Becker Stereo

[n/a]

Hi Everyone

The data sheet for my 230 SL indicates that it originally came with a Becker Europa radio which is long gone and replaced with a crappy Pioneer unit from the 80's. I've managed to find a reconditioned Becker Mexico stereo cassette player from a late 60's 280 SL. It certainly looks the part and the tuning/volume knobs match my car's other controls. The problem is that it doesn't fit into the dash space and the hole needs to be slightly enlarged. While I'm loathe to alter the hole size, I really would like a more suitable style radio and the cassette is a bonus. Any thoughts?

Thanks, Mark

1965 230 SL

[Douglas]

Go to:

http://www.koenigs-klassik.de/indexe.html

If it were me, I'd look for a thinner Becker, then install a Becker Olympia glovebox tape player using the DIN plug in the back of the radio. (Then you could use a cassette adaptor and use an MP3 player as well).

Just a thought.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
#018260

[n/a]

Mark,
I would go for the original Europa in the dash and put a newer unit in a hidden area (under seat, boot, ?), but I am an originality fanatic.
I  think there is a Europa on eBay now.

Regards,
Stan

[hands_aus]

I believe that the radio opening is larger on the later 250sl and 280 sl models than the 230 and early 250 sl models which have a separate centre panel.
Maybe you could widen the hole and put the radio in there.
Also buy a spare centre panel (I have seen them on Ebay) for the future if you plan to sell the car. You could just tell the new owner. It probably won't be an issue.

Bob(Brisbane,Australia)

[ja17]

Hello Mark,
The earlier cars had a smaller 1 3/4" high "slimeline escutcheon" (Becker #016187 256) unit and a mono radio. The later radios WITHOUT the cassette can be used in the small opening cars by switching the the front escutcheon unit sometimes. The Becker with the intigrated cassette will not fit in the small opening in the early cars without modifing the sheetmetal, since the front escutcheon will not fit and the earlier small escuteon will not change over. Check this message later. I will post some pictures with this message later today. Ed Ebel with Becker of North America is the real expert and is very helpful with information, parts, sales and service on these old units ( eebel@beckerautosound.com ).

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[n/a]

Europas are available. Just keep looking. They are pretty cool units to boot.

Rudy
Los Angeles
1971 280 SL

[pembash]

quote:Originally posted by rudy

Europas are available. Just keep looking. They are pretty cool units to boot


Rudy
Los Angeles
1971 280 SL

[pembash]

Hello Mark,
Happy to note that another Pagoda lover lives not too far away.
I'd be happy to keep contact with you to learn through exchange of views about the Pagoda.
Best regards

Bob
Canberra
e-mail: pembash@yahoo.com




The data sheet for my 230 SL indicates that it originally came with a Becker Europa radio which is long gone and replaced with a crappy Pioneer unit from the 80's. I've managed to find a reconditioned Becker Mexico stereo cassette player from a late 60's 280 SL. It certainly looks the part and the tuning/volume knobs match my car's other controls. The problem is that it doesn't fit into the dash space and the hole needs to be slightly enlarged. While I'm loathe to alter the hole size, I really would like a more suitable style radio and the cassette is a bonus. Any thoughts?

Thanks, Mark

1965 230 SL
[/quote]

[n/a]

Thanks for your thoughts on the radio issue everyone. It seems I have a more pressing problem now. Try as I might I can't get the old Pioneer stereo out, It's too big to fit through the opening from the front. Someone told me that the previous owner must have installed it by removing the glove box and gaining access through the side after removing the clock. Has anyone done this?

Mark


1965 230 SL

[hands_aus]

Hey MarkR,
This is more time consuming than anything else. Disconnect the power because the glove box light, and possibly the radio too, will have power all the time.
You need to remove the screws holding the glove box (they are on the inside edge top and bottom) then gently pull the whole inner cell and door of the glove box out.
The door is usually riveted to the body of the glove box so it will come out as one unit.
You need to be careful when doing this because there is a spring arrangement on the RHS of the door. This is used to keep the door closed when the lock has not been keyed closed.
There is a light switch mechanism (on the left hand side) with a plug that will have to be disconnected from the wiring to the light in the glove box itself.
The clock is easy to remove. There are two knurled nuts that screw on two threaded bolts that are part of the clock case. Also there is a plug cable that just pulls off. You can't put it back wrongly because of the shape of the plug itself.
You might have to remove the fan switch too. This is easy... pull the knob off, then screw the chromed ring off. Behind, there is a plug that just pulls off. The switch then pushes out the back.
NOTE, there will be an earth wire from the radio to the chassis. Any replacement radio will need to use that connection.
There could be an inline fuse just behind the radio itself.

Bob(Brisbane,Australia)

[Joe]

Someone put a small switch in the dash to control the electric antenna. I'd like to eliminate it, since it is not original. Can someone tell me how to wire the antenna to the Becker radio so it comes up when the radio is turned on and descends when the radio is turned off? I assume that is the way the antenna is supposed to work.
Thanks,
Joe

[ja17]

Hello Mark,
Here is a picture of the early Becker 1 3/4" wide escuteon plate and the Becker 2 1/8" wide later escuteon plate. Notice the early and late knobs also.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

Download Attachment: Becker .jpg
53.35 KB

[TA250SL]

My early Grand Prix has a pair of terminals near the speaker connection labelled "+".  The power antenna has a lead that connects to this termial for activation.

