In an email to me, one of our members asked that I recap my final solution for music in my 280 SL. Once I wrote it all out I knew I'd never want to do that again so, for the archives and anyone interested, here is my answer to discrete tunes for the W113:
Chris:
This Thursday, the 21st of April I am going out to San Diego to do the 'final' on my 280 restoration and take about a 100 mile test drive through the valley / desert to check it out. It will then be shipped back here so I should have it in Atlanta in about 3 - 4 weeks at most.
The audio solution I came up with is this:
Traded the original Becker Europa in to Becker for a restored Europa II stereo. For $125 they took the old one, gave me a newly restored (E II) and included the cable that plugs into a Europa II that allows you to connect any accessory device like an MP3 player or discman or in my case, an iPod Shuffle ($99 or $149 depending on capacity you choose).
Having gone from mono to stereo, Becker suggested abandoning the center speaker and deciding where and how to place at least two speakers for stereo sound. I am adding a very small Sony power amp under the dash (like 50w / channel) and having some new speakers fashioned for the kick panels. The stereo shop doing that is actually recreating new kick panels from fiberglass and flush mounting the speakers. The kicks will be covered in leather to match everything else and the fabric speaker grills will be dyed to match the leather. These will be the only two speakers in the car.
I purchased a new ashtray ($69) and had a friend that does metal work cut out the snuffer and polish smooth the interior rim. He also cut a 1/8" hole in one corner of the bottom of the ashtray. I built up the bottom of the ashtray with 4 layers of 3/16" gator board so it wouldn't be quite so deep, then lined the interior of the ashtray with matching leather. A 1/8" black rubber grommet finishes off the leather where the cable runs through and another protects the cable where it exits the metal bottom of the ashtray.
I purchased an 8' audio cable with a 90 degree stereo mini jack on one end. When you open the ashtray, there is about 8" of this cable present with the mini jack, making it easy to attach the iPod and let it rest in the console box if you choose. This plugs into the iPod shuffle which neatly and easily drops back into the ashtray allowing you to close the lid and visually see nothing. The cable comes out the bottom of the ashtray, runs under the carpet to behind the dash where it plugs into the cable (box) Becker supplied with the Europa II.
The tiny iPod shuffle is essentially the equivalent of a 20 disc cd changer, holding 240 songs, but the size of a pack of gum. You simply turn it on, select "continuous loop" or "shuffle", drop it in the ashtray and adjust the volume to your liking right there on the dash via the Becker.
It sounds like a lot of work which it really wasn't. The work was figuring all of that out which I did and am happy to share. The result is the ability to have the equivalent of 20 cd's of music with real decent sound, volume adjustable from the dash installed Becker and the only visible modification is the speakers in the kick panels which are virtually invisible.
Ed Cave
Atlanta, GA
1964 356C
1971 280SL
1973 911S
2002 SC430
2004 A4 3.0
