R129 high end custom audio install (I hope!!) - Page 2 - MBClub UK

A210AMG · 27-01-2009, 10:01 PM

£3500 is a lot of money.

Especially as with the roof down the sound feild will be all over the place anyway. Even more so with the roof down I think the engine note (assuming a v8 will still sound better)

Will be nice to see it done and as others its your pennies.

simontodd · 27-01-2009, 10:11 PM

Ok, I get your logic, so I'll explain mine

I don't have this car because it gets me from A to B. I have it as a luxury, it's my only car, wife but no kids. I do 6k miles a year and suffer no depreciation. It took me a year to find the car and it's in the same condition it left the factory with only a handful of miles. I intend to keep the car for at least the next 15-20 years.

Now the original reciept says £86k. (yes I have every bill)

What part of that would equate to the audio?

I can't put £500 of kit in it as it will be worse than the original.

This is one of the finest cars ever made, and it makes sense to install quality audio and to give it a professional finish.

I know many people use this forum to ask advice for DIY repairs because either thay like to do the work themselves or it's how they make running a merceds financially viable.

I thought I would post this thread as an alternative to someone who wants to save money. Instead I'm happy to spend on my beloved SL. The car I always dreamed of owning. I love it more today than last year, and that's more than when I bought it.

This isnt at rant at you or anyone, I just have a different approach

kraftwerk · 27-01-2009, 10:15 PM

Fairy nuff. Looking forward to seeing the finished results. You mentalist.

A210AMG · 27-01-2009, 10:18 PM

Simon

I'm all for mods, years ago I had a Mk3 Golf GTI and spend a small fortune on at the time Rockford fosgate ICE, sounded awesome.

I'm even tempted to do similar to my bus.

Sorry I perhaps came across like I'm having ago..didn't mean to. Like you say its your car, your pride and joy so why not?

I want some big alloys for mine, many say why? but heck its my car

I'm still interested to see the pictures and respect anyone that mods their car, weather I like it or not I still appreciate the time / effort and money gone into the mods.

Its a good job we are all different and thats great.

Cheers

kraftwerk · 27-01-2009, 10:20 PM

I wasn't having a pop, either. But I still think you're mental.

simontodd · 27-01-2009, 10:25 PM

No comments taken to heart, I really love my music though. Home audio is all Arcam seperates with Sonus Faber speakers. Now that was an expensive day.

I'll get some pics up as we go along

Simon

Darrell · 27-01-2009, 10:41 PM

Isn't this sometimes what a Merc (or any other) ownership is all about. Buying something and then modifying it. Be it big wheels, a lairy paint job or a banging stereo, a cup holder, or ally pedals .

Some people go for origianality, some go for a q - car and some go for an L.A drug dealer look that will knock your head off when you crank up the volume button or rev up with that big fat pipe.

If the O.P has a pukkka car then fair play if he does the up-grades, so what if his mods are cost more than the car is worth. If he is happy and the car is good then so what.

How boring woud it be if we all met up at a GTG and there were 20 cars, all in original condition. I sometimes think it takes balls to go somewhere else.

I wish I had the money, the car and the inguity to do something different.

simontodd · 27-01-2009, 10:46 PM

Cheers for that, nice post

simontodd · 27-01-2009, 10:54 PM

Just so everyone is clear, car audio usually falls into two catagories

1 SPL

These guys love their base, the cars are loud and proud. Many compete to obtain the loudest system.

2 SQ

This is me. It's all about the quality, a full and flat frequency response perfectly tuned to the acoustic qualities of the car. This also includes getting the imaging right (where your head thinks the music is coming from). This is a real challenge in a car that spends 4 months with a hard top and 8 months with the soft top. It has to be tuned seperately for each.

Most pro installs will use an ocilloscope to measure the performance of each frequency step in your vehicle. The signal can then be tuned to match the car.

Failing that..........switch it all off and floor it. Love that V8!!!!

Simon

simontodd · 27-01-2009, 11:02 PM

Almost forgot

Pics of headunit

DEH-P88RS-II.jpg

In the car

P1010068 copy.jpg

Darrell · 27-01-2009, 11:35 PM

I have no idea what you are doing, car hi-fi is a mine-field to me.
The technology seems to move as quick as the next space shuttle.

When we bought our w202, I had a Kenwood stereo fitted by the brothers from Halfords. It is the model where the front flips up and ejects the cd's.

They did a super job, but now I have an I-Pod thingy connectd to it so cd's are no more. All the gubbins are hidden behind the dash, I can just p**s around with the remote and I have 6000 tracks at my desposal.

To be honest, where we live our longest drive will take no longer than 18 minutes...... We live in a small place.