Tom

[n/a]

Thanks everyone and especially Joe for going to all that trouble to show the different escuteon plates. I notice that the Mexico radio cassette I have did not come with an escuteon, only the face plate. Clearly, the escuteon holding my current radio won't fit the Becker. This is getting more complicated by the minute!

One more question: A notice that a Becker Europa 2 is currently for sale on Ebay. This sopunds like it is a later unit. Will this fit the 230 SL?

Mark

1965 230 SL

[n/a]

Mark,
The Europa II has an escuteon that requires a 55mm (2 1/8") opening.
The Europa II is a stereo which provides decent sound (better than the single speaker), however the knobs will not match your 230 SL.

Regards,
Stan

[ja17]

Hello Mark and Stan,
I have some additional radio information and pictures. These Becker radios got a lot smaller over the years. I just took a Becker Europa II Stereo and removed it's escutcheon plate and installed an early W113 escutcheon plate. It fit. Notice from the photos that the earlier knobs fit also. There  is a little extra space around the preset buttons which must have been larger in the earlier models. Notice that I did not have the plastic filler pieces for the early small escutcheon, however they would install fine if I had them. It looks like the whole radio will install from the front! Review the specs. I will also give some information on some of the other Becker models, cassets etc. soon.

The late escutcheon, face and knobs and the early W113 escutcheon and knobs
Download Attachment: Becker .jpg
53.36 KB

A later Becker Europa II Stereo (very compact!) along side early W113 escutcheon.
Download Attachment: Becker2.JPG
53.15 KB


Download Attachment: Becker3.JPG
53.26 KB

The early W113 escutcheon actually fits, notice a little extra space around the preset buttons.
Download Attachment: Becker4.JPG
55.84 KB

The entire compact Becker Europa II Stereo should install from the front, even on the early W113 cars with the small opening! Early knobs can be fitted so the unit looks original  with the exception of a little extra space around the preset buttons. The dentification bar "Becker Europa II" can even be switched if desired
Download Attachment: Becker5.JPG
56.16 KB

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[ja17]

Hello guys,
Here is a string from last summer with a lot of info on the subject!

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[rwmastel]

Can anyone comment on the reception and sound quality between the different models and years of the mono radios?  Likewise, between the different models and years of the stereo radios?  I don't think it's fair to compare mono to stereo, but if anyone can compare mono to mono and stereo to stereo, it would be information worth having.

A comment on the changes in radio reception and tuning technology would also be welcome.  And, I guess along with that, comments on what parts for what radios are not longer available.

With so many parts available and interchangeable, people searching for radios could use this information.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[J. Huber]

Along the same lines as Rodd's questions, what kind of power do the Becker Europas (and other 113-era units) put out? I have had more current stereos in mine over the years and had to go with "high-output" models to be able to really hear music on the highway with the top down. I wonder if anyone uses their Becker solely, or do most folks have a back-up stashed out of view.

Thanks.

James
63 230SL

[Cees Klumper]

My old mono Becker gets pretty good reception. The sound through the small dashboard speaker is good, although at highway speeds not sufficiently strong. So I do have a backup system which I have mounted on the floor beneath the driver's seat, operated through a small infrared remote control.

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[George Davis]

My Europa II stereo radio -without- separate amplifier gets pretty good reception, too, although occassional fiddling with the tuner is necessary to keep on a station.  Power output is low, and it distorts pretty badly at high volume settings, so it's basically pretty useless with the top down.  Between the low power and the wind howling around the antenna when it's up, I don't use it any more and just enjoy it's looks.

George Davis
'69 280 SL Euro manual

[n/a]

I had the same problem, a crappy Pioneer where a Becker should have been. Went to a junk yard and found a Europa II in a 70's sedan. Fit perfectly. I was hoping to just fill the hole, but turns out the radio works. Happended to have a spare set of JBL Control 1 speakers. They are small with plastic and rubber cabinets and hey, they're JBLs, what more could you ask for. Ran the speaker wires under the carpet to rear deck and set the JBLs there. They are very efficient and loud enough when pushed by the Becker. Adequate for tooling around with the top down. Haven't tried highway, but doubt much will keep up with wind and road noise without causing you to go deaf in the process. Problem with the JBLs is security. I take them out and put them in the trunk when I park the car. A tab of velcro on the cabint would keep them from rolling around.

Shawn Rock
Philly, PA USA
1968 280 SL 4 speed

[J. Huber]

Hi, I figured it would be quicker to ask than to search archives. Can early 113 knobs be "had and put" on a later 113 Europa II? Thanks.

James
63 230SL

[ja17]

Hello James,
Yes the early W113 knobs will fit right on the later radios. You can get a fresh new set of the old style from  Edd Ebel at Becker of North America. Ask him for the vintage radio pamphlet it has all these knobs and face plates pictured.
Tell him your from the W113 Pagoda SL Group. Becker contributed some nice door prizes to the last Ohio Tech Session.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[J. Huber]

Thanks Joe.

Best of luck with the gathering!



James
63 230SL