Mercedes Vito Owners…. Stereo Upgrade Advice

Just purchased a vito sport and the bog standard stereo is a bit weak. Any idea on what I can do to upgrade it? I would prefer to keep the original head unit so it still works with the steering wheel controls but was thinking upgraded door speakers and a good amp? Anyone upgraded their unit?

Upgrade speakers and wiring to them. Amp would be good if the standard head unit has pre outs. Id look at replacing the headunit with a alpine or similar with the additional magic box that makes it work with your steering controls. These dont usually come cheap though.

Thanks mate. I’ve got a really good Alpine unit with all the necessary outputs etc but was worried it wouldn’t operate the steering controls. If there’s a magic box of tricks that would allow that, that is awesome. its been many many years since I bought speakers for a car and I’m not sure of what are the makes to look out for. Budget isn’t an option as I really do like my music to sound good.

I went a bit OTT on mine.
Alpine head unit.
Amp in the back, under the ‘overhang’ being the seat at the bottom of the bulkhead.
Speakers on custom made plywood baffles, door cards trimmed to clear and drilled out the little ‘dots’ on the tweeter grill. I used 5 1/4 speakers but think 6 1/2’s could fit.
Fully deadened the doors, outer skin and inner, as well as sealing them to make the doors into an enclosure.
Sub.

Sounds excellent, but tweeters in the A pillars would be better.

The sound alignment thing on Alpine, just using the phone app, made a good improvement on the stereo image as speakers are placed wide and low.

How far do you want to go and how much you got? I did mine for about £600 but that was DIY with a big discount on the Vibe amp, deal on Hertz speakers and 2nd hand sub.

I’d say start with fitting an amp, then add well installed door speakers and damping.

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/v-class/#/forumsite/20548/topics/1937682

Alpine kit.
You could go nuts.

Just about to embark on this myself. Was thinking of an alpine head unit and small active sub under the seat for starters

Infinity Kappa speakers have always been excellent. Amps? Out of touch with what’s good these days.

Please be aware that placing a subwoofer under the passenger seat has been noted to turn the mrs into lassie

*stolen from the t5 forum

If budget is no issue then Genesis amps are pretty good, plus they look awesome! (Also a UK company)

Mine has a solid tailgate so also just bought one of these:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CCD-Color-Car-Rear-View-Reverse-Parking-HD-Camera-for-Mercedes-Benz-Vito-Viano/271763829885?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3Ddfd6d7eccaf147ca9fa9a2d5e374b319%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D400812358429&rt=nc

When it turns up I’m going for a nice new double din head unit with video in!

No space under the passenger seat on my 2006 111, battery and fuse box is under there. Drivers seat box could be converted, but upgrading my door speakers gave loads more punch, bottom end and far better clarity. I’d do sub last over stocks components.

I’ve managed to find a really decent mobile car audio specialist. He’s installing an alpine double din unit, Hertz components in the doors and a small sub under the middle passenger seat. It will work nicely with the steering wheel controls too.

Warning. Don’t go too mad on the subs, you’ll just shake all the rust loose!

Don’t worry, it’s only a small sub (plus there’s no rust on my Vito)

Ha, no rust on a Vito…

There’ll be rust!

😀

I Kept the door speakers in mine, they are actually quite good. You would have to spend alot to really improve. I fitted an Alpine head unit also which improved things straight away. Stuck an Focal active sub under the centre seat. and that is more than enough . for me.

I was toying with just replacing the head unit first but the guy gave a reasonable quote for new speakers etc so decided to just get it all done. The Sound is so bad at the moment I was kinda desperate to get change it asap

My Vito, bought new, had rust within a year. It went back 4 times under warranty with rust problems. Sold it after 4 years with rust on it (under the plastic trims I bought to cover it!)

Oh, before T5 owners jump on the band wagon, my previous van, a T5 had rust on it when I sold it when it was less than 3 years old.

Thread ressurrection! Finally decided that my 2008 vito with 196k on it wasnt going to blow up tomorrow so fitted a new head unit. Sony MEX6001, DAB, phone etc. Sounds pretty good

Massive upgrade on the standard sound5 unit

I had the chaps come out and fit an Alpine Double Din, focal speakers in the doors and an underseat subwoofer. Sounds bang tidy now

Underseat subwoofer is next i think. Halfords do a flatish one for £120 that ive got me eye on