Traffic Pro Install???

[AMG5PT4]

1994 E500

I purchased a used Land Rover Becker Traffic Pro BE 4775.

The stock 1492 has the tall plug on the bottom and the thin plug on the top plus the radio antenna lead. Clearly the thin plug will not plug into the TP. Looked at the Wiki pics of all the TP models and they all look the same, so I installed the TP with just the bottom plug and antenna lead hooked up. Keyed in the code and "Land Rover" displayed (sigh) and the unit continued to flash between a GPS antenna error message and FM. Each time the GPS antenna message appeared, the antenna motor seemed to cycle on/off.

Am I missing something? Are these units PnP with my E500? Or, did I buy a defective TP ($50)?

I am by no means an expert on stereos. My E500 did not come with the CD changer and want the ability to play a CD. I also would like to integrate an iPod. There is a small round plug on the back of the TP next to the DIN plug receptors - can this be used for iPod hookup or do I need to get a different model TP?

Some definitive advice would be appreciated.

Al

 

[gsxr]

The Becker / HK branded units are plug & play, and at least some of the other brands are also plug & play (i.e., Porsche, BMW). I've not personally had a Land Rover version to experiment with. The plug which won't fit is for the CD changer, you lose that functionality when upgrading to the TP. I don't know if the 4775 has some difference related to the antennas, or if yours is defective. The only suggestion I'd have is to buy a GPS antenna to plug in, and see if that makes it happy.

For the iPod input, you need an auxiliary input kit, available from Becker or a number of aftermarket vendors. Some have RCA inputs which you'd use another cable to attach to the iPod, some are fancier and connect directly from the TP to the iPod. Blitzsafe makes one of the latter type and they run a 30% off sale occasionally, however I was not happy that it doesn't pause the iPod when the radio powers off.

https://www.blitzsafe.com/catalog/tp-/-m-link1-v-1.html

 

[Unavita]

Because I need more things to do....
I went ahead and bought this (possibly from a forum member) and will be reviewing all posted here in the coming days (?)!

Harmon Kardon Traffic pro for Mercedes w124 upgrade yellow display | eBay

Condition is "Used".

www.ebay.com

 

[Jlaa]

Because I need more things to do....
I went ahead and bought this (possibly from a forum member) and will be reviewing all posted here in the coming days (?)!

Harmon Kardon Traffic pro for Mercedes w124 upgrade yellow display | eBay

Condition is "Used".

www.ebay.com

Nice. You can dip the knobs in black plasti-dip to "restore" them if you so wish.

 

[alabbasi]

Nice. You can dip the knobs in black plasti-dip to "restore" them if you so wish.

I knew there was a reason i liked you.

 

[captruff]

Nice. You can dip the knobs in black plasti-dip to "restore" them if you so wish.

You could also contact Becker www.beckerautosound.com I purchased 2 new knobs from them when I ran the Traffic Pro


Jeff

 

[gsxr]

Becker is really proud of their knobs. $40/pair.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[Jlaa]

Becker is really proud of their knobs. $40/pair.

Pardon Our Interruption...

I’ve ordered new knobs and some of them did not meet my standards of rubber coating consistency. . Here are photos of plastidipping knobs - Becker Radio Knob | Off-Topic Discussions

 

[gerryvz]

I grab every knob I can find and have for years, when they are in decent condition. I have a bag of about 100 of them. I would sell nice/decent ones (B condition) for $5 each.

 

[Jlaa]

I grab every knob I can find and have for years, when they are in decent condition. I have a bag of about 100 of them. I would sell nice/decent ones (B condition) for $5 each.

You have lots of "cores" then! The problem is that the knobs eventually go sticky. Always. Even with minimal exposure to UV ----- the knobs eventually go sticky --- perhaps with repeated exposure to finger-oils. I'm hoping the plasti-dip doesn't go sticky.

 

[gsxr]

I've never found a Traffic-Pro style head unit without sticky knobs. And I think I've only seen one, EVER, in the junkyard. I've bought NOS in-the-box units that had sticky knobs which had, AFAIK, never seen daylight. Poor materials.

I think Gerry is talking about the single round knob on the 1492/1692 HU's.

 

[Unavita]

I grab every knob I can find and have for years, when they are in decent condition. I have a bag of about 100 of them. I would sell nice/decent ones (B condition) for $5 each.

Okay. I'll bite!

