Modern Headunit that looks correct - Blaupunkt Bremen SQR 46 DAB

[Jlaa]

After much waiting, this is FINALLY supposed to be released in August. And, its officially on the Blaupunkt website now.
I will stick to the absurdity of the Becker headunits, but for those who are willing to trade off a little bit of originality for the sake of modernity, this would totally be the ticket. It has DAB/USB/SD/Bluetooth/phone connectivity as well as adjustable illumination color and 4v preamp-outs. Looks awesome.

<span>BREMEN SQR</span> 46 <span>DAB</span>

BLAUPUNKT

www.blaupunkt.com

 

[JC220]

Thankyou for sharing this - very nice stereo and great to see a modern DAB unit that looks so period correct.

I need to get myself one for Christmas I think! Ref originality, I know most USA w124s would have came with stereo systems as standard but in Europe it was common for them to be ordered with no stereo option.

Hence the dealers fitted stereos to the cars before sale and for the most part these were Blaupunkt head units - at least in my experience.

 

[Kyiv]

@Jlaa, I agree regarding original Becker. I just received all of refurbished factory stereo components from Becker autosound, including Becker 1432 with a Bluetooth mod. Couldnt bring myself up to using any of the current crop of headunits with stuck-in-early-2000s design in my sirca 1985 designed interior

 

[Jlaa]

@Jlaa, I agree regarding original Becker. I just received all of refurbished factory stereo components from Becker autosound, including Becker 1432 with a Bluetooth mod. Couldnt bring myself up to using any of the current crop of headunits with stuck-in-early-2000s design in my sirca 1985 designed interior

But the Blaupunkt Bremen was actually designed in the 80s! ;-)

What does Becker do to refurbish the factory components? Replace caps?

 

[Dunnik]

The Continental (yes, the tire people) also makes a period looking headunit, but not as period looking as that Blaupunkt!

Becker says they refurb the units by replacing capacitors, yes. They'll refurb headunits and Becker amps. They can add Bluetooth and/or an AUX jack to the headunit, while retaining full functionality, including the CD changer.

I plan on sending my headunit and amps in at the end of the driving season.

 

[Jlaa]

Here is the original Blaupunkt Bremen as designed in the 80s. You can see the new one looks almost the same as the old one! Bravo. The only drawback is that the new one doesn't play cassettes.

 

[northNH]

I have the “Continental” mentioned above (actually made for Continental by VDO) in my 320T, replaced a 1492.
Solid unit that looks just fine, works just fine and sounds just fine. ~$225 from Germany 1 year ago.
I stopped at connecting up the old 6 CD changer, but doable.

 

[Kyiv]

@Dunnik, you also have a receiver in the trunk. That needs to be refurbished too. From my conversation with Tom (I think) at Becker Autosound, this is the part that most often goes wrong. Full system is made up of head-unit, a receiver and two amps (all 3 in the trunk)

 

[alabbasi]

I am really liking this. It's a nice play

 

[skikrazey]

Any idea on the cost of this new unit?

 

[Jlaa]

Any idea on the cost of this new unit?

I think I read that the price was only slightly absurd, like EUR500.

 

[skikrazey]

Thanks Jlaa!

 

[Jlaa]

Thanks Jlaa!

I misremembered - its USD500 (EUR450). Slightly less costly. Blaupunkt Bremen SQR 46 DAB

 

[Kyiv]

The Continental (yes, the tire people) also makes a period looking headunit, but not as period looking as that Blaupunkt!

Becker says they refurb the units by replacing capacitors, yes. They'll refurb headunits and Becker amps. They can add Bluetooth and/or an AUX jack to the headunit, while retaining full functionality, including the CD changer.

I plan on sending my headunit and amps in at the end of the driving season.

Dunnik,

I just finished installing headunit (1432), both amps and receiver, all received from Becker AutoSound. These are not my units, I'll be sending my units back for a core charge refund. However:

1. one of the amps received is bad. Rear speaker buzzes very noticeably. No issue when swapping my original amps.

2. Headunit also bad! One side of the speakers does not output sound with it. Installing my old unit back solved issue.

3. Replacing my receiver with refurbished unit from Becker made all the difference in sound quality. Clean and crisp now and door speakers no longer rattle (I was told by a sound shop, based on listening test that they are torn, but they are not!)

