Fitting door speakers - too large/too small! - Benzworld.org

stevebower · 07-16-2008, 05:08 AM

Hi
I think that others may have had this problem: I have bought 6.5" speakers for the front doors, but the standard 'pod' is max internal diameter 150mm - just under 6", but too large for 5.25 unit.

I am considering grinding off the speaker flange to fit, but very unsure. How did others resolve?

Cheers
Steve

ohlord · 07-16-2008, 08:07 AM

the new speaker 2 ohm?

stevebower · 07-16-2008, 09:00 AM

No. At the moment I have Diamond D362 4ohm waiting. I just cant find a replacement to OEM that is 150mm outside dia.

ohlord · 07-16-2008, 09:58 AM

speakers as well as the other are 2ohm.

Benzboy210 · 07-16-2008, 10:39 AM

Hi Steve,

IMHO - A tight fit is more crucial to performance (esp. low end) than 'upgrading' to a newer speaker. I would wager the factory speakers are of good quality. Many times newer speakers sound 'brighter' but this is usually due to the fact that they are less neutrally balanced, and hence have an emphasis on high-mids and highs. So I would hesitate on making any mods trying to get a standard size speaker to fit in what is essentially a custom-size speaker bracket.

Matching impedance is important. You don't want the amps working against a higher resistance than they are meant to. You get less net power and more heat.

Dealer should be able to provide OEM replacement? I had to replace a sub on the rear shelf a while back. Dealer price was fair. Speaker comes with all the right clips and surrounds to ensure a perfect fit.

The Bose system in the W210 is complicated in that it uses non-standard resistance (2 ohm), variable output signals to the amps, etc. Just popping in a new speaker isn't the best idea.

IMO, the only thing these cars could really benefit from is a dash and/or pillar mounted tweeter. I know these speakers exist in some models and the dash ones are for the phone? I'm still working on a way to hook up the dash and/or pillar speaker(s).

Either way, good luck!

**Matt L** · 07-16-2008, 10:48 AM

There are wires in my doors, going to the space for the tweeter, from the other door speaker. There are speakers there in the non-Bose cars.

Benzboy210 · 07-16-2008, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt L

There are wires in my doors, going to the space for the tweeter, from the other door speaker. There are speakers there in the non-Bose cars.

Is there a tweeter installed?

**Matt L** · 07-16-2008, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benzboy210

Is there a tweeter installed?

No. The Bose system uses a tweeter in the door speaker only.

Benzboy210 · 07-16-2008, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt L

No. The Bose system uses a tweeter in the door speaker only.

Yeah, so that is what I am looking into - adding a small tweeter into the door pillar area and connecting it to the pre-existing wiring. That's my only real gripe about the Bose system - all the highs are aimed exactly at my ankles...

**Matt L** · 07-16-2008, 11:57 AM

I like the way mine sounds from the factory, so I don't miss speakers there. Bose must think that they don't need them, and they would spend more on a prototype getting it right than any one (sane) person would spend on his own car.

Probably the biggest thing for me, though, is that I can't hear the high tones very well, especially compared to what I could hear 30 years ago.