I just bought the car, but the seller never mantioned anything about the radio. It doesnt work? and suggestions?
thx

I have the same car. My radio still works, but the display and tape player went bad years ago. Repair is outrageously expensive. Your best bet is to buy one from Crutchfield or at a garage sale.

The Mercedes radio was state of the art when the car was new, but in recent times, most radios over a mimimum price of $50-$60 are better in terms of features, appearence and probably reception. E-bay, appliance discount stores like Brands Mart and Best Buy and such are good places to look, as is Crutchfield, who will give you good instructions and telephone advice as to instalation.

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Semibodacious Transmogrifications a Specialty

1990 300D 2.5 Turbo sedan 171K (Rudolf)
1985 300D Turbo TD Wagon 219K (Remuda)

"Time flies like and arrow, yet fruit flies like a banana"
---Marx (Groucho)

If nothing works on this Radio, not even the lights than perhaps its the Radio fuse. Its located on the outside in the back of the Radio. Check to see if its OK.


Phil

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'95 E300 Diesel, 264,000 Miles. [Sold it]

I have my original Becker Gran Prix if you are interested. It worked when I took it out 3 years ago.
If you spend over $100 on a radio at Circuit City they will install it free.

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'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

I just took out my radio on my 81 300SD to replace a light and I can tell you it's very easy to do.

1) Put the car in low range so you can get out the ash try.
2) Pullout the ashtry as far as it will go and pull out the metal insert.
3) Remove two screws that hold the ashtry in and pull out the ashtray - you may not even need to disconnect the wires.
4) You can now peer inside and maybe even pull out the radio (mine is a newer style) to check the wiring or a secondary fuse.

Incidentally, another reason to like these cars is when you need to replace all the lights that illuminate the controls above the radio (antenna, interior light, etc.), and all the lights that illuminate the controls for the vents, it turns out to be ONE lamp with multiple fibreoptics that lights them all. Cool.

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1984 300Sd 210k

Former cars:
1984 300D 445k (!!) (Strider) Original (and not rebuilt) engine and transmission. Currently running on V80 ( 80% vegetable oil, 20% petroleum products). Actually not, taking a WVO break.
1993 300d 2.5 275k. Current 120/day commuter
1981 300SD 188k (Hans) Killed by a deer

I found a replacement for my 300SDL, essentially the same radio, for $40 on ebay. It arrived, and it works fine.

PO had put in a $$$$ sound system and took it with her... left the wiring as a butcher job that I'm still working around.

Check fuse, etc. and if it's DOA replace with another, or a Best Buy radio you like.

Best Regards,
Jim

P.S. Still trying to find the front speaker wires in the dash, and an antenna power connector plug.

I purchased a new head unit for my SDL with 4 new speakers, it sounds real nice and is better than messing around with old electronics. In hindesight better speakers with an amp in the back would have been a better way to go, with only 4 speakers getting good sound is hard. Most head units will fit and for $100 you can get a nice one, the stock speakers are no bargin also, they have no power. Now I can listen to Sandman and my new favorite Some Kind of Monster nice and loud and it still sounds nice. The OE speaker's could not handle anything beyond low volume country.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200