Amplifiers
The subs would produce nothing special without the MTX amps Johnson mounted into the rear side panels. After removing the panels, he split them into two pieces and mounted the amps with aluminum brackets into the factory holes. "The upper half was cut out and a new trim panel was fabricated to flush up to the amplifiers," Johnson relates. As with the C-pillars, it was dyed to match and the panel was wrapped in vinyl. The MTX TE602 amplifier runs the two 10" T5510-44 subwoofers up front; the TE1501 monoblck fuels the 15" T9515-44 subwoofer; and the 4-channel TE1004 runs the TCX6.1 and TCX4.1 speakers. They all get plenty of juice thanks to Streetwires cable (which was used throughout the install) running from two Optima YellowTop batteries. The audio and video experience combined is superior to most home theater setups, especially considering most people's idea of home entertainment is nothing more than home-theater-in-a-box. This R550 is altogether a different kind of box that offers a different kind of multimedia experience at highway speeds.
Floor
With such a large picture, viewers have to sit a way back to see it all. On top of that, the TV wall required some floor space. This necessitated removing the middle row of seats, which left Johnson with an uneven floor surface. "To keep with the high-end theme of the R550, a new flat floor was built out of two layers of 3/4" MDF and mounted to the car with 4040 adhesive," Johnson explains. Perhaps more than the TV, this part of the customization may be the highlight of the install. The high-end ber-limo look is achieved by making sections of the floor cut out of hardwood, which match the shape of the new base floor underneath. Custom-molded fiberglass wrapped in more matching vinyl trims the new floor out.
Tech
Paint: BASF Flint Mica Gray and
Sunset Orange by South County Autobody
Wheels: NC Forged three-piece six-spoke 24" x 11"
Tires: 275/35/24 Toyo
Brakes: AMG calipers
Suspension: H&R Springs
Exhaust: MIM custom dual exhaust
Body Kit: Custom MIM and 3D carbon-fender vents
Installer
Peter Johnson
Shawn Bennett
Shop
Image Audio Designs
Orange, CA