Need Help Finding CD Cables in 2002 E320 - Benzworld.org

N1ML · 01-21-2006, 06:03 PM

I bought my wife a fiber optic changer for her E320. I understand that they are somewhere in the left rear wheelwell area. Is there a trick to removing the cover inside the wheelwell? I can't seem to get it out so I can look for the cables.
Thanks
Mark

Parrot of Doom · 01-21-2006, 06:52 PM

http://mb.braingears.com/W210/w210/disassembly_doorsilltrim.htm

The cables run under those shiny metal/plastic bits of trim. They remove quite easily, you just need a blunt piece of plastic and a bit of force to pull them off. They're fixed down with 3 sharp metal clips.

N1ML · 01-21-2006, 07:16 PM

My understanding is that the cables I need are in the trunk on the left hand side. There is a stiff cardboard type liner that I am trying to remove.

raymond- · 01-21-2006, 08:03 PM

i've never had to remove them, merely carefully peel
back so as not to crease, and poke arm/eyes back there
with good lighting to look for bright orange twin lead
(FO), and smaller black twin lead (+ -). Worked on 1999
as well as 2000 E320.

Be very careful not to kink the fiber. The black lead
may be zip tied or bundled with another large harness
back along the metalwork leading to taillight.

N1ML · 01-21-2006, 08:11 PM

I am guesing that you do this from the top of the inner panel. It looks like the connections are at the bottom of the CD changer. How do you route the cables from behind the panel to the bottom of the CD changer?
Mark

raymond- · 01-21-2006, 08:32 PM

{closing eyes}

actually I found the seam which is at the left rear,
as you lean into the trunk. but.....i continued back
past the recessed area where the interior does a dogleg
and does a narrowing of the trunk floor. right about
there is a seam.

as I manipulated that seam open, i held it open with
my left hand, while sticking my head as much inside to
peer in....looking towards the left rear wheel.

as you look against the inside sheet metal of the LR
fender, you should see big wire bundle. on two occasions,
i found the power lead there - zip tied. whereas the
fiber optic was loose in that recess.

I carefully snipped the zip tie...to give it slack and
spring it free from the others. i zip tied all the
others right back as before, sans CD power lead.

Fiber and power were then repositioned and out pretty
much the same interior seam...exiting stage left...
out the BOTTOM, and directly into the left rear storage
area....where the CD changer is to be mounted to the
metal floor using no more than 2 sheet metal screws.

-----
MC 3198 - (spring loaded sliding door)
10 3/8 x 6 1/2 x 2 3/4

MC 3010 - (reportedly better anti skip, non-spring sliding door)
9 7/8 x 6 1/4 x 2 3/8

MC 3110 - (non spring sliding door)
9 3/4 x 6 x 2 1/4

All are fiber compliant and interchangeable. So, depending on where you're
going to mount the changer, you may want to consider the size. Obviously,
you'll need the proper mount to go along with the changer - there are several
mounts available for 3010 and 3110. 3198, for the most part, is trunk mounted.

These three changers are suited for 1999 - 2002 MBs. Before, they were
non-fiber. After, they are using different fiber/harness.

p.s. add about 1" to the depth on account of the rear connector cover

N1ML · 01-21-2006, 09:02 PM

Thank you very much for taking the time to document just how to do this. I bought the changer with the Mercedes mounting brackets. It works fine, although it is slightly used. I will work this tomorrow.
Thanks again
Mark [^]