So, I recommend you order your components from Becker and then return yours for a core refund when everything checks out. This way you can troubleshoot easily any issues that may arise

Becker people were unusually helpful and sympathetic in troubleshooting why one side of speakers was silent, but headunit was completely ruled out as a cause. Had I not had all of the old components on hand to swap between, it would've been a 20 mile trip down the rabbit hole...

 

[Rouven036]

Thx for sharing. Will get at least one of these (for the 123 saloon) . If only Becker would get a similar thing for the Grand Prix Code 0779 in my 190s

 

[Dunnik]

Yes thanks for telling us your experience kiev

 

[dionphaneuf]

One note on the Bremen vs the Conti option: I looked at a lot of head units ~1 year ago for my 944S2 and got the Conti, but it lacks any RCA outs for an amp (should you want one). Other than this, all the reviews are extremely positive. I'm waiting to hear more about the Blaupunkt before I upgrade it on my 944 or W124. It does have RCA outs for an external amp; my 944 had one originally (a small Blaupunkt amp + ext equalizer that the PO removed at some point) which I want to drive the 10 speaker system in my car. So if anyone gets one, please let me know!

 

[J. M. van Swaay]

I’m considering this unit for my 94 E500, anybody know how plug and play it is? Does it slide into the existing slot without mods? Also, what wiring mods (if any) are required to connect to the existing harness?

Thanks!
J. M. van Swaay

 

[J. M. van Swaay]

Also, are there any other plug and play period correct with bluetooth/phone link units available?

 

[gsxr]

J.M., I believe the VDO/Conti head unit also has Bluetooth and should be plug+play in a USA-spec 1994 E500:

Finally a stereo in my car.My new Continental head unit mounted :)Happy camper | In-Car Entertainment (ICE)

hey there Im so happy today..as i got myself together and mounted up my new Continental head unit. All the original stereo stuff have been taken out of the car at some point,and just speakers and wiring left. So today ..i at least got to put in my head unit,and for now its just the front...

www.500eboard.co

 

[J. M. van Swaay]

Had a look at the tech details on the (VDO) Continental website, looks like the factory harness will plug right in. What I couldn’t determine was if this unit slides/clips in to the existing slot. It looks like there is a surround type cover plate / bezel, maybe it covers the clip slots and that’s why I can’t see them.... Anybody know?

 

[gsxr]

JM, the VDO unit slides loosely into the existing slot, and will stay in place via gravity. But it does not have the spring-loaded side connectors like the Becker/Harman head units. The VDO unit is designed to work with a DIN sleeve of some sort but I don't know if there is room for the DIN sleeve in the 124 slot. I'd slide the VDO in as-is; and skip the extra mounting work.

 

[northNH]

Mine slid right in with no proclivity to move around on it’s own.
No reason to fuss with nailing it down.
As P&P electrically as can be...

 

[J. M. van Swaay]

Thanks for the replies. Just ordered one of these units...

 

[J. M. van Swaay]

Update: Unit arrived yesterday, Just finished installing. Unit did slide right in with no need for the DIN sleeve but it doesn’t seat quite as deep as I’d like. It may be bottoming out on the big clump of wires behind the unit. I might try to wrap a bit of fabric type tape around just aft of the faceplate to “firm up” the fit. Maybe then it will stay where I want it...
Everything is “plug and and play” but there is one wrinkle. I had to swap pin A4 and A7. On the Becker unit A4 is constant 12v and A7 is the ignition signal. On the new (continental VDO) unit A4 is the ignition signal and A7 is constant 12v. It did work prior the making the switch, but it was not possible to turn the radio on without the ignition being on. Also, even if the radio was on at vehicle shutdown, you would have to turn it on again on a new startup. After the switch, the radio correctly stays in whatever mode it was during the last ignition power up. The bluetooth hands free phone and music streaming is nice to have. Almost makes me forget this car is now 25 years old...

 

[Kyiv]

@J. M. van Swaay, could you please post a good picture of the unit installed? A close up and zoom out - to see how it blends with overall design. Thanks

 

[RicardoD]

This is perfect for my 1990 964 which has Alpine in it now. This and some new speakers will be a nice upgrade.

 

[kwontumspeed]

Update: Unit arrived yesterday, Just finished installing...

Need clarification please: This is the Conti VDO unit, right? Do you have a model#? And when you say it plugs right in, do you mean it uses the existing system, amp and all, and nothing else is needed to use the head unit (aside from the pin swap) ?

