Fitting DAB into 2003 Mercedes

[rebecca]

I have a 2003 E-Class Mercedes Estate.
I travel around the country and get limited radio reception.
Is it possible to get a DAB radio fitted into my console and not be given a silly bill?
I don't need Sat Nav just DAB to receive a decent signal to listen from all parts of the UK!
An electronics company suggested the Alpine UTE-204DAB, Im not struck on the look of it (looks a bit dated) ...
Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks
Rebecca

 

[Blobcat]

I added a Nextbase DAB 250 into my Aux in socket - hard wired and works really well

Adding Nextbase DAB

As Ebay sent me a £5 voucher and I missed not having DAB I bought a Nextbase DAB250 from this ebay link for £17.95 delivered so even if it's not great I'm not too far out of pocket. :) Box arrived this morning so this afternoon I installed it Torx driver and trip tools out (handy having a...

forums.mercedesclub.org.uk

 

[JBell]

If you have Amazon then the Echo Auto streaming through your phone is reliable

 

[AnthonyUK]

I fitted an Android unit into my S203 with DAB+ and it is generally excellent but DAB reception is not great.
I do have one last thing to try which is a splitter to use the FM aerial which is excellent.

If you only want DAB then I would agree that you will get better quality and reception by streaming from your phone if you can.
I recently bought a SIM with unlimited calls, texts and 100gb of data for £10/pm on Vodafone.

 

[sonic]

If you age getting limited radio reception with your current VHF radio then there is a fault with it.
DAB coverage is nowhere near as good as the old VHF band.
The antenna amp regularly fails on older cars, & gives the symptoms you describe.

 

[stevebez]

The Pure Highway 400 is a great piece of kit. Cannot connect to 12v and have to use a USB adapter… and you have to use the one provided other wise your signal goes to pot.

 

[HankScorpio]

I installed an alpine ezi-DAB. It's a rebranded (cheaper) Pure Highway.

Also does Bluetooth phone and streaming.

Cheap as chips, took less than an hour to fit. I bought it with a cheap amazon cigarette lighter socket and plumbed it in behind the cigarette lighter in the dash.

 

[Alps]

pure or Alpine Ezi-dab units are good, I had one fitted to my old e55
here's a thread I posted on the other side

https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/threads/w211-aux-input-for-dab.161129/#post-1803517

 

[horatio]

I fitted a double-din kenwood dab with an autoleads film antenna to my CLK. It actually works ok although it seems to cut out in specific places which are near some form of interference. A cheap solution anyway. The stereo was on sale at £100, aerial £20
in Halfords.