WTB: Becker radio (slim version) for 250SL

[aharalam]

hi all

I'm after a Becker slim face radio for a early '67 250SL. Ideally a Europa, in working condition (but doesn't necessarily have to be) and with the small knobs if possible.

Other models are fine (Europa TR/TG, Mexico, Grand Prix), but obviously slim face (1 3/4" opening) is non-negotiable as I'm not cutting the opening.

Budget of US$200 - $600 depending on model and condition.

thanks

[stickandrudderman]

https://www.chromelondon.com/
Tell Mike I referred you.

[scoot]

There isn't a slim-face "Europa".  It would be a Europa TG or preferably Europa TR.  (or a Grand Prix or Mexico, but both of those would be a bit more rare).  The Europa TR is a great radio IMHO.    I'll look and see what I have...

[scoot]

https://www.chromelondon.com/

I'm not seeing anything on Chromelondon's website that is "correct".   In particular, I think THIS: is NOT correct:
https://www.chromelondon.com/becker-europa-tr-vintage-slim-face-classic-car-fm-radio-amp-mp3-warranty-mercedes-111-112-113-sl-4236-p.asp

It shows a very different bezel and is more of a "through the dash" radio than an original becker would be.

[Pastarnac]

I have an Europa TG Slim Face that is for a 230SL/250SL. It is the correct model for the period.

Very nice physical  condition, warm sound. I have also original documentation.

Send me PM if interested.

Regards,
Ovi

[Merc_Girl]

I'm not seeing anything on Chromelondon's website that is "correct".   In particular, I think THIS: is NOT correct:
https://www.chromelondon.com/becker-europa-tr-vintage-slim-face-classic-car-fm-radio-amp-mp3-warranty-mercedes-111-112-113-sl-4236-p.asp

It shows a very different bezel and is more of a "through the dash" radio than an original becker would be.

I would also thoroughly recommend ChromeLondon. If you are still having problems, suggest you email Mike. He is exceptionally knowledgeable. He made a radio I bought from him look like, at first glance, a radio period for year of the car although it was actually a slightly later radio so I could have stereo and Bluetooth.
I’m aware he has a lot of clients in the US and replies really quickly to any questions you may have
Katie

[Pawel66]

I'm not seeing anything on Chromelondon's website that is "correct".   In particular, I think THIS: is NOT correct:
https://www.chromelondon.com/becker-europa-tr-vintage-slim-face-classic-car-fm-radio-amp-mp3-warranty-mercedes-111-112-113-sl-4236-p.asp

It shows a very different bezel and is more of a "through the dash" radio than an original becker would be.

I had a very good experience with them and with Mike. What they show is, I am sure, not all they have. I would try emailing.

[JN]

What's the difference between a Europa TG and a TR?

[FresnoBob]

I just bought an Europa TR from ChromeLondon and had them install Bluetooth compatibility.  Not cheap, but it should greatly improve my motoring enjoyment. 

[scoot]

What's the difference between a Europa TG and a TR?

A Europa TG is a hybrid radio with transistors and vacuum tubes.  It is a single unit - no separate amplifier.  It needs to "warm up" for a few seconds when you turn it on.  When in good shape, it has a very nice warm sound.  A Europa TR is a fully-transistor radio with a separate Mono amplifier.  It is also a really nice radio.  Beware of "fake" radios that just have the name badge changed and don't have the right knobs, etc.

[Charles 230SL]

Scoot, I apologize for hijacking the thread but I always thought the Europa TG needed a separate amplifier. Our Technical Manual states " Europa TG - partly transistorised, Two units, Assembly with tubes and transistors, Pushbutton station selection. Is the Technical Manual wrong regarding the two units (separate amp)?

Reason I'm curious is I've been considering a 'correct' Becker for my early '64 230sl for several years now. My DataCard shows option code 515 (Radio Becker, AM, FM, USA) which I'm interpreting to be a Europa TG.  Sorry for the hijack but any topics regarding a Europa TG always catch my attention..

[scoot]

Scoot, I apologize for hijacking the thread but I always thought the Europa TG needed a separate amplifier. Our Technical Manual states " Europa TG - partly transistorised, Two units, Assembly with tubes and transistors, Pushbutton station selection. Is the Technical Manual wrong regarding the two units (separate amp)?

Reason I'm curious is I've been considering a 'correct' Becker for my early '64 230sl for several years now. My DataCard shows option code 515 (Radio Becker, AM, FM, USA) which I'm interpreting to be a Europa TG.  Sorry for the hijack but any topics regarding a Europa TG always catch my attention..

Hi Charles - I'm looking at the technical manual listing now and I definitely disagree with it as follows (ones I don't know about from list not listed):
it says:
Grand Prix TG - partly transistorized, Two units, Assembly with tubes and transistors, Automatic station tuning and Pushbutton station selection <-- Yes, Agree completely except the name bar does not say "TG"  It just says Europa Grand Prix"
Europa TG - partly transistorized, Two units, Assembly with tubes and transistors, Pushbutton station selection  <-- no, single unit.  Head unit looks dimensionally just like the Grand Prix above (see attached pic) in shape, but no separate amp.
Europa TR - fully transistorized, Two units, Pushbutton station selection <-- Yes.
Mexico TR - fully transistorized, Two units, Automatic station tuning <-- Yes. Push buttons select band but are not station presets
Grand Prix TR - fully transistorized, Two units, Automatic station tuning and Pushbutton station selection  <--not sure
Mexico Cassette - Two units, Automatic station tuning and Stereo cassette, from 1970  <-- yes
Europa MU - fully transistorized, Single unit, AM FM, 5 pushbutton station selection <-- yes and no, there is both a Europa that has a separate mono amp and a Europa that doesn't have a separate amp.
Europa Stereo - Two units, Pushbutton station selection, from 1970 <-- Yes
Grand Prix - Single unit, from 1970  <-- Hmmm, I don't think so.  I think this has a separate amp, and is probably stereo.

I believe the correct Becker readio for a '64 230SL would be a Europa TG _or_ (rare) a Grand Prix (early w/ separate amp).

An easier-to-live-with radio would be a Europa TR.

Scott

[Iconic]

Grand Prix - Single unit, from 1970  <-- Hmmm, I don't think so.  I think this has a separate amp, and is probably stereo.
Scott

Scott,
I have done an exhaustive search over the last 3 years of pictures of cars that seem to be very original with option code 519 (as my car has, Becker Grand Prix) and my conclusion has been that it is Mono, not stereo, for the cars from 1970. Additionally, FYI: mine does not have a separate amp.
I strongly believe they were Mono, not Stereo. I can't really confirm if it has a separate amp or not from the many pictures I've studied.
That's my opinion.
Take care,
Mark

[scoot]

Scott,
I have done an exhaustive search over the last 3 years of pictures of cars that seem to be very original with option code 519 (as my car has, Becker Grand Prix) and my conclusion has been that it is Mono, not stereo, for the cars from 1970.

I'm willing to believe it's Mono for 1970.  If it doesn't have a red stereo indicator light then it's mono.

Additionally, FYI: mine does not have a separate amp.

 
Please post face pic of it.

I strongly believe they were Mono, not Stereo. I can't really confirm if it has a separate amp or not from the many pictures I've studied. That's my opinion.  Take care, Mark

I'm happy to be wrong, it happens all the time.  At some point the Grand Prix became stereo.  And at that point it definitely had a separate amp.  The only Pinstripe Becker stereo radio that I can think of without a separate amp with be a Europa II Stereo...   but I could be wrong...

[66andBlue]

...
Reason I'm curious is I've been considering a 'correct' Becker for my early '64 230sl for several years now. My DataCard shows option code 515 (Radio Becker, AM, FM, USA) which I'm interpreting to be a Europa TG.  Sorry for the hijack but any topics regarding a Europa TG always catch my attention..

Charles,
when was your car made based on your VIN number, before or after October 1964? Is it a 'Euro delivery' car or bought here in the USA?

[Charles 230SL]

Charles, when was your car made based on your VIN number, before or after October 1964? Is it a 'Euro delivery' car or bought here in the USA?

Alfred,
based on VIN, production month of my car was April 1964 with America delivery (Country Code 719; St. Pierre et Miquelon).  thks, charles

[66andBlue]

Charles,
that is even more strange because St. Pierre et Miquelon is a French territorial island and thus neither USA nor Canada, and who would have thought that the place had a Studebaker/Mercedes dealership. That would mean code 515 was not USA specific. 🤔

Do you know more about your car's history? Do you have the original data card that came with the car or one that you received from the Classic Center?

[Charles 230SL]

Charles, that is even more strange because St. Pierre et Miquelon is a French territorial island and thus neither USA nor Canada, and who would have thought that the place had a Studebaker/Mercedes dealership. That would mean code 515 was not USA specific. 🤔 Do you know more about your car's history? Do you have the original data card that came with the car or one that you received from the Classic Center?

yes, I too thought it was strange that there was once a Studebaker-Packard dealer on St. Pierre et Miquelon. https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=16301.msg112766#msg112766. The data card I got from the Classic Centre clearly shows country (Auftrags-Nr) code as 47190164.

I spoke with Tom (Becker AutoSound) earlier today and it appears the Europa TG / Europa TR transition took place during 1964. Since I have an early (Apr 64) chassis, my 515 option code would have called for a Europa TG. Tom recommended I go with a Europa TR (vice TG) due to the vacuum tubes.

[scoot]

I spoke with Tom (Becker AutoSound) earlier today and it appears the Europa TG / Europa TR transition took place during 1964. Since I have an early (Apr 64) chassis, my 515 option code would have called for a Europa TG. Tom recommended I go with a Europa TR (vice TG) due to the vacuum tubes.

Due to vacuum tubes?  That's an odd reason.  They are very easy to replace.  And they last for decades...

[Pawel66]

Charles,
that is even more strange because St. Pierre et Miquelon is a French territorial island and thus neither USA nor Canada, and who would have thought that the place had a Studebaker/Mercedes dealership. That would mean code 515 was not USA specific. 🤔

Do you know more about your car's history? Do you have the original data card that came with the car or one that you received from the Classic Center?

There was a discussion on this on the forum as the number of cars produced for some of those exotic islands was very high. If I remember correctly, the conclusion was that due to certain tax/duty regulations, vast number of the US cars were bought through that dealership.

[Charles 230SL]

There was a discussion on this on the forum as the number of cars produced for some of those exotic islands was very high. If I remember correctly, the conclusion was that due to certain tax/duty regulations, vast number of the US cars were bought through that dealership.

yes, I remember the discussion. Several of us with 719 Country Codes were trying to figure out how (and where) our cars entered the USA. probably never know..

[Charles 230SL]

just saw this Europa TG on eBay and seller says its out of a 1964 190DC: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Becker-Europa-TG-Radio-and-Speaker-Vintage-Mercedes-Audio-1960s/333799697177?hash=item4db8032b19:g:PXoAAOSw5T5fnxWa. I assume this radio would be correct for an early 230sl (?)

Not sure whether the originator of this message (Aharalam) ever found a radio - probably lost interest during all the hijacks
(sorry about that Aharalam)

[scoot]

just saw this Europa TG on eBay and seller says its out of a 1964 190DC: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Becker-Europa-TG-Radio-and-Speaker-Vintage-Mercedes-Audio-1960s/333799697177?hash=item4db8032b19:g:PXoAAOSw5T5fnxWa. I assume this radio would be correct for an early 230sl (?)

Yes, it would be correct for an early 230SL, however:  speaker included - worthless, Unit itself, untested = doesn't work, chrome condition poor...