Dear friends:

If I want to replace the crappy Becker Grand Prix radio in my 300SD with a third-party (not MB ones!) ISO/DIN CD/radio, is there any company that offers ready-made connectors that allows me to easily plug the new radio to the original radio wiring harness?

Since I had never attempted to remove and replace a car radio before, I wonder whether it's easy to splice/cut/attach a modern CD/radio to my 300SD's original wiring harness without the need for ready-made connectors?

Please recommend a good and cheap CD/MP3/Radio to replace a crappy Becker Grand Prix (whose signal sensitivity is so terribly wimpy.).

Also, any link to a site showing how to remove the original radio on a W126?

Thanks a lot.

Eric

Eric, sorry I have no specific info for you, but if you haven't try searching the audio board on this site and posting this one there also.

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Craig Bethune

'97 SL500, 40th anniversary edition

'04 Olds Bravada (SWMBO's)
'06 Lexus ES330
'89 560SL (sold)


SL--Anything else is just a Mercedes.
(Kudos to whoever said it first)

The only place that i saw adapters was crutchfield for $15 (or free with a receiver). I don't think anybody else carries any sort of wiring harness adapter for mercedes.

-anthony

I wasn't able to find one either. I was told by several audio specialty shops that they don't exist for MB. I ended up just hard wiring it. Not a bad job at all, but find a friend with a bit of experience before you dive into it and fry your electronics.

BTW- there is a link on this site for radio replacement. The only trick is getting the faceplate off.

These guys can probably help you.Check out this site:
http://www.lajollaaudiorepair.com/lar.htm
JackD

Please recommend a good and cheap CD/MP3/Radio to replace a crappy Becker Grand Prix (whose signal sensitivity is so terribly wimpy.).
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For a really good Am/FM/CD unit I would highly recommend the Pioneer brand. They have several models that sell for well under $300 installed. Pioneer has the best AM sensitivity in the market. And the FM sensitivity is excellent also. Check out places like Car Toys, Magnolia Hi-Fi and Stereo, Good Guys, Cirquit City, etc. Those stores have frequent sales where they give you a good price for the installed unit and they have the shop guys that know what they are doing. Don't know if Pioneer has an MP3 model. But I would not recommend that you do an installation yourself if you have not done them in the past. Especially when you can get such a good deal from established dealers for the installed system. I have upgraded two MBs and a Suburban and all jobs turned out just fine.

I picked up a JVC for $159 from eTronics.com. Plays MP3 and all that good stuff. Can't remember the model number, but I've been very happy with it.

As for the wiring, nobody makes a harness, primarily because of the bogus speaker-level fader in the console (which you will have to bypass). I talked to Scott a La Jolla Audio and ordered a set of Rainbow direct replacement speakers. He can hook you up with wiring instructions for bypassing the fader. I did mine with some help from a post on the forum and a little trial and error.

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Jay
1998 S320

I got a relatively low-end Sony CDX-MP40.
Fit perfectly.
Plays MP3s. Better than a CD changer.
You can get about 10-12 CDs worth of content on one CD in MP3 format. Less clutter and hardware expense.
Around $160 net from pcrush.com
Totally happy with it.
Search for my thread in Car Audio that describes how I gutted the connectors from the back of the old Becker to facilitate wiring.

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1986 300E 5-Speed 240k mi.

I have the earlier Sony CDX-MP30. Looks a little more conventional than the MP40 but still has the out-of-place red trim. Does the MP40 scroll a features list when it's off? It was an easy installation since the previous owner of the SDL already had speaker wires to the dash bypassing the fader.

To remove the stereo, open the ashtray, pull out the insert tray, remove the two screws at the base of the ashtray frame (don't let them fall into the abyss under the shifter), pull out the ashtray frame, reach behind the radio and pull it out.

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

Sixto,
This one does not scroll features when off. Just shows the time.
The book mentions a "Demo" mode that scrolls features, presumedly for the showroom floor, which can be enabled.

I wonder if yours is stuck in this mode.

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1986 300E 5-Speed 240k mi.

It can be turned off. I'm just wondering why it arrived with demo mode on. I'm leaving it on for now so I remember what it can do

Sixto
95 s420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD