CD Player
 

Hi all,

Quick question, I have the am/fm cassette player in my car "original radio". I am not sure if I can install a CD player and run it with my factory radio.

Where would the CD player go? In dash, in trunk? I am interested in installing a factory CD player and I am not sure it I would have to replace my current radio or if it's and addition to.

Thanks,
Joel

When u say cd player r u referring to a cd changer to go with your factory radion?

If that is the case yes you can buy a changer with RF modulation you would have to install it in the trunk , most of them come with a wired remote.

I was thinking of the same thing to but i ended up changing the whole system with a cassette player and a 6 disc cd changer the changer was so small i was able to easy install it in the glove box compartment , I prefer it that way because I would have to have to pull over to change my cd,s

I have a '91 300E which should have the same Becker radio as your car. There was a 10-CD changer available for these cars that was a dealer installed option. The price was around $1,100 and the changer had a bad reputation. The unit is made by Sony for Becker and is called the Silverstone 980.

After owning my car for a while I decided that I wanted one of these changers but they were no longer available and Becker wouldn't sell what they had left.

Then last January I heard that Becker was selling these as reconditioned units. They came with new cables, a new cartridge but w/o the bracket to mount the unit in the trunk.

I bought one of these units ($370) from Becker and then bought a mounting bracket from a guy in California. The bracket was $85 plus shipping and a bit overpriced but the only other option I had was to make one (quite easy if you have one as a template).

The CD changer goes in the trunk. It mounts vertically in the curb side wheel well near the tuner and amplifier for the radio. Installation is a snap. You just remove the liner on the curb side of the trunk, plug the cables into the tuner, mount the bracket with three machine screws, plug the cables into the changer and then mount the changer in the mount.

Disconnect power from the battery before installing the unit.

Call Ed Ebel at Becker at 1-888-423-3537, X207 about the changer.

Call Walter Odemer at 1-818-846-2819 about the bracket.

My unit sounds great and has worked flawlessly. I'm convinced that any problems with the original changer were fixed before the reconditioned units were sold.

Just a follow-up on my post. The owner's manual for the car describes how to operate the changer.

The bracket mounts on the lip of the base of the trunk and hangs down into the well (curbside). You have to drill three holes in the lip for the mounting screws.

I put a wadded up sock under the bottom of the changer to give it a bit more support than you get with the bracket.

If these units are still available, it will be the best investment you can make. It transforms the sound system.

The cartridges are standard 10-CD Sony that are widely available.

Since I heard a rumor that the original problem of jamming could be avoided by not putting all 10 CD's in a cartridge, I've been putting in 6. I doubt it makes any difference but I'm sometimes paranoid:)

Thanks again
 

Hey, could you people please be a little more helpfull?? You mean I have to dial the phone myself??

As usuall the help provided has completely exceeded expectations. I'll follow-up with the contacts provided.

I am glad to see I am not the only one who has thought of this, almost didn't post thinking it was a dumb question.

Thanks again!!!!

Joel

You need to check out www.autotoys.com. They sell aftermarket stuff (Alpine, Sony, etc.) and the cables to plug in to the factory wiring. We did this on our C-class and it works right off the factory radio.

ctaylor738
 

Thanks for the link,

I called the beker guy and he quoted me $500 for changer, cartridge, and wiring. Seemed a little steep.

Open to all options, thanks will check it out.

Your help is appreciated,
Joel

$500 is a big boost in price over the $370 I paid in January. Add the bracket and the cost would be over $600.

On the one hand, the Becker cost around $1,100 new and it's the best option available. On the other hand, paying $600 for a unit for a 10 year old car is hard to justify.

I'd personally have to think long and hard about the $600 but I never found any alternative that was acceptable to me.

You'd get some of it back when you sold your car and it's a VERY NICE system. We have ours playing continuously on Random.

Good luck.

Hi Bud:

Why do you need to disconnect the battery before installation if it is just a plug and play?

Even with the ignition switch off, you can change cartridges in the changer so there are always some hot wires in the cable. As soon as you hooked up the cables, the changer would start checking to see what's in the cartridge.

Actually, I forgot to disconnect the battery when I did mine and I was lucky I didn't blow a fuse or do some damage.

As with any electrical systems, it's best to turn off the power when working on them.

After installing this changer, I'd never buy another car w/o a CD changer, preferably in the trunk. Any changer I'd get would have to take a cartridge. I don't want to carry around a bunch of loose CD's.

My 300E came with the changer and cables sitting in the trunk. There is also a black box about twice the size of a pack of playing cards there. there seems to be several different combinations to hook up the cables and I want to be right the first time. Any thoughts?

Attn: Bud
 

I have a used 10 disk Becker, cable and bracket for sale -- $300.

To tell if your Becker Grand Prix radio will accept the Becker Silverstone CD changer, check the buttons on the radio...if there is a "MODE" button, the radio will control the Silverstone.

I bought the Silverstone from Becker NA last December for $370 and made my own bracket. Sorry to hear the the price went up. that would be a tough decision.

i agree that $500 is expensive for a refurb unit. you can get a more current alpine unit and the correct adapter kit for the same amount...

cd changer
 

I know sooner or later I'll need to go the CD route so I can play the same music in car, house, portable, etc.

