the radio display shows "-- -- -- --"

is it asking for a code or is it telling me to get a new radio?

__________________
Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

Yes according to the year and model under your signature.

__________________
1987 300SDL 314K mi, counting; #22 Head
1999 E300Turbo 405K original miles
1997 E320 180K mi (Son's)
2002 ML320 (Son's)
1998 S320 140K mi (Son's) sold
1985 300SD 311K mi
1984 300D 324K mi (killed by a hit-n-run turd)
*************************************

OK but if i press the buttons, the numbers do not show on the display. is that normal?

obvious question...can i go to the dealer and get the code?

__________________
Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

I just called the dealer. They need me to just fax them the title to verify ownership. They said it was free. go figure.

Thanks

__________________
Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

At dealer they "might" still have a little white plastic tool that can re-energize the chip in the radio.

Otherwise you will have to send it to Becker.

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

Mine did that on the 85 td last summer so I took one out of a newer 420sel and plugged it in...did'nt work and then one day a couple weeks ago I was sitting in a parking lot and whola it started working.
Then last night found the battery dead, so charged it up. This a.m she went out to start for work and battery was dead again.
Figured it out this evening that the radio was stuck power on with the key out draining the battery.

I Pulled the fuse for now until it warms up. -43 celcius last night...I hope the battery is o.k...on the charger and battery blanket right now. Something wrong with the wiring?

For $100 you can get a nice HD radio.

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

I'm headed that way I think. Any specific recommendations?

Is there a radio where I can stick an Memory Card in kinda like a camera? It would be nice to see the name of the song that is playing too.

__________________
Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

Of course! Most have a USB interface now, some take SD chips. If you dont mind spending the money, many support bluetooth and you can play off your phone wirelessly. Usually I go to crutchfield.com, find what I want and then google shop the model number for the lowest bidder. One thing I have to say is that the becker models are very warm in sound. Make sure the radio is 2ohm stable or you will have to do some rewiring for the speakers to bypass the fader in the middle console.

[edit] Its been a while since I looked but it looks like even the most basest of the lines out there have USB inputs in the front now.

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

I have cheap kenwoods in both my W123s; bluetooth for phone and audio, USB connection, etc. for about $300.

All Greek to me Win!

Help me out with some recommendations- these are my parameters (very short list!)

-it has to 'blend' as much as possible with the brown interior of the w201
-I would like to stick an SD or microSD into it
-I would like to see the name of the song
-no need for satelite radio
-I would like a 'simple' design---minimalist even.
-plug and play installation

does such an animal exist?

__________________
Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

I am looking in Crutchfield now...

What does USB input "rear" mean? you have to pull the whole thing out to put in a USB? A little bit of a hassle huh?

__________________
Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

I am assuming so that you can run the usb cable to say the trunk where your usb external hd is mounted...

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

I think it's for installing a fixed dock on the dash and running its usb supply behind the dash and plugging in out of sight, but it STAYS plugged in once it's in.

The ONLY plug and play radio is another Becker -- certain Beckers, not all of them. MB used weird plugs there just like everywhere else, and there are no plug adapters out there of which I am aware. Have to cut and splice, unfortunately.

Also you say "No need for satellite radio" but the reference in the thread earlier was to HD radio -- something entirely different. Satellite is a pay per month subscription based service that uses... satellites. (Not trying to be smart.) HD radio is free, broadcast on frequences "in between" standard fm frequencies, similar to how digital/analog TV now has like channel 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, etc. Same broadcaster has multiple subfrequences. It's a receiver behind the dash and sometimes an antenna modification and then you control it from the interface of the radio.

__________________


~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

-43 C Yikes!