Changer compatibility??

[Yosser]

I have just bought a 1998 C180 estate W202 which has the standard Audio 10 cassette head unit and 6 CD changer in the boot.

I might like to update things so that I have either a changer that is MP3 compatible or a head unit that is, or indeed both.

I understand that the standard kit is made by Becker, so does it follow that a Becker head unit could control the MB changer?

Is the installed cabling of some standard connection type?

Ta.

 

[Rob77]

Before you tear out the entire system, have you thought of trying one of those cassette / MP3 converters? You can get one for under a fiver on Ebay.

 

[Yosser]

Thanks for that, but I was really meaning a CD player which would play CD's containing tracks in MP3 format.

Hope that makes sense

 

[Rob77]

Ok, I see what you mean. I'm in the process of sourcing a system that's probably very much what you have now, maybe with another amp and some speakers. From what I understand, the standard Audio 10 could be made by Becker or Alpine (mine is Becker).

I don't know anything about the Alpine unit but my Becker head unit will only take a changer with a fibre optic connection. I think some of the Becker (ie non-Mercedes branded units) will interface with the standard fitment but you'd have to check that. I'm sure the Becker Silverstone 2662 works, for example but I don't know if it takes MP3 format CDs as that wasn't a feature I was concerned about.

I'd be amazed if someone didn't do a changer that would offer the feature you're looking for though. As I think about it, isn't it possible to upgrade the software on your existing changer? It's late and I'm a bit tired but it would seem feasible.

 

[Yosser]

Ok Rob, maybe I should remove the head unit and changer to check what the connectors are.

I'm interested in the idea of a software (firmware) update for the changer - does anyone know if that's a possibility???

 

[Rose Chap]

The Audio 10 I had in my 2001 CLK was made by Becker and the CD changer input was fibre optic, though power to the changer was provided by conventional cables.

Judging by the green magazine eject button, the Mercedes Benz branded CD Changer looks to be made by Alpine. I'd be interested if someone could put a different Alpine changer in place (with similar fibre connections) and still have the ability to control it from the head unit.

It would great to be able to have 300 MP3s on a CD rather than 18 tracks!

 

[Yosser]

It would great to be able to have 300 MP3s on a CD rather than 18 tracks!

Thats exactly what I was thinking.

I'll have to extract the head unit and changer and make further enquiries.

 

[harry halford]

hi dont suppose you know where i can bye a becker 2662 do you many thanks harry

 

[Rob77]

I could sell you my one if you want

 

[harry halford]

hi rob would like to by your 2662 becker is it in working order h.halford@ntlworld .com i new to the mb club hope you can help

 

[harry halford]

I could sell you my one if you want

hi rob im interested in your becker 2662 can you email with the price regards [email protected]

 

[harry halford]

becker

I could sell you my one if you want

i would like toby the becker from you is it in good working order also how much would you want for it regards harry [email protected]

 

[Rob77]

Hi Harry, yes it works fine. I'll need to wait till after the weekend though as I'm over 200 miles away from it at the moment.

Once I get back to it, I'll look it over and email you the details. As I recall, it was like new.

 

[harry halford]

ok, i see what you mean. I'm in the process of sourcing a system that's probably very much what you have now, maybe with another amp and some speakers. From what i understand, the standard audio 10 could be made by becker or alpine (mine is becker).

I don't know anything about the alpine unit but my becker head unit will only take a changer with a fibre optic connection. I think some of the becker (ie non-mercedes branded units) will interface with the standard fitment but you'd have to check that. I'm sure the becker silverstone 2662 works, for example but i don't know if it takes mp3 format cds as that wasn't a feature i was concerned about.

I'd be amazed if someone didn't do a changer that would offer the feature you're looking for though. As i think about it, isn't it possible to upgrade the software on your existing changer? It's late and i'm a bit tired but it would seem feasible.

hi rob yes i would like to by your becker 2662 from you sorry i have not got in touch with you im new to this site and the computor thing, didnt know where to look just found your message you sent,as i said im very interested if you can let me know how much you would like for it my email address is [email protected] many thanks harry

 

[harry halford]

hi harry, yes it works fine. I'll need to wait till after the weekend though as i'm over 200 miles away from it at the moment.

Once i get back to it, i'll look it over and email you the details. As i recall, it was like new.

hi rob77 wondered if you have sorted out the becker 2662 yet regards harry [email protected]

 

[harry halford]

Thanks for the reply rob looking forward to hearing from you soon regards harry

 

[richard]

Alpine make a D2B interface for their Mbus (and with a further adapter AI-net) CD changers

So you can put in their MP3 compatable changer and interface it to the D2B on Audio-10/Audio-30/Audio-30-APS/COMAND-2.0/COMAND2.5

KCA-430A (about £175) D2B->Mbus
KCA-130B (abouy £20) Mbus->AInet
CHA-S634 (about £200) MP3 compatable Alpine AInet CD changer

As Alpine make the Mercedes D2B cd changer, this is likely to work well. Do remember that the mercedes head units (above) do not support CD text etc and have a limit of 99 tracks on a CD, so I guess your MP3's will show up as 99 tracks and you'll have to remember which is which !

Richard