---
title: Beatbox Blackbird Installation (page 2/4)
description: "Part 2/4: how to prepare your van before installing the Beatbox Blackbird stereo."
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# Beatbox Blackbird Installation (page 2/4)

## How to prepare your van before installing the stereo.

**Return to to previous page: [Unpacking/Prep (page 1/4)](https://customers.roamrig.com/knowledge/blackbird-installation?hsLang=en)**

---

### Pages

1. [Unpacking/Prep](https://customers.roamrig.com/knowledge/blackbird-installation?hsLang=en)
2. Disassemble Van, Prep for Installation
3. [Installation](https://customers.roamrig.com/knowledge/beatbox-blackbird-installation-page3?hsLang=en)
4. [Testing/Configuring, Orientation/Use](https://customers.roamrig.com/knowledge/beatbox-blackbird-installation-page4?hsLang=en)

---

### **Disassemble Van, Prep for Installation**

This is page 2 of 4 of the Beatbox installation instructions. View other pages:

[Page 1](https://customers.roamrig.com/knowledge/blackbird-installation?hsLang=en) • Page 2 • [Page 3](https://customers.roamrig.com/knowledge/beatbox-blackbird-installation-page3?hsLang=en) • [Page 4](https://customers.roamrig.com/knowledge/beatbox-blackbird-installation-page4?hsLang=en)

1. **Things to check before starting** 
     1. Check if the power port is 12V all the time or not. If you have an auxiliary battery under the hood or under the pass seat, this is likely to be 12V all the time. If it is 12V all the time, you will have to use the key on (second key press) on EK1 to trigger the Beatbox to turn on.
        
        <iframe height="360" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hVr6NaHrgJ28HsurHW7pwWvfxatKq2It/preview" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" width="640" data-mce-src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hVr6NaHrgJ28HsurHW7pwWvfxatKq2It/preview" data-mce-style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>
     2. If you do not have factory OEM swivels with short seat bases, you will need to use spacers to keep the Beatbox secure. How to work with OEM tall seat bases with stock non swivel seats or aftermarket swivels.
        
        <iframe height="360" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hlFCXsljYo0OHg1ujWwLrGQIWkKyCRjL/preview" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" width="640" data-mce-src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hlFCXsljYo0OHg1ujWwLrGQIWkKyCRjL/preview" data-mce-style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>
2. **Disconnect chassis battery, aux battery, and confirm that you do not have 12V on anything in the Mercedes systems** or you can set an airbag code when you remove the seats 
   
   <iframe height="360" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HC6RBwfi-Iw8YGjwhTTurVMIbmFu-9gB/preview" width="640" data-mce-src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HC6RBwfi-Iw8YGjwhTTurVMIbmFu-9gB/preview" data-mce-style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>
3. **Remove seats** 
   
   <iframe height="360" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iI8zHkWbO7F2KFwwBDR63arZDIzfEh5z/preview" width="640" data-mce-src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iI8zHkWbO7F2KFwwBDR63arZDIzfEh5z/preview" data-mce-style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>
4. **Remove stock floor mats** 
   
   <iframe height="360" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pHRwvlrQc6FGdls2LprwdOTyObCgYv9R/preview" width="640" data-mce-src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pHRwvlrQc6FGdls2LprwdOTyObCgYv9R/preview" data-mce-style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>
5. **Remove cover over fuse panel in passenger floor** 
   
   <iframe height="360" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Sx9DGJgtsvgqgYwc8MtHJcm3dTOSuExE/preview" width="640" data-mce-src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Sx9DGJgtsvgqgYwc8MtHJcm3dTOSuExE/preview" data-mce-style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>
6. **Taking covers off wires and getting prepped** 
     1. The OEM chassis battery cover, black metal wire cover, lower portion of the center console stack, and white plastic wire cover will need to be removed. You will need to unbolt the driver’s seat base to remove the white plastic wire cover. 
        
        <iframe height="360" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HZNx1uYjXyFio_Kr7QgMs4cS2zb904aa/preview" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" width="640" data-mce-src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HZNx1uYjXyFio_Kr7QgMs4cS2zb904aa/preview" data-mce-style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>
     2. After removing parts, what came out
        
        <iframe height="360" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Xw3bP1qKcF93uo4cOQPPqXxBqqdeGbmO/preview" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" width="640" data-mce-src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Xw3bP1qKcF93uo4cOQPPqXxBqqdeGbmO/preview" data-mce-style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>
7. **Remove cup holders.** This can take quite a bit of force to get them to “pop” out. Be careful using a pry tool (if you choose to use one) so that you do not damage any of the plastic pieces.
   