 

[gsxr]

Need clarification please: This is the Conti VDO unit, right? Do you have a model#? And when you say it plugs right in, do you mean it uses the existing system, amp and all, and nothing else is needed to use the head unit (aside from the pin swap) ?

The Conti/VDO unit plugs into a 1994-up W124 using the factory amps & speakers. The pin swap is news to me, I need to check into that further - thanks, J.M., for the heads-up about the wiring!

 

[northNH]

The unit IS most likely bottoming out against the wiring bundle; it should/will slide all the way in if unobstructed.
I had to make the same trivial wiring pin swap as described (+12V for switched ignition) to plug-and-play into my ‘94.
Flaws? IIRC there is no way to wire so the antenna is only up when AM/FM is selected.

I like the way it looks (invisible) and fits (perfectly); the ability to play my music easily from a plug-in USB stick clinches it.

VDO CD7416UB-OR Continental 12V Radio-CD RDS USB MP3 WMA Orange Backlight

 

[gsxr]

Flaws? IIRC there is no way to wire so the antenna is only up when AM/FM is selected.

I think you could add a separate switch in the console (above the heater controls) to manually control the antenna, i.e. turn it off when you don't want it extended. The early 124's had an antenna switch that allowed manual control, I think it could be added & re-purposed on later 124's as a simple on/off if desired. Cutting / splicing required of course.

I have the same complaint with *any* aftermarket radio that is not smart enough to only trigger the antenna when radio is selected, btw. I think the only head unit I have which does this is the Nakamichi CD-700?

 

[kwontumspeed]

The Conti/VDO unit plugs into a 1994-up W124 using the factory amps & speakers.

Bummer, my 94 092 is already hacked up and my 036 is a 93. Think I'm just gonna send that into Becker for the hardwired input mod.

 

[northNH]

Adding an external switch as you describe is certainly easily doable, but considering the sophistication and versatility of the unit I’m sure you’ll agree that work-around is inelegant...
But that’s what I did...

I have a pile of similarly modern working Asian/Kenwood/Alpine/etc. units removed over the years from parts cars.
Almost all of them have separate power taps for antenna and amps...
Cultural?

 

[J. M. van Swaay]

Pictures...

 

[kwontumspeed]

You need a shift knob with a chrome accent on it and I think it would tie it right in - says my nit-picky OCD.

 

[Jlaa]

You need a shift knob with a chrome accent on it and I think it would tie it right in - says my nit-picky OCD.

I had some knobs on a Becker radio that I wanted to renew ---- putting those knobs on the end of a shish-ka-bob stick and dipping it in plastic-dip worked really well. (and work work well to make that chrome go away). Worst case is you don't like the look and you can just peel off the plastic-dip.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Plasti-Dip-14-5-fl-oz-Black-Dip-Rubberized-Coating/3543512

 

[J. M. van Swaay]

It’s funny that you mention the chrome. That’s the one part of the look I don’t like...

 

[gsxr]

I had some knobs on a Becker radio that I wanted to renew ---- putting those knobs on the end of a shish-ka-bob stick and dipping it in plastic-dip worked really well. (and work work well to make that chrome go away). Worst case is you don't like the look and you can just peel off the plastic-dip.

Wait - you mean we can fix the infamous Becker sticky-gooey knobs with plastic dip, instead of paying Becker $40 for a pair of new ones?

 

[Jlaa]

Wait - you mean we can fix the infamous Becker sticky-gooey knobs with plastic dip, instead of paying Becker $40 for a pair of new ones?

Yes, that’s right. Much more cost effective. New Becker knobs will always eventually get sticky and/or shiny anyways.

 

[Jlaa]

Wait - you mean we can fix the infamous Becker sticky-gooey knobs with plastic dip, instead of paying Becker $40 for a pair of new ones?

BTW I should mention --- I'm super surprised that on this USA-centric MERCEDES forum, where the Becker 4602 / Traffic Pro / Whatever its called was only used on MBs from Europe-land and not the USA .... and where that same Becker was also used on a multitude of Fords / Ferraris / Aston Martins / Porsches / etc ..... that you would recognize:

1) That Knob
2) That Knob without a picture of a stereo
3) Be Acquainted with the dreaded stickiness disease that that blasted Knob is afflicted with
4) Also know off the top of your head that Becker charges $40 for a pair of new knobs.



