Mercedes Benz ML 350 Overhead Installation

 I recently had the pleasure of installing an overhead LCD/DVD player in a new 2013 Mercedes Benz with a sunroof. Not to much different from any other vehicle with a sunroof, just had to really pay attention to details.   

I placed the overhead up to the headliner, to get an idea of where it would look and function the best. Once I had an idea of where I wanted it, I checked for clearance by dropping the driver side of the headliner. I then placed the metal mounting plate in the center of the chosen location, and double checked my measurements.

Once I had it centered, I traced it onto the headliner.

Time to cut the headliner, I slowly cut the piece of the headliner out with a razor.

(Always make sure the sun roof and sun shade are in the closed position!)

Once the piece was cut and removed, I checked for proper fitment.

The back of the overhead mounting plate will be secured to the roofs re-enforcement bracket that runs across the roof of the vehicle. The front will be supported by the headliner.

I riveted a piece of ABS plastic to the front egde of the metal mounting plate. This piece of ABS will rest on the top side of the headliner so when the overhead LCD/DVD player is mounted to this plate the headliner will be sandwiched in-between.

The dome light is a positive trigger system.

Constant 12 Volt - Pink/Black

Positive Dome Light Trigger - Gray/Black

Ground - Brown

On the back of the center consul there should be a power outlet that is switched power. 

That's where I tapped into switched power.

I used short steel rivets to secure the back side of the mounting plate to the vehicles re-enforcement braket. I had a little less then 1/4th inch to work with and using screws was just to risky. 

One other thing you must be carful with is where you run your wires, I ran mine in the little channel of space I had between the headliner and the re-enforcement braket that runs across the roof. If you don't run your wires properly you will get marks/scratches on the sun shade. 

Once I had my wires run and mounting plate secured, I mounted the overhead and tripple checked clearance. 

It was a tight fit but came out perfect!

Car Audio Tips

Jeremy

Overhead DVD Player In Chevy Traverse

I recently did an Alpine overhead DVD player/monitor in a 2012 Chevy Traverse. It was a very simple straight forward install. If you're getting ready to install an overhead in one of these, you will probably have it in and out in about an hour.  

I always clean and check the roof of the vehicle prior to beginning the installation, just to make sure there isn't any unknown damage to the roof because lets be realistic, who really pays attention to the outside roof of there SUV. But you better believe after the install, the owner will be up there with a microscope! lol. 

You will first need to remove the dome light. The side facing the front of the vehicle has several plastic tabs, if you try to pry on this side you will break the tabs off. 

There will be four clips holding the dome light into place, two on the top and two on the side facing the back of the vehicle.

 Once you got the dome light removed, you will see the top roof support. This is what you want to mount your overhead to.

Once I had the wiring done, which was just tapping into the positive dome light wire, 12 volt constant and wiring a relay using the brown "Accessory" under the steering column. I secured the mounting plate to the roof support with several screws. I recommend starting the screws with a small drill or screw gun, and slowly tightening then by hand, Always tripple check the size of the screws being used, make sure they are not long enough to go into your roof support and threw the thin metal that makes up the roof of the vehicle!   

Once the screws are properly tightened I normally put a strips of ducktape over the screws to help hold then in place. 

Once you connect your wire harnesses and mount the over head to the mounting plate, your pretty much done.  

I always check for full functionality of the overhead, dome lights, FM modulator if equipped as well as testing all wireless headphones. 

Jeremy's Car Audio Tips

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