Head Unit the same in Bose & non-Bose Stereo (C-Class)
 

Is the head unit the same (internally) for a 95 C220 (stock sound system) and a 95 C280 with Bose? What about between the 95 C280 Bose in relation to a 97 C230 stock sound system?
Thanks.

MY 94 & 95 had the same radio, with rounded buttons, for Bose sound or without. MY 96 thru 98 had the same radio with flat buttons, forming a flat radio surface, again for Bose sound or without.

Thanks for the reply. I know that they look the same... but I am curious about the internal... as in... would a swap between Bose & non-Bose stereos work properly? And would a swap between the 94-95 (rounder buttons) & th 96-98 (flatter buttons) interchange and work properly?

Thanks again.

The radios are either becker 1492 or alpine 2294 from 94 to 951/2 or becker 1692 or alpine 2296 from 951/2 to 98 on all US cars bose or non bose. Bose is only the speakers and the amplifier.

Scott@lajollaaudio

Thank you! That is EXACTLY some of the information I needed!!

Scott,
So for the 95 1/2 year cut off, (did that just change the internal?) was the visual (rounded/flatter buttons) changed? ....or did just the model change: "becker 1492 or alpine 2294" / "becker 1692 or alpine 2296[.]" I hope that made sense....
In other words, is a 'pre 95 1/2' (94-95 1/2) head unit the same as a 'late MY 95' stereo (visually...: flat/rounded buttons).


Also, for MY 95 1/2 (& 94) head unit opposed to 96-98 head unit, are the wiring harnesses the same (and/or, are the units interchange-able)?


Thanks again! I hope that was clear. ;)

The buttons are slightly different but the power and speaker harness is the same. They are inter-changeable

Scott

David,

The decks are all identical, non-Bose, Bose, 95, 98, whatever. Just the buttoms are a bit different in order to make it stylistically closer to the 96- ACC controls.

Odds are your C-Class deck was made by Alpine. Almost all C-Class decks are made by Alpine, and E-Class by Becker. Is one better? Nope.

THe harnesses are identical, and a deck from any 94-98 C will plug into any other 94-98 C-Class. In 99 they went to the fibre optic set-up.

There is NO advantage to finding the 96-98 deck to install in your car. It is good info, in case your deck calves and you're searching yards for a replacement unit.