 

[Unavita]

Is there a wiki for the install? (Read with the understanding I have no idea how hard or simple it is to do... yet). I would like to gain, if recommended, Bluetooth connect-ability as well.

 

[gsxr]

Is there a wiki for the install? (Read with the understanding I have no idea how hard or simple it is to do... yet). I would like to gain, if recommended, Bluetooth connect-ability as well.

If this is going into your 1995 S420, it should be plug+play. Remove old, install new. You'll lose factory CD changer capability, the connectors are different and not interchangeable.

Once you have it installed and working, look for aftermarket Blueteeth adapters that work with TP. I don't use this so I have no idea what to recommend.

 

[Unavita]

Yeah! Big duh to me! Clearly PNP. One thing though- any advice from anyone on placement and getting the digital GPS antenna through the dash and all of that stuff? Not an installer over here!

 

[gsxr]

Make sure you want to bother with the GPS functionality... I'm told the last map updates were 15+ years ago and they're not super useful. You can test it by temporarily placing the antenna on the dash to see if everything works how you want, then worry about final installation.

On the one car I tried this on years ago, I put the antenna on the rear parcel shelf of an E420 (which sadly was totaled in 2013). The antenna needs clear glass to read satellites, it won't work behind metal of any kind.

On all my other cars with TP's, I skip the antenna install. You can choose "hide compass" in the settings to get 9 radio station memory buttons instead of 6.

 

[Unavita]

Well I got it all installed and everything works- well except one small thing! The car won't start now. I was pretty sure I test started the car before I put everything back together. Regardless- not even an starter engagement! Clearly I missed something!?!

 

[gsxr]

Well THAT is weird! You just unplugged the old radio, and plugged in the new, right?

Make sure the shifter is in P or N...

 

[Unavita]

Funny- you have to chuckle sometimes. Yeah I got the P-N thing down. I did hit the Sat button but that's it. I played a cd. Weird... gonna be on email if you think of anything.

 

[Unavita]

Blew No. 16 fuse somehow. All better.

I will add this for the audiophile: the sound quality is not as good via CD compared to the OE cd changer in trunk. The mids are too full and the lows are not as present. The loudness button exacerbates the problem.

 

[gsxr]

Blew No. 16 fuse somehow. All better.

Phew. Love the easy fixes.

I will add this for the audiophile: the sound quality is not as good via CD compared to the OE cd changer in trunk. The mids are too full and the lows are not as present.

OH - you need to fiddle with the settings for radio, CD, and auxiliary input separately. It defaults to turning on the "Loudness" function. Try turning that off and fiddle with bass/treble/etc and you should be able to get equal sound quality vs the trunk changer.

 

[Unavita]

So funny! And "duh" at the same time with the fuse but I thought about it in the middle of the night and voila!

Yep! I did just at you describe- I adjusted the bass to plus 2 and treble as well while fading it a bit to the rear. ALL AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE LOUD BUTTON. Much better.

 

[Unavita]

No matter what I try I can't get the AUX to work- even come on. I followed these instruction but an "aux" soft-key does not pop up.

www.discountcarstereo.com/pdf/_bkr.pdf

 

[gsxr]

No matter what I try I can't get the AUX to work- even come on. I followed these instruction but an "aux" soft-key does not pop up.

www.discountcarstereo.com/pdf/_bkr.pdf

When you access the menu to enable it, does the AUX function appear in the menu (will show Mode On or Mode Off)? And although On is selected, when you exit the menu and press the CD button, you don't get the AUX option?

 

[Unavita]

No the "aux" does not show up at all.

 

[Unavita]

I've been using this information. I'll take a picture of what pops up. It's about 5 keys....

 

[Unavita]

I've been using this information. I'll take a picture of what pops up. It's about 5 keys....

 

[gsxr]

That is odd. A friend of mine installed a 4602 (with Mercedes faceplate, like yours) and had the same issue... option didn't appear in the menu, so he couldn't enable the Aux function. But I can't remember what he did to fix it! Might need to contact Becker and ask.

 

[gsxr]

Just to confirm... in the instructions below, the problem is in Step 3, that you are not able to see "AUX OFF"... correct?

 

[Unavita]

So if you press and hold "TP" for 8 seconds nothing really happens.

 

[Unavita]

I tried the 201 number for Becker and no answer on Sunday. I will try tomorrow.

 

[gsxr]

So if you press and hold "TP" for 8 seconds nothing really happens.

What did you press & hold to get to the menu shown below? That's where the Aux option resides (further off to the right).

 

[Unavita]

The tone button.

Ok- but I tried every way I can think to go past what is shown. I have pressed the buttons and tried to roll either dial. It was a no-go for this hero.

 

[Unavita]

Press and hold the "nav" and the last softkey selector number 10 at the same time. Problem solved. This is for the 4775 unit.

 

[gsxr]

Press and hold the "nav" and the last softkey selector number 10 at the same time. Problem solved. This is for the 4775 unit.

Wow... never heard of that before! Glad you got it sorted out.

I've had a different version TP in a couple of cars for many years, with an iPod playing through the Aux input. I love having 4000+ songs on shuffle and the iPod is close enough to hit the "skip" button without taking eyes off the road. Much nicer than only 6-10 discs in the trunk changer.

 

[Unavita]

Got my spotify working through the 30 pin via a 3.5 (for now). To be clear- the folks at Becker were quick and helpful- and it's a 4775 I'm speaking of. Nothing anywhere I found said a thing about depressing the nav and 10 key at all! Glad I got it too!

 

[Seangbadee]

I got a Traffic Pro II and couldn’t be happier because the sound is fabulous. Just waiting to change out the dash speakers and my ICE mod should be done

 

[Seangbadee]

I got a Traffic Pro II and couldn’t be happier because the sound is fabulous. Just waiting to change out the dash speakers and my ICE mod should be done

I’m ready to install my rca’s to my Traffic Pro II and run new wires etc.
Does anyone out here have a write-up on this?

 

[gsxr]

I’m ready to install my rca’s to my Traffic Pro II and run new wires etc.
Does anyone out here have a write-up on this?

I don't think there is any write-up, as every install would be different / custom.

What will you feed the RCA's to? You'll need the RCA dongle to plug into the back of the TPII, and then will need an external power amplifier (or, subwoofer)...

 

[Seangbadee]

I don't think there is any write-up, as every install would be different / custom.

What will you feed the RCA's to? You'll need the RCA dongle to plug into the back of the TPII, and then will need an external power amplifier (or, subwoofer)...

I have the rca dongle to plug in. It has left and right and subwoofer outputs.
I been trying to figure out which speakers to power!

 

[gsxr]

I have the rca dongle to plug in. It has left and right and subwoofer outputs.
I been trying to figure out which speakers to power!

Next question - what speakers do you have in the dash?

 

[Seangbadee]

Next question - what speakers do you have in the dash?

I got a pair of Musway speakers 120mm (ME 120) that will replace the stock speakers in the dash.

 

[Jlaa]

I got a pair of Musway speakers 120mm (ME 120) that will replace the stock speakers in the dash.


View attachment 133496

I am curious to how you like the Musways.

For what it is worth, I believe a properly setup w124 is a fantastic place to listen to music. With good tweeter/mids in the dash, and then crossed over to the doors around 250Hz …. And then with some modest L-R / R-L rear fill, the w124 can be sonically spectacular…… even when playing through bluetooth.

I compare the same high-res tracks playing from my computer through a fancy outboard DAC, through a nice 2-channel amp and then into a set of fancy KEF home bookeshelf speakers …….

and the w124 sounds more spacious. It sounds nicer. Even comparing BT in the car vs. compression at home.

 

[Seangbadee]

I am curious to how you like the Musways.

For what it is worth, I believe a properly setup w124 is a fantastic place to listen to music. With good tweeter/mids in the dash, and then crossed over to the doors around 250Hz …. And then with some modest L-R / R-L rear fill, the w124 can be sonically spectacular…… even when playing through bluetooth.

I compare the same high-res tracks playing from my computer through a fancy outboard DAC, through a nice 2-channel amp and then into a set of fancy KEF home bookeshelf speakers …….

and the w124 sounds more spacious. It sounds nicer. Even comparing BT in the car vs. compression at home.

I have not set them up yet. I’ve been searching for some guidance on “how-to”

 

[mmchann]

For free advise, service and wiring diagrams contact Becker Service:
Harman/ Becker
Tom Mitchell
Becker Autosound LLC
101 RT 46 W
Saddle Brook,NJ 07663
201-773-0976
classicservice@beckerautosound.com
www.beckerautosound.com

They recently rebuilt a BE 1480 for my R129 and did a great job, even installed a new face plate.