When asking for parts I got to the realization that most car radios nowadays are just plain ugly compared to older designs. Quoting a friend of mine, "they mostly look like they had been designed by insects from another planet". So, in this spirit, what do you think are some worthy candidates for the most beautiful post-1985 car radio?

Here's a "retro" Becker with GPS and MP3...

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[GONE] - 1995 Mercedes E300 Diesel - 130k miles - Smoke Silver (702) over Mushroom leather (265) - Bladder blasting, coast-to-coast work machine.

Could you post a link to that stereo? I love it. I', not usually a fan of radios that try to combine retro and new technology. They always seem to come out looking ugly to me. But in that picture at least, it looks really good.

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2004 F150 4.6L -My Daily
2007 Volvo XC70 -Wife's Daily
1998 Ford F150 -Rear ended
1989 J-spec 420SEL -passed onto its new keeper
1982 BMW 733i -fixed and traded for the 420SEL
2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed -scrapped
1997 E290 Turbo Diesel Wagon -traded for above
1992 BMW 525i -traded in
1990 Silver 300TE -hated the M103
1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS -Sold, really should have kept this one
1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Slug" -Sold

The new radios are not just ugly they are impossible to operate intuitively. Buttons the size of fly droppings and labels which are likewise microscopic and indeciferable if you do find a magnifying glass and read the labels.

Bah! Give me an old timey radio with a knob on the left and one on the right and six buttons to save my favorites stations.

My 53 caddy had all that and a wonderbar scanning device which you could push and let it find the next station. YOu could operate it all blindfolded....or while driving without looking at the radio.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I agree with you Tom, these new electronic radios have all these flashing lights, grafics etc... and small buttions that by the time I get my eyes focused on them I about run off the road.

The Becker that was in our 85 300D, about 1/2 of the owners manual is how to turn on the radio, I replaced it with an old Becker Analog Europa Cassett. works perfect. turn on the left knob, adjust the volumn, turn the right knob for the station. needle moves across the dial. don`t have to remember a Radio Station frequency number.

I put one in the 240, and thinking of placing one in my old Datsun PU.

I found 2 that have the 4 bands that need some repair work. also a couple that have a seperate amplifier.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Now that I totally agree with...both fugly and inoperable...

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Steve A
92 W140 OM603
97 VW Jetta TDI
90 Passat variant TDI 6 speed MT
94 Chevy K1500 6.5TD
05 E320 CDI
+ others

Thats a Becker Mexico 7498. I dont think it has been released in the US yet. I could be wrong though.

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Satan creates nothing: he only ruins everything. He does not invent: he tampers. And his followers are no different ~ Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò

Becker Autosound Website

no connection but found this

I have used Blaupunkt Bahamas radios in my cars. 1968 W110 200D:


1980 W116 300SD:


For being a modern radio, they are fairly simple in looks and function. They have an analog volume dial with mute button and are fairly no-nonsense. It supports AM/FM/CD/MP3/AUX input/bluetooth and comes with a remote control. I also have a cassette player attached.

Unfortunately, this model has been discontinued, but sometimes old stock appears on eBay and they may have similar models.

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Stop paying for animal enslavement, cruelty, and slaughter. Save your health and the planet. Go vegan! I did 18 years ago. https://challenge22.com/

DON'T MESS WITH MY MERCEDES!


1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Highly Optioned, 350,000+ Miles

Hm, that Bahamas doesn't look half bad!

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[GONE] - 1995 Mercedes E300 Diesel - 130k miles - Smoke Silver (702) over Mushroom leather (265) - Bladder blasting, coast-to-coast work machine.

I like Nakamichi heads for their uncluttered look, simple/tastefull display & good sound.

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1991 300D

sorry OT, did that SD come with manual climate control? i thought they all have the dreaded Chrysler servo climate control.

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1983 300SD (daily driver)
1991 420SEL (work in progress)
1979 300SD (future replacement for 83 SD)

RIP:
1983 300SD (totalled)
1986 420SEL

No, I partially converted it to manual, but in a few months I will be fully converting it to manual and getting it to work on modern R134A refrigerant. I also converted the power windows and sunroof to manual, added Euro headlights, etc.: My Custom 1980 W116 300SD Project

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Stop paying for animal enslavement, cruelty, and slaughter. Save your health and the planet. Go vegan! I did 18 years ago. https://challenge22.com/

DON'T MESS WITH MY MERCEDES!


1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Highly Optioned, 350,000+ Miles

That looks like the unit Mechatronik uses in their Restomod Benzes. Much better than the normal Becker Retro crap.

http://www.koenigs-klassik.de/Becker/Becker_Navi_im_Retro-Look/becker_navi_im_retro-look.html

The Blaupunkt Bahamas was the one unit I was thinking off when I was choosing a replacement stereo to the Eclipse CD3413 in my 300D. The Eclipse went to the 190E so I wanted to get a replacement. I ended up with a Blaupunkt New Orleans:




The Blaupunkt San Francisco (310) apparently does not fit my 1983 300D, according to Crutchfield. It is a nice looking unit, but the font seems too thin/narrow in the display.

I think if I get a replacement unit, I'll go with a Nakamichi 500


There are also Becker units available:

MERCEDES BENZ UPGRADE

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

Yay! Someone else who agrees with me, the modern radios look like crap in the old 1xx cars.

Both of my M-Bs had modern radios when i acquired them, and they got swapped for proper period appropriate Beckers.

Contact Ed Ebel at Becker, he is very helpful, he fixed both of my radios that were not working. He is amazing, fixed both my radios while I waited. Both times I had to fly to NJ for work, so I dropped it off, grabbed a sandwich and by the time I came back he had it running like it was new.

Ed's phone number is 201.773.0976

Also to anyone else reading this, if you come across any unwanted Becker equipment, contact Ed, he told me to let y'all know he is looking for cores, and will buy them. He says there are lots of valuable NLA parts in these old units. Whatever you do, don't junk it!

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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech