Looking for a retro radio recommendation for my 1980 300SD. Any thoughts?
What is your goal?
looks
high quality
features
...
The best looking is original Becker, but sound not so much.
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.
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.
Searching for same. Is there an older/used Macintosh model out there that would fit?
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.
W126
https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/automotive/the-systems
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.
I thinking of the McIntosh MX406 or the MX401 which I've seen on EBay. Having trouble researching measurements of these units.
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