Hi all:

I've got a becker 1692 oem unit in my 1998 e320. The becker played fine. But since the oem cd changer has failed after 5 years, I've decided to replace the headunit so i can just play cd/mp3 from the front.

I've removed the 1692 with the oem radio removal tool (cool tool!) and then proceeded to connect a sony CDX-R3300 Cd/mp3 head unit. So far i've got the pwr, ignition, ground, and antenna mem wire correctly installed. But I wasn't able to get any sound from the 8 speaker wires.

I tried connecting just the rear left set of speaker wires, and was able to get sound when the unit is in tuner mode (but i only got static coz i can't connect the antenna yet).

Anyway, when i pop in a cd, there's just no sound. Not even a hiss or pop. The cd's playing ok, but no sound is coming from the speakers. I'm wondering whether i forgot to do something, or maybe I just got a bad sony unit.

Any ideas?

Also, does anyone know where I can locate an antenna adapter to connect between the e320's factory antenna lead out into an after market (regular size) antenna lead in?

Much obliged!

Mars

p.s. i'm wondering if i should just fashion an antenna cable by cutting off the factory antenna connector and replace it with a standard antenna connector. But i'm not sure if there's more than one wire in that antenna cable.

Can anyone confirm if the antenna cable is just one big wire inside?

I believe even radioshack has it if not any car stereo store will have the antenna adapter. The problem you are having is solved by swaping the antenna trigger wire from the sony (blue) to the amp trigger wire (blue white). The stock amp is shutting down when the cd is put in because the amp turn on wire is not hooked up.....

Scott@lajollaaudio

__________________
The Mercedes Specialists Since 1986

Hi Scott:

thanks for the suggestions. You're right, i've neglected to connect the amp turn on wire (blue as well) coz i wasn't sure where to connect it to. I'm going to try it tonight.

Hi Scott:

Just did some quick work duing lunch hour and still didn't get sound. I tried connecting the amp lead from sony unit to several connectors in the oem harness for oem 1692:

1. Speed dependent volume control (GAL)
2. Illumination
3. Phone mute

Got no sound on all three connections.

Also tried the constant 12v and ignition 12v, but didn't work either.

I'm using the 1492 digram from becker's website. As far as i know, the diagram for both 1492 and 1692 are the same.

I was thinking that the volume control connection should be the one that activates the built in amps for cd audio, but i guess i was wrong.

Becker 1492 Diagram

diconnect the sony's power antenna trigger from the car's power antenna lead, and connect the sony's amp turn on wire in it's place... that will solve the problem.. under no circumstances connect the amp turn on to the car's illumination wire!

__________________
95 M3 (US)
94 318is (EURO)
87 190E 2.6

Ahh.... i completely misread Scott's suggestion. Thank you, Scott, Vas2vas. Now it's working correctly! yeepy!!

Btw, the antenna cable adapter is hard to find. My e320 uses an unique male plug that does not fit into regular antenna connectors. I circled some copper wire onto the male plug and then connected the other copper end to the sony's antenna female lead. Seems to work ok.

Thank you so much, everyone!!

Hi vas2vas,

Does the car's power antenna lead = sony's amp turn on wire? If so, does that mean i do not need to connect sony's blue antenna rem wire at all?

my 1998 e320 has the antenna built in the rear glass, and the reception has always been terrible. However, after connecting the sony unit, the reception has gone from terrible to worse. I can get fm channels ok, but the am channels has all but disappeared.

you need a european to motorolla adaptor for your antenna to properly connect to the aftermarket head unit, any electronics or car store (ie pep boys, circuit city etc) should have one... the sony blue wire is not necessary for your application, and should just be taped off so as not to touch anywhere....

__________________
95 M3 (US)
94 318is (EURO)
87 190E 2.6

I had a hard time finding the Euro to motorolla adapter locally as well (lots of them on the net), to plug into my Blaupunkt (this was motorolla to euro in my case). I found one at a parts shop, it's called a Volkswagon adapter. You can probably get one at the VW dealer. Radio Shack doesn't carry much in car audio any more.

__________________
1986 560SL
2002 Toyota Camry
1993 Lexus

Thank you, vas2vas and donbryce. I found some short and stubby volkswagon adapter on crutchfield's site. It's only 3 bucks, but shipping is like $5.99. LOL

Anyway, this looks like it will work. I'm just not sure if it's long enough so the euro female end will have enough clearance for the factory euro male to insert completely. (hope that didn't come out sounding too funky :p)

Btw, does anyone know which aftermarket alpine head unit can control the mercedes 6 disc cd changer?

Feedback: Finally got my Euro to Motorola adapter today. Tried it and it was a perfect fit for the sony unit and the oem antenna cable. Now my sony tuner is working great.

Yeepee!!