Wagon Chat - Advice/Pics/Kick the Can/Whatever...

[Chappy]

I dove into this project, then got sidelined with a sick baby (stomach virus). All the speakers have been removed, but have not re-installed the new rainbows. Test fitting the fronts went well, but the rears may be a tad to large (diameter-wise okay, but the magnet is at least 1/2" taller).

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[danholm]

Originally Posted by Chappy

I dove into this project, then got sidelined with a sick baby (stomach virus). All the speakers have been removed, but have not re-installed the new rainbows. Test fitting the fronts went well, but the rears may be a tad to large (diameter-wise okay, but the magnet is at least 1/2" taller).

Hope they work.

I have often wondered if the rear panel on the tailgate would be a spot for some speakers. Never took it off to see how much room, but would be interesting to check it out.

[danholm]

Originally Posted by myfirstbenz

Don't worry, this is the "Whatever" part of this thread

I guess there is a Sprinter section, under the V class. No use in a while though.

[danholm]

Chappy ,

How's the speaker project going?

[Chappy]

Originally Posted by danholm

Chappy ,

How's the speaker project going?

Last Friday, I gave up on the project and hired a pro.

Returning to my non-DIY roots, I got mbenzman involved with the installation. The fronts fit perfect and sound excellent with the stock head unit (compared to the factory speakers that were 12 yrs old). SL120s were installed in the dash locations.

The rears took a bit of coaxing...some shaving here, a little nip there...but they're in and sound great! The problem with using the SL100s in the rear doors is the magnet is too deep. Mbenzman cured the issue and fixed me up proper.

I have tunes again!

[mbenzman]

Originally Posted by Chappy

Last Friday, I gave up on the project and hired a pro.

Returning to my non-DIY roots, I got mbenzman involved with the installation. The fronts fit perfect and sound excellent with the stock head unit (compared to the factory speakers that were 12 yrs old). SL120s were installed in the dash locations.

The rears took a bit of coaxing...some shaving here, a little nip there...but they're in and sound great! The problem with using the SL100s in the rear doors is the magnet is too deep. Mbenzman cured the issue and fixed me up proper.

I have tunes again!

You should give yourself credit, you are way more valuable than you think. YOU drove your car over here to the shop, opened the bay door and placed your car into the work area.
You also helped, by dropping in at the local beer store to pick up some much needed shop supplies (aka bribes). Then you supervised to make sure the work was being performed correctly and to your personal high standards. You also made yourself extremely handy by dispensing the before mentioned shop supplies. You kept all around you entertained. There are leaders and then there are followers, I just followed your commands.
Enjoyed it!

[Chappy]

Originally Posted by mbenzman

You should give yourself credit, you are way more valuable than you think. YOU drove your car over here to the shop, opened the bay door and placed your car into the work area.
You also helped, by dropping in at the local beer store to pick up some much needed shop supplies (aka bribes). Then you supervised to make sure the work was being performed correctly and to your personal high standards. You also made yourself extremely handy by dispensing the before mentioned shop supplies. You kept all around you entertained. There are leaders and then there are followers, I just followed your commands.
Enjoyed it!

lol....have beer, wil travel!

[myfirstbenz]

Originally Posted by Chappy

lol....have beer, wil travel!

Well in that case, make a trip out to the wild west and call me up

[Chappy]

Originally Posted by myfirstbenz

Well in that case, make a trip out to the wild west and call me up

Does Des Moines / Omaha count? I'm heading there in a few weeks.

[ZorroAMG]

HAHAHA, great story...sounds like a veritable modders paradise at your shop mbenzman!

[myfirstbenz]

Originally Posted by Chappy

Does Des Moines / Omaha count? I'm heading there in a few weeks.

Omaha would work if I decide to work for Kiewit

[mbenzman]

Originally Posted by ZorroAMG

HAHAHA, great story...sounds like a veritable modders paradise at your shop mbenzman!

I'll take what I can get, and I don't mind playing. You might say I have a "can do" atitude. Don't have much time to play with my toys lately, everyone else's M.B. issues have my shop bogged down and they come first.
Besides I'm down to 1 W124 and it's done being modded unless I decide to supercharge it, like I did to the CLK55.


Here's some W124 eye candy, just to spice things up a bit.


Here's an action shot, on a very nice day, somewhere in Mexico, I'm chasing my wife, Mrs Leadfoot, in the newest addition, the E55 Kompressor.

[danholm]

Hmm... I'm going to have to head up the road a bit and see what's going on up there. Beverage, supercharging, tunes....

[danholm]

Hey I just noticed my picture pop up on the signature. Weird, as according to the edit I could'nt get it small enough. That must be why it looks so bad.

I'm going to have to work on this a little more.

