6x9 Speakers in W124 rear shelf

DelBenz

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I would like to fit 6x9 speakers to the rear shelf of my W124 saloon without damaging the original trim. I have done this before on a 190E by just cutting slats to bend away the metal work to create a good fit. The W124 only has teh space between the head rest 'cup' and the original speaker mounting. I would like to hear from or see pictures if anyone has done this before before I start taking the car apart to find out it can't be done. Much Appreciated
 

roadhog

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I've thought about doing this but didn't think they'd fit. Make sure you post some pics when you've done yours. :D
 
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DelBenz

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I've thought about doing this but didn't think they'd fit. Make sure you post some pics when you've done yours. :D

Back in the day I would 'Make them fit' but I dont have that time on my hands - or the convenience to that anymore unless I know it is feasible. I'm not a Bass junkie but the existing speakers are not efficient enough for the size of car and tend to bottom out too easily. Bass boxes etc are a no no unless I could hide a sub woofer under the first aid kit.
 

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Although a elliptical speaker gives you a larger cone area, a round one would last longer in the rear shelf,it can be quite humid there with condensation from the rear window, and the round one will hold its shape. The elliptical tend to go off center easily
 
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DelBenz

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Although a elliptical speaker gives you a larger cone area, a round one would last longer in the rear shelf,it can be quite humid there with condensation from the rear window, and the round one will hold its shape. The elliptical tend to go off center easily

Good point but I was thinking of just enlarging on what was already there to make use of the existing grills and space better, I've been a long time fan of 6x9's. The car is far too tidy to start hacking it about without just cause but as I'm doing more and more 8 hour road trips in it i need to focus on creature comforts.
 
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DelBenz

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6x8's ?

I've seen some Kenwood 6X8's advertised which might be easier to shoe horn in than the 6X9's I wanted. My Haynes manual suggests carefully prising the rear speaker covers ( rectangular pod shaped ) up from the parcel shelf - I dont see any clips underneath the shelf - does this mean I can squeeze the sides in by hand and lift it out ? I know these things are easy once you've done one - I just dont want to break anything right now - if at all ! I want to see how much space I really have undernetah there ...
 

Bolide

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Why not.... hide a woofer under the First Aid kit? You wouldn't be the first

Quite a few people use what the SQ audio crowd call "Infinite Baffle", mount the woofer in a panel under the shelf and vent it through the First Aid kit opening. This uses the boot as the speaker enclosure

You need the correct type of woofer for this approach but it does work well

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk
 
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DelBenz

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Why not.... hide a woofer under the First Aid kit? You wouldn't be the first

Quite a few people use what the SQ audio crowd call "Infinite Baffle", mount the woofer in a panel under the shelf and vent it through the First Aid kit opening. This uses the boot as the speaker enclosure

You need the correct type of woofer for this approach but it does work well

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

As I have aged I have grown to appreciate things more, the thought had crossed my mind but cutting it !! Don't know if I could. I made and impulse buy online of 2 Kenwood 6 1/2" 2 ways which I have a gut feeling are going to give me grief to mount properly as I have seen the 'lay of the land' now - MBenz certainly didn't wan't to encourage Bass Heads to buy their cars !
 
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DelBenz

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Raise them on fitting mounts?

Thats what I am thinking about but it loks awkwardto drill. I am thinking of using long bolts and cutting tubing of various lengths to form mounts then using the existing wadding to prevent cancellation - though mounting onto mdf would form a better baffle.Also thought of mounting them in the speakerless doors - but again - the thought of cutting it ..... I'll stick with the original locations and give it my best shot ( I might cheat and get the garage to do it when it goes in for rear shocks next week ! )
 

turbopete

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im thinking about adding extra speakers to my car. theres only 2 cones in the rear shelf (space for 4) and i think the grilles in the dash are just covers and dont have speakers behind them. are the wires likely to be there to fit speakers to or will i need to wore them up? any idea what size the speaker cones are? im sure maplins had some speakers in at reasonable prices.
 
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DelBenz

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Unfortunately Maplin don't have much competition on the High St anymore for Electronic Components - they can be expensive and naff at the same time. Tandy used to be brilliant for component speakers. I would suggest you look online for good brand speakers or Halfords sales items ( another expensive outlet).
 

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CPC have more than most
 

Bolide

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Why do you want to add extra speakers? Adding two indifferent speakers to two other, non-matching, indifferent speakers will make the sound worse, not better

I would suggest replacing the front speakers with some good component mids with separate tweeters, ditching the rear speakers, fitting a couple of 8" woofers in the rear deck and blocking up any other holes on the rear deck. Then I'd install a good 3- or 4-channel amp with crossovers to drive it all

If you don't want anything that complex I still wouldn't add extra speakers in the rear - just replace the front speakers with something better

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk
 

turbopete

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its just an idea ive been toying with as there are gaps there for the extra speakers and , presumably they were there for system upgrades for amg models etc (like bose and similar systems nowadays) and wondered if mine could be up specced for reasonable cost in a similar manner, especially if the wiring is there.
 
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DelBenz

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W124 Bass Upgrade

Never one to leave a thread unfinished... I gave up on the notion of fitting 6x9s in the rear deck, the metal work was a bit more convoluted than in the 190E I had in the past and I really dont like chopping holes in these German masterpieces BUT ! at risk of looking and sounding to the public like a Richard head, I was given a 12" Sony XPLOD bass speaker and am sorely tempted to drop it into that inviting hole in the sparewheel well with a faxe MDF floor. I have a 300Watt Amp lying around. My only concern is that I wount have to drive it too heard to get the effect inside the car without Joe Public looking at me and thinking "Plonker"... of course it makes no difference on the M'Way. Any thoughts anyone ? I can cleanup the quality of the in cabin sound with a Realistic Equalizer I have also 'found' to remove the really low bass subdue the vocal range and brighten up the 'tops'. Graphic EQ's were brilliant for instant gratification in the 80's but seem to have gone obsolete these days.
 

Juddian

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I use a Fly active sub in the boot, doesn't take up too much room, provides decent bass without shaking the bodywork and not a cut anywhere, roughly a hundred nicker will get you one.

Shame to butcher such a lovely car.
 
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DelBenz

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Just googled it - Fli ... looks a neat all in one package and its guaranteed to be tuned to the enclosure. I like the subtle idea of having a 'stealth' type installation - especially as i have the speaker and amp already. Just need the MDF and some wadding - if anything it'll make a good alternative to post on the forum as a project. Watch this space though I would like to hear some feedback from anyone who has tried this before in the W124. Found this link online :
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/sound-off-show-off/13501-sub-woofers-spare-wheel-well.html
 


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