The stereo in my 1998 C280 display is gone due to the common ghosting issue with the stock deck. I would like to replace the stock deck, but keep getting different answers from Crutchfield, Best Buy and Circuit City. I've also read this forum until my eye's turned red, but can't seem to get a confirmed answer.

To date the best informatoin appears to be coming from Crutchfield. According to the sales rep I can purchase a new head unit, purchase the VW adapter, and buy an additional adapter to allow me to connect to the stock BOSE amp (and thus speakers). However, there is another line of thinking that I must bypass the existing amp, rewiring the entire system and probably buy new amps.

I don't have a lot of money to burn so I don't want to rewire the entire system.

Does anyone know if Crutchfield is correct? Suggestions?

-Ed

 

You'll run into nothing but problems and poor quality sound. Do enough pushing and poking and you'll get something to work but you won't be happy. Bose systems are proprietary. They're designed to not work with anything else and they're really good at it. The best thing to do to a Bose system is to trash it and start over. You'll need a head unit, amp(s), and speakers.

 

You may want to price an entire new system against an OEM head unit replacement. A head unit through an M-B dealership would be expensive, but probably less than an entire new aftermarket system.

 

Lugnut is right, when you start mixing and matching Bose and non-Bose stereo equipment in a benz it will get pretty ugly pretty quickly.

Everything has a matched impedance, that is very hard to match with non-Bose equipment. You may get it to work, but due to the mis-matching of the electronics, you'll probably end up blowing the speakers and or the amp anyway.

Start from scratch or search around for a used (or replacement) Bose stereo that will do the trick for you.

hope this helps

 

well...so much for new technology. I guess I'm off to the used stereo market. Thanks guys for your input.

 

What kind of new head unit do you want? You can get an in-dash cd player by Mercedes at www.perfectmarketaudio.com. No adaptors necessary!

 

Found a matching replacement stereo on eBAY for $39 (delivered) + $7 for the removal keys. It came with the security code...took out the old one and had the new one working in 10 minutes. I'm back Rockin'.

Thanks again for the advice.

 

Either get an stock MB deck on ebay for cheap or just buy an aftermarket.

Get the VW adapter and wire up an after market.

From experience i have wired of ALpine/clarion/Nakamichi decks up to BOSE c-class all the time, sounds fine.........

 

You can do what you are looking to do. Just dig a little more. You will not blow your speakers because of puting an aftermarket stereo in. I did. Works just fine with bose and even added another amp and subs. I went with Kenwood. Find your favorite deck and go with it. The sound is better +1000 even and has a nice good thump to it.