Aftermarket Radio Placement

[n/a]

I'm looking to put a good stereo system in my 230, but don't want to mess up the look of the dash.  I searched the topic and found some ideas here and there, but I thought I'd resurface the topic and see what people have done and what they have liked and not liked.  Any input (and perhaps pictures) would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!

Dan H

1965 230 SL Euro 4 speed (me)
2004 230 SLK Kompressor (my wife)

[blairwag]

I'm very interested in the same. I plan on ousting the old Becker Europa, in favor of a decent stereo with single CD. Nothing wicked fancy, just decent.

My BIG question is this: Even if I get a unit that fits snugly in the existing hole (I will NOT modify the size and shape of the rectangle hole), how do I mount the new unit? No boxes mount like the old Becker, anymore - where the heavy bars lever the whole box, from right behind the dash wall. Is there a aftermarket installation kit specifically for this car, or this type of application?

Many folks will recommend we install the new sound box behind the scenes, out of site, and leave the original radio in place, to retain the vintage look and value of the car. That may be important for many. But I'd rather have a nice stereo/CD in the dash where I can enjoy it. I'll keep the old Becker in the trunk incase I ever have any reason to reinstall it. (thus reason to NOT modify the hole)


--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William Blair Wagner: blairwag@earthlink.net
Education is not always knowing the answer,
...but rather knowing where to look for it!
1971 280SL US Automatic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[George Davis]

Pondering the same question myself.  Still in the thinking-about-it stage, but FWIW, I've installed a couple of aftermarket radio/CD players in Saabs with a similar dash opening.  The radios use a DIN mount system, basically a light sheet metal sleeve that fits in the dash opening and is held in place by bending tabs out to grip the dash.  I suspect these will fit the later cars, but not the 230 SLs.

The radio slides into the sleeve and clips in place, but it also has to be supported at the rear; the sleeve and tabs alone could not support the weight.  I think some guys have said there is a stud behind the dash for this, but am not sure.  It might take a little fabrication to make the rear support, but the radio kits had a strap for that purpose.  Would have to work through the glove box opening to attach it to the radio.

George Davis
'69 280 SL Euro manual

[knirk]

I must say that the sight of a modern radio/CD player in the dash of the Pagoda is a little depressing and touches a string of something (which my wife says I don’t have) in side of me.

But good sound quality is important for me as well so I hid the player inside the glove compartment. Took out the inner box and made a plate with the standard DIN hole. Had to mount it all the way to the right to get enough space behind. There were already holes in the plate behind the seats so I mounted 2 Kicker mid tone speakers here and let the sound go through the carpet. The amp and freq. splitter just fitted in the room as well. I have a SUB lying loose in the middle. To tweeters are mounted under the dash on a bracket with only one screw in a hole already there. I can remove the SUB and tweeters in 30 seconds.

A little hard to operate the player with the seatbelts on – perhaps a remote control would have been nice. The sound is great!

(I tried to put in some pictures, but it didn't work)


Per G. Birkeland
69 280 sl aut 834
Norway

[n/a]

Sounds like a lot of us in the same boat.  I'd like to keep the integrity of the dash with the Becker in it, and I'll keep it working with the dash speaker, if I can.  I had considered building a box with a DIN opening that would mount under the center of the dash and perhaps be fairly removable, if the need be.  For speakers I was just going to use the holes that are already in the wall behind the seats with some good full range 4x6's.  I guess you could also mount speakers in the boards that cover the bottom of the area behind the seats.  Any body done this?  How does it look?

And I was definitly going to get one with a remote, because the belts don't let you go anywhere when you're strapped.

Dan

1965 230 SL Euro 4 speed
2004 230 SLK

[Cees Klumper]

I mounted a modern radio/CD player underneath the driver's seat, in its own protective box. Low-range speakers are in the wood covers behind the seats (I still need to hide them as Per described, there is special material available that acts like carpet but lets sound through properly) and tweeters at the dash. For operation, I use a remote control that I just point down at the floor and it works well.

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[knirk]

Cees,
an excellent idea to mount a remote controlled player under the seat – I didn’t know that there was enough room, and then I can have the glove comp. room back.

Finally managed to upload my pictures so here is my present solution:

Download Attachment: players.jpg
63.59 KB

Download Attachment: front.JPG
70.45 KB

Download Attachment: Amp.JPG
77.51 KB

Per G. Birkeland
69 280 sl aut 834
Norway

[n/a]

I faced the same challenge.  I wanted quality sound in my Pagoda but I didn't want to ruin the classic look of the dash with an anachronistic modern radio.  I ended up with a compromise that I'm happy with.  I installed a modern CD/Radio that has a motorized faceplate which retracts when not in use or when the ignition is off.  I applied a piece of mahogany veneer and an aftermarket Mercedes medallion to the back of the faceplate to help the whole unit look more like it belonged. For the speakers I build some boxes and covered them with the same mahogany veneer.  They say put on the deck behind the seats with self adhesive Velco that grips the existing carpet.  I kept my Becker radio so I can return to the original look if need be.  The system looks and sounds great and there's no permanent modification to the car.  I tried to attach some pictures but I couldn't get the files to suceessfully upload to the post (any suggestions?).

Very respectfully,
Jim Cox
San Diego
64 230sl euro  

[knirk]

Sometimes it's impossible to upload pictures - maybe a server problem. However take a look at this instruction from Admin: http://www.sl113.com/forums/index.php?topic=12

Per G. Birkeland
69 280 sl aut 834
Norway

[erickmarciano]

I am using the original europa II from my late 280sl with a sony 10 cd changer in the trunk with a 4X25 amp , the 2 front speakers go to a fader control than the amp so I can control the sound front back

1971 280sl
1962 VW
1954 Allstate vespa
1958 gs150 vespa
1962 gs160 vespa

[Ben]

When I got my car there was already a mid 80's stereo in it so I fitted a modern Sony CD player !

I hate it !!

Sure the sound is good but I am embarrassed any time someone looks at the car !  I havent managed to get a Becker yet but I use the car so much that something will have to be done soon !!

I did see a guy at a show over here, prize wining 280SL, he had the Becker in the dash then a 6CD stacker bolted to the underside of the rear wooden shelf, with the head unit alongside. He then had a remote unit built perfectly into the ashtray. He just turned off the Becker and opened the ashtray and selcted whatever he wanted. I couldn't see any speakers but the sound was very good !

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.
'03 CLK Kompressor

[n/a]

Hi,

I reckon the best option is to remove the stereo all together from the dash, place somewhere else (like under seat or whatever) and set a trunk badge in its place as was the factory option if no stereo was fitted.

[n/a]

Try Walter Odemer in Burbank, CA. 818 846-2819

tom in CA

[TheEngineer]

I didn't do it! But the previous owner had a Blaupunkt München RDM 169 US installed with a 400 watt amplifier under the driver's seat and speakers in the vertical wall in the back. On that radio, the face hinges down to expose the CD player. It is fully programmable, even sets the displayed time when a station is tuned which transmits the time. I never have had the volume set to full.

1969 280SL,Signal Red, A/T, P/S, A/C, Both tops.    Ret. engr.