2 QUESTIONS

1. i have just acquired a virtually unused[4900miles] 1995 e320cab. it has the oe cassette, fm-am radio and an alpine 6 cd changer in the trunk.

sometimes the volume control works properly, other times it does just the opposite of what is intended[i.e., turning down the volume actually turns it up and vice versa]. there seems to be no rhyme nor reason to when it decides to contradict the normal decrease-increase directions.

was this a common problem? easily resolved? or should the head unit just be replaced? if replacement is the recommended solution, assuming that alpine made this oe unit for benz, then let us discuss an alpine replacement unit, possibly incorporating satellite radio...

2. satellite radio antennas seem unsuited for this cab. does anyone know if hirschmann or anyone else is offering a retractible antenna that would replace the original and capture the satellite signals?

all ears, thnx.

The volume control pot is bad. From your code card can you see if it has a BE or an A in the begining of the serial#. The unit needs to be repaired. The dealer will just do an exchange and charge a flat rate.

As far as sat antenna Hirschmann doesn't have one yet and I dont know that there will be a retractable one made. I will say that your best be on sat antennas is the Terk roof mount antenna painted body color and installed on the trunk lid.

Scott@lajollaaudio

__________________
The Mercedes Specialists Since 1986

thnx yr response.

i don't do dealers. that is why i don't do new benzes. with that i understanding, how should i handle this faulting potentiometer?

all ears,

I can give you the phone number to my radio repair shop and you can call Cleeve and he can help you with your problem. The # is 858-373-0596 9:30 to 5:30 pac time. Or e mail him at LJrepair@pacbell.com

Scott@lajollaaudio

__________________
The Mercedes Specialists Since 1986

assuming that this head unit is manufactured by becker[owned by dbag?] i find that becker has a web site and that they may have an exchange program for this unit. with a 2 day turn around time.

would you think that my best bet would be to just call becker in nj and check this out?

thnx yr help

Our repair department has rebuilt exchange radios in stock also bith the mbz beckers and the alpines. Contact La Jolla Audio Repair.@ljrepair@pacbell.net

Scott@Lajollaaudio

__________________
The Mercedes Specialists Since 1986

Hi, My name is Cleeve and I am the Service Manager for La Jolla Audio Repair in San Diego,Ca. The radio that you have is either a BE-1492 or BE-1692. That is if it is a Becker Radio otherwise it would be an Alpine CM2294 or a CM2296 / CM2396. In any event, I stock all of these units for direct exchange to any and all needy customers. We ship USA wide. These units come with a (one) year warranty. So, if you would like to get one of our exchange units or need further questions answered please call me at (858)373-0596 between the hours of 9:00am - 5:30pm (PST) Mon-Fri.

i am now out of town. away from the car. i shall not be back for another 3 weeks. when i return, i shall be in touch with you.

but please give me a feel for the cost of your exchange units.

thnx,

Pricing is a Flat Rate $300 on your unit plus shipping. This includes 1 year parts & labor. We have a very high standard on our units. We have upgraded many parts in the Mercedes radio's since we KNOW what fails in them and why. It would be wrong if we didn't give the customers the very best we have to offer. As an engineer myself it allows me to see faults in radio's but find the proper corrective measure to keep the problem from reoccuring or from happening in the first place. That will give any of our customers the reassurance that they deserve. Hope to hear from you soon. Have a nice trip.

Cleeve

I have a 1692 in my '96 E300, which displayed the "wrong way" volume control at times. Usually when trying to lower the volume, and it went up.

Clearly it's not a potentiometer, but rather a switch. I've seen switches that used friction on a lever to determine direction - D-jetronic throttle position switch, for example. I suspect that this sort of switch is used for the volume control in the 1692.

I was using an aftermarket head unit, but got very tired of the "midnight in tokyo" look, and took the front panel off of my Becker. Remove two torx screws and loosen a third and the front panel comes right off. They did think about the design.

I couldn't find any contact cleaner, and wanted a rather volatile solvent to try to clean that tiny switch, so I used a can of butane lighter fuel. I squirted the butane into the side of the switch where there appeared to be a gap, and must have been judging on how many places butane was escaping. I turned the switch both ways while injecting the solvent.

After letting the piece warm back up and giving the resulting condensation time to dry, I reassembled the uint and put it in the car. The volume control now appears to work properly.

Cleeve, I know that you read these fora. I don't trust that the switch will keep working. I'm quite able to replace it myself, as I have extensive electronics repair experience. Can you sell a replacement switch?

And how about the knob? Mine's ugly. The rest of the unit is fine.