Darrell

P.S I can listen to the Who......'Won't get fooled again' from my house to my work and that is it.

Smatt · 28-01-2009, 10:00 AM

£3500 is certainly a lot of money, but still I am rather surprised over the shock on this forum of all (being a premium brand forum) when new car options for stereo/comand/changer comes to similar amounts & will sound nothing like this proposed system.
Also this money is small change compared to new price of car & can be justified by the saving you made (well that's how I might phrase it to my wife...)
I'm sure the quality will be great. Would love to do something similar, but was thinking about half the amount!
Are you self installing?
Have seen the head unit before. It is a smart, modern unit, yet at same time manages to look in keeping with the wood & the slightly older style of controls in your SL.
Keep us updated

Doodle · 28-01-2009, 10:27 AM

Front end setup looks fairly similar to what I did to mine last year - P88RS2 headunit, plus a set of Rainbow 3-way comps.

However, after a quick test it became clear that no matter what you did, having the sub in the boot meant that everyone outside heard the bass better than you did in the cabin - there's an awful lot of sheet metal and other sound-deadening items in the way.

Therefore I removed the useless rear seats, and built a flat deck under which hides a pair of 8" subs and the amp. Even at 70 it still sounds clear and precise above the background (if quite loud) noise, which is job done in my book. No pics, as there's nothing really to see - it all looks fairly boring.

28-01-2009, 10:00 AM	#27
Smatt Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Cambridgeshire Car: 03 C230K Manual Evo Pan Coupe, 08 B200T Auto Posts: 1,129	£3500 is certainly a lot of money, but still I am rather surprised over the shock on this forum of all (being a premium brand forum) when new car options for stereo/comand/changer comes to similar amounts & will sound nothing like this proposed system. Also this money is small change compared to new price of car & can be justified by the saving you made (well that's how I might phrase it to my wife...) I'm sure the quality will be great. Would love to do something similar, but was thinking about half the amount! Are you self installing? Have seen the head unit before. It is a smart, modern unit, yet at same time manages to look in keeping with the wood & the slightly older style of controls in your SL. Keep us updated __________________ CL203 Kompressor: Mods:rainsensor,dimming rvm,thermotronic,starcentres,chrome pins,AMG bumpers,sportbrakes,bi-xenons,facelift lights,cluster temp,Obsidian grill,wood To fit-parktronic,illum sills. W245 Turbo (thread link) :Mods:Illum sills,bonnet insulation,Brabus doorpins, window tints.To Fit:Bi-xenons Wants: satnav,Carllson rearskirt,Brabus bi-fogs

28-01-2009, 10:27 AM	#28
Doodle Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: May 2005 Location: West Berkshire Car: '95 R129 SL500, '04 S211 E320CDI w/D6, '97 Landcruiser Colorado, 2010 Ducati MTS1200, '79 BMW R100/7 Posts: 2,355	Front end setup looks fairly similar to what I did to mine last year - P88RS2 headunit, plus a set of Rainbow 3-way comps. However, after a quick test it became clear that no matter what you did, having the sub in the boot meant that everyone outside heard the bass better than you did in the cabin - there's an awful lot of sheet metal and other sound-deadening items in the way. Therefore I removed the useless rear seats, and built a flat deck under which hides a pair of 8" subs and the amp. Even at 70 it still sounds clear and precise above the background (if quite loud) noise, which is job done in my book. No pics, as there's nothing really to see - it all looks fairly boring. __________________ Chocolate Hobnobs - the universal currency of corruption

27-01-2009, 10:01 PM	#16
A210AMG Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: England Posts: 8,239	£3500 is a lot of money. Especially as with the roof down the sound feild will be all over the place anyway. Even more so with the roof down I think the engine note (assuming a v8 will still sound better) Will be nice to see it done and as others its your pennies.

27-01-2009, 10:11 PM	#17
simontodd Member Threadstarter Join Date: May 2008 Car: SL500 Posts: 45	Ok, I get your logic, so I'll explain mine I don't have this car because it gets me from A to B. I have it as a luxury, it's my only car, wife but no kids. I do 6k miles a year and suffer no depreciation. It took me a year to find the car and it's in the same condition it left the factory with only a handful of miles. I intend to keep the car for at least the next 15-20 years. Now the original reciept says £86k. (yes I have every bill) What part of that would equate to the audio? I can't put £500 of kit in it as it will be worse than the original. This is one of the finest cars ever made, and it makes sense to install quality audio and to give it a professional finish. I know many people use this forum to ask advice for DIY repairs because either thay like to do the work themselves or it's how they make running a merceds financially viable. I thought I would post this thread as an alternative to someone who wants to save money. Instead I'm happy to spend on my beloved SL. The car I always dreamed of owning. I love it more today than last year, and that's more than when I bought it. This isnt at rant at you or anyone, I just have a different approach

27-01-2009, 10:15 PM	#18
kraftwerk Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: London Car: 97 R129 500; 78 Fiat 238 Weinsberg; 74 Fiat 128 Special; 99 Honda X11, 99 Suzuki GSX1300R Posts: 193	Fairy nuff. Looking forward to seeing the finished results. You mentalist.

