Got Car Stereo stolen, want to know how to install new. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Texholdem · #1 05-16-2007, 06:07 PM

Hi all,

I got my car stereo stolen last weekend, radio and CD player. Happened at home on the driveway. Theft seems to be professional, removed the device, disconnected antenna as well as power supply and neatly cut the wires (2 per loudspeaker I think) without much damage to the interior.

Today I wanted to buy a new radio/CD at Best Buy with free installation. At the workshop the technician said that a wiring harness AND a reverse harness from MB are required. He sent me then to MB dealership to obtain the said items.

At MB the part man did not know anything about "reverse harness" but quote a price of $357.- for the wiring harness. He added that they gave no warranty for fitting of non-MB stereo devices regarding connectors and/or adapters.
On my asking how much would a factory radio/CD cost a dizzy making quote of $3,300+ was given to me, parts alone. I asked twice to be sure.

My frustrated questions/thoughts:

1. Why can't the exsiting wires be used when everything is there and long enough (the wires were cut directly behind the radio). The reason I could think of that Best Buy's guy doesn't want to invest any time to trace the wires back to the loudspeakers.

2. Most important thing: is it a doable DIY job for s/o with average skill? Could anyone provide instructions.

3. as a side note: Are $357.- and change justified for some unsophisticated wires? and car radio for $3,300? Although MB owners are used to high-priced MB parts but we need to embrace ourselves every time for surprise.

Thanks a lot!

PS. I think the most the theft could get for my radio could be 40 bucks and he caused me a lot of frustration, anger and unsafe feelings regarding the neighborhood.

Rob Pruijt · #2 05-16-2007, 07:19 PM

Most radio’s use a standard connector and there are conversion cables to make them fit in modern cars. A connector with labelled wires is often included in the radio kit. This makes it easy to install in an older car, just attach the speaker and power wires to the wires from the connector and plug the connector in the radio. This is a half hour job at most and requires only modest technical skills. The only complication is that most radio’s need a permanent power wire to remember the settings and a power wire switched by the ignition key for the radio itself.
In my opinion spending more than $ 200 on a radio for a older and slightly noisy car makes no sense, it will only attract thieves. If your under 20 and/or like to hang out on a parking lot this may be different. I have a relatively cheap JVC with a small remote control. When I bought it 5 years ago the remote seemed completely useless to me but I use it all the time.

Rob

J.HIDALGO · #3 05-16-2007, 07:32 PM

www.crutchfield.com I bought a few car stereos from them and they include the wiring harness, the instructions and installation support. Not associated with them, just a satisfied customer...If interested I can give you a code where you and I can save some money on your next purchase, over their regular price. That is not the reason I recommed them though...

Good luck whatever you choose...

Peter Guenther · #4 05-16-2007, 07:42 PM

It would help to identify which one of your cars had the radio stolen, I dont think any of them had just had two wires. I would try to replace with a radio of the same year/model. ADSIT comes to mind, or a wrecker!

cudaspaz · #5 05-16-2007, 08:08 PM

You said the criminal really must have known what they were doing.

Don't you think they would have simply unplugged the connectors if that were true?
Cutting them may have taken more time actually.

I think the shop quoted you that ungodly amount of money is because their techs did not want to mess with it and probably could not figure it out since like another guy mentioned, they make alot of quick connectors for stereo shops for easy installation.

What kind of car did the radio get swiped from????????

A good ,reputable install shop such as Sound Sensations here in Atlanta could wire you up in a spiffy without breaking your bank account.

You sometimes have to call around to see what shops are familiar with mercedes.
A good shop will have easy wiring reference books on Mercedes sound systems.

Please, never take your Mercedes to best buy or Hi Fi Buys for radio work as I can tell you some horror stories from those places.

It's a shame your wires got cut, as most Blaupunkt radios will plug right into alot of Mercedes without modifying the wires and you can have in dash cd/mp3 player right up front.

I hope you catch the punk who did it and break their legs with a heavy, blunt object of your choice.

danwatt · #6 05-16-2007, 09:05 PM

Heh, stories of neat, organized thieves always interest me. A buddy of mine had his car stolen a year or two back, the thief ended up leaving the car in the desert and just taking the stereo + speakers. Did a really neat job, properly disconnected everything, and even took the speakers out without tearing anything up, which is pretty difficult since I think the speakers had to be installed from the trunk, causing your body to twist in some contorted manners to get to it.

Anyways, if you still have the stock fader and speakers I'd use this as an excuse for all new speakers and just run your own wiring. It's pretty simple to do properly.

Texholdem · #7 05-17-2007, 12:15 AM

Thanks for all the inputs.
I have only one Merc now. It's the 1989 300CE in my signature. The others are history :-).
Of the loose, disconnected and cut wires I see only an antenna cable, a power supply wire and 8 cut wires. I will try to make picture of them to get more concrete hints.

Later!

Texholdem · #8 05-17-2007, 12:38 AM

Special thanks to Hidalgo for the link to www.crutchfield.com .

I found there some tutoring on "How to"
http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/learningcenter/car/car_stereo/installation_guide.html

On this great forum one needs only to ask. One will get valuable help/info.

Rob Pruijt · #9 05-17-2007, 08:01 AM

If you go for the crimping method use a good crimping tool (not the $5 ones) and the proper diameter crimp connector. The connectors come in different sizes identified by colour. For car stereo’s buy some blue and red ones and just try with one fits best. For the tool you have the ones like in the picture and Ratcheting style tools. The Ratcheting style tools are easier for a novice user (harder to get wrong). After you made the connection pull firmly on the wires to make sure it will hold.

For soldering there are tools using lighter gas, not to expensive and very practical. Insulating the soldered connection is best done by a heat-shrink tubing (available at electronic parts stores), not the tape as shown in the picture on the crutchfield website. As the state in the text, tape may dry out and fall off and since it is behind the radio you will only notice it if fuses start to blow or smoke comes out of you dashboard.

For both methods you have to take some of the insulation of the wires, be careful not to damage the wire while doing this.

Rob

Texholdem · #10 05-17-2007, 04:45 PM

Thanks Rob,

I found a good radio/CD at Crutchfield; as Hidalgo said Crutchfield gives free harness to the devices, one worry less. Let's see how I can put my less than average skill to practice.

Will report back when everything is done.
Later!

iwrock · #11 05-17-2007, 06:42 PM

Its very easy to install a stereo into a W124. Its even better for you, as you have the amp/tuner in the dash.

All that you need is to find out the wire colors, and once you got that, it will take you 30-45 minutes to install the stereo.

If you search around here, the wire colors will turn up.

also, my local best buy will not touch Mercedes..... Its their policy after stuff happened with my car.

Texholdem · #12 05-20-2007, 10:24 PM

Found this wiring diagram

http://home.budget.net/~sura/wiring/89%20300E.pdf

maybe useful for other people too.