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Single DIN satnav / BT for SLK R170

wilsodg

Active Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2012
Messages
228
Location
Hampshire
Car
2011 S212 350 Sport with Brabus D6S, 2020 SLC43, 2000 SLK320
Decided that one of the reasons we don't take the SLK out of the garage much is that the old Audio 10 is not a lot of use, so want to replace it with a pop-out unit with satnav. The car is 10 years old and does about 1500 miles a year so not keen to spend £1200+ on a top end unit (Pioneer/Alpine), but also not wanting to get a cheap unit that doesn't work well. (A cheap unit that works well is fine!)

Any advice on a good compromise unit?
 
That looks quite nice - originally was thinking of a full screen pop-out but this Becker looks more in keeping and seems to have all the funtion.
 
That looks quite nice - originally was thinking of a full screen pop-out but this Becker looks more in keeping and seems to have all the funtion.
They blend in well with MB dashboards. An added benefit is that few people know what they are and thus less likely to steal one. The display colour on the Indianapolis is fixed (there were 4 different models I think red, yellow, blue, green) whreas the cascade is variable but a lot more costly.
 
The whole point of a good hideaway satnav is the size of the screen 7" diagonal. The most a portable garmin or tomtom can manage is, I think, 5". There are few single DIN flip-out screen units available and they are all pricey if bought new. Buying second hand from ebay is cheaper but there are no guarantees unless you see the unit installed and working before stripping it out, making sure you have ALL the cables, boxes, codes and so on. In short unless you are familiar with ICE systems and instals then it is a big risk even if you are saving 60% on the new price. personally I could not live with the becker unit you picture above as the screen is (well, what screen) pants.
I don't know what the becker runs off (whether it takes the map data from a dvd disc or a hideaway navigation computer box. personally, I prefer the hideaway box which leaves the dvd free for squillions of mp3 albums (which means I never need to look for cd's it just gets burnt and stays in the car. You pay for convenience.
To give you some idea, I paid around £1,200 incl install on my garmin KNA-G520 and Kenwood KVT-627DVD in 2007. Now, on ebay, with good pics and careful uninstall it might sell for between £300-£400 after 5 years. The main pains of any unit will be the cost of updating maps (check carefully how and how much) and system software (mostly free). All said, I would recommend a flip-out 7" screen to anyone. Before buying, I was concerned about the low position of the screen on the centre console but I got used to it very quickly. Just my 2c observations after 5 years of happy motoring. My epiphany moment was when SWMBO said "I can't read the writing on the (paper) map it's too small" as we were on the Brussels ring road trying to identify the exit towards Germany.
 

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