Smart Car door speaker replacement

This video shows you how to replace the door speakers in a 2013 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive. Many videos show how to do it by pulling the door skins and replacing the speakers from the inside. In this video, I leave the door skins in place and remove the speakers from the front side. I then front mounted the new speakers.
One main advantage to doing the speaker replacements in this way is to allow for easy replacement the next time if I ever have to. The speakers do not take up much room compared to before. I did attempt to remove the door skins but couldn’t seem to make it happen. That also contributed to my final decision to front mount.

[@rudyvolkmann5355]

Did it all your way except I used the cut-off blade on my Dremel to remove the little tabs - used the same speakers and source you did - absolutely fabulous!

[@emailchrishall]

@@rudyvolkmann5355 That’s the smarter way to do it.

[@artfulldodger6355]

Thanks, great video. If you pry the grill edge with a flat head screw driver , it comes off in one piece. I used a Polk 5.25 inches speaker from a amazon and it had great sound. Took 45 minutes

[@SaibaKeiosu]

Hey mate! Just upgraded my Smart with these Fosgate speakers and with your 'destructive' method - Best hour i ever spent! They sound fantastic and now i got 4 tweeters haha Thanks for the video, champ!

[@emailchrishall]

That’s awesome!

[@antoninpetras9093]

Nice and gentle work..... I am going to use this method rather than panel removal.... 🤟

[@jamesfedex7160]

I just added some infinity reference speakers using this method. Thanks for providing this video. I was so appalled when I removed the stock speaker grill to find that the surrounds that connect the cone to the basket were completely disintegrated. Anyways, I can enjoy sound in the smart fortwo again.

[@elpatron8370]

This is a very good Video thank you 💪🏽👍🏽 greeting from Germany 🇩🇪

[@simsneon2]

I like your enthusiasm it’s just a little distracted for my taste I’m a mechanic of 23 years and I love Smart cars do you have a good day Friend thank you for the video though

[@randy3416]

Thank you very much for this video !! You have saved me so much time and headache ...now I have great sounding speakers❤️❤️

[@FaithElements]

What speakers did you use?

[@eduardvegner7325]

Danke dir! Das ist beste Methode was ich gesehen habe, dank dir spare ich viel Zeit! Danke 👍🤝

[@FaithElements]

Das ist großartig zu hören. Bitte. (Übersetzt über Google)

[@KerinGedge]

Great tutorial Chris, you're good at this stuff! You sure did show that factory speaker who's boss :p Don't forget to post this in Circle of KZbinrs!

[@emailchrishall]

Kerin Gedge Even did it one handed because I was holding my phone with the other. I should have used my GoPro and put it on my hat.

[@BigMac1]

That's great Chris, Thanks for doing that.

[@emailchrishall]

Ian McCormack Hope it helps.

[@HabibTheHeeb]

For the speaker wire what colors are the neg and pos?

[@railroadgrrl]

Oddly "rage room"satisfying to watch! 😂

[@xluxeq]

Ended up doing it this way with the Punch P16s, they take the regular sized flat spade terminals. The speakers easily just sit in the door before you screw them in too

[@emailchrishall]

@@xluxeq Nice!

[@jimbojerry596]

Thanks for the insight. I was worried when you started to rip at everything and cut the tabs, but from my reaearch, the only speakers that bolt to the inside is factory replacements, correct? I hate the idea of cutting the tabs and drilling self tappers into the door panel, but looks like this is the only option. Thanks for taking the time to show others sir

[@emailchrishall]

I think you are correct.

[@thiago_oliv]

I'm gonna try this in a few days. I had some trouble finding a speaker with grill in Brazil, but I could get a pair online and they're on their way to me.

[@jpsanch33]

Thanks! Doing mine this weekend!

[@emailchrishall]

Jesus Sanchez We’ll want to see pictures.

[@emailchrishall]

Jesus Sanchez How did it go?

[@hamma2357]

I'm Next! Thanks

[@giorgioraks7134]

Thanks good tutorial!

