ICE install advice needed

[gchild]

Hi,

1st post...

I have a c280 with fixed rear seats. i am planning to install JL Audio amps (300/2 & 500/1).

where is the best (and safest) place to mount these?

I'm thinking behind the rear seats, but the plastic panel doesn't seam strong enough to hold them. Is this panel removeable, and can amps be mounted directly onto the metal or the fixed back seats?

Any other mounting suggestions would be appreciated. The rest of the install is more or less complete!

Also, is there a way to remove to the rear speakers without taking the shelf out?

[1995c280]

Originally posted by gchild
Hi,

1st post...

I have a c280 with fixed rear seats. i am planning to install JL Audio amps (300/2 & 500/1).

where is the best (and safest) place to mount these?

I'm thinking behind the rear seats, but the plastic panel doesn't seam strong enough to hold them. Is this panel removeable, and can amps be mounted directly onto the metal or the fixed back seats?

Any other mounting suggestions would be appreciated. The rest of the install is more or less complete!

Also, is there a way to remove to the rear speakers without taking the shelf out?

the black plastic panel isn't hell on by anything really. just pull back from the center. it's only held by two tabs that slide into the rear of the seat and then the side carpet holds the side. no screws or anything hold it. i mounted my orion 1200D on the rear deck (bottom side inside trunk). then i removed my rear speakers to port the cabin since i have a ported box and also to vent my amp. it has never overheated on me and never get hot

with the rear speakers, you need to remove the the rear deck, rear seat bottom and back portion, and the c pillars. you can take out the first aid kit and then squeeze the speakers out from there but it is kinda difficult and i suggest to remove everything and do it the right way. it doens't take that long, maybe a hour max if it's your first time doin it!

check out my site to see pics of the system install!!!
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2333589

Jason

[NEA-4311]

Just click out the panels behind the rear headrests and that will reveal the speakers. Use a short + screwdriver and take the speaker screws out. Dont touch the seats. Check my ICE install in the thread Greek merC (use link in my signature below) as an idea of what to do if you want. The W202 is one of the few series that do not have the tank behind the rear couch's back so a subwoofer will do its work no prob. There is a pic and some short info. The rear plastic cover is removable, you can then mount the amps no problem.

[illusionaryline]

hey, i removed the plastic backing and fabricated a backing plate, a peice of MDF covered in carpet to match the boot colour, then used two screws to attach it, and then mounted amps on that, much easier, looks alot cleaner and means easy to hide cables. speakers are easy to get out with a screw driver no need to take out seats.

[pnsji]

You could also mount it upsidedown on the rear deck. I mount a very heavy amp on a C43 rear deck and it works well.

[gchild]

I thought about mounting the amps upside on the underside of the rear shelf, but seams like there isn't enough flat space for two amps. have you just used self-tapping screws to hold them up there or something more substantial? was the rear bulkhead easy to drill into?

[pnsji]

I take out the rear deck and then have the bolt and nut system installed.
Otherwise, you can build an amp rack and stick it on the back of rear seat.

[1995c280]

that's how i mounted on my rear deck...upside down. i like it. i removed the rear deck, took out all speakers. then i used aluminum spacers with rubber o-rings on each end. placed them between the amp and the rear deck so no vibration occurs. then drilled out 4 holes stuck some screws in and double nutted on the other side for added protection. spacers and o-rings can be bought at any harware store for like 5 bucks total!

look at my pics on my cardomain

Jason

[Brabus]

The rear deck is strong. I use to have a free floating setup that we even cut the hole to port into the cabin. It was very strudy.

[gchild]

ok,

amps are now mounted on a board bolted to the back of the seats.

seats were easy to take out but ran into a couple other problems:

1. how do you get the headrests out? i followed the haynes instructions but no joy no matter how much i moved the 'little black clips'

2. other than grounding back to the battery, is there a more suitable place towards the rear of the trunk to use?

cheers

[NEA-4311]

Why do you need to take the headrests out? and dude there is no better place to ground than the battery!!! Shouldnt it be better to get some pro help? This stuff might set yr car on fire and im not joking.

[Proven Guilty]

i've never grounded to the battery. rule of thumb is to keep the ground for the amp 12 inches or less in length as well. be sure you've got a fuse between the amp and the battery as well, even if the amp itself has a fuse / protection circuit

[rman]

Originally posted by Proven Guilty
i've never grounded to the battery. rule of thumb is to keep the ground for the amp 12 inches or less in length as well. be sure you've got a fuse between the amp and the battery as well, even if the amp itself has a fuse / protection circuit

i've never grounded to the battery either, i've always grounded to the chassis or frame of a vehicle

Are there any cons to grounding to the batt? Is it safe? I don't see why it wouldn't be

[gchild]

grounding to the battery can cause ground loop noise, hence people avoid it. i've grounded to the chassis, but had no noise with either option.

head rests need to some out, in order to get the shelf out to remove the rear speakers to let more bass into the cabin.

[harryt]

Well I tried to ground to the chasis.... didn't seem to work for me. Is there a certain spot you placed the ground wire?

Right now I have it going to the battery and I have perfect sound. I also have a fuse in the amp and a fuse on the + terminal of the battery.

Someone told me that it wouldn't be safe to place the ground to the - terminal. Although I had no problems etc... so far.

[rman]

Originally posted by harryt
Well I tried to ground to the chasis.... didn't seem to work for me. Is there a certain spot you placed the ground wire?

Right now I have it going to the battery and I have perfect sound. I also have a fuse in the amp and a fuse on the + terminal of the battery.

Someone told me that it wouldn't be safe to place the ground to the - terminal. Although I had no problems etc... so far.

i've had MANY systems, in many cars, and have never groudned to the batt.
But since i am broke as a joke, and can't afford new wiring :( , i gournded to the batt in my 202. Works just fine.

[harryt]

so basically your saying, if I have extra wire... go for the body. Otherwise go for the - terminal and it will still be safe?

Someone earlier told me, it might kill my battery if there was a spark.

[Proven Guilty]

i always ground to the chassis. just as a rule of thumb, try to keep the ground wire less than 12 inches in total length, and where you decide to ground out to, just make sure you've got a clean contact with the surface (scratch the paint off with a grinding wheel works best, and you can spray rustoleum over it if you're concerned about the bare exposed metal).

good luck w/ the install :)

[gchild]

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-10/1092738/jl.jpg

I've circled the point where i grounded my amps. There is a convenient hole that you can get a bolt through. You will have to sand some of the surface to get a good clean contact.

[Proven Guilty]

for the love of god, clean up that wiring g! lol

[harryt]

gchild. where exactly is that hole. Is that at the side where the rear lights would be?

Also what if the ground wire is more than 12 inches?

[gchild]

Originally posted by Proven Guilty
for the love of god, clean up that wiring g! lol

Yeah i know. Basically was all wired up to get it up and running. Wires are to be hidden behind the black panel you see in the pic!!!

[gchild]

Originally posted by harryt
gchild. where exactly is that hole. Is that at the side where the rear lights would be?

Also what if the ground wire is more than 12 inches?

Ground wire should be short, but doesn't really make much difference IMO. I originally grounded back to the battery with two long runs for each amp. The spot i use now was convenient.

The hole is behind the rear seats, at the top. Slid a bolt through it. The black plastic pannel was removed and a new MDF panel made which also was bolted to behind the rear seats.