I have a '98 but the newer cars have a nicer radio with some sort of key pad. Is this a direct swap out for the older radio? Is the keypad a bluetooth thing or is it part of an integrated phone system?

Thanks!

__________________
-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

The radios are interchangeable. The number keypad is for the phone and the radio presets. That radio was used all the way until the end of the W210 chassis run in 2002.

In my 2001 E430, I swapped out the original radio for an Audio 10 unit, which was only offered in Europe. It has better sound, has an in-dash cd player, which also plays Mp3 cd's.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

During that period, I believe that some cars came with the Becker radios, while others had the Alpine. My 99 C-Class has the Alpine HU and fiber optic changer, the keypad selects discs and tracks, as well as the phone functions.

Paul, the Audio 10 plays MP3 files off of the CD? Or is it playing home burned CD-R discs that have MP3 files converted back to .wav?

You know what, I think I misspoke. It plays CD-R and CD-RW cd's that have MP3 files converted back to .wav. This is better than the stock Becker units which only play regular CD's.

By the way, the factory Mercedes Audio-10 unit for 1998-2002 W210 E class cars is made by Alpine.

See this site:

www.audio-10.com

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Thanks, I saw one for sale and wondered if it would be a good upgrade to my existing radio and whether it would control my existing CD changer as well.

__________________
-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

I went with the Audio-10 unit because I bought an iPod cable that plugs into the CD changer jack.

I still wanted to have the ability to play CD's, which the Audio 10 has in the head unit.

The original Becker units do not have a CD player in the head unit.

Also, since the Audio-10 is made by Alpine, not Becker, I think you'll need to buy another cd changer.

You can find Audio-10 units on ebay.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Here's the guy I bought mine from:

http://www.perfectmarketaudio.com/index.html

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I took a look at the Audio-10's a while ago when I was considering replacing my unit. However, I will probably never get an ipod or other such player (unless they come up with a way for them to extract files off of cameras).

I want a unit that I can either plug a compact flash card into or a usb thumb type drive and play .mp3's. Oh, and it still has to look "right" in the MB interior. No flashy displays or funky colors.

__________________
-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

Well, the Audio-10 is a factory unit, so it looks perfect.

It also has significantly better sound that the old Becker unit.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

you can't use your existing CD Changer with the 99 HU....What you might want to do is replace your CD Changer with S634 Unit. This unit will allow you to play Mp3 CD's from your existing HU.

__________________
2005 SL65
1999 E300
1995 E300
1994 SL320
1988 560SL
1987 300TD
1982 300D
1955 300SL

Why not?

1998 was the first year of fiber optic connectivity between the head unit and the cd changer.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Just to "muddy the waters" ever so much more . . . my 1999 factory CD changer, which is the Alpine built, fiber optic, six disc unit, plays CD-R discs just fine.

1999 was not 1998....94-98 Mercedes used the non Fiber Optic Head unit.....1999 they switched over

__________________
2005 SL65
1999 E300
1995 E300
1994 SL320
1988 560SL
1987 300TD
1982 300D
1955 300SL