Mercedes 6 CD changer problem

[Skyedriver]

It's 26 years old, original equipment, CD starts to play ok but by half way through sound quality deteriorates, breaking up eventually failing all together. All 6 CDs the same.
Repairable?
Thanks

[David Beer]

The manufacturer?

[Skyedriver]

Mercedes from an SL R129

Took it out the car,opened it up, cleaned what I could on the movement, no improvement.
Blew it threw with an airline to remove any dust

It slid off the bench

Caught it.

Dropped it

Anyone know how to remove 6cds from a non functioning stacker........

[Skyedriver]

Operational again but still only playing 2/3 of a CD before breaking up. Think the disc or head may be running out of true and as the disc plays the head moves away from the disc. This possible?

[David Beer]

Who makes the autochanger? I should of asked.

[Skyedriver]

Hello David, not sure to be honest, badged a Mercedes

Part No A002 820 4289 and MC3194

Had time to play with it today, fascinatingly clever.
My uneducated guess is actually that the centre spindle or bearing is worn. There's a black plastic disc that is spring loaded and presses the CD onto a metal disc. When you watch the CD revolving it seems to oscillate, side to side and up and down ever so slightly. I guess at the centre of the disc (track 1) the up down oscillation isn't noticed but is exagerated the further out on the cd you get.

Think a replacement may be the only answer, age gets to us all...

[imck]

Have you cleaned the Lens?
A cleaning CD may work but a Cotton Bud with some Alcohol will be better.