[@i_am_seawolf]

Loved this! I got the same speaker and they sound great. I have wired the back end to install 2 more. But I can't for the life of me figure out what I want back there. I tried to contact Rockford and the dude didn't give two shits to help me out.

[@spokehedz]

Can't wait to smash out my busted speakers and put some nice infinity reference ones in. I know this was some years ago, but did replacing the speakers help with the 'fade' when you start driving? I think that is why these speakers always blow out, since people CRANK the volume when they are driving on the highway--because you can't use the AC if you want to keep up with traffic. XD

[@emailchrishall]

This Smart is electric so I don't have any power issues with the AC on. Plus, I don't spend a lot of time on the highway with it. It's more of a surface street kind of car. It sucks the range down fast on the highway.

[@ROBSOLUTELY]

If you had more patience, you could have removed the top ring and grate by prying it all off as one piece, rather than breaking little pieces all over. Then you could have removed the speaker by cutting the tabs and bringing it through the front. Your method risks too many little pieces falling between the door, which will cause future rattling. Why not just settle down and do is right?

[@emailchrishall]

Well, I was settled and it worked. Plus, I was able to stick my hand down in the door and feel around. It was the kind of plastic that didn't shatter but just broke so it ended up working out. Over 3 years later and not a rattle or buzz. I stuck my phone camera inside the door while I was doing it to make sure there were no pieces.

[@kostasgoulas3625]

absolutely agree. Very messy and risky job.

[@olebendtsen6117]

@@emailchrishall A vacuumcleaner could also remove any loose parts and dust.

[@justmenownooneelse3703]

I put 6×9 in mine

[@emailchrishall]

Nice. Bet it sounds better than these.

[@MeadeLX50]

any chance you can provide a link for speakers? including speaker size. 1 other question, how did you secure the screws without speednuts???

[@emailchrishall]

Sorry, Just saw this comment. www.crutchfield.com/p_575P16S/Rockford-Fosgate-P16-S.html?awcp=&awcr=309933560292&awdv=c&awkw=%2brockford+%2bfosgate+%2bp16&awmt=b&awnw=g&awug=9015755&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9-nE6p3j6AIVj8DACh29ZwCLEAAYASAAEgI3NvD_BwE

[@jenlisasweetner9840]

Niceee,I barely found my aux input ughhh but now my speakers making a rattle noises

[@engin3ar]

How much better did the new speakers sound compared to factory?

[@emailchrishall]

They were noticeably fuller, better treble and better lows. Nothing drastic, but still cool.

[@bouga2fresh902]

Excellent video!

[@emailchrishall]

Thank you.

[@Faya1308]

That looks wayyy easier than fuckin with those doorpanels. Hope this also works on my smart forfour. We shall see! Got my tools ready LOL Let's do it whahah. Thanks for sharing this vid!

[@oliviafitz-gerald7316]

Thanks for the tutorial! What brand/ size did you install and do you think it’s possible to use a wire harness instead of cutting the wires?

[@emailchrishall]

olivia Fitz-Gerald Rockford Fosgate Punch P16. I suppose you might be able to find some sort of converter harness but I’ve never looked for one.

[@kseriesonly]

Is it the same for the Smart Fortwo 2015? My doors are the manual ones I don’t have power windows. Thank you and Great video

[@emailchrishall]

Sorry, probably too late to reply. I think the 2015 is pretty much the same.

[@305Gems]

Do you remember which wire was positive or negative

[@emailchrishall]

Oh wow, that’s been a while. I can’t remember even though I spent time making sure I had that right.

[@305Gems]

@@emailchrishall I figured it out the wire with a black stripe and the wire with the brown stripe are both negative. At least that’s what I saw in a older video. Anyways great videos literally order exactly what you did last night and should have them installed by next week!!

[@gplusgplus2286]

In german cars brown colour is ground, so the wire with the brown stripe is negative.

[@FITBIKEEDSEL]

Where did you get the floor mats?

[@fedeke]

Great video! Do you know how much the original radio's max output is? Thx :)

[@emailchrishall]

fedeke I have no clue but I wouldn’t think it would be very much.

[@SunsetfearOFFICIAL]

Why upgrade them original sound great

[@Wrangler4XEFans]

2:49

[@josemachado526]

Did you disconnected the battery to do this?

[@emailchrishall]

No, I just powered down the car. It would be smarter to disconnect the battery, of course.

[@ruslanmubarakzyanov252]

Hello.I bought same speakers and installed them but they don't sound(no bass).What problem could be?Shall I replace head unit?

[@FaithElements]

Ruslan Lee Did you try reversing the polarity?

[@ruslanmubarakzyanov252]

@@FaithElements yes

[@FaithElements]

Ruslan Lee If it was just one of the speakers, I’d be suspicious of the speaker. Since it’s both, that makes me wonder about the radio. Is it the factory unit?

[@FaithElements]

Ruslan Lee If it’s the factory unit with navigation, have you checked the bass and X-bass settings? It’s sort of crazy that they have those settings on two different pages.

[@ruslanmubarakzyanov252]

@@FaithElements I have 2015 pure model and head unit is very basic.It doesn't have big like you have.

[@nandosilva9339]

I just bought a smart for two 2012 and I will definitely change the factory speakers.....Do I will need to fit an amplifier for those speakers that you just fit?

[@FaithElements]

I didn't use an amp. I'm just running straight out of the head unit. I can actually hit those hard enough to get a little distortion so I wouldn't run an amp on these. I'm one of those "never enough bass" kind of people so it would be nice to have a little more power but I don't think I'd hit these any harder.

[@exiledinthepathofexile]

LOL i just saw a guy removing almost everything on the door to get there

[@flyingmantis]

can you please share the new speaker model #?

[@flyingmantis]

Nvm I see it. Thanks.

[@todisboss23]

Yo. It might be easer to do that. But it sound so much worse. Oh man I cringed when u said to mount it on the pannel

[@emailchrishall]

I haven’t found that it sounds any worse. Since I made this video, I’ve even seen professional shops do it this way. Lots of people in various Smart groups and forums incorporate this method. It works. It’s OK that it’s different from what you would do. Differences make the world a better place.

[@MrKlsdjflk]

Hii 6.5 or 5.1/4??

[@christianvogel1012]

6.25 or 6.5

[@badass1g]

All that and you didn’t even say how it sounds? Does it rattle? Seems kinda flimbsy that material.

[@emailchrishall]

badass1g The system sounds way better than the factory speakers now. Good rich lows. The car has a descent factory sub and these compliment it and the rest of the system well.

[@crystalnoir219]

😳

[@kalebmcabier1451]

Are you fucking serious?!

[@loudspeakertestsmorebyaida3804]

You can just open that door instead of ruining your car….

[@franksaudiomotive1710]

this is not the right way to install a speaker in this vehicle. you take the door skin off and replace them from the back.

[@emailchrishall]

Uh, yeah, I talked at length about that very issue in the video. Since the making of this video, I've had a lot of conversations with a lot of people about it. Everyone seems to have the same view that it would be nearly impossible to install any aftermarket speakers in the Smart by installing them from behind.

[@franksaudiomotive1710]

Chris Hall well that’s not even remotely true I have installed several speakers from behind. Without destroying the grill cover or the factory speaker to do it. People come to KZbin for advice and “how to”, but if this is what you are showing them then sadly this is what they get to see. There are tons of other videos showing how to install the speaker the correct way the way we do it in the shops I worked in.

[@emailchrishall]

@@franksaudiomotive1710 And that's exactly why I explained in the video that this is an alternative method. It's OK that it's different. Differences make the world a beautiful place to live in. The ugliness of the world is caused when people think everything needs to be done the way they would do it and anything different is wrong.

[@bigd.4370]

You could remove the original speaker from behind without making a mess and install the aftermarket one the way you wanted.