I just recently found out that Becker will put aux or Bluetooth on my radio for $125, but is it worthwhile? Does it sound good, and can you make phone calls on it? Also, do you sacrifice the cd changer or tape player?
Thanks
Thanks
Quality of Becker radio rebuilds
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Becker was charging approximately $225 or so..They install a jack and as far as I know the rest of the radio works as it originally did.
Others will chime in on this or simply contact Becker and see what they have to say.
Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk
Others will chime in on this or simply contact Becker and see what they have to say.
Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk
Awesome. The rep I talked to wasn’t super helpful, he said that I would have no need for an aux jack if I had Bluetooth, which just sounded weird for a radio specialist. I’ll be sure to add this to my long list of things to do on this car
1995 S420, 1995 SL320, 2008 Aston Martin Vantage, 2000 Land Rover Discovery II
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2,351 Posts
The guys at Becker do good work, but they don't have great customer service. It's not a big company; literally just a couple of guys in a small shop in New Jersey who bought the Becker trademark and spares a while back and have taken on legacy support for the older models.
What he told you was true; aux ports are kind of an obsolete technology these days, now going the way of the CD and cassette. Pretty much every device now has Bluetooth, and it gives you way more flexibility than an aux port -- especially since newer smartphones aren't even including headphone jacks anymore. He was probably trying to steer you towards something more useful for you in the long term.
For my own car, I use Grom Audio bluetooth adapter. It's a small box that plugs directly into the back of your head unit, where the CD changer gets plugged into. It's phenomenal. Sound quality is tremendous, I can stream videos and podcasts, and the controls on the head unit can be used to select tracks directly. It also streams phone calls. You lose the CD changer capability by plugging it in, but who cares. And it's literally a ten-minute installation. No brainer.
gromaudio.com
What he told you was true; aux ports are kind of an obsolete technology these days, now going the way of the CD and cassette. Pretty much every device now has Bluetooth, and it gives you way more flexibility than an aux port -- especially since newer smartphones aren't even including headphone jacks anymore. He was probably trying to steer you towards something more useful for you in the long term.
For my own car, I use Grom Audio bluetooth adapter. It's a small box that plugs directly into the back of your head unit, where the CD changer gets plugged into. It's phenomenal. Sound quality is tremendous, I can stream videos and podcasts, and the controls on the head unit can be used to select tracks directly. It also streams phone calls. You lose the CD changer capability by plugging it in, but who cares. And it's literally a ten-minute installation. No brainer.
USB Android iPhone Bluetooth Car Kits | Navigation CarPlay Android Auto Systems
USB Android iPhone Bluetooth Car Kits | Navigation CarPlay Android Auto Systems
I’ll have to look into that one. It sounds really cool, and looks like it’s cheaper than getting my stereo rebuilt. Can you play and pause using a certain button on the head unit? That wasn’t specified on the websiteThe guys at Becker do good work, but they don't have great customer service. It's not a big company; literally just a couple of guys in a small shop in New Jersey who bought the Becker trademark and spares a while back and have taken on legacy support for the older models.
What he told you was true; aux ports are kind of an obsolete technology these days, now going the way of the CD and cassette. Pretty much every device now has Bluetooth, and it gives you way more flexibility than an aux port -- especially since newer smartphones aren't even including headphone jacks anymore. He was probably trying to steer you towards something more useful for you in the long term.
For my own car, I use Grom Audio bluetooth adapter. It's a small box that plugs directly into the back of your head unit, where the CD changer gets plugged into. It's phenomenal. Sound quality is tremendous, I can stream videos and podcasts, and the controls on the head unit can be used to select tracks directly. It also streams phone calls. You lose the CD changer capability by plugging it in, but who cares. And it's literally a ten-minute installation. No brainer.
USB Android iPhone Bluetooth Car Kits | Navigation CarPlay Android Auto Systems
USB Android iPhone Bluetooth Car Kits | Navigation CarPlay Android Auto Systems
Maybe I should give them a second chance. Bought one of their converted radios 10years ago. Theyre the ones the input jack. Sound was worse than the tape adapter i had then
right now we have options like yatour and grom. As long as the stereo works, these work well
right now we have options like yatour and grom. As long as the stereo works, these work well
"CHRIS" Merc 92 600SEL / Sold > 93 600SE / 93 S500 / 89 560SEL / 413CDI / B180-CDI /A170-CDI
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7,896 Posts
Just to ad & not to confuse with 91-93 W140 Systems.
I just bought the Yatour Bluetooth ad on ( $140 wasted ) thinking that it just gets plugged into the back of the radio's cd changer port , which it does but then everything turns of since the cd changer cable that gets connected to the Tuner in the Trunk (from the back port of Radio ) , commands the whole lot & there is no other Port to connect it to except 1 port with 6 pin plug on Tuner but i have no idea what that plug is for ,it's always empty with nothing connected to it .
I put a YATOUR unit in my 97 S420--it's perfect. The YATOUR unit itself has an SD slot, AUX jack, and port for the optional YATOUR bluetooth receiver. I actually prefer an AUX cable to Bluetooth, especially if it's not A2DP. Tucked the YATOUR behind the head unit, and routed the cable through a tiny slit in the passenger footwell, with just enough slack to reach my phone while it's in the charging mount I planted on the rocker switch panel.
Highly recommend the YATOUR route especially given I could remove it and restore function to my CD changer if I wanted (or for resale value).
Highly recommend the YATOUR route especially given I could remove it and restore function to my CD changer if I wanted (or for resale value).
1995 S420, 1995 SL320, 2008 Aston Martin Vantage, 2000 Land Rover Discovery II
Joined
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2,351 Posts
Yeah good point -- these plug-in units are not for the early audio systems. The head unit on the later cars functions differently.
"CHRIS" Merc 92 600SEL / Sold > 93 600SE / 93 S500 / 89 560SEL / 413CDI / B180-CDI /A170-CDI
Joined
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7,896 Posts
Yes ,after 93 ,they don't have that 8 pin plug anymore i think . I just bought the MX3192 ( after about over 10 years not finding one ) , i also bought another Interface from the SL R129 series ,i have no idea what it is or does as i only bought it because it has the same Becker connections to it ( eventually i find out what it is for lol) . There were 2 MX3192 available on Ebay , one i bought the other i referred to a friend that was also looking for one , now there appears to be only one left but very expensive with cut of wires .
I could easily change the radio & all will be over with my installations with BT etc but i'm trying to keep this 600 as original as i can ( which isn't working out really ,lol) , Currently receiving the Lorinser upgrade ( or downgrade ? ,lets see ) .
This is the one i don't know what it is , i have an idea but not to sure ,probably the same as the MX3192 just different case . I do have the Alpine Cd changer for that plug .
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