Why I Detest Aftermarket Radio Installs. It's What You Don't See

I would rather have a period correct Becker Radio in my old Benz. So much more pleasing to the eye. Watch my swap here.

[@frankunderwood8357]

I prefer a modern radio with all the bells and whistles, but I do respect the sentiment of having it look stock.

[@matthewvasquez9278]

Yes, just don't but a ugly radio

[@hauntedmoodylady]

No matter the degree of difficulty, you make it look easy....

[@MMWA-DAVE]

Here in Australia the original beckers are more valuable than the tacky aftermarket units, because many people have come to the same conclusion and now there's not many left. Beckers are also easy to diagnose and repair at a component level for anyone with semi skilled hobby / intermediate level electronics skills. German electronics at that time were about 20 years behind the Japanese so its all very old school.

[@_Albertone]

Would you have a contact to repair Beckers in Australia?

[@johnfloore9799]

I completely agree with you about most aftermarket radios, however if you want bluetooth and a decent upgrade in sound quality, I'd recommend Continental radios by VDO. I have them in My mercedes and they do look period correct; even the backlight color matches fairly well. Normally you have to order them from Germany, but Becker Auto Sound even sells one model.

[@sonicCherryBell]

These are the best option for looks but they lack some serious important options such as pre amp outs etc. But if not needed (just want bluetooth) this is the best looking option for older mercedes.

[@iuopunderstandyourjokes9914]

There are also some companies that take your original radio and convert it to bluetooth. Only problem is that you'll lose the cassette player

[@vmlelectronics]

My 1990 260E came with a well operating Sony DVD player but it really didn't made sense at the dash, so I've bought an used MB Panasonic cassette player and converted it to a media player with Bluetooth. About wiring, as a technician I never understood why some "professionals" do a mess with it, instead of add the ISO connector keeping the original beside...

[@izzydizzy1115]

Kent, You cracked me up at the end by throwing the trash out! Love you videos!

[@Mercedessource]

Thanks. I am glad someone got a laugh out of it...

[@carlosdad2204]

I bought a Continental branded by VDO period correct radio for my 1988 R107 for a lot less money than sending the Becker to NJ to be modernized. Works and looks great.

[@seanmcdonald5124]

Does it work with the steering wheel controls ?

[@douglasthompson9482]

I agree to a point. I just had installed a beautiful radio in my 300sl. After hearing it, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

[@bmwloco]

Smart. I've always opted for original radios in the benz I've spiffed. The '71 Dodge D100 came with a Pioneer SuperTuner. Finally died. I just stream music or radio to a bluetooth speaker now. No sound loss, no signal issues.

[@nachocabrera]

It's simple. Original radios are the best options for classic cars, and it's not only an asthetic thing. You can appreciate the lines, context and flavor of the era. Do you need an mp3 player, or a bluetooth, it's ok, there are some many options out there, and it's not necessary to install absolutly nothing. Just plug into the 12v and tune. It works as fm transmitter. You can pick up the phone throug this device and generally has a sd card ( stereo).

[@mrjsv4935]

Looks much nicer with period correct radio :) Didn't know Mercedes-Benz had even their own demo tape, very cool! Here in Finland car taxes were so high, that new cars until late 90's didn't usually have factory installed radio, so aftermarket ones were usually installed, often by DIY method and the wiring often looked just like the mess you removed from the car :D

[@cschruu]

I have a 1989 190E 2.0 and it had been fitted with a BMW Becker Stereo (because my grandparents bought this in parts exchange for an E30 324d). The dealership didn’t bother to put in the correct bracket and it was really hard to pull it out 30 years later (volume control broken, tape deck bent due to incorrect fitting). I had to pry it out with a butter knife. I have replaced it with an almost period correct 1992 Denon Radio with a 10-Disc CD Changer. Fits in perfectly, and I didn’t want to spend 500€+ on a genuine Becker or Blaupunkt Radio that those cars could’ve been ordered with

[@benstone5038]

I did the same, fitted a period specific Becker BE780 into my 1988 190E 2.3-16, no rear speaker option so only the 2 original Mercedes dash speakers, and it sounds perfect :)

[@AndyTranfl]

I have two R129. One with factory radio and the other with an aftermarket unit. When I pulled out the aftermarket head on my first car it was a rats nest of wires and rca cables... it will take acouple hrs to go through. My other R129 with the factory radio was swapped to an aftermarket headunit from Crutchfield with their install kit and in 15 minutes was fully installed. A plug and play adapter was made and went right into the factory harness :) I'm mainly looking for Bluetooth for this and will keep an open eye for better more period correct solutions later but for now quite happy with the decision.