27-01-2009, 10:18 PM	#19
A210AMG Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: England Posts: 8,239	Simon I'm all for mods, years ago I had a Mk3 Golf GTI and spend a small fortune on at the time Rockford fosgate ICE, sounded awesome. I'm even tempted to do similar to my bus. Sorry I perhaps came across like I'm having ago..didn't mean to. Like you say its your car, your pride and joy so why not? I want some big alloys for mine, many say why? but heck its my car I'm still interested to see the pictures and respect anyone that mods their car, weather I like it or not I still appreciate the time / effort and money gone into the mods. Its a good job we are all different and thats great. Cheers

27-01-2009, 10:20 PM	#20
kraftwerk Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: London Car: 97 R129 500; 78 Fiat 238 Weinsberg; 74 Fiat 128 Special; 99 Honda X11, 99 Suzuki GSX1300R Posts: 193	I wasn't having a pop, either. But I still think you're mental.

27-01-2009, 10:25 PM	#21
simontodd Member Threadstarter Join Date: May 2008 Car: SL500 Posts: 45	No comments taken to heart, I really love my music though. Home audio is all Arcam seperates with Sonus Faber speakers. Now that was an expensive day. I'll get some pics up as we go along Simon

27-01-2009, 10:41 PM	#22
Darrell Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Skiathos, Greece. Formerly of Mill Hill, North London. Car: Suzuki Samurai, 3 scooters and a 200hp boat. Posts: 719	Isn't this sometimes what a Merc (or any other) ownership is all about. Buying something and then modifying it. Be it big wheels, a lairy paint job or a banging stereo, a cup holder, or ally pedals . Some people go for origianality, some go for a q - car and some go for an L.A drug dealer look that will knock your head off when you crank up the volume button or rev up with that big fat pipe. If the O.P has a pukkka car then fair play if he does the up-grades, so what if his mods are cost more than the car is worth. If he is happy and the car is good then so what. How boring woud it be if we all met up at a GTG and there were 20 cars, all in original condition. I sometimes think it takes balls to go somewhere else. I wish I had the money, the car and the inguity to do something different.

27-01-2009, 10:46 PM	#23
simontodd Member Threadstarter Join Date: May 2008 Car: SL500 Posts: 45	Cheers for that, nice post

27-01-2009, 10:54 PM	#24
simontodd Member Threadstarter Join Date: May 2008 Car: SL500 Posts: 45	Just so everyone is clear, car audio usually falls into two catagories 1 SPL These guys love their base, the cars are loud and proud. Many compete to obtain the loudest system. 2 SQ This is me. It's all about the quality, a full and flat frequency response perfectly tuned to the acoustic qualities of the car. This also includes getting the imaging right (where your head thinks the music is coming from). This is a real challenge in a car that spends 4 months with a hard top and 8 months with the soft top. It has to be tuned seperately for each. Most pro installs will use an ocilloscope to measure the performance of each frequency step in your vehicle. The signal can then be tuned to match the car. Failing that..........switch it all off and floor it. Love that V8!!!! Simon

27-01-2009, 11:02 PM	#25
simontodd Member Threadstarter Join Date: May 2008 Car: SL500 Posts: 45	Almost forgot Pics of headunit DEH-P88RS-II.jpg In the car P1010068 copy.jpg

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27-01-2009, 11:35 PM	#26
Darrell Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Skiathos, Greece. Formerly of Mill Hill, North London. Car: Suzuki Samurai, 3 scooters and a 200hp boat. Posts: 719	I have no idea what you are doing, car hi-fi is a mine-field to me. The technology seems to move as quick as the next space shuttle. When we bought our w202, I had a Kenwood stereo fitted by the brothers from Halfords. It is the model where the front flips up and ejects the cd's. They did a super job, but now I have an I-Pod thingy connectd to it so cd's are no more. All the gubbins are hidden behind the dash, I can just p**s around with the remote and I have 6000 tracks at my desposal. To be honest, where we live our longest drive will take no longer than 18 minutes...... We live in a small place. Darrell P.S I can listen to the Who......'Won't get fooled again' from my house to my work and that is it.