The PO on my 84 300D, swapped out the radio for a new hi-tech gadget that doesnt work. I am looking for an original, working becker if anyone has one or knows any contacts.

Thanks,
Harry

Is there not a security function that disables the radio when removed? Anyway, what is wrong with the current install? Might be easier to trouble-shoot that since they may have totally destroyed all the factory wiring on install - like they did to mine!

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1991 560 SEL / 185k miles
1992 750il / 17k miles - project car

I.m trying to put the car back to "Original" condition. Plus the antenna wont go up and I'm guessing they didint hook up he wire. Im pulling the unit now to see if I see any loose wires. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Like do you know if the antenna wire is a separate wire or is it wired in with the multi plug??or do you know color of the antenna wire?

Thanks,
Harry

Most aftermarket HU don't have a security code. You can get an OEM Becker refurb from their website with 90 (?) day warranty. I think that's better than 'rolling the dice' on eBay or CL.

www.beckerautosound.com

Also, they can usually add an AUXIN if that matters to you.

Good luck.

On my 560 SEL with the "premium audio" (which was standard in 91) the antenna signal cable went only to the rear "brain box". From there regular wires fed the head unit.

On the antenna itself there are three wires. Black, red, white. Thanks to a member here I found that the red and black are power (as usual) and the white is the "antenna up" signal. Most modern head units of the past 15 years have a signal to raise the antenna. The harness on the car subs the white sire for a blue wire. At least in my setup.

So if you want to use an after-market head unit, one must run a new antenna cable from front to back. Not hard to do.

If you are restoring to stock, good luck! I wished to do the same but the wire harnesses were hacked and butchered beyond repair. The fader switch was crippled and most of the harness end connectors were MIA. All I had was brain box in the trunk and wires without ends everywhere.

In the end I installed my system from scratch running all new wire front to back. The only thing I reused were the speaker wires directly soldered to the speakers.

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1991 560 SEL / 185k miles
1992 750il / 17k miles - project car

Sorry. Should have been more clear. Was speaking of the factory units.

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1991 560 SEL / 185k miles
1992 750il / 17k miles - project car

I don't believe any of the 123 chassis had a code, so no problem there, I could verify that, I have a radio code guidebook somewhere here. I want to say 1989-1990 was around the time they came out with security code, there were a couple years before that that the dealer had a reset tool to unlock the radio when it went in to "dashed lines" mode.
(-----), but again really sure a 123 never had anything like that.

I can understand wanting to go back to original, I like that sort of thing too. Then if a different format is needed, an FM modulator/charger can be simply plugged in to the cig lighter and an MP3 player used. More modern speakers could be installed and you have a nice stock car with decent sounding tunes.

I want to say the antenna signal wire is purple. That's something else I could look up. It's possible then antenna has a problem, is often just a stuck mast, listen for the antenna motor to whine for awhile when switching on the radio.

I'd try eBay or some of the MB scrap yards for a stock Becker. I know you are hoping to score one here, which could happen yet.

Let me know if you still need help with the antenna wiring. PS does it have a switch on the dash to set the antenna height that you can see?

__________________
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Click here to see a photo album of my '62 Sprite Project Moneypit (Now Sold)

Doctordons.com

Actual customer service

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

I got my aftermarket radio out and sure as landyactlover said the wires have been hacked and butchered, Im reconsidering putting in a becker because it looks over my head. Several wires coming from the connector have been taped together but I dont see any wires that are loose or unconnected.

The radio works. The problem is the antenna wont go up. If I can get the ant up, I think I'll stay with the aftermarket. I do have an ant switch on the dash.can anyone tell me how to get the antenna up and leave it up?? Or how to test the ant motor?? Complicated stuff fro me. Thanks again for all responses.

Harry

Well you could keep the motor up by supplying 12 volts to the "odd" wire out on the mast. I am assuming that there are three wires off of the antenna. Red and black being power, other color odd one out.

I would then take power from a cig lighter. I am pretty sure yours, like mine, are only on when the car is. This way when the car is on the antenna goes up. When off, it will come down!

Or just get a long wire from the battery outside the car and apply + power to the third wire to make it come up. Once it is, disconnect the antenna power harness and it will be stuck up. The antenna should work fine without power, I doubt it has an amplifier or sorts built in.

Of just get the right wire color in the dash mess and hope its connected in the back and still works. The head unit, like I mentioned, should have one wire for radio up/down.

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1991 560 SEL / 185k miles
1992 750il / 17k miles - project car

I have 12 wires coming from the aftermarket connector. All are spliced sometimes to wire of the same color, sometimes to a different color. I have 4 wires coming from the connector that are taped together. 1 green, 1 green/black and 2 purples. Does anyone know how many wires the original becker has? I'm thinking if it has 8 wires I may be able to rewire color to color because as of now its only using 8 wires. Does anyone know the ant wire color?

Thanks Again
Harry

TRYING (for awhile now) to figure out how to get a copy of the electrical diagram posted, I think I might have it now:

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Click here to see the items I have up for auction at EBay

Click here to see a photo album of my '62 Sprite Project Moneypit (Now Sold)

Better view of the radio switch area, doing the best I can

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Click here to see the items I have up for auction at EBay

Click here to see a photo album of my '62 Sprite Project Moneypit (Now Sold)

Hi
I have Becker radio out of a 1988 190E that is working and would be willing to sell it.
Let me know if you want it.
Chuck

Greens and purples are probably the speaker wires for the rear channels from the HU. Double check your wire count - maybe 13?

2 each per speaker = 8 (wht, gry, purp, grn)
1 steady +12 (maybe yellow)
1 switched +12 (maybe red)
1 ground (maybe black)
1 "headlight" dimmer (maybe orange)
1 antenna (or amp) probably blue

These are mostly standard aftermarket colors now, so check online to verify. I'm going from memory. They do NOT match the factory colors. DO NOT just connect the same colors from the HU to the car.

The antenna connector to the switch is probably black with a female spade connector, but it may be blue/red.

Read here for a long discussion on fixing an aftermarket install: 240d frying radio fuses

Also - check the fuse for the antenna, check the plug for the antenna in the trunk. Or you may have a busted plastic aerial cable so it could be wired correctly, just in need of a new mast.