MB cd changer - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

donwo · #1 11-28-2002, 09:17 AM

Is the changer from a 1997 C280 the same as the one in
a 1998 E320? I have a chance to buy one but not sure if it
will work. Some say it will and some say it won't. Can anyone help?

Thanks,

Gilly · #2 11-28-2002, 10:01 AM

Same as an EARLY 98 E320.
The way you can tell is by looking at the radio itself.
The early style radio has 4 buttons above the on/off button arranged in a seperate group., and on the right has 2 rectangular buttons, on above the other, one says TUNE, one says SEEK, and arrnaged between these buttons is a small round button that says SC on it, (for scan). Above the narrow LCD display is the cassette slot with the EJ and TRK buttons, below the LCD is 6 buttons numbered 1 through 6. They were made bt Alpine or Becker, but are both identical in appearance from the front.
If both cars have this radio, the CD changers will interchange.

The other possibility is the 98 is a later version with the D2B (fiber optics) system radio. If this is the case the CD changer won't interchange. The easiest way to tell if it's a D2B radio is if it has the telephone key pad on the right side of the radio, it's a D2B radio. Also you can't see the cassette slot on a D2B radio, it is hidden behind the large LCD screen, which folds down for access to it. There are buttons under the LCD screen, but have only white dots on them, no numbers. And the on/off button has up/down, left/right buttons positioned around the button, not grouped above it. Finally, there are 4 buttons spaced beteen these arrow buttons that are labelled "RADIO", "CD", "TEL", and "TAPE".
So you need to look at the 98 and see if the radio looks the same as your 97. There is maybe a little less than a 50/50 chance, the D2B radio was introduced in the US about in the late fall of 1997 (1998 model year cars), so there are some 98's running around with your style radio. If you get lucky, it's a really easy job to install the CD changer. Before D2B they were "plug and play" so no problem there. The CD changer bracket is different though, so you'll need to buy/find a C class cd changer bracket.

Gilly

ps Oh, if you don't have the car to look at, you need to look at the changer. The one you need has 1 large electrical socket to connect to, that's it. I think it's a 10 pin connector. The one thet WON'T work has a strange looking connector with 2 small LED looking dots inside (for the D2B cables) and a small 3 pin electrical connector. Maybe Scott will read this and knows the exact part or model numbers of the 2 different kinds of changers, I can't memorize those model numbers like Scott

#3 11-28-2002, 08:28 PM

From my experience, the mounting bracket for a C-class is pretty diffecult to find. The local MB dealership found one for my car from a dealership in another state, but no one has been able to locate one for my brother's similar C-class.
Please let me know if you find a source for the mounting bracket.

donwo · #4 11-28-2002, 08:50 PM

Gillybenztech,

Thanks for the help. My 1998 E320 appears to have the early radio and not the fiber optic system. I can see the cassette slot and ther is no telephone kepad on the faceplate. It has the SC button surrounded by the tune and seek buttons as you describe. It appears this changer will work. I plan to buy this changer from someone in another state and this helps greatly.

Thanks again,

Gilly · #5 11-28-2002, 09:19 PM

No problem.
I also don't believe that finding the correct bracket will be a problem. The part numbers are listed in the installation instructions. The part guys at the place "C230" went to probably didn't know this and as a result never found the proper number. The bracket was essential unchanged though the production run of the 210 chassis. You will find the plug-in behind he left side trunk trim, and again, this is a "plug and play" installation.

Gilly