[W126 Coupe] Becker radios

[Gerry Van Zandt]

On some cars used in the 1987 model year, there was a special version  
of the radio that required a special Becker tool to reactivate the  
radio (enter the code). This special tool is only found at dealers  
and is inserted through the cassette door, and the radio is  
reactivated that way. I can't remember if it's a BE754 or BE780, but  
it is one of the two.

Some dealers don't charge for this service, others (such as my dealer  
here in Portland, Don Rasmussen Co.) charge $35 for about 1 minute  
worth of work....

I had one of these radios on my 1987 560SL and ditched it as soon as  
possible for a one-piece radio out of a 1991 MB, which maintains most  
of the same look but allows you to enter the code from the keypad  
directly to reactivate the radio.

If you cut power to one of these radios it will require you (or if  
you have a MY 1987 Becker, the dealer) to enter the code.  I believe  
there is a way to set the MY 1987 radios, using an internal button  
battery (that is long depleted by now) to retain the memory so that  
when power is cut, you don't have to run to the dealer to have them  
re-enter the code.

Also, I have heard, but do not have direct evidence of, a way to  
actually disable this anti-theft mechanism so that you don't have to  
ever enter codes again.

My advice:

a) call Ed Ebel at Becker North America (toll-free number posted at  
www.beckerautosound.com) to discussion options/capability to disable  
code permanently

or

b) just replace with a slightly more modern radio that you can  
directly enter the code from. If you stay reasonably in the same time  
frame, it should be 100% plug and play.

Cheers,
Gerry




On Feb 21, 2007, at 9:00 AM, mbcoupes-request at mbcoupes.com wrote:


>> wow Steve, good thing you sent that link because it states the

>> radio needs to be intalled in the car.. I was planning on bringing

>> just the radio to the dealer. I'm going to ask anyway if it's

>> necessary for it to be installed to fix it. They quoted me a 1/2

>> hour labor charge, $49, and I'm on my way. what do you think?

>>

>>

>

> It would be good to ask first, James. This 754 radio is one of the

> most confusing as far as how its Code/No code/ reactivation, battery,

> etc, works.  I'm confused, because how can Becker reactivate the

> radio, when it isn't in your car, but being in the car IS required

> for the dealer. In other words, what I'm saying is that I'm not 100%

> sure of my data, so that's why I ask if you find out anything that

> needs changing on the web page, please let me know.