I really would like to play my Ipod in my 1984 300d, but I have hit a wall.

I bought a Sony FM Modulator with an antenna. It is designed to fit into the cigarette lighter while you stick the antenna to something metal (it is basically a cord with a magnet on the end). I tried it out and ran into the issue that since my antenna is in the back left, I can't get a good enough signal (I live near Houston so all radio frequencies are taken). I did get a good signal once and looked back to find that the antenna had attached to the guage on my Mityvac in the back seat.
That was definetly not a permanent solution.

Would it be possible to extend the antenna by stripping off the rubber and splicing in another wire? If I could do that, I could run it under the carpet to the back and the antenna and find some way to get a good signal. If that is not possible, is there some way I could run power to the back to put the modulator in back and extend the headphones cable to get to the front?

Is there any mod to the radio that would allow me to not use the modulator at all? I have the original Becker Grand Prix with tape deck that came with the car.

Oh, the one thing is that I can't use those tape adaptors that people generally use. The tape deck is dead. I put in a tape and hear scraping sounds as if it is turning the spools or whatever and moving the magnetic tape, but no sound. Also, if I press any tape buttons like flip side, fast forward, etc, the tape ejects.

Have you considered using one of the cassette tape adapters? I bought one for about ten bucks at Auto Zone. You plug it into the headphone jack on the I Pod and stick the other end into your cassette player. It's connected by a wire so there are no reception issues. Mine works fine. Not very elegant, but it works.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

I use the fm broadcast one, although its about as big as the ipod itself, no antenna, only the cig adapter. the antenna on my 87 doesn't work all the time but it still has no problem picking up the signal.

__________________


1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

Check out this web site http://www.beckerautosound.com/Index.html.htm
for Becker North America then click on SERVICE. They can add an Auxiliary input to many Becker radios. They charged me $116 for the Aux. input and and a new radio knob including return shipping.
Hope this helps.
Ken

__________________
2014 E250 Bluetec 4-Matic
2014 GL350 Bluetec 4-Matic
1996 Chevy Tahoe 4 x 4
2009 ML350 (sold)
2005 SLK350 (sold)
1999 E300 Turbodiesel (sold)
1998 ML320 (sold)
1991 300D 2.5 Turbodiesel (sold)

My satelite radio has an adapter which allows me to plug it directly into the car's antenna. That way you don't get any outside interference between the transmitter and the antenna. Perhaps there is something like that available that you can use with the I Pod. I think this modulator had a mini jack just like the I Pod's head phone jack.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Johnhef,
Are you using it on a frequency for which there is no station?
I live close to Houston and all radio frequencies are pretty much taken. Any frequencies that aren't a station encounter a huge amount of interference from the stations above and below that frequency. Unless I can run the antenna from my modulator back to the trunk and attack it to the antenna, I can't really get a good signal.

EDIT: I'm going to have to revise that. I attached the antenna to the metal strip at the bottom of the rear seat and found ONE STATION on which I could hear my music.

I agree with all the people who said the sound quality would be crap, but I'll live with it for now.

I dunno if I should rez this thread or start a new one, but this is still fairly new so here goes.
As I stated, my radio doesn't play tapes (the deck is definitely broken somehow) and I would like to replace it.
I have a Sony radio that was intended for another car but for other reasons is now available. What do you think installing this would involve? I'm a total noob here.