R129 car audio

[stewz]

Hi All
I have a 2000 R129 500sl and I want to change the Audio30 system for and aftermarket set up, is it just a straight swap? only I have read that because it's all fibre optic connections it's not straight forward

Any help greatly appreciated

Stew

[m996tt]

I dont think it is fiber optic, the fittings are just the usual.

[chris333]

The connection from the CD changer in the boot is fibre-optic, not sure about the rest.

Probably best to keep the old unit...originality is good when you come to sell.

[anonymous-user]

Please also be aware that the OEM speakers are 2 Ohms, which can cause problems with some head units.

[anonymous-user]

m996tt said:

I dont think it is fiber optic, the fittings are just the usual.

The link from the boot mounted CD changer is fibre optic, the rest is good old fashioned copper.

[stewz]

Thanks all for the info, I will keep the Audio 30,it's just that it's so old school and I'm struggling to get my music through it, I've evn resorted to going back to the boot fairs to pick up some old CD's, need to get my ipod running!!


Does anyone know whether I will need a new loom to connect my new set up or will the connectors just match up to the Benz ones?

Cheers
Stew

[r129sl]

I have replaced my Audio 30 with a Becker Cascade headunit with an iPod adapter. This gives me sat nav, single disc CD, bluetooth handsfree telephone, iPod and, of course, the wireless. It was very straight forward.

The Audio 30 headunit is connected to the D2B fibre optic ring. Also on the ring are the CD changer, the factory telephone system and the teleaid system.

The sound, however, is provided in a more traditional manner. The Audio 30 headunit is connected via standard DIN/ISO connectors to a separate amplifier which in turn is connected to the six speakers. If your car has the Bose option, the same is true save that the amplifier and speakers are a bit more sophisticated.

In my case I removed the Audio 30 (storing it carefully) and replaced it with the Becker unit. I also removed the factory telephone microphone and replaced that with the more modern Becker item. I fitted the Becker Remote Kit, running the cable into the storage cubby in the centre of the car. This required a fair bit of trim removal and reassembly but it is all so beautifully made that it comes apart and goes back together readily. I left the CD changer and phone interface in situ. Obviously they do not work anymore.

The sound is perfect and everything works as it should.

I put a lot of effort into finding a solution which would retain the Audio 30 but none was really satisfactory.

[stewz]

I have decided to go with a kenwood headset which has the built in bluetooth, plays mp3's, charges my iphone and ipod via a built in usb lead and also takes an SD card which should provide me with all i need.

After hearing that the speakers are only 2 ohms, i do worry if they will be compatible?

has anyone changed their speakers, and if so, what did you go for?

Stew

[BlueMR2]

stewz said:

I have decided to go with a kenwood headset which has the built in bluetooth, plays mp3's, charges my iphone and ipod via a built in usb lead and also takes an SD card which should provide me with all i need.

After hearing that the speakers are only 2 ohms, i do worry if they will be compatible?

has anyone changed their speakers, and if so, what did you go for?

Stew

You better check the headunit will drive 2 ohm speakers as if not they will probably cause the internal amp to overheat and it will cut out all the time.

[r129sl]

BlueMR2 said:

stewz said:

I have decided to go with a kenwood headset which has the built in bluetooth, plays mp3's, charges my iphone and ipod via a built in usb lead and also takes an SD card which should provide me with all i need.

After hearing that the speakers are only 2 ohms, i do worry if they will be compatible?

has anyone changed their speakers, and if so, what did you go for?

Stew

You better check the headunit will drive 2 ohm speakers as if not they will probably cause the internal amp to overheat and it will cut out all the time.

You're not listening. Unless you're going to rewire the car, the new headunit will not drive the speakers, it will merely provide a signal to the amplifier. That is how the wiring harness is set up.

[stewz]

The reason i decided to change the head ubit was that I'd been looking at some later Mercs ( 99,2000) on Ebay this week and noticed that they had aftermarket head units in them, and as i had previously thought this couldn't be done that easy, then thought, maybe it is possible!

There was also a video on Youtube of a guy that had just changed out his old unit for a new JVC and reported that all was working fine! using the original loom and amp/speaker set up.

For these reasons, i thought I would give it a go, I don't fancy replacing everything just to get a new head unit in the car, I just thought it may be easier than it seems to be.

Stew

[stewz]

"You're not listening. Unless you're going to rewire the car, the new headunit will not drive the speakers, it will merely provide a signal to the amplifier. That is how the wiring harness is set up"???????



I have replaced my head unit using a Kenwood 4 ohm set without any issues at all, the only fibre optic bit is the CD changer(two orange leads on a plug) which you just ignore, plus also ignore top plug on the rear of the audio 30, the other two lugs fit straight to your new head unit.

It's easy and causes no problems, No set cutting out due to overtemp, NO problem driving the 1 ohm Bose speakers either!No need to rewire the car!

Stew

[r129sl]

stewz said:

"You're not listening. Unless you're going to rewire the car, the new headunit will not drive the speakers, it will merely provide a signal to the amplifier. That is how the wiring harness is set up"???????



I have replaced my head unit using a Kenwood 4 ohm set without any issues at all, the only fibre optic bit is the CD changer(two orange leads on a plug) which you just ignore, plus also ignore top plug on the rear of the audio 30, the other two lugs fit straight to your new head unit.

It's easy and causes no problems, No set cutting out due to overtemp, NO problem driving the 1 ohm Bose speakers either!No need to rewire the car!

Stew

Maybe I was unclear. Only the accessories (CD-Changer, telephone, tele-aid) are on the fibre optic ring. The speakers (obviously) are not. The factory wiring loom goes like this: head unit -> factory amplifier -> speakers. So if you use the factory wiring loom, the amplification is provided by the amplifier, not the head unit. Changing the head unit does not change this.

[edition]

Sorry for the thread resurrection!


I have a 2000 SL that I’ve put a new Blaupunkt head unit in to give me some more modern functionally. All seems to work ok.

I noticed that the speakers are shot, holes/ripped so have bought some new Audison 3-way component speakers.

I’m now wondering if I should add/change the amplifier. I think the car has an original Becker amplifier but thought an upgrade might be nice.

Question is can I use all the existing wiring and fit a new compact amp inline?

Any assistance would be much appreciated.

[MustangGT]

My first question would be compatibility, do the speakers match the amplifier?

Cannot help with the rest, my experience of changing ICE kit is way out of date.