Just bought a 1998 E320 with the factory Becker 1692 and XM satellite receiver hooked up via FM. I am looking for feedback from people who have implemented similar set ups or considered them but chose a different approach.
I was thinking about reconfiguring the system a bit, but would prefer to keep the headunit. Not only it has a classical MB look, but fancy HUs don't live long in the same car around NYC!
Most importantly, I wanted to add an MP3 playback to the system. Alpine CHA-S634 6-Disc CD/MP3 Changer seems like the most logical choice since it could be plugged in to the factory changer connector in the trunk. From what I have read, there are two problems with this set up - the HU can only make the changer to read MP3s in the first folder on a CD - pretty lame. On top of it, it will not show any of song/disc info. Am i right? Any way around it?
Has anybody sought of using a Alpine CRA-1667RF Ai-NET CD Changer/XM Ready Controller/FM Modulator? Is it is even possible to connect the changer to both the controller and cd changer cable at the same time?
If it is, the controller could be used to control the xm radio. Wouldn't this be a perfect set up?
Finally, is it possible to fooll the cd changer input to work as a line in? This would allow to plug in any changer with remote control and still have a good sound...
I would appreciate any suggestions or comments. Even if you do not know the answers but have opinions I would like to hear them.

personally I would change the headunit for something that can have xm, cd changer and auxilary input.

My pioneer radio I have, has xm, I can puton a cd changer to it, and I can add an aux input, and I can put on an ipod direct connect which they are coming out with soon, as well as add a tv tuner to it if I wanted with a screen, dolby digital surround processor etc etc. the options are quite extravagent, but not everybody wants to change their radio.

You can look into various adapters, you may find an aux input adapter from blitzsafe, PIE, soundgate, or peripheral.

I saw an adapter to let you use the s634 mp3 changer with an mb with the converter box and special cables, but I only saw them for 1991-1995 model mb's...

Alon

__________________
'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

Thanks for your comments, Ashman
Replacing HU is definitely a solution, and allows for much more flexibility. I don't know about Cali, but the biggest issue with this approach in NY is that it is unlikely to last more then a year. My old car was broken into twice in 3 years I had it. And if only they took the radio out carefully, but they destroyed AC control unit and all plastics around the radio. That was my motivation for keeping the stock HU.

After some more searching I found an adapter from Becker to Mbus (older alpine changer bus), and another one from Mbus to line in. I am not sure this set up will work, but I am tempted to give it a try.

I have settled on Alpine mp3 cd changer hooked up to the head unit via a soundgate adapter. pros: sounds great, you get access to 600 songs all the time, and you get to keep the factory head unit. cons: no song titles on a head unit, no folders on cds, and a limit of 99 files per cd.

This summer I am going to try to use an alpine cd changer controller (fm modulator box, I bougt one on ebay for $25) to extract line out audio, and than feed it to the head unit via the same adapter. this will solve the problem of titles, folders, and limit on number of filers

If you have an interesting set up, share it here! I will also post updates as things progress.

One thing I have not finalized yet is the location of the changer. right now it's sitting under the rear bench next to the battery. What is a factory location for the changer? Other ideas on where to place it?