As mentioned previously the $600 is too steep for me.

As mentioned above used might be a good option. Not sure if this would be a find in bone yard but you never know.

Joel

c240 2002
 

I just bought a 2002 c240, did anyone know how to install a cd changer in it? Please be specific......

Solution to Becker Silverstone 980 problem
 

I just wanted to pass this experience along in case it may help someone. I have a 92 300E and wanted to put a Becker 980 Silverstone CD changer in it. I found one on Ebay and when I plugged it into the tuner in the trunk the Becker head unit recognized the changer but the loading mechanism on the changer was not working. I called Becker several times and finally got a response that they may not be able to repair these anymore because they were having problems getting a power relay for them. Even if they could repair them the cost is $250.00 including shipping for a 10 year old worn out player. I checked into the Alpine 620 changer but the Becker head unit in the 92 300e requires about $300 worth of conversion cables and data converter boxes. This was 3 times the price of the Alpine CD changer I had located. I finally went with a CD changer with an FM modulated tuner. The output plugs directly into the antenna tuner in the trunk and it works like a charm. It has a digital to analog converter so the sound is not supposed to be quite as crisp but I honestly cannot tell the difference. High quality CDs sound absolutely clean to me. The best part is the late model CD changers will play all home recorded CD-R and CD-RW and the old Becker Silverstone will not. Hope this helps someone avoid all the wasted time I spent researching the Becker system.

Could use please explain where in the trunk is the antenna tuner? Is it where the changer connectors are? BTW, what model did you get? Thanks.

If your factory radio has six buttons (for control of all six CD's) and a CD button, you can install an Alpine MP3 changer in the trunk using the factory cable. You will be limited to 99 songs per CD. Only certain Alpine models work and adaptors have to be used as well.

Please do a search and you will find a lot of information. You are in the wrong section as well. Instead of Tech Help, select Car Audio.

You can e-mail Scott at Lajolla audio and he can also provide you with information. I bought mine from this place. They are expensive, but they have all the compatability research done and the customer service is pretty good.

scott@lajollaaudio

CD Changer
 

For a 92 model 300e the original Becker sound system is a two piece unit. The tuner for the radio is in the trunk on the passenger side. The right hand trunk liner must be removed to access the tuner. The antenna plugs into the tuner. (this is where the FM modulated output from the CD changer plugs in as well) You can plug into power for the cd changer if you have a Mercedes "L" shaped plug and power cable into the back of the tuner. (only two wires) Otherwise tap into power wires elsewhere in trunk

I bought a Pioneer FM Modulated 6 disc CD changer for $170 new. It comes with an infrared remote so you can control the changer from the front seat.

JVC makes 6 disc and 12 disc changers and Sony makes a 10 disc changer for roughly the same price. These are available at any Best Buy.

I talked to Scott at Lajolla prior to making my decision. These guys are very helpful and knowledgeable. Unfortunately the lowest cost system they could recommend was an original reconditioned Becker 980 at about $500 or an Alpine 620 (with unbelievably expensive converter cables) for around $500 as well.

Hope this helps.

140 CD
 

I had one in my 92 500SEL, I went bad, it seems it would not eject the cartrige and the motor kept on running. This thing is hot all the time, so it would not shut off. I finally removed it and a plastic gear fell out. I am debating, if I should get it repaired or shelving it. It is a 980 Silverstone. Looking at the precious post I doubt I would pay $500 for a recon. or whatever Becker would charge to repair it. I just replaced the "Bose Amp" for $600...nuff is enuff!

Thanks RDM. I have a Becker changer unit from a 91 300e, but the unit had the stuck cartridge problem. I open the unit, retrieved the stuck disc & ejected the cartridge. Not realizing the problem was with the magazine, I put it in & it stuck again. After the second successful removal operation, when I tried to play the cd I got interference - I heard the radio. I stopped pursuing whether it was the cable or something I did when getting to the stuck cd. Subsequently I totaled the caar, but retrieved the changer unit (Had I known then what i know now from this board, I also would have taken the cables & bracket.) I got a replacement 91 300e, & am leaning toward getting an rf changer unit instead of investing money in the 11 year old becker unit. I suspect that any sound degredation in the rf unit is immaterial because of all the ambient noise from driving-it is not exactly a critical listening experience as one might do at home with headphones.
Regards & thanks.
Rich

The problem with the Silverstone jamming was with the cartridges that were supplied with the original MB dealer installed units.

Using off-the-shelf Sony cartridges seem to work fine. Mine's been working continously for two years (knock on wood).

Why would only 4 out of 10 cds load?
 

On a 92 300E with a becker silverstone, does anyone know why it only loads 4 out of 10 cds?

It's strange cause it loads and plays #2, 3, 9, and 10. Pushing any other button shows "no disc or empty -- --" and doesn't load.

Too bad I had not found this thread earlier, I recently got a new original cd magazine as I just bought the car in July and it was missing (I would have looked for a sony magazine instead.

Any help with this problem would be a big help.

Thanks in advance,
Acky

Acky,
Just to make sure there are no problems with the CD's, try switching them around to see if the trouble follows the CD's.
Bud