ipod becker

[66andBlue]

quote:Originally posted by DavidAPease
....  Thus I never have to disconnect my XM radio or iPod to listen to AM, FM, SW, or LW radio.    (I bought this particular radio specifically for this feature.) ....

Hi David,
where did you install the XM radio? In the ash tray as shown in this picture? [I copied that from a 230SL on eBay: Item number: 170073981945].  And where is the antenna?
Download Attachment: XM radio.JPG
68.63 KB

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

[DavidAPease]

Hi, Alfred,

In the first photo in this thread: http://www.sl113.com/forums/index.php?topic=3788 you can see the Becker radio in the dash, and the XM radio in the center console.  If you look closely, you can see wires coming out from under the ashtray lid to the radio.  I ran power, antenna, and the radio connection wiring under the carpet and up through the ashtray, so that when I remove the the XM radio I can push the wires back into the ashtray and there's no sign of anything unusual.

In one of the other photo you can see that I have a rear wind deflector.  This wind deflector has a black panel that sits over the parcel shelf and supports the plastic shield.  A very small (and unmarked) XM antenna is velcroed to the top of that panel, and is almost unnoticable.  (I had folks at Blacklick stand next to the car and ask where the XM antenna was.)  If I wanted to remove any sign of the antenna, I could pull it off the panel and drop it below one side of the parcel shelf.

-David Pease
'66 French 230SL

[66andBlue]

Thanks David!
The wind deflector support panel looks like a good place for the antenna. Do you notice a loss of signal with the soft or hard top up?

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

[DavidAPease]

Hi, Alfred,

Certainly not with the soft top up.  I don't believe that I've had the hard top on since I installed the XM radio.  Best of luck!

-David Pease
'66 French 230SL

[66andBlue]

quote:Originally posted by jeffc280sl

 ....  You may need to splice an extension in the cable to make it long enough to reach your location. ....

I assume that James has finished the splicing job but if someone else needs to do this Amazon sells a 3ft (or 6ft) extension cable with DIN plugs (M/F) on both ends: http://www.amazon.com/Molded-Extension-Cable-Male-Female/dp/B000AA2PHQ/



Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

[hauser]

A buddy of mine has an FM transmitter for his ipod.  We tried it on my car and it sounded great!

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

[BABAK]

The fm transmitter is not as good as the ipod connection.

[Nate]

Has anyone had experience sending their radio back to Becker to have the 3.5mm jack installed in the face of the radio?  How much do they charge?

http://www.beckerautosound.com/Classic/classic_aux_instructions.html

[doitwright]

Contact Tom Mitchell at Becker for an exact quote but I think it is around the same as the cable - around $45 if I recall.  I know Tom Sargeant had it done on his Tunis Beige because I saw it at Blacklick.  I recently had my Europa II refurbished by Becker (including a new faceplate) and have yet to install it in the car.  I like the cable option because I did not like the thought of having a hole installed in the faceplate.  When I saw Tom's radio, I must admit is not very conspicuous and may be the most practical.

Frank Koronkiewicz
Willowbrook, Illinois

1970 280SL Light Ivory

[66andBlue]

quote:Originally posted by nate

Has anyone had experience sending their radio back to Becker to have the 3.5mm jack installed in the face of the radio?  How much do they charge?

Talked to Tom Mitchell and he quoted $100! Furthermore the jack cannot be installed into the older, small face plate radios for the 230SL.  
For those only the cable version will work.

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

[sjiatrou]

I picked up a 1964-correct Becker Grand Prix that was refurbished at Becker with the cable adapter. It works great and I don't have to look at a hole in the faceplate  The cable can be snaked under the carpet or pretty much anywhere so that it's not visible. I purchased the radio from Becker with the cable installed so I can't quote a price for adding the cable but I can say that it works great and I didn't have to alter the dash - and that was important to me.  

quote:Originally posted by 66andBlue

quote:Originally posted by nate

Has anyone had experience sending their radio back to Becker to have the 3.5mm jack installed in the face of the radio?  How much do they charge?

Talked to Tom Mitchell and he quoted $100! Furthermore the jack cannot be installed into the older, small face plate radios for the 230SL.  
For those only the cable version will work.

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

Steve
Seaside, CA
1964 230sl roadster
White (050)/Black (116)

[dixy2k]

Old topic, but renewed interest...

I have noticed on Becker website that the DIN cable connector does not work with the cassette models. They say that Becker Mexico cassette has only a mono jack.
Here's a direct quote:

"The cable is inserted into the external jack on the rear of the radio (note:  option is only available for non cassette units. Mexico cassette and Europa cassette units only have a mono jack on the rear also Mercedes model 110, 111, 112, and early 113 Coupe can only use this option)."

Does this mean it will not work at all with the cassette models, or it will not be able to play in stereo mode?

I think 66andBlue has an excellent point regarding the DIN cable, instead of splicing the cable just add an extension to it.
Thanks.

[Rolf]

The Apple Store sells several FM transmitters for the Ipod, so you can have a wirelss connection.