[@lvudric1]

I had Becker very similar, but with Mercedes star on cassette door. That was a long time ago. It is very high quality car radio, with 4x25W rms power audio amplyfier inside for loud and great sound.

[@joekool5005]

LoL.... This brought back a few memories from back in the day. Beckers were actually a very good stereo in their day. I used to buy them used, and install them as an after market fit in cars with very bad stereos. My pet hate is bad installs of anything. I've ripped out tons of wiring out of cars and rewired correctly. The biggest offenders are alarms, stereos and modules of all sorts. I understand what you're doing and if original is your goal, great. Personally, I must have a good stereo if it's a daily driver and heaven forbid, that might mean something with a touch screen! I don't have a project at the moment but if I did (probably a w124), I'd have to work out how to handle that one.

[@classictoexotic]

thank you for posting... am dealing with the same problem in a 84 300TDT

[@mohabatkhanmalak1161]

It is true, aftermarket radios do look out of place in these early Mercedes-Benz cars. Have nostalgic memories of 'Europa' and 'Alpine' models.

[@vornamenachname5589]

Had that same problem with my W126 420SE. I was lucky to find an overhauled Becker Mexico for a reasonable price and this Becker Demo Cassette you showed was included as well. Seems the US version of the Cassette speaks german, too. ;-)

[@munnsie100]

Not only do I dislike the tacky looks of aftermarket radios, you never know how poorly the wiring has been done. You never know what you’ll find…

[@yvesalepin3486]

I prefer from far OEMs. In my 1995 A124 (all original btw) my radio had volume problems. The car evaluator told me that it do not affect the value of the car as long as the OEM radio is kept aside. I didn’t had the choice to put an aftermarket radio due to the above problem and meanly not having the option of answering to the cell phone. This is a security issue. I don’t know the rules in your states but here in Province of Quebec, Canada we aren’t allowed to hold in our hand any electronic devices nor having them « loose » in the center consol or on the dashboard… Now, with the Alpine radio, I can at last ear what the person say over the phone (the voice is coming out from the speakers as it is on modern cars). Bluetooth earplug was a petty while driving with the top down… My move wasn’t oriented for music quality but for security.

[@ismailbeygirci9394]

people should accept old cars as they are... even bad audio quality gives these cars such a character.

[@vhfgamer]

I think that the aftermarket radios of today look awful. So when I decided to replace the completely broken AM only single speaker radio in my car, I went with a NOS radio from the early 90s. A Pioneer Supertuner, with the dual knobs that fit my car dash more or less correctly. And it had a tape deck, which made me happy (I have a super OP cassette that takes SD cards).

[@tisoy909]

My Becker 1480 has Bluetooth. I can play the 7400 songs in my cell phone. And I've got hands free telephone through it as well.

[@williamgarvy1393]

I agree, after market radios look terrible. The original Becker in my 1994 E320 (221,000 miles) stopped working many years ago due to deteriorating wiring issues which seem to have plagued these models. I did replace the upper and lower wiring harness in the motor but for now do not wish to rewire the speaker system and refurbish the radio/cassette unit.

[@del7i540]

Original OEM is nice but Bluetooth and a few aux inputs are a must.

[@richardgreene3460]

I have about 8 of the old Becker radios on the shelf, BUT I had to test about 50 to get 8 that would work!!!!!!!!!!

[@300DBenz]

Ive been debating whether I should send the Becker to be rebuilt and an Aux input added, or replace it with a new Blaupunkt that looks like their old 80s tape deck but has Aux, Bluetooth, and digital radio.

[@azmike3572]

Aux will still be be lesser-quality analog sound, and will drain the battery if the aux cable's coming from a cell phone. A newer unit with the USB input will be digital sound, and will both play and keep the phone charged while it's playing.

[@markusdahmann4107]

I agree completely with Your perspective. By the way: aren't the buttons of the "old" radio of a good size, easy to identify and so userfriendly at its best??

[@rosst2201]

The radio in my w203 stopped producing sound while my father had it in Rhode Island a few months ago, it doesn’t bother me much since I rarely listen to the radio while driving, but it would have been nice to listen to the cds in the changer. He wanted to replace it and I preferred to have the original in the car.

[@Marshal_Dunnik]

Rather than replace, upgrade! Intending to send my Becker 1492 in for refurbishment, and the addition of a Bluetooth controller.

