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.

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

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

I like the Nakamichi look as well. Are they still available? Here's a reasonable deal on a used one: Nakamichi CD500 and MF51

Doesn't that Blaupunkt Bahamas have an intense blue light in the knob as I recall?

I ended up going with the Kenwood in the photo below. It's decent. The Blaupunkt San Francisco 310 looks even quieter and sells for 110 at Crutchfield.

Attached Thumbnails

   

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83 300TD, 260,000 miles, aka "Dusty"
6 vehicles, 2 cup holders (both in the dump truck)

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

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

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

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

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.: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/282304-my-custom-1980-w116-300sd-project.html

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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

the Nakamichi cd400 in the 85 came new from Amazon. Wasn't a bad price either.

I have since gone all digital/Pandora so a Kenwood KIV700 lives in the 99's dash. To honor the venerable Nakamichi, the tft screen is set to power down after a few seconds & control lights are set to red to minimize its presence. The sound & display is highly user-configurable--took me 1/2 hour or so to set it up right. From Death Cab for Cutie to Deadmau5, it all sounds good.

I like how the DD cheerfully accepts posts that should be in other forums

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1991 300D