Changing to new Stereo head

[DirectLA]

I spent the last hour searching the stereo related posts but nearly all the posts seem to be much more technical than what I'm looking for. I have no car audio experience and will be taking my car to a local shop for the work, so be gentle with me, keep the explanations simple for a layman like myself.

My car ('99 c230) has factory stereo and trunk mounted 6-disc changer with optical cables. It recently started cutting sound out while playing so i took the changer out to clean the contacts (alcohol lightly swabbed on the optical cable ends). I then visited a car audio shop and they said it's a simple matter of just putting in a new Pioneer head unit I was looking at (with a slot for CD's and an iPod jack), and bypassing the factory amp and leaving the CD changer disconnected and unused. They said the stereo has enough power to not make any difference in sound from original. I'm really only interested, for now, in getting rid of the trunk changer so I can just put CD's in while driving.

My few main questions are:
-Can I really just have them switch the stereo and use my existing speakers with no trouble?
-Do I not need my factory amp for this application?
-Will I be able to later upgrade to new speakers, amp, small sub if I decide to then? (Please no comments to go ahead and do the work, I would need to take a few weeks to research what I'd want and don't want to spend the cash now, I just need a CD player that works.)

Thanks to everyone with info, you guys really are the best source for info on these cars we love!!!

[Logic]

ok i need to ask some questions concerning your car. is the system you have a bose system? if so there are ways of using the amp with a aftermarket deck , but if you see your self replacing the amp with a after market amp then you may wanna have it rewired. if your car doesn't have a bose system it isn't amplfied and your deck will run the speakers just fine. if the car is rewired and if it has a bose system the deck might be able to run the speakers but most bose system speakers the load of them usually run about 2 ohms which in my eyes might be a little low for deck power since they are designed to run 4 to about 8 ohm speakers. as far as the factory changer just yank that out, very simple process. just leave the wires there since you dont need to pull them . most factory changers of that year dont play many formats like MP3 . so putting in a deck with ipod is more then you will ever and if you want could even add sat radio.

[DirectLA]

I don't believe I have the Bose as there are no markings on the stereo or speakers to indicate this. I assume they would put logos all over the place if it were a Bose upgraded system?

So if I understand correctly, since I have the basic system, there are no real roadblocks to installing whatever new stereo head and just leaving the CD changer and other cables as is? I would prefer this for future owners who may wish to re-install a factory stereo (that's assuming I EVER give up this car). :)

Thank you for your kind reply.

[DirectLA]

I just had a look at the car and I counted possibly 8-speakers. One in each of the 4 doors, 2 on back shelf and possibly two small tweeters just above AC vents in dash. Is this correct? The audio shop guy said "you only have 4-speakers" so does the number of speakers make any real difference in the install or stereo I choose?

[Logic]

i also have a 99 c230 kompressor sport and the system you speak of there is actually 8 speakers total . running a after market deck will be ok . all you will have to buy is a harness and antenna adapter. i have a alpine cda 9887 running those speakers with out a amp and just added a subwoofer and amp for that and it sounds fine. altough many of my cars have crazy systems in them i kept this one simple since i only drive it in the warm months and dont wanna add to much weight. just to let you know i m a certified m.e.c.p first class installer of 13 years of experience . so if they are telling you its amp'd may not be true since it doesn't say bose. one way to check if its amp'd. if you had a amp your amp would be in the trunk on the left side rear panel behind your trunk liner.....

[DirectLA]

Thank you for your logical and easily understood reply. You put my mind at ease and I am now looking forward to the process rather than dreading the potential issues.

[emann34]

I second that. You will only need a wiring harness and antenna adapter. Metra and Scosche do not make a specific wiring harness for our cars but the issue is easily solved by using one for a VW (Pre 2003) and switching the yellow (constant power) and red (ignition switch) wires around. Do not let them cut your factory wiring harness. If your shop cant figure out the appropriate wiring harness for your car, go to crutchfield.com and get the part number for them.

In summary, all you will need to purchase is the head unit, the wiring harness, antenna adapter, and installation.

