Period (1991-1996) Stereo Recommendations

[Ron500E]

This is for Joanna's 95 E320 Coupe which is her daily driver.
I was told, actually ordered, not to "improve" her car. However there are a certain amount of things that I can do and was wondering what period modifications would be appropriate for her 95 E320 Coupe.
I don't want to tart it out but just leaving it stock offends me.
For this forum I can use advice as to what stereo to use.
I love McIntosh but the thought of spending $1000 or so for just the head unit bothers me, I have one for my 092/119 Wagon project but that's staying where it is, and it aint on her car that's for sure.

Anyway, here's where I am and what I have so far:
Wooden Shift Knob.
195/65-15 X-Ice on stock alloy wheels for winter.
AMG 124 Coupe Silencer.
BBS 15" Wheels (found a set of 4 Mercedes specific on the local CL for $75...).
"Limo" front sway bar.
500E Steering Wheel. (needed)
500E Rear Bar. (needed)
Zimmerman Rotors/Akebono Pads. (needed)
Rainbow's Front and Rear. (needed)

If I could find an 036 parts car I can pull the Sportline box that is currently on the 092 as well as the front Limo bar and 036 rear bar.

MAYBE:
Bilstein "Comfort" Dampers.
Rear window roller shade.
Bumper mounted fog lights (which will require converting the stock headlamps to 036 types).


So.... I am looking for advice and/or suggestions on the following ideas:
What PERIOD (1991-1996) Stereo System to use, must have single CD player ?
Summer Tires and sizes for the 7 X 15 BBS's. I'm thinking of either 205 or 215's but summer tires in 15" are nearly impossible to find.

As usual, thanks for any ideas or help in this matter.
Kind Regards,

Ron

 

[garnachavino]

Saw this ebay ad, this is that era blaupunkt toronto. Front keycard style version from about 93?-96. It's a cd radio and has the right amber display to match.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Blaupunkt-T...h_Receivers&hash=item35d0d1ab54#ht_252wt_1122

 

[gsxr]

Mercedes 4602 head unit is plug & play, single CD, period correct, and works great... but is stupid expensive. Becker (Harman) TrafficPro 4773 is nearly identical but can be found for ~$200. Zero mods, plugs in and works.

http://www.w124performance.com/images/W124_stereo/Becker/

 

[samiam44]

Good suggestion Dave!

How about a period nakamichi cd player?


Michael

 

[gsxr]

For aftermarket stuff, I like Nakamichi. CD-400 is a straightforward install on a 94-up Mercedes. CD-500 or CD-700 requires external amps and lots more work/cost. I have the CD-700 in three cars, but it's soooo much work to install, I don't know if I'd do that again. Service/parts for the CD-700 is becoming a problem, not sure about the CD-400/500.

On 94-up Mercedes, I just use some variant of Traffic Pro... have those in three different cars, with the stock amps+speakers. It is literally a 3-minute swap. A bit longer if you want to add the optional iPod auxiliary input. Also on most 94-up models, don't waste your money on speaker upgrades, other than Rainbows in the dash once the stock speakers die. I've beat this horse to death elsewhere, but the high-end rear speakers (standard on all 400E/500E in USA) with dual tweeters are excellent, and replacing them with anything else is generally a waste of money unless doing an IASCA competition install ($$$$$). This may not apply to lower-end 124's, which may not have the fancy rear speakers. For those models, upgrading the rears is less of a waste of money. (They are still just rear fill... spend the money up front, not in the back.)

 

[8899]

I've beat this horse to death elsewhere, but the high-end rear speakers (standard on all 400E/500E in USA) with dual tweeters are excellent, and replacing them with anything else is generally a waste of money unless doing an IASCA competition install ($$$$$).

At some point in my car's history, the rear speakers were replaced with some BAs, which I don't think are all that great. Has anyone ever seen the stock, high-end rear speakers for sale?

 

[gsxr]

The stock rear speakers should be available on eBay, or at a local P+P from a 400E/E420 (possibly some well-optioned late 6-cyl cars too). Try David Hendy, he might have some for sale. I haven't checked the price on new ones but I bet you'll need to sit down first.

 

[8899]

A FeeBay listing for a McIntosh MC420M amp:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/McIntosh-MC..._Amplifiers&hash=item33919a69d0#ht_346wt_1362

Nice!

 

[samiam44]

I thought period correct you need to put a Nakamichi tape deck in the car=0)

 

[ERASE]

The Ultimate tape deck was the Nakamichi TD-1200 which used the Dragon transport.. not so reliable though. you might want to buy two.

 

[samiam44]

I would love a Nakamichi. I have a ZX-9 tape deck which was a step under the dragon. Do they still make high quality blank cassette tapes?

 

[gsxr]

I never could deal with the low S/N ratio of cassette in a high-end system. I have Nakamichi CD-700 head units in two of my 500E's... >100dB S/N and a real analog volume knob. Shame the CD mechs tend to be fragile and it's hard to find anywhere in the US to get them repaired.

 

[8899]

I installed a Clarion DRZ-9255 in my E500. It also sports a >100dB S/N ratio and analog volume. It is close to being period-correct and has a 5-band parametric Equalizer and digital time alignment....essential functions in order to get it sounding correct in our W124s.

 

[gsxr]

Greg, I looked up the specs on the DRZ-9255 and it appears to be a rotary encoder digital volume knob, in 0.5 dB increments. AFAIK, the CD-700 was the last head unit manufactured with a true analog potentiometer volume control. The last ones before that were some Denon units in the mid-90's, which I had in my VW's back in the days before I could afford MB's! At least the +/- buttons have mostly gone away, I hated that trend in the late 90's and early 2000's...

 

[8899]

I stand corrected...specs does say electronic volume adjustment. Pretty responsive and precise for not being analog. Thanks Dave.

 

[samiam44]

I know this maybe off topic-

But be careful looking at those specs ~100dB S/N. I believe if you actually looked up the DA chip they used- that is what they are qouting. Just because the coil of your a/c is 40,000 btu's doesn't mean the system is performs at 40,000 btu. I've tested some which fall less than 1/2 of the coil performance.


I think a midrange speaker @ 1k hz, has a sn of ~60 db.


I'm still saving for my car stereo tube amp =0)

Michael