp?g=51500&cm_re_o=kwufEzM*l5TN99*5TDvDii

>     <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

>     <http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Bb5yiO6jYnX/cgi-bin/prodview.asp?i=113MP4032&g=300&search=kenwood+4032>><http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Bb5yiO6jYnX/cgi-bin/prodview.asp?i=113MP4032&g=300&search=kenwood+4032

>     <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

>     >> > >

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

>     >>

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>     >>

>     >

>     >

>     >--

>     >Tad Heckaman

>

>

>     >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.