My Becker model 754 radio is dead in my 1986 560SL and I would like to upgrade it with a newer radio with a built in CD player not a CD changer. I would like to use a radio that looks like a match for the style of the car. I see on ebay and on the internet guys that are selling Alpine Audio 10 CD radios that are supposedly units taken out of newer Mercedes cars that were refitted with navigation systems. Does anyone know if this radio will mount properly in my car without a lot of problems. What do you do about the wire connections. I believe my car has a seperate amplifier. Are there adapters available that will allow you to plug into the existing wiring harness? Since the new radio has its own built in amplifier do you just hook up and go right though the cars amplifier? I called Crutchfields to see if they had an adapter but they were not very helpful and said these cars were difficult to do because of the amplifier. Any thoughts? Woody

My SL's radio is toast too; my replacement will be a Nakamichi CD-400. Killer quality, but it still looks period correct.

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

I don't think your car would have an amp unless it was added by an owner.

You just connect directly to the speakers. Any of the DIN chassis stereos will fit in the dash. You can choose the one that fits your budget and sense of aesthetics.

I like the the retro Beckers - here's the Porsche model, but they have one for Mercedes as well. I had one in my garage queen 280SL.

http://www.swstereo.com/stdetail.php?prodID=16

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Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe

If you decide to sell your 754, let me know. I may be interested.

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Len
'59 220S Cabriolet-SOLD and living happily in Malta
'83 240D 351,500 miles original owner-SOLD
'88 560SL 41,000 miles - totaled and parted out
https://sites.google.com/site/mercedesstuff/home
'99 E300 turbo 227,500 miles
'03 SLK320 40,000 miles - gave to my daughter
'14 Smart electric coupe 28,500 miles
'14 Smart electric cabriolet 28,500 miles
'15 Smart electric coupe 28,000 miles

(This will likely be moved to the audio forum)
Check this thread for some ideas. Head unit that looks like it belongs in a Benz
Note too that the speakers in the dash are 8ohms, if original, and when you connect a modern unit designed for 4ohm speakers, the volume will be about half the potential and the sound quality will be bad. You'll need to change these speakers at the same time. No biggie, but just a heads up.

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1986 560SL
2002 Toyota Camry
1993 Lexus

Thanks everyone, lots of good info. I will post back when I make a radio selection and do the install. Woody

I finally got around to replacing the old Becker in my 560 SL. I went with a Sony BT2500, got it from Crutchfields, they gave me an adapter that plugged into my harness, fits good, doesn't look to out of step with the rest of the car. The installation was not hard. I am still trying to repair the old Hirschmann antenn. Woody