I still have the stock Alpine in my 190E with the Apline Active Bass System

Regards,

Don

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1998 C43 ///AMG
1999 C230 Custom 5-Speed Manual

The trick wouldn't be tracking down 4-ohm speakers since most car speakers are 4-ohms as Alon pointed out. The trick will be getting the dash and door sets to add up to 4-ohms. I suppose 8-ohm dash speakers and 8-ohm door speakers will do it. I wonder if there's a good selection of 8-ohm 4x6 speakers. Or you can go with a 6-channel system.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

When did the W126 start having the crazy, hard-to-replace stereo as an option? That might almost be a reason to avoid one of these cars if I couldn't just throw out the stock Becker head unit and put a CD deck in, like my dad and I did with the 380SE.

The best thing is, is that the stereo shop (in Wenatchee, WA of all places) had done a W126 before and wired the stereo so that the front-rear fader in the center console still functions.

-Sam

Only 91s have the two piece stereo. I don't know if it was standard or optional.

I think outboard amps and 10 speakers started in 88.

It's not that hard to replace a two piece stereo. It's just not plug and play.

Seems to me that keeping the factory fader in the loop is the easy way to wire the stereo in a 126 that doesn't have outboard amps. Saves on running new wires to the speakers.

I don't know the power rating of the factory fader.

I don't know if an ~88-up amp fader can be used with speaker level signals.

Once again it's head-to-head with Sam

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

I replaced the Becker h/u in my 1984 300SD with a Sony h/u--CD changer combo.

I replaced the Becker h/u in my current 1991 420SEL with an Alpine h/u--12 CD changer combo.

I replaced the Becker in my daughter's 1989 300TE with a Becker h/u and will soon install a CD changer for her.

The only Benz where I left the stock Becker in, was my former 1967 250SE.

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Current Benzes

1989 300TE "Alice"
1990 300CE "Sam Spade"
1991 300CE "Beowulf" RIP (06.1991 - 10.10.2007)
1998 E320 "Orson"
2002 C320 Wagon "Molly Fox"

Res non semper sunt quae esse videntur

My Gallery

Not in this weather!

No, seriously, any other 80's MB that has had a fader wheel with the aftermarket stereo that I've been in (okay, a 190E 2.6 and a 420SEL) have had their fader wheels inoperative. Fading was totally controlled through the head units in these cars.

This lead me to the conclusion that some people just bypass the factory wiring on some older MB's when they install aftermarket stereos.

-Sam

I guess it depends on the head unit. Using the factory fader requires a common ground. I know that some if not many aftermarket head units need a floating ground.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

I've kept the original in my 124 simply because the head units available today have too much cr*p on the displays. I like the simpler look of the Becker. I would upgrade if there were a decent looking unit out there, but then again I just had La Jolla Audio fix the Becker up for CD quality XM sound, so it'll stay.

My 16valve has a Nakamichi head unit/CD player that looks great. Nice simple black display that matched the interior of the car.

I replaced the head unit in my 123 a few years back with a Blaupunkt CD player (model Miami?). Still looks/sounds great. I plan to pull the unit out before donating the car.

I dont know about what the w126 came with from the factory but the euro DIN plug my Blaupunkt Woodstock had was a real PITA. (PO replaced the Becker with a high end Blaupunkt that with like 20watts out per channell a real killer back then I'm sure)
I know the BMW's like mine have the factory fader and everyone just cuts into the wires to bypass them.

BTW any specs on that new becker with the red lighting?

Well, when my dad gave me the 126, I had the becker for a year and liked it mostly cause of the look and the tape sounded like a CD WHEN IT WORKED!!! Then I scrapped it and got a JVC CD head unit and added 6x9's to the back shelf in the car and new dash speakers.

LOL.... nobody has 6x9's??? I will take a pic when I get the chance cause everyone thinks its impossible to put them in a 126!!

After constantly burning CD's, the piles started getting higher and my dad at the same time was looking for a new head unit for our motorhome so a yr later out went the JVC and in came a new model Pioneer MP3 unit and the sound in the car has never sounded better! The unit has built in crossovers and all our features which makes great sound.

I call my system now...the BOSE betta of the 126!

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99 C43
98 S420
99 C230K
01 C240

I do!

I still have the factory Becker radios in all of mine. I did put a fm modulator CD changer in my 89 300 SEL. It wont win any competitions, but it works for me. I like the clean look of a factory radio.



Terminator


02 C240W 13K
89 300 SEL 163K
83 300TD 190K

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Mike

90 300D 511k
95 C280 133k
14 BMW 528i

Here are the specs for that new Becker. Impressive but expensive!

http://www.continentalimports.com/4627.html

I put a stock Becker Mexico in my 450SEL. When I got the car it had some Pioneer light-show deck installed. Never liked the look of that.

My present car is an '85 300D with the stock Becker Grand Prix, all the functions work well and I like the look of a stock radio.

Great sound is cool when you're young, then you get to be my age and the only thing you listen to is talk radio. "You kids and your music...if I get my hands on you...one of these days...!"

I digress.

I wanted an in dash 6 CD changer, so the fine Becker moved to the 380SLC whose Becker tape player had worn out.

The Nakamichi was the only unit with the CD functionality which would fit, and it looks dignified, too. I bypassed the factory power amps.

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