[adamsry]

You have a can bus optical head unit changing the head unit will yield NO improvement the head unit is pure digital str8 to the trunk amp. Pre update models with the analog bose system you have more wiggle room. You can gut the complete stereo, you can have the amp refurbished by bose or if your just looking for bass extension you can add and amp and additional sub in the trunk but using the 2 rear deck speakers.

[adamsry]

Also watch out for the optical bus in your car the rear trunk changer uses this. Most people in your situation purchase a CD 10 unit ( Ebay it or google it) it is a in dash cd unit that is made by becker for benz. The unit has optical connection and will work with an optical changer as well.

[adamsry]

Im having brain do do

but easy check to see if you have Bose or not is to go in your trunk and look at where the rear deck speakers are if you see magnets you have a Bose system if you can see the speaker diaphragm then you have the stock crap crap system.

You can also call the dealer with your vin and check to see if it was in the car when it was new. Most c280's were std with bose but the 230 was more of an upgrade at time of purchase.

Some Bose benzes are bagged others not. 1994, 1995 Bose was STD 1996 and un bagged, it became optional and then it was bagged with Bose in the c class on your rear deck speaker covers, then it is a crap shoot as to wether or not you got the badging. in 1999 and 2000 vehicles that came std with Bose 280's there was no badging but all AMG models got it.

Call it cutting cost. mercedes has to pay Bose for the logos so... many cars did not get the badging for this reason typically the loaded models had it. Other models it is questionable.

Sorry for my rant of useless knowledge done too much research on this.

Needless to say i got a JVC unit with color change display to match interior lighting but that went in analog bose car"1994 c280". When i retrofitted the bose in a digital car " 2000" compressor i used an analog system as it was easer and required less work for rigging it in.

[DirectLA]

As an update and courtesy to other owners considering the stereo swap, I today had installed an Alpine CDE-9872 (I chose this for the ability to mount a glovebox iPod connector as well as for it's front face aux input and CD slot). I was recommended the shop by the local Benz boys who said they have a good deal of experience with our cars.

As it turned out, I had a Becker "Mexico" radio which uses standard wiring to the amp and speakers, and optical connectors to the CD changer. As I wanted to eliminate the trunk CD changer altogether they just connected to my factory amp and left the trunk changer unused. They connected the head to my existing amp and speakers, and it sounds wonderful. They did tell me that should I wish to upgrade to a subwoofer (aside from the two small factory ones in the rear shelf) that I would need an upgraded amp, but I have no immediate plans for this.

[benzonline]

Originally posted by adamsry
Im having brain do do

but easy check to see if you have Bose or not is to go in your trunk and look at where the rear deck speakers are if you see magnets you have a Bose system if you can see the speaker diaphragm then you have the stock crap crap system.

You can also call the dealer with your vin and check to see if it was in the car when it was new. Most c280's were std with bose but the 230 was more of an upgrade at time of purchase.

Some Bose benzes are bagged others not. 1994, 1995 Bose was STD 1996 and un bagged, it became optional and then it was bagged with Bose in the c class on your rear deck speaker covers, then it is a crap shoot as to wether or not you got the badging. in 1999 and 2000 vehicles that came std with Bose 280's there was no badging but all AMG models got it.

Call it cutting cost. mercedes has to pay Bose for the logos so... many cars did not get the badging for this reason typically the loaded models had it. Other models it is questionable.

Sorry for my rant of useless knowledge done too much research on this.

Needless to say i got a JVC unit with color change display to match interior lighting but that went in analog bose car"1994 c280". When i retrofitted the bose in a digital car " 2000" compressor i used an analog system as it was easer and required less work for rigging it in.

Ah So this is how the badging worked? Mine had NO badges until months later when cleaning the trunk I happened to look at the rear deck speakers underneath and there was bose sticker on the magnets/cover.

[DirectLA]

I just realized that the now-obsolete trunk changer has 6 of my CD's still in it and since it is no longer powered I can't release the cartridge as normal. I already took it out of the car to look for a manual release of some sort, does anyone have advice on how to do this? I know many computers, etc., have a pinhole for this purpose.

[Logic]

with most changers even o.e.m some times you can release the magazine by pushing something flat underneath the magizine . most changers has a clip that locks it in and well sliding something really thin unerneath it will disengage it from the changer. it is usually under it or bottom where you slide the magizine. hope this helps