[danholm]

Okay, got the insert thing. Now I feel stupid.

[danholm]

Originally Posted by mbenzman

I'll take what I can get, and I don't mind playing. You might say I have a "can do" atitude. Don't have much time to play with my toys lately, everyone else's M.B. issues have my shop bogged down and they come first.
Besides I'm down to 1 W124 and it's done being modded unless I decide to supercharge it, like I did to the CLK55.


Here's some W124 eye candy, just to spice things up a bit.


Here's an action shot, on a very nice day, somewhere in Mexico, I'm chasing my wife, Mrs Leadfoot, in the newest addition, the E55 Kompressor.

Nice stuff!

[myfirstbenz]

danholm, I think a 55k motor deserves a home in your Kombi

[ZorroAMG]

mbenzman,

Your 500E = Pure Win.

[mbenzman]

Originally Posted by ZorroAMG

mbenzman,

Your 500E = Pure Win.

A little testing action.
http://videos.streetfire.net/search/...1a68efeb32.htm

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/2...83a9cbec6c.htm

[myfirstbenz]

Originally Posted by mbenzman

A little testing action.
http://videos.streetfire.net/search/...1a68efeb32.htm

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/2...83a9cbec6c.htm

I do love that 500

[ZorroAMG]

Originally Posted by mbenzman

A little testing action.
http://videos.streetfire.net/search/...1a68efeb32.htm

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/2...83a9cbec6c.htm

More like a little teasing action.

My W124 can't do that LOL

[gamjccdad]

Originally Posted by mbenzman

I'll take what I can get, and I don't mind playing. You might say I have a "can do" atitude. Don't have much time to play with my toys lately, everyone else's M.B. issues have my shop bogged down and they come first.
Besides I'm down to 1 W124 and it's done being modded unless I decide to supercharge it, like I did to the CLK55.


Here's some W124 eye candy, just to spice things up a bit.


Here's an action shot, on a very nice day, somewhere in Mexico, I'm chasing my wife, Mrs Leadfoot, in the newest addition, the E55 Kompressor.

Somewhere in Mexico (or GA 400).

What work needed to be done for the rear speakers? What did you do with the front door speakers? How much better is the sound and how much did it cost overall? Thanks.

[Chappy]

Originally Posted by gamjccdad

Somewhere in Mexico (or GA 400).

What work needed to be done for the rear speakers? What did you do with the front door speakers? How much better is the sound and how much did it cost overall? Thanks.

I'll defer to mbenzman on the install of the rear speakers. Most of the time, I was goofing off, sucking down some suds or generally in the way.

The front door speakers were left stock - they rarely go bad and mine seemed fine.

IIRC, the speakers were $159/pair for the SL100s and $170/pair for the SL120s (shipped).

I think I like the MBQuarts better in my 300CE - BUT - that car has a Clarion ProAudio head unit and CD changer with more power. I'm still running the factory head unit w/o CD capabilities in the kombi (at this time).

IMO, the Rainbows sound excellent and provide better range of sound (particularly bass) and the highs are much more crisp versus the factory speakers. You're welcome to hit me up for a coffee sometime and you can check out the speaker sound for yourself.

[gamjccdad]

I will definitely take you up on that offer. Let me know how to get in touch with you directly. My office is on Windward in Alpharetta, which I assume is close to you since you went to Mbenzmen's shop in Roswell. Thanks.

-Christian Carlson

[mbenzman]

Originally Posted by gamjccdad

I will definitely take you up on that offer. Let me know how to get in touch with you directly. My office is on Windward in Alpharetta, which I assume is close to you since you went to Mbenzman's shop in Roswell. Thanks.

-Christian Carlson

Originally Posted by gamjccdad

Somewhere in Mexico (or GA 400).

Just made to look like Ga400S. just before the windward exit (complete with the exit sign), but definitely across the border in Mexico.

Originally Posted by gamjccdad

What work needed to be done for the rear speakers? What did you do with the front door speakers? Thanks.

The front door speakers are part of the active bass system and have not been touched, doing their job just fine.
The front dash speakers and the rear door speakers had their harness clipped off and soldered onto the rainbows. The fronts just need the insulation under the dash pulled out of the corners and tucked under the lower windshield frame. Then they pop in just like the factory ones.
The rears however needed a bit of adjustment to open up the top and sides in the door handle. This could have been accomplished with a carbide burr and a steady hand/good eye, however mine had to suffice since we had no such talent available.
So we improvised and I duct taped the speakers to the top of the rear door handles and placed a speaker cage fashioned from the chicken wire which had been used by the previous owner to secure hogs during transit to market in the cargo area of the Kombi . Chappy said it made him feel good to recycle.
Just kidding, the speakers were attached using the same two bottom screws when finished,