AMGfan

Well, I can't leave well enough alone. However, compared to my E55 audio upgrade this one is considerably mild. It will be stealthy and clean which is a requirement. The pics of the build will be posted for reference. The components should be in by this weekend:

1. Source Unit: Kenwood Exelon DNX8120 (same as the E55)
- built-in Bluetooth and Garmin nav
- accessories for Ipod Video control, XM/Sirius Radio, HD Radio



2. Door Speakers: Dynaudio System 342
- 7" woofer
- 3" soft dome mid
- 1.1" soft dome tweeter



3. Subwoofer: JL Audio 13TW5



4. Amplifiers:

- JL Audio 1000/1 (sub amp)



- JL Audio 450/4 (door speakers in bi-amp mode)
(150 watts to woofers/75watts to mid and tweeter)

sikhkd

Wow I'd love to hear that set up. Mind PM'ing me or posting up how much the entire setup will run you? might consider that in the future, until the stock system goes beat

wickedrsr

please post pics on how you main unit. Is the shop going to fabricate you a custom trim kit? ALso please post pics of where and how you mounted the amps and subwoofer. I really want to upgrade my system.

aleksandar1099

As always, I know it will come out perfect!!!

AMGfan

Yes it will be a custom trim ring...I'll post as many pics as I can through out the build.

We will give it our best effort. My standing orders were stealth (since it is a convertible), clean sound, and attention to detail.

The actual build will start probably mid-April. I have the JL amps and the Kenwood DNX8120 already in and the rest is on the way. Plus the car is over at C2Design (Tampa) getting most of the cosmetic changes done first. The audio/visual will come second and end of April/early May the VRP VR825 upgrade will start.

I'll post pics along the way.

Autoscope

Good choices! Dyn audio and JL are a great combo.....Post pics after the install!

AMGfan

Will do...

I also added:

1. Center Channel Speaker: MB Quart DKH110 4" 2-way



2. Center Channel Amplifier: JL Audio A2150 (discontinued JL amp)



3. Battery/Capacitor: Batcap 400

BMS

I can't wait to see the results. I have the Reuss audio system and I am very happy with it, but I absolutely hate the nav system (2004 SL55). I was going to upgrade to a newer Mercedes non CD system but you may have an even better solution in your project. I'll be watching closely.

AMGfan

I feel you...the MB nav is very counter intuitive and forget about getting directions on the fly with their system of buttons. With the Garmin it really is simple stupid to operate especially with the touch screen.

Autoscope

What AMPS does the alternator put out?

BMS

I'd be interested in buying your oem nav unit. If interested, shoot me a PM or let me know here. Great project!

jmf003

Mike, the '05+ MB DVD nav units won't work easily in an '03 or '04 SL because they have a different electronic bus.

With a lot of work you might be able to gerry rig something that partially works but for the same or less effort you could probably install a third party nav system like AMGfan is doing.

AMGfan

To be honest with you, I'd spend the money on a Garmin Nuvi or totally go aftermarket HU. The MB nav will NEVER come close to the Garmin in terms of ease of operation.

The nav in my wife's 2008 C300 is an improvement but still lags behind. The touch screen of the Garmin units (portable or integrated HU) and the way the screens are intuitively formatted make the knob control of newer MB nav's seem really lacking.

BMS

In talking to Reuss they pointed out that if I go aftermarket I would have to change my amps which they installed for the door speakers and quite possibly the speakers themselves. I didn't want to get into the hassle as the video is not important to me. Motorwerks has changed out a few head units so I thought maybe the stock unit might be the way to go if I could find a used one. Oh well, back to the drawing board. Thanks for the input.

mprsev

I'm looking forward to seeing your setup once its completed! Did you consider waiting for the new Kenwood DNX9140?

AMGfan

I did, but I got impatient. I've had a great experience with the DNX8120 in my E55 that I couldn't see an exponential improvement between the two to justify another $800. Maybe in my next car...

dave3191

Way to go AMGfan! You are going all out with your new mods and I'm looking forward to seeing all of your pics when you are completed with everything!!!

Artyi

Really good audio system you are going to install!
I'm looking forward to see how it will look like instead of command system.
How much this system goes in $? I'm thinking only changing command to such kenwood or smth, without changing speakers, will it work fine with original MB speakers?

AMGfan

Artyi...it should work with stock speakers..the sound quality will still not be on par to what you can get aftermarket.

You can get the Kenwood DNX8120 from between $900 to $1100 US. They do have other alternatives in the Kenwood lineup which can be gotten for less money.

If you get the aftermarket head unit, you can always get a single multichannel amplifer to run all the speakers. You can also get some mid priced 6.5 component speakers and a single 8 inch subwoofer...that is a straightforward affordable setup that will kill the stock system.

misterlawyer

Any progress yet? I, for one, am on the edge of my seat...

AMGfan

The tear down starts on Monday. The start got delayed because of my schedule. I'll start posting pictures this coming week. Stay tuned...

dave3191

I just got Pioneer's AVIC-Z3 is a double-DIN size, all-in-one system equipped with a 30GB hard disk drive (HDD). I already had it installed in my Hummer H2 and have been very happy with this unit so I got another Z3 to install in my SL55...

AMGfan

Change of plans...switching to Focal 5.25" and 6.5" drivers in the doors and Focal tweeter in A pillar.

The 5.25"and tweeter come from a Focal KPower component set and the 6.5" midbass is a standalone driver from Focal. The Dynoaudios were on back order and I'd been waiting for a month on them, the price difference is negligible and availibility of the Focal's is next day.

Ghostrider

Did you ever consider going with Hertz for your speakers??

AMGfan

Yes...but the price break I got I couldn't pass up.