Show me your after market head unit!

[Doodle]

The above is exactly the reason why I ended up with the P88-RS2.

Simple, plain, and all about the audio. No animated dolphins, no changing colours. I suspect Ollie may be deafening the rest of the industrial estate with it as I type.

 

[greekCL]

I have the Pioneer DEH-8600MP
DEH-P8600MP - Pioneer Product Archive

I know it is not the latest but with built in crossovers and capabily to manage up to 3 amplifiers was the one I needed at that point.

Still works fantastic with supreme quality.
But again I do like the sound the pioneers reproduce.

 

[renault12ts]

The connections on the back of the Becker 3307 ( Mercedes Audio 30 ) appear to be the same as the Grand Prix and other Becker radios. I am assuming this means the steering wheel controls will work with any Becker Radio ( suchas the Grand Prix )??

 

[cleverdicky]

Old skool, for an old fool.

We've had it years, but I wouldn't swap it unless it wasn't viable to repair.

I went into a couple of car hifi shops, and the conversations were a little like this.

Me: I'm looking for something with good sound quality, no gimmicks and looks like the manufacturer put it there.

Them: How about this one, it has animated dolphins on the screen.

Me: I'm thinking less dolphins.

Them: You can change it to an animated racing car.

Thanks for that. Just made me laugh out loud. Rare these days.
I KNOW exactly what you mean. "Does what it says on the tin"

But there are others that are as modern with useful 'extras' and with out the dolphins. (what's wrong with dolphins?)

 

[renault12ts]

But do they work with the steering wheel controls, anybody??

 

[ollieclk]

But do they work with the steering wheel controls, anybody??

No they dont. I have written to Becker to ask if there is one done but the top connector is for the cd changer / ipod / aux input controller.

I will be doing a brief review of the grand prix with my initial thoughts.

 

[prc]

No they dont. I have written to Becker to ask if there is one done but the top connector is for the cd changer / ipod / aux input controller.

I will be doing a brief review of the grand prix with my initial thoughts.

That would be nice...

 

[cleverdicky]

Hey Guys, bit naughty of me for posting here, but came accross this while doing my nightly trawel for parts and thought of you.

Might be just what you need.

Mercedes W203 navigation CD radio player 1 DIN Audio 30 on eBay, also, Other Car Accessories, Car Accessories, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 21-May-09 13:31:34 BST)

 

[Setanta]

I am also thinking of the Becker (based on this thread) and would be great for your thoughts.

Can you run the Becker with an amp (not Becker) and would that make any difference? I am looking at what options I have with speaker replacement on my CL500 (C140) but sod all information out there on what the speaker sizes are.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

 

[V12]

Yes, i ran my becker with an amp, it requires an optional pre-out adapter lead.

The door speakers on your car are tricky and are definitely not directly replaceable, you will have to modify the speaker pods the original ones sit in or cut some mdf mounting boards.

At the moment you have as front top speaker 2", front bottom speaker 6", the one on the back of the door is 4" unless you have bose then it's all different again with even weirder sizes...!

You can quite easily fit a 3 way set of 6.5", 4" and a tweeter on the dash and then replace the "rear" speakers if you really need to, but in all honesty they don't do much anyway.

 

[ROBB]

I've taken the plunge!!
Should be fitted on wednesday:

JVC Mobile In-Car Entertainment, Car Stereo, Audio Car Stereos, Car HiFi Systems, In-Car Hi-Fi, In-Car DVD, Car Hi Fi Amps & Speakers, Extreme ICEhttp://www.clickadeal.com/jvc-kw-xg...347e9795c2e86309ef77770dfc1675&sl=EN&currency

I think it should look good/sound great (got the JVC Ipod kit for £20 - guy in the shop had one spare !!)

will post photo when installed

rob

 

[V12]

I just fitted this today...

AVIC-F900BT Pioneer Navigation - GPS system - Navigation

 

[unit504]

nice!! ive also been outside fitting these.....

still got loads to do tho :S

I just fitted this today...

AVIC-F900BT Pioneer Navigation - GPS system - Navigation

 

[Setanta]

Yes, i ran my becker with an amp, it requires an optional pre-out adapter lead.

The door speakers on your car are tricky and are definitely not directly replaceable, you will have to modify the speaker pods the original ones sit in or cut some mdf mounting boards.

At the moment you have as front top speaker 2", front bottom speaker 6", the one on the back of the door is 4" unless you have bose then it's all different again with even weirder sizes...!

You can quite easily fit a 3 way set of 6.5", 4" and a tweeter on the dash and then replace the "rear" speakers if you really need to, but in all honesty they don't do much anyway.

Thanks. Looks like brilliant design planning as usual on the front doors as well as the back parcel shelf!

Before I start ripping the doors apart, which I am not keen to do due to the presence of the side airbags, would just changing the head unit to the Becker make any difference from the OEM one?

It would mean loosing the factory stacker though.

Decisions decisions!

Thanks in for your tips on the speakers - would Focal shallow fitting ones work or it is just a dogs breakfast to do anything with them?

 

[V12]

Changing headunit depends on what you are changing from...
The Bose speakers are actually pretty good and can achieve good results from better amplification. If you don't have Bose, the standard fit are pretty poor paper variety.
There is plenty of mounting depth, that is not the issue, it is just the size and shape of the mounting points...you'll understand once you get stuck in and remove the door panel!

P.s. There is very very little chance of anything happening with the side airbag...i've never run into any problems and never disconnect the battery as a precaution.

 

[jezt]

They all look great, especially the double din ones, but do any work with the steeringwheel controls?

 

[V12]

Pioneer CA-R-PI.131 - Support & Media

With adapters like this a lot of companies now offer the ability to retain your factory steering wheel controls.

 

[ROBB]

Had this fitted last week - sounds great with the Vibe speakers !! :bannana:

Got the Ipod wired into the glovebox - and fitted for £20!!

 

[A210AMG]

At first glace I though thats far too fussy, to many things going on.......but


Looking at the buttons and the style of buttons the car has it suits it quite well, like the ipod idea in the glove box and the usb

How much was that or what model is it if you don't mind me asking.

I'm looking for a double din for my ML but cannot make my mind up...

 

[ROBB]

TBH i thought the same thing - bit too fussy & bling: but when it was fitted the chrome / black finish fits well with the rest of the oe interior. The ipod is hardwired into the back leaving CD/AUX in/USB inputs spare!

Certainly makes trips with the wife easier - just plug her cowon d2 into the front .. .

It is a JVC KW-XG701, and quite rated for the price (i paid £180) and a choice of 343 display colours!!

i am 95% delighted with it - just trying to get the steering wheel controls to work with it (see http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/electronics/69332-ipod-steering-wheel-control.html)

so far - im well pleased