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Best retro radio suggestion

Started by ScottyB, 14 February 2023, 07:10 PM

ScottyB

Looking for a retro radio recommendation for my 1980 300SD.  Any thoughts?
1978 300CD
1980 300SD
1983 380SL
1990 420SEL

rumb

What is your goal?

looks
high quality
features
...

The best looking is original Becker, but sound not so much.
'68 250S
'77 6.9 Euro
'91 300SE,
'98 SL500
'14 CLS550,
'16 AMG GTS
'21 E450 Cabrio

ScottyB

I would like to be able to have bluetooth and have it look good.  Sound is not as important as I have other vehicles with very good sound systems, but this would be nice to safely drive under California no hands laws.  Would also like it to be of good quality so I don't have to mess with it again for a long time.
1978 300CD
1980 300SD
1983 380SL
1990 420SEL

orientrot

#3
You can find a few places online to either buy a bluetooth device to plug into the back of your stock radio or have it modified into it, or Blaupunkt has a few retro-look options like the Bremen SQR 46 DAB or Frankfurt RCM 82 DAB (more 80s/90s, w201/w124 IMO) or (more appropriate to the W116) the Stockholm/Skagen 400 DAB or Barcelona/Milano/Valencia/Essen/Madrid/Nürnberg/Bologna/Freiburg 200 BT DAB. These are all European radios so you would have to purchase on Ebay or similar.
75 450SEL
80 300SD- cancelled project
83 300D- 5-speed OM617
84 300D- AMG 5.4L N/A M113 6 speed
92 300D- 722.6 OM603 3.5
93 190E 2.6 Sportline LE x2- 6-speed M111 turbo, 3.0 M103
02 C320 Wagon
03 Sprinter 2500
06 E500 4Matic Wagon- AMG 5.4L NA M113

john erbe

Searching for same. Is there an older/used Macintosh model out there that would fit?

rumb

#5
I have seen photo of the macintosh setup. Inspiring and worth as much as the car.

https://www.ebay.com/p/21058338725?iid=394403918925

Clarion also had a setup.
'68 250S
'77 6.9 Euro
'91 300SE,
'98 SL500
'14 CLS550,
'16 AMG GTS
'21 E450 Cabrio

rumb

'68 250S
'77 6.9 Euro
'91 300SE,
'98 SL500
'14 CLS550,
'16 AMG GTS
'21 E450 Cabrio

ptashek

I have a Blaupunkt Toronto 420BT in two cars, and a Continental TR4512 in another. The Blaupunkt is great, the Continental is not.

You can briefly see the Blaupunkt, and definitely hear it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6JpbDmlCAg

The original Becker Europa etc. - if all you want to do is LOOK at the radio, that's the one to go for. It's no good for anything else.
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

john erbe

I thinking of the McIntosh MX406 or the MX401 which I've seen on EBay. Having trouble researching measurements of these units.

BMA

you don't need to look abroad, I will buy this American Radio, "Retrosound Europa", although I come from Germany :-)

...Did sveral Researches and think it's the best fitting in our W116's. The Blaupunkt Retros Bremen and Frankfurt are also a very good choice, but more for the 80ties and 90ties. Retrosound is an American company, production is in Malaysia, look here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoWamju-Nfk

price is similar to the Bremen.
....And forget the Chinese Retro Crap you may find in eBay. Maybe the Dietz retro Radios could be an alternative, cheaper than the Retrosounds, but not really convincing me in terms of quality and design, look here:https://www.dietz.gmbh/retro301dab/bt

Best, Björn

 
happy having finally a 6.9 # 7271 in my garage, ...so nice to cruise!