2004 mercedes ml 500 radio swap
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=101297
Printed Date: July 17, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Topic: 2004 mercedes ml 500 radio swap
Posted By: gags
Subject: 2004 mercedes ml 500 radio swap
Date Posted: January 17, 2008 at 8:13 PM
Working on a 2004 Mercedes ML 500 with OEM Bose system, no nav . Wanting to replace the factory head with a Kenwood DD Nav unit. I beleive this radio has fiber optical wiring. Has anyone tried to change the head unit with any success?
Replies:
Posted By: StealthEs
Date Posted: January 17, 2008 at 8:50 PM
I've done MB with fiber optics feeding into the head unit. All you have to do is find the amp, you'll have wires going to each speakers. I'll check tomorrow at work to see if I have any notes one where the amp might be.
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Cris
Posted By: StealthEs
Date Posted: January 17, 2008 at 8:52 PM
Actually thinking about it I just did an 2004 ML430. The amp was located under the drivers dash to the left of the steering wheel high up on the firewall. Look up my post, I listed the wire color going to each speaker.
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Cris
Posted By: gags
Date Posted: January 17, 2008 at 9:35 PM
Hey thanx !...that would come in handy for sure!!!!
Posted By: gags
Date Posted: January 17, 2008 at 9:37 PM
Did you replace the bose speakers as well?
Posted By: StealthEs
Date Posted: January 18, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Heres what I have. The one I did was a 2002. | Radio 12V | RED / black | + | radio harness | | Radio Ground | brown | - | radio harness | | Radio Ignition | (CAN data bus) |  | | | On models with the amplifier, the LF woofer speaker wires are blue (+) - blue/black (-). The center channel speaker wires are gray/black (+) - gray (-). |
| | On models with the amplifier, the RF woofer speaker wires are brown (+) - BROWN / black (-). |
| | On models with the amplifier, the LR surround speaker wires are black (+) - white (-). |
| | On models with the amplifier, the RR surround speaker wires are black (+) - orange (-). The subwoofer speakers wires are BLACK/ white (+) - gray/white (-) and WHITE/ blue (+) - green (-). |
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------------- Cris
Posted By: gags
Date Posted: January 18, 2008 at 4:14 PM
Ok...thanx for the info...I'll let you know what I find!
Posted By: StealthEs
Date Posted: January 21, 2008 at 12:26 PM
Any updates? I have my customer coming back soon to get bluetooth add to the D3. I'll make sure to take pictures to update my post. Really came out nice, only downside is the unit stuck out less then a 1/4", customer loved the way it came out.
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Cris
Posted By: gags
Date Posted: January 21, 2008 at 1:21 PM
NO updates yet...customer is booked in next week for the install. Did you replace the bose speakers?
Posted By: StealthEs
Date Posted: January 21, 2008 at 1:32 PM
No, customer didnt want to replace if he didnt absolutely have to. Only real down fall was he lost the sub which he was fine with. Kinda an older guy so if was find lossing some bass.
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Cris
Posted By: gags
Date Posted: January 21, 2008 at 5:06 PM
So you kept the Bose speakers in place? Did you bypass the amplifier?
Posted By: StealthEs
Date Posted: January 21, 2008 at 6:14 PM
Yes, the amp on the one I did was to the left of the steering wheel hight up on the dash. The wire colors are in that PM I sent you.
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Cris
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