I saw a system that offers the following:
AUTO SOUND: This function automatically adjusts the volume to your driving speed. The automatic volume adjustment can be set to six levels (0-5). Note: The head unit's white wire needs to be connected to the Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS). With the signal from the Vehicle Speed Sensor, this feature can increase and decrease the volume level of the Casablanca. Assuming the vehicle has a non-mechanical speedometer, this feature will work.

Anyone with any experience on this?

Steve
'85 500SL Euro

The later MB models and Becker radios (late 80s and newer) had this feature as well and all models since 1995 (in Europe) come with an additional wire for speed/volume control at the radio...
Our 86 euro SL did not have the speed/volume wire at the back of the radio, but it had an electronic speedometer.
I don't know whether the SL's before the model update in 1985 had an electronic or mechanical speedometer...

greetingz,

Thanks, MBenz.
 

I am not sure, but I think it's electronc. I still don't like the idea of pulling it out if it's not a factory set-up. I would like to find a unit that just senses the noise and raises the volume. I had an early 80's Nissan 200SX Turbo that had it and it worked.

I will look into the electric speedometer.

Steve
'85 500SL Euro

Speed Sensors are IMO annoying
 

I am not sure of the idea of installing this feature on an older car, but I can recommend actually driving a car (I assume that 200SX had it?) that has it before you spend a lot of time trying to install it.

I have 2 cars, a porsche and a mercedes, becker and bose (respectively), that have this feature. I have yet to figure out how to turn that annoying feature off of the in the Mercedes. I did finally manage to turn it off on the Becker in the Porsche... and I much prefer it. I really do not enjoy speed sensing at all.

When you are talking to a passenger it moves up and down and is distracting. The only time I can see that it would benefit is when stopping at stop lights. However, in both cars, it does not lower enough to not annoy the others around me (top down, windows down, etc), so i end up manually changing it, anyway.

[Edited by porsche on 06-05-2001 at 07:20 PM]

The one in the 200SX worked well.
 

It did not really change the volume very much but in certain ranges it worked. This is not a critical feature so maybe I should just forget it. Thanks for the advice.

Steve

Re: Speed Sensors are IMO annoying
 

You can take out the head unit and disconnect the wire in the rear plug...if it is the same as in European models.
We have a special tool to take the separate pins out of the connector and taking out the speed sensing wire does not harm the radio at all.

greetingz,

Aaron - How to disable speed sensing volume control
 

Easiest way is to bring it to the dealer and get them plug in their MB computer and they'll disable it on your E320 free of charge in no time..