Downgrading from Grand prix to Europa in w123

[JHZR2]

Hi,

My 83 300D was destroyed, but I found an identical one that is just as nice for the most part... but it is an 85.

My old one has a europa cassette, the new one, a grand prix cassette.

While the grand prix is nice because of the digital display and direct frequency entry, it seems to me that the europa is more fittng to the classic look, especially considering that this is the radio that came in older w123 cars.

So... other than the digital display, am I giving up much if I use a Europa vs. a grand prix??? I played an RF CD changer through the europa in my 83, and really couldnt complain much about the sound... Is sound quality, etc. much better on the grand prix than the europa???

Assuming the difference is negligible sound/quality-wise, I like the front-connection of the 'official' becker aux-in that you can get ... as opposed to a lead that needs to be put somewhere else. Thing is, the front input is on the europa cassette... the grand prix faceplate cant accept an aux in on it, so it has to have a wire lead to an input that you mount elsewhere.

So, given that I like the look, and that I like the front aux in, but my new 85 is wired for a grand prix... Should I indeed decide to want to install the Europa cassette in there in place of the grand prix, is there a difference in wiring or harnesses???? I don't have the car yet, but Im planning already, and dont havea clue...

Many thanks for reading and inputting into my long-winded question!!

JMH

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Personally I prefer the clean simplicity of the Europa. I have no complaints with the flea-market W123 Eupopa I installed in my '72 250, especially after I upgraded a couple of the OE speakers to a pair of Sony 2-way 6 x 9s.
I recently bought a Becker Grand Prix, cheap at a local thrift store, just to play with. This Grand Prix is stamped "Model-No 0780" and on an orange label "2 x 25 Watt". No idea what the power rating is on the W123 Europa. Both radios have the same DIN speaker sockets, antenna sockets and a recessed blade socket, which I believe may be a power antenna connection.
The major problem with swapping I can see is that, in addition to the other connections, my Grand Prix has 3 recessed round-pin sockets. One with 3 pins, one with 4 and one with 5, while my Europa has only a single +12Volt power blade-connector built into to an in-line fuse. Don't know if my Grand Prix is equipped for an external amp or other accessory and I don't have a schematic so I have no way to test it. Check the wiring in back of your Grand Prix. You may need to get a schematic and rig some adaptors to swap in your Europa.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[JHZR2]

Interesting about the grand prix wiring.

I too prefer the look of europa. I would appreciate it if anyone could give me insight on the pins for the grand prix and/or europa, wiring of the two different radios, etc. I hope to do a downgrade into my 'new' 85...

Thanks,

JMH

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Assuming your Grand Prix is like mine, and the speaker sockets are the same on both radios, you might just need to rig a 12 volt supply and ground connection for the Europa, and simply leave the multi-pin harness plugs disconnected.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[JoJoDFG]

Have you tried Becker North America beckerautosound.com/ ? Lots if info there, plus their phone number etc. I just ordered the retro 4602 for my 380sl...kinda pricey, but has same harness and cd player, i also got the aux cable, which unfortunately doesn't work into the front plate. waaaa nothing's perfect.
Jo

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Originally Posted by JoJoDFG

Have you tried Becker North America beckerautosound.com/ ? Lots if info there, plus their phone number etc. I just ordered the retro 4602 for my 380sl...kinda pricey, but has same harness and cd player, i also got the aux cable, which unfortunately doesn't work into the front plate. waaaa nothing's perfect.
Jo

Is that 4602 a Grand Prix? I just looked at my spare W123 Europa cassette radio and it's a model 599. I'd be using it but the tape-drive is messed up and the faceplate has a big chunk missing.

As for my pair of W123 240Ds, both came with fairly modern PO-installed radios. The ones with dozens of little, hard-to-operate, rice-grain size buttons that are so distracting and confusing to operate, that by the time you've changed a station or audio setting, you've probably hit a tree!

The 'Eclipse' unit in 240D-1 only worked with the radio - CD was dead, and the PO hadn't bothered to wire up the lighting circuit. Ever tried to work all those tiny buttons in the dark? And the radio was set-up to beep loudly through the speakers with every command. So even in daylight, every push of a button was an ear-splitting ordeal. Quickly replaced with an '80s Japanese Pioneer cassette radio and speakers, rescued from a neighbors trash-can. The Pioneer has round knobs for audio and tuning, and no beeping.
So much better!

240D-2 had a completely DOA 'Kenwood', which I replaced with a $15 thrift-store Singapore Blaupunkt Cancun cassette radio. It does use pushbuttons, but at least they're shaped, placed and large enough to locate by touch. (I still prefer the round knobs) It also has an audio-input cable so I can connect the output from a CD, MP3 or other external audio device. Now I need to upgrade D-2's rear speakers and shelf panel, which have collapsed after repeated soakings from the leaky back window.

Happy Motoring, Mark