   <iframe height="360" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S-dSe79IzpVTpKSy6jA8xh20XM0A8F-u/preview" width="640" data-mce-src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S-dSe79IzpVTpKSy6jA8xh20XM0A8F-u/preview" data-mce-style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>
8. **Driver’s seat and prep** 
     1. Here’s an orientation video of everything under the driver’s seat
        
        <iframe height="360" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QmWclrNPWBT1TTxG1CoATqj0dr6-jDoA/preview" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" width="640" data-mce-src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QmWclrNPWBT1TTxG1CoATqj0dr6-jDoA/preview" data-mce-style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>
     2. With the driver’s seat disassembled, here’s the bus bar that we will be taking power from 
        
        <iframe height="360" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G6r0yTZdIUWfKH-XfDOE0Vx-JVQkNvmx/preview" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" width="640" data-mce-src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G6r0yTZdIUWfKH-XfDOE0Vx-JVQkNvmx/preview" data-mce-style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>
     3. Here’s the ground connections you can use under the driver’s seat 
        
        <iframe height="360" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hw1zYtCBpUnTM8h7ic6G7FqpN-ClqqQA/preview" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" width="640" data-mce-src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hw1zYtCBpUnTM8h7ic6G7FqpN-ClqqQA/preview" data-mce-style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>
9. **Remove door panels** 
     1. Use a variety of picks and torx bits to remove all the covers and screws on the door panels. The plastic “screws” on the bottom are not screws and you can use a pick to pull the center part out before removing the outer portion of the clip like shown in the video. 
        
        <iframe height="360" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aXr4Dbvupgmk5HTemLgIptdOr_LD6onh/preview" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" width="640" data-mce-src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aXr4Dbvupgmk5HTemLgIptdOr_LD6onh/preview" data-mce-style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>
     2. Disconnect wires and latch cable before removing the door panel. Make sure you do NOT break the white plastic door latch cable retainer when unclipping it from the door latch cable. 
        
        <iframe height="360" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1V0gSHybUmcHMhzHNNtaSuXFMxqzjMu7J/preview" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" width="640" data-mce-src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1V0gSHybUmcHMhzHNNtaSuXFMxqzjMu7J/preview" data-mce-style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>
     3. Remove any clips that stayed in the door and put them back on the door panel. Replace broken clips with new clips included in the Beatbox kit. 
        
        <iframe height="360" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dAglW-hSvcM3elnL3yKkrqBiQpQKwqpy/preview" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" width="640" data-mce-src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dAglW-hSvcM3elnL3yKkrqBiQpQKwqpy/preview" data-mce-style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>
     4. Remove the rubber boots between the doors and door frames. Use picks to manipulate the clips on the plastic rings to pop the rings out of the door and frame so they can be placed back in the rubber boot. 
        
        <iframe height="360" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CsKvlNbn2xqLZeJCvq2UgIKsl0E--O6u/preview" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" width="640" data-mce-src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CsKvlNbn2xqLZeJCvq2UgIKsl0E--O6u/preview" data-mce-style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>

1. **Install sub knob** 
     1. Prep the subwoofer adjuster knob included in the kit by removing the metal bracket from it 
        
        <iframe height="360" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WFKVy-yUkUO49r5HqzzOPXpPn_hcqqHA/preview" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" width="640" data-mce-src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WFKVy-yUkUO49r5HqzzOPXpPn_hcqqHA/preview" data-mce-style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>
     2. Drill a 9/32 or 5/16” hole below the cupholders, centered, and roughly 1-1.5” back from the front as shown in the video.
        
        <iframe height="360" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j0ZWZm9PBfeyb1eyto8IKwsEOvfQnRjk/preview" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" width="640" data-mce-src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j0ZWZm9PBfeyb1eyto8IKwsEOvfQnRjk/preview" data-mce-style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>
     3. Install the subwoofer adjuster knob and HAND TIGHTEN the nut. Do not over torque this. Make sure the connector for the wire on top is accessible from the top to connect the adjuster knob wire in a later step.
        
        <iframe height="360" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vDyeBtV-hNYxVeSz4w3dqNyNm7gZ7qBD/preview" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" width="640" data-mce-src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vDyeBtV-hNYxVeSz4w3dqNyNm7gZ7qBD/preview" data-mce-style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>

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