Do you know the incredibly arcane nature of trivia this represents? It is mind boggling!!!

Anyways, I took a picture of the knobs. The knob at the way far left is a nearly new knob from Becker. They are finished quite shoddily from the factory. The middle knob and the right knob are knobs that have been totally trashed with the stickiness-affliction, only to be recoated with plastidip. They are a little dusty, but you can see it looks really good. The knobs lose a tiny bit of the "Sharpness" in its contours because of the thickness of the plastidip, but that's an acceptable tradeoff.

Lastly I should mention (yes I know super arcane) --- if you have a Becker 4602 and you are not satisfied with the polarization of the LCD display (results in suboptimal viewing angles), you can get the LCD re-polarized by www.swstereo.com. They do an adequate job, but it is not perfect. If you are after an even more superior experience at LCD re-polarization of the Becker 4602, there is a gentleman that lives on San Juan Island in the Pacific Northwest who is an enthusiastic operator of Porsche 928s with 6.5 liter stroker motors that will re-polarize the LCD display with much more superior results. I know this sounds like something out of a Wes Anderson movie, but its true. I even went to San Juan Island and ran into the gentleman and his 6.5 liter 928.

This is something @Klink should consider doing, given that he has a 928.

Also below - pictures of the Mercedes branded Becker 4602, and one with trashed knobs.

 

[speedy300dturbo]

Wait - you mean we can fix the infamous Becker sticky-gooey knobs with plastic dip, instead of paying Becker $40 for a pair of new ones?

You can get replacement knobs on AliExpress for $10 [each]. The seller also has knobs for the Becker APS and 169x radios

10.12US $ 25% OFF|Bross Auto Parts Bdp959 Radio Plastic Button Knob For Becker Traffic Pro Cd Radio Be4720 Be4721 Be4725 Be4730 Ship From Turkey - Window Motors & Parts - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

 

[gsxr]

You can get replacement knobs on AliExpress for $10. The seller also has knobs for the Becker APS and 169x radios

Aaron, have you tried these knobs? Are they decent quality?

 

[Kyiv]

Are both Continental and Blaupunkt units from these thread only fit 1994-95 models with out any modification, correct?

 

[gsxr]

Are both Continental and Blaupunkt units from these thread only fit 1994-95 models with out any modification, correct?

Correct. They are plug+play (well, mostly) for 1994-up USA-spec Mercedes, including W140/W120/R129 chassis as well. The original head units in these years/models have volume knobs, typically models 1492 or 1692.

1991-1993 USA model years have the oddball systems with 1432 head unit with toggle bar for volume, and trunk-mounted receiver/tuner... nothing is plug+play with those systems.

 

[Jlaa]

Well, well, well: looks like @lowman got his hands on a new Blaupunkt Bremen and installed it in his Sierra Cosworth:

 

[gerryvz]

How very OG of him !

 

[RicardoD]

Lowmania forever!

I miss his videos.

 

[Stegel]

I had to swap pin A4 and A7. On the Becker unit A4 is constant 12v and A7 is the ignition signal. On the new (continental VDO) unit A4 is the ignition signal and A7 is constant 12v. It did work prior the making the switch, but it was not possible to turn the radio on without the ignition being on. Also, even if the radio was on at vehicle shutdown, you would have to turn it on again on a new startup. After the switch, the radio correctly stays in whatever mode it was during the last ignition power up. The bluetooth hands free phone and music streaming is nice to have. Almost makes me forget this car is now 25 years old...

That‘s a really useful piece of information. I installed a Continental radio in my 129 and went for the model that dims the lights with the dashboard - it doesn’t in my 129 - was a little disappointed it has to re-load all the DAB stations when I turn it on, and won’t turn on without the ignition. All makes sense now, thanks!

 

[linjam]

1991-1993 USA model years have the oddball systems with 1432 head unit with toggle bar for volume, and trunk-mounted receiver/tuner... nothing is plug+play with those systems.

Dave, are you saying/implying that a Euro car from those years has a different and better system, which is more plug and play?

Jamie

 

[LWB250]

I"ve used the Continental in a number of older Mercedes, as it's one of the few aftermarket radios that looks period correct. I've bought a couple of them from this eBay seller in Germany. Very good price, ships quickly.

Continental tr7412ub-or mp3 Car Radio with Bluetooth USB Aux - in 12v Radio FM Tuner | eBay

Dan