[@JoaoPedroF1973]

Fun fact: in those days in Germany/Europe the top Beckers were called "Mexico", the second best models "Grand Prix" ... in USA it's vice versa ... guess why!? 😉

[@cdegroot11]

Just this month I had a Becker Grand Prix installed in my 1983 380SL. I bought the stereo fully refurnished and with Bluetooth tech from Becker AutoSound in Saddle Brook, NJ. While it initially worked fine for a drive or two, it now shuts off randomly or when I hit bumps in the road. One time when I turned the volume up, the system turned off. It's such a constant on/off that I cannot even try to play the radio or stream from BT. It does not lose power as the clock remains illuminated. Any suggestions? Do you think it's the installation / connections or is it with the stereo itself? Thanks for any insight

[@Mercedessource]

Check your fuse first for possible corrosion. Remove the radio and drive with it out. Wiggle any wire connections to see if you can get it to cut out while driving. If no change then you should be talking to Becker AutoSound as it may be something internal.

[@Hubjeep]

Should be a Blaupunkt at the least!!!!!!

[@jasonlee-os1qi]

How excellent!! Love the original!

[@kubapuch4591]

I just dealt with the same problem with my 300TE, previous owner had some garbage Pioneer stereo installed. I managed to solder a bunch of the wires they had messed with back to their original location but now my radio doesn't show anything on display after entering the code. :(

[@happygoth100]

Normally I would agree, a classic look is always best, however one does not listen to music with the eyes! :D

[@simonflint5303]

I'm about to take my 70's becker out and splice in a bluetooth module and then put it back in. I'm almost certain that the becker amp is as good as anything out there today, it simply will benefit from a stealthy digitial source piggy-backed onto it to sing like it was meant to.

[@jamessparkes5516]

oh.... Man after my own heart! I can't stand these too. It's the character just as you say. Same with wheels. They put so much effort into designing these cars and to have the character messed with is such a waste

[@amccann99]

Are there any aftermarket with Bluetooth and amplifier connections that look Retro?

[@thomascarver8045]

Glad Ive still got my Becker. on a side note I need to replace the Drivers side door on my 1982 300CD. Im having a hard time finding a donor car but there are plenty of R107 Roadsters in my area will the doors interchange?

[@bngr_bngr]

I remember putting the faceplate of my radio in the trunk when parking. What a pain.

[@rick_.]

Most aftermarket audio installations are pure hackery.

[@jewllake]

I don't like aftermarket radios in anything - new or classic!!!

[@geri8355]

Its a horror story taking that radio out. Jeez

[@phillypar6481]

Well done sir.ill do something too.

[@inovahightechltd]

There ya go!

[@MegaMC777]

Haha, that end bit there. But I hear you, factory radio is the best and on any brand. Just doesn’t look right with aftermarket.

[@plsniper]

I agree. I personally hate new radios. 80s and the 90s were the best. Not only looked great but simple too. With the new radios you need a 300 page manual to set the friken clock!

[@codycole3202]

I’ve been burned a couple of times by poorly installed aftermarket radios. I won’t even deal with them now. You can’t discount a car enough for me to buy it with anything but a stock radio.

[@TheReal1953]

Except when you get into the 124 series the HU served as a control center, with the amp(s) and tuner remote in the back of the car. This was a theme even carried into American cars too....blame Bose. Add to that a 'fader' wired into the 124 series and you have hard to replace mess. Becker of NA will fix your old HU/amps and tuners....but @$$$. And I know of at least one case that even after Becker 'repaired' the electronics, there were still issues. Crutchfield Audio has sold adapters for these applications forever.....so you don't have hack into your original wiring harness. Few owners used them however, favoring to hack into their wiring.

[@J19A95B]

Continental offers new radios that fit Mercedes of the 80s and 90s fairly well.

[@carlosdad2204]

I bought one for my R107. Period correct and works great.

[@mericavids]

My '85 380SL has the original radio/cassette and it works just fine. I say if you need a newer radio buy a newer car

[@top6ear]

That looks like my job on my 84

[@Aaronhouston33]

My 79 has a clarion stereo 8

[@berndb.5097]

Yes exactly, throw it far away :-)

[@vintage76vipergreenBeetle]

👍

[@compactc9]

Aftermarket radios just look cheap to me, even the stupid expensive ones. Stock setups just sort of blend into the dash and match, these things just clash. And then there’s the wiring…

[@Cachebah]

What a mess. There is no substitute for the original Becker radios.

[@Anonymous-vo6dg]

🤦‍♂️

[@johnwight6041]

Jeez what a nightmare. I can’t stand these stupid aftermarket radios. They look so stupid

[@roadhammmer]

After market radio ok. But i can't stand a mile long wireing rat nest. That needs the excessive wires trimmed wires should be soldier heat shrink and bundled as one wiring harness. If it dont look better than factory you done a piss poor job.