97' 500SL - CD Head Unit

[Simon J]

I'm new to Mercedes having just purchased the above (I believe it is a w129 model). I spent time looking at your site and it was very helpful.

My SL has an original MB "equisit" Cassette Head unit with (broken) CD multichanger in the boot. I'd like to replace the head unit with CD head unit. I don't need a boot changer.

The "equisit" looks larger than a standard Head unit to me. Is the fitting a standard DIN fitting and if so is the fascia on the "equisit" a standard size. I'd like to avoid using spacer round the fascia.

If it is special MB size what other models have this size or does anyone know of another suitable replacement.

Thanks in advance

 

[pascal]

As far as I am aware it is standard DIN. Maybe it just lips over the front more than usual. Mine\has a Blaukpunkt with buit in telephone. It is DIN fitting.

 

[R129]

I have had aftermarket DIN radios fitted into an 89 and a 2000 model SL with no problems. As the fascia never changed during the life of the vehicle you should not have any problems.

Make sure you use a skilled fitter though as the removal keys are specific to Mercedes and the wrong tools or improvisation may lead to you splashing out a grand for a new wooden centre console.

Don't ask me how I found this out!

 

[Simon J]

Thanks very much. Most appreciated.
Simon.

Incidentally my car was a good deal as despite all the warnings I purchased it without a hard top. Soft top is very quiet compared to my old Saab. Is hardtop worthwhile investment ?

Simon

 

[R129]

The car is almost as quiet as a coupe with the hardtop on. Once you go back to the softtop in the summer you can really tell the difference.

If you intend to use the car all year I would definitely suggest a hardtop.

Although a few people want thousands for them I have seen a fair few on ebay go for a few hundred pounds. There seems to be quite a few out there which would suggest there are a lot of written off cars or very careless owners!

 

[Simon J]

Thanks again. My previous owner was very careless. My SL is a high spec (Xenon, adaptive suspension and it had the glass hardtop. A "dodgy" guy turned up to look at the car and asked to see the hardtop in the garage. Said he wasn't interested. That night the garage was raided and the hardtop taken.

I've seen a few metal roofs for a few hundred. Only seen one glass roof and the asking price was £2500!

 

[pascal]

I have seen panoramic roofs going on ebay for less than a grand. It would be ideal if you could get one painted to your own colour.

But beleive me, with the hardtop, it's like you have two cars. Besides being almost a quiet as a coupe, the superb fitment and trim, brings out the pure luxury of this flagship car, so you can have your cake and eat it.

Pascal