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rear speaker grilles

Started by s class, 03 September 2010, 06:13 AM

TJ 450

Colour coded grilles would be unusual, I've only seen the black ones on cars in Australia.

Tim
1976 450SEL 6.9 1432
1969 300SEL 6.3 1394
2003 ML500

floyd111

I know the EPC-black thing, but I found and bought a pair of creme ones a year or so ago, from Germany. Never solved that mystery, but they weren't sprayed, and identical to the black ones.

Squiggle Dog

I believe I have them in black, beige, and blue. Maybe other colors.
Stop paying for animal cruelty and slaughter. Go vegan! [url="https://challenge22.com/"]https://challenge22.com/[/url]

1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Heated Seats, 350,000+

tcj

Hi,

the W107 and W123 (from 82 I think) hat coloured speaker grilles, not so the w116.

rgds
Thomas
112.021
113.042
116.028
116.036

floyd111

That seems to be the accepted theory, but it's a persistent thing to be finding in W116's as well.

PvG73

Thanks for the replies. I've tracked down some new old stock black ones so will fit those. Now to work out how to remove the deep indentations in the parcel shelf carpet left by the bad 1980s square covers on there at the moment.

Type17

I can also confirm that there are/were green ones - my car didn't come with them (had ugly UK-made square-ish things fitted at the dealer) but, when I was in Techno-Classica in Essen in 2014, I got to ask the guy who runs Koenig's Classic Radios if he had green ones, and he said that he had a new old-stock pair in his attic, and would bring them the next day, which he did.


I presume that MB had them in all of the colours of the interiors at one stage, but that you'll only get black these days, unless you can find them NOS or used.
'76 350SE in Silver-Green

UTn_boy

Old thread, I know.  However, I felt it necessary to try to clear up confusion on this subject matter.  Type17, yes, there were colored rear speaker grills, but not for W116.  Colored speaker grills weren't available until September of 1982, and were meant only for the W123 and R107.  It just so happens that both the black speaker grills and the colored ones are the same grill as far size and shape goes.  That's why the fella at the car show had green ones that fit your car.......but I doubt very seriously that he knew a colored speaker grill is incorrect for any pre 9/82 car. 

For further proof, please see pictures below.  These are foot notes from EPC, and the same foot notes are also listed in the factory W116 parts books, as well as the microfiche.  Hopefully this will relieve any doubts as far as what's correct and what isn't.

1966 250se coupe`,black/dark green leather
1970 600 midnight blue/parchment leather
1971 300sel 6.3,papyrus white/dark red leather
1975 450se, pine green metallic/green leather
1973 300sel 4.5,silver blue metallic/blue leather
1979 450sel 516 red/bamboo

marku

I haven't seen that on the EPC. I have been trying to figure out the wiring for the speakers as mine never had a radio until one owner put in a large multiple speaker system which really confused things with a mass of real amateur wiring. Never thought to look should have occurred to me - thanks.
1974 450SE silver green/bamboo velour/green vinyl roof

floyd111

#24
So the EPC says.. "Only available in black" To me, that sounds like the other colors used to be available, but now only black is left.
Where exactly did you get the pre-1982 facts from?
Just saw that W123 280CE had beige covers, and the car has been around since 1976

floyd111

Quote from: TJ 450 on 03 September 2010, 07:58 AM
I was under the impression that you couldn't get these from MB anymore. I could be wrong however.

Certainly, they are available here;

Link

As an aside, I highly recommend the Visaton range of speaker drivers for aftermarket replacements. They are a German company who have state-of-the art manufacturing facilities in China. I just got a pair of the 4" full range variety with whizzer cone for the 190E. Try getting them "off the shelf" these days. All you can get are poor quality generic two-ways that sound atrocious.

Tim

Looking forward to hearing some comparison statements there. I see them new for 7 usd, with a frequency from 100 to 30000hrtz. At least 2 numbers that that sentence are worrisome. 7usd is rock-bottom China cheap, and 100 hrtz is transistor radio level with no bass range at all. Sure, if you have not invested in any hifi yet, and just want the original Becker radio to produce 70's radio sound, that should be the correct outfit. Even though the W116 was high end, and ahead of it's time, it was never designed for anyone in need of high end audio. But, if you are one of those trying to invest in W116 hifi, with modern head seats, amps and /or bass, one can't be adding 7usd front speakers. There are better, costlier front speakers available, no doubt.. I think. I mentioned the Focals before. Haven't installed them yet, but they came widely recommended among audiophiles.

UTn_boy

Quote from: floyd111 on 21 November 2018, 04:51 PM
So the EPC says.. "Only available in black" To me, that sounds like the other colors used to be available, but now only black is left.
Where exactly did you get the pre-1982 facts from?
Just saw that W123 280CE had beige covers, and the car has been around since 1976

You're taking what it says the wrong way, Stan.  It's saying "only available in black" because that's all there was at the time for W116 cars, and when the colored ones came out they had to somehow let users know that the colored ones were not for the W116 (even though they could obviously be used in a W116)

I got the pre 1982 fact from EPC.  The information is in the W123 parts book, too. If you look up any W123 car and click on the speaker grill covering, there is a footnote that says "Up to 9/82 only black is available; from 9/82 attach color code according to interior equipment code". 

Whether a W123 is a CE, D, TD, gas or diesel, all W123 cars had black speaker grill coverings up to 9/82, and all W123 cars from 9/82 had colored ones.  (provided the car had a stereo radio and not a mono radio)  If a pre 9/82 W123 has colored speaker grills, then someone added them later.  We also have to remember that many people added a radio years later, and who's to say that the parts guy or the owner didn't inadvertently order colored speaker coverings?   No on would have been the wiser since they all fit. 
1966 250se coupe`,black/dark green leather
1970 600 midnight blue/parchment leather
1971 300sel 6.3,papyrus white/dark red leather
1975 450se, pine green metallic/green leather
1973 300sel 4.5,silver blue metallic/blue leather
1979 450sel 516 red/bamboo

floyd111


rumb

I just purchased a nos set on fleabay.
'68 250S
'77 6.9 Euro
'91 300SE,
'98 SL500
'14 CLS550,
'16 AMG GTS
'21 E450 Cabrio

UTn_boy

What color, Rumb?  I need a set of green ones for a late W123 I'm restoring.  I've a feeling it's going to be a challenge. 
1966 250se coupe`,black/dark green leather
1970 600 midnight blue/parchment leather
1971 300sel 6.3,papyrus white/dark red leather
1975 450se, pine green metallic/green leather
1973 300sel 4.5,silver blue metallic/blue leather
1979 450sel 516 red/bamboo