Missing Link
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- 653
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- Colchester, Essex
I have seen some questions about this so I thought I would pass on the info I have collected doing the same.
My Freebie is an 03 Td4 ES Premium with a Becker DE4765 Head Unit with Harman Kardon Audio and Rover/Alpine CD Changer. The head unit is released by two keys fitted into the small slots under the rotary controls. I have the key kit from Screwfix (prod code 42315) and the Mercedes keys fit.
The electrical connections are in the form of three DIN standard plugs, the brown is for speakers and grey is for power etc, one noteable one being pin 2 as it is phone mute (not connected). The top connector is in three separate pieces, one has no leads fitted, the middle has one lead which is the CD changer control and the 3rd has L/R Audio and ground. In addition there is the audio antenna (blue lead with black right angle plug) and the GPS antenna. The latter has a small black lug along side, squeeze this in to the cable to release the cable.
Make sure you have the radio code before you remove the power if you want to be able to refit the original unit. Press in the latches at one end of the brown and grey plugs to release them. The three part plug has latches at both end. Because these are standard plugs it will not be necessary to cut off the loom plugs as adapter leads to fit most good brand radios are available from Halfords or on line from numerous suppliers. I have fitted a Pioneer and this comes with DIN sockets on a flying lead. The CD changer is more of a problem as it has Becker control codes. I have opted to drop this altogether and use an iPod adapter instead as this is more flexible. It should be possible to fit a matching unit in place of the original and run a new lead through the console.
The one thing I have not sorted yet is the HK amplifier. Although functional it does not come up to the performance of modern units. I can fit a new amp in its place and feed it from the line out of my head unit but I still need to work out a way to connect to the existing speaker leads without removing the original plug. In order to use the Head unit amps I will need to patch from the input pins from the radio to the speaker pins
My Freebie is an 03 Td4 ES Premium with a Becker DE4765 Head Unit with Harman Kardon Audio and Rover/Alpine CD Changer. The head unit is released by two keys fitted into the small slots under the rotary controls. I have the key kit from Screwfix (prod code 42315) and the Mercedes keys fit.
The electrical connections are in the form of three DIN standard plugs, the brown is for speakers and grey is for power etc, one noteable one being pin 2 as it is phone mute (not connected). The top connector is in three separate pieces, one has no leads fitted, the middle has one lead which is the CD changer control and the 3rd has L/R Audio and ground. In addition there is the audio antenna (blue lead with black right angle plug) and the GPS antenna. The latter has a small black lug along side, squeeze this in to the cable to release the cable.
Make sure you have the radio code before you remove the power if you want to be able to refit the original unit. Press in the latches at one end of the brown and grey plugs to release them. The three part plug has latches at both end. Because these are standard plugs it will not be necessary to cut off the loom plugs as adapter leads to fit most good brand radios are available from Halfords or on line from numerous suppliers. I have fitted a Pioneer and this comes with DIN sockets on a flying lead. The CD changer is more of a problem as it has Becker control codes. I have opted to drop this altogether and use an iPod adapter instead as this is more flexible. It should be possible to fit a matching unit in place of the original and run a new lead through the console.
The one thing I have not sorted yet is the HK amplifier. Although functional it does not come up to the performance of modern units. I can fit a new amp in its place and feed it from the line out of my head unit but I still need to work out a way to connect to the existing speaker leads without removing the original plug. In order to use the Head unit amps I will need to patch from the input pins from the radio to the speaker pins
