’04 Mercedes Benz C230, stereo

Ok So first of This is my first topic and post in the entire Forum.

To get things started. I am a Silver Certified Installer. And have little experience on actuall Cars, other thna middle to low end class cars. I have yet to work on a Mercedes and here I am at the local Sandwich shop and the guy asks me what my job is or if I just live around here... and then when he finds out I'm an Installer he asks if I can hook up a stereo In his car... I said I can do my best to try if your ok with being my first high end Car. He said If its cheaper yes.

Here's my dilema. He wants to keep the factory deck... not a problem, and he wants to keep the speakers hooked up to his factory deck, and add an amp and aftermarket deck right underneath it.... I said It shouldnt be that Hard all I need to know is what the wiring diagram is, and how exactly to remove the headunit.... and then he said Its a BOSE system.... and then I told myself in my head, SH** What am I gonna do. I told him if he wants to keep his orginal deck thats fine but when I found out it was bose I knew It was gonna be alot harder than I thought.... SO Heres what I need

Wiring Diagram

The "How To's" on how to take the headunit apart without taking 5 hours to get the deck out figuring out on my own

And If their is a way to incorporate his Bose system into 2 headunits the aftermarket and the factory

Any posts will help THANKS GUYS!

-Justin

Sure, anything's possible, but why?  What is the purpose of the aftermarket deck and amp if he's keeping the factory Bose system?  What are his goals?  Does he just want bass or what?  What does he plan on powering with the aftermarket amp- certainly not the Bose speakers?

Here are some options:

1. Add an amp to run a sub.

2. Add a deck to the factory system, and use several relays to isolate it from the factory deck.

3. Replace the factory deck.

4. Add a completely seperate system in addition to the factory setup (front speakers in custom kick panels, with a sub in back).

5. Any combination of the above.

I do not recommend using an aftermarket amp to run those factory speakers, as the equipment in the bose system is all supposedly "optimized" for proper performance.  Bose engineers eq curves into their amps to make their speakers perform to their best.  An aftermarket amp will not have these eq curves and trying to use it will not be worth it.  Plus, Bose many times uses low impedance speakers to squeeze the maximum amount of power from their amps (anywhere from 2 ohms (rarely 4 ohms) down to 1/2 ohm).  An aftermarket amp again may not handle these loads so well, and your THD (distortion) will be quite high, too.  There are other reasons, too, like where to cross everything over, but you get the idea.

My suggestion to you is to supply your new friend with some information so he can weigh his options and decide what he really wants.  It sounds like he may not be sure at this point, because he obviously doesn't know what all's involved.