C36 STEREO vs C43 STEREO
 

POSTED THIS IN THE AUDIO FORUM BUT THOUGHT I MIGHT THROW IT UP IN HERE AS WELL...


I HAVE A 1997 C36 WITH THE FACTORY CASSETTE DECK AND 6 DISC CHANGER, AND HAVE SEEN PICTURES OF A SIMILAR, BUT DIFFERENT FACTORY STEREO UNIT IN THE C43'S, WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE KNEW THE DIFFERENCES, AND IF AN UPGRADE TO THE C43 UNIT IS POSSIBLE???? I DON'T REALLY LIKE THE CASSETTE PLAYER, BUT DO WANT TO KEEP A FACTORY UNIT IN THE CAR. THANKS...

P.S. LOOKS LIKE THIS...

WOW, I've never seen a Mercedes unit just like that! THe new model stereo is similar to that, but that one seems to have a multifunction display... I'm guessing it's from a different country?
Do a search on compatibility... I once posted a question similar to this. Good luck!

Re: C36 STEREO vs C43 STEREO
 

Do us one quick favour and turn your caps lock off. It's bad form.

The unit is smiliar to the 99+ fibre optic unit sold in North America, but the display is different.

You cannot take a unit from a 99 and bolt-in to a 98 and earlier. the 99+ use fibre optic connections. The unit from a 1998 C43 will fit in your car, but it's the same as the one in your 97 C36.

Thanks for the replies... I'm sure that this is a euro unit, and sounds like I am out of luck for an easy switch. How about this, did M-B make an in-dash single CD unit, that had the same features, (CD changer control, WB, etc.) as the cassette unit that would fit in a '97 C36???

Nope...
but it's not THAT big of a deal to have the CD in the trunk (largely due to prewiring) as opposed to the dash, is it?

No.... it's not a huge deal, but it would be nice to have in-car access to change at least one CD w/o getting into the trunk. Most car makers are finding that customers, while appreciative of CD changers, do not really like remote mount changers due to the access issue, and on new models are either installing them in the passenger cabin or having a single disc unit in dash. But I would still rather have my C36, than any new Honda, or Chevy, with this set up. I guess I'll have to make due...:D

Becker makes an "MB" in dash single unit that is also used in Porsche. Call them, but it ain't cheap...