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New Owner - radio options

1K views 9 replies 6 participants last post by  prpbmw 
#1 ·
For about $800 the dealer will install a cd changer.

I would rather have a cd/mp3 player in dash on my (new to me) 2001 SLK320.

Theoretically, one CD full of MP3 files will provide hours of music.

What have others put in the dash to acheive this?

Dude at Best Buy said the Kenwood model I was looking at was not compatible with the rest of the system. I figure there is a way, and he does not know his A$$ from a hole in the ground.

What say you?
 
#2 ·
I installed a Kenwood KDC-X569 last night

I installed the Kenwood KDC-X569 ($244 from etronics.com) in my 01 SLK320 - took a couple of hours while watching the hockey match.
I used the VW wiring harness and antenna adapter so that the stock head unit can be re-installed an a couple of minutes.
If you want the wiring diaghram and part numbers let me know.
Randy
 
#5 ·
The Scosche VWK1 wire harness does not require modification

I used the Scosche VWK1 wiring harness it comes as two pieces. It mates with the 4 row connector perfectly. ($8.95 at sounddomain.com). There is another model Schosche VW01 that appears to be only the connector that you need ($4.95 at sounddomain.com) I haven't tried this one.

One thing to look for in a new head unit is the display contrast. Some displays will completely wash out with the top down. The X569 is OK, but not great in that area.

I've been using an MP3 player in the car since the first "walkman like" players came out several years ago. It's great to have a large selection of music with you.
Good luck, you'll love it.
Randy
 
#7 ·
The Scosche VW01 wire harness also works with no modifications

I went looking for the receipt from sounddomain.com to make sure what items I had bought and a found that I had bought both the Scosche VW01 and VWK1 (I guess I wasn't sure which would work and the cost of shipping exceeded the cost of buying both - or - I had an extra beer or two and it seemed like a good idea at the time). Anyway, I checked and both mate with the existing wiring harness. Since the second connector is not used, the VW01 for $4.95 is the best choice.
I also used the Scosche VWA for the antenna adapter $4.95.
I'm using the speaker output based on some earlier postings on this forum. The X569 has the capability to disable the amplifier. It says the pre-outs quality will be improved and that the unit will run cooler that way.
Has anyone tried pre-outs?
Is there a significant difference in the sound quality?
Does the volume control still work?
Randy
 
#8 ·
I've got a 98 slk and installed a Kenwood mp3 player no problem....

I've got a 98 slk and installed a Kenwood mp3 player no problem.
 
#9 ·
Alpine 9807 CD/MP3/WMA headunit plus XM radio

Last week I had an Alpine 9807 CD/MP3/WMA headunit and an Alpine TUA-T020XM XM Satellite Radio Tuner installed to replace my OEM headunit (which died after one year - POS). I chose the Alpine 9807 because it did not have a flip-down or fold-down face (either of which would have fouled the MT6 shift lever in gears 1-3-5 when open) and because the silver finish looks good with the aluminum trim of my SLK230 Sport. A variable gain adapter was required to reduce the signal from the speaker outputs of the Alpine headunit to the stock Bose amp (a line-out to amp-in connection didn't work (as well-doucmented on this forum)and a straight speaker-out to amp-in connection had horrendous noise). The Alpine TUA-T020XM XM Satellite Radio Tuner fits snugly in the footwell next to the Bose amp. The installer used an Antenna Specialists XM20 Constellation Rooftop Mount Antenna on the top of the rear bulkhead between the rollbars - almost invisible but I experienced frequent signal dropouts (the XM signal passes through glass but not metal, so the roof blocked the signal a lot depending on the driving direction of the car), so I replaced it with a Terk TRK XM3 mounted dead center on the dash right up against the winshield (the Terk is a stronger antenna, BTW, regardless of placement, as I found in back to back road tests).

Result: extremely happy owner. The headunit is an incredible audio improvement over the stock unit, with the added benefit of MP3/WMA playback (up to 10 hours of music per disc possible, although I've opted for CD+ audio quality which results in about 5 hours per disc). The XM signal is solid, with only the rare drop-out (much better than cell phone coverage, for example), giving me 100+ digital music channels for $10/month. The XM antenna is very unobstusive (I scrubbed it with Goof-Off to remove the Terk and XM logos and to dull the gloss black finish - it looks pretty OEM now). Installation would have been much cheaper if we hadn't goofed around with the rear bulkhead installation (I did the dash mount myself in about 15 minutes) and if the installer hadn't ripped me off on the XM Satellite Radio Tuner unit (Crutchfield has them on sale for about 1/2 of what I was charged).

That's my two cents.
 
#10 ·
I am real close to ordering the 9807 Alpine - I also like NOT having the flip down.

S...


I am real close to ordering the 9807 Alpine - I also like NOT having the flip down.

Sound system dude says a Soundgate OEM4A adapter will solve the "hiss" problem.

His price seems fair. Just need to get the time to take it there for the install.

Will report back upon review.
 
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