MB radio problem on 96 C200

[PJ61]

HI,
I just picked up a nice clean C200. When I viewed it the radio was working. Now it's malfunctioning.

I haven't tried every single button, but examples:
the station preset "3" doesn't do anything
the station preset "4" displays "no CC"
(presets 1 and 2 work fine)

"Volume -" works
"Volume +" searches for stations
[these buttons behave the same way when in "tone" mode, ie when adjusting treble, bass, bal, fade]

RDS doesn't seem to do anything I can decipher.

All these are persistent (ie not an intermittent fault).

So I can listen to tapes, two channels on FM, two channels on TP and two channels on AM, at any volume lower than the preset default which I can return to by RESETing with the tone button.

Since the previous owner had replaced this car already, it's essentially been sitting in his garage for the last six weeks with only me, my kids and the RAC man playing with switches and driving it a few miles. He did say it had a bit of trouble starting when he brought it to meet me. (Incidentally, when viewing it - twice - it had started fine from cold outside his house. I know it was cold. I felt the engine.)

Is there a posssibility that low battery power has kicked the radio out of kilter. Would disconnecting the battery and starting from scratch clear it? Or would that cause other problems?

The radio/cassette is badged MB "Classic". It's code protected and I have the code.

EDIT:
The unit seems to be a Becker 2010.

Will a Becker Audio 10 fit in the same slot? They seem to be fairly common on eBay. Any ideas?

 

[PJ61]

Alternative units?

My local dealer's service dept tell me it would cost me to strip down the radio. So can anyone tell me what other units will fit with the minimum of wiring problems?

 

[Arnie]

Nearly any MB (DIN size) radio will fit. Newer ones are the Audio-10 CD and Audio-10 CC. The rear is fitted with an DIN/ISO connector, so the unit does not even need to be an MB one, just as long as it is compatible with the connector (most recent japanese units are). So, no expert know-how is needed. Just, literally Plug and Play. However, you will need a set of special MB radio extraction keys (about £5 from a dealer) to remove the existing unit or to refit an MB unit. They fit in the two rectangular slits on the bottom left and bottom right of the radio fascia, and you must insert them according to the L/R markings, until they click and lock. Then, pull the unit out using the keys.

There are plenty of used MB radios (nearly all made by Becker) for sale on ebay, but make sure you get the code! Prices £50 - £120.

You might also consider a GPS/navigation unit, such as the Becker 4720 Traffic Pro, (or MB Audio-30 APS oem version) wich will fit just as easily and can be found for about £350. (For these, you will need to hide the GPS antenna under the dash and perhaps wire-in a speed signal wire, if not already on the car's radio connector.)

Yours probably has dodgy connectors between the main unit and the front display fascia. If you remove the radio, then remove the top (just prise it open, from the side with a small screwdriver), you can then take the fascia off by pushing in the small black-plastic clips on visible on the outer case, on the left, right and bottom. Clean the connector on the back and reassemble. The connector is a spring-loaded gold-plated connector. maybe it has suffered from being damp or somthing. It's quite straight forward if you have basic DIY skills.