[R129 SL] speakers

[Rob Vonderhaar]

Yes, you do need to pull the door panel. It's really not too difficult with those instructions and photos to guide you. At that point, the entire midrange/tweeter assembly comes out with three screws. Assuming you have the Bose system, you'll need an exact replacement. I don't know if MB even stocks these anymore, but even if they do, I'm sure they're obscenely expensive. Personally, I'd try to source one from eBay or a salvage yard.  From what I saw with my own Bose speakers, the problem is that water and/or humidity gets down into the door and ruins the speakers - not to mention horrendous heat and cold.  These are typical Bose: El-cheapo paper cones that could never be expected to stand up well to the conditions inside a car door. My midrange speaker (the larger of the two) is all warped and water-stained, but as long as it continues to work and sound good I'm just going to leave it be.

If it's any consolation, I also own a 2005 R230 SL. It too has a Bose setup, but I think the sound in my '95 R129 is much better than in the new one. It took me over a month to even figure out that the R230 *has* any rear speakers, because unlike the R129, the level is so low you can't even hear them (and of course the fader is deactivated just as it is in the R129). Also, in the R230 the low-frequency module (even Bose can't bring itself to call it a "subwoofer") has moved from the compartment behind the driver's seat to under the dash above the passenger's knees where it definitely doesn't work as well. But at least with the new 2009 SL, a Harman-Kardon surround speaker system finally replaces the Bose!

    Rob

-----Original Message-----
From: r129list-bounces at mbcoupes.com [mailto:r129list-bounces at mbcoupes.com] On Behalf Of william hughes
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 2:09 PM
To: r129list at mbcoupes.com
Subject: [R129 SL] speakers

seem to have a partially blown speaker in the driver's side door.
do i need to follow the panel removal procedure to access the speakers?
where is the best place to get a replacement?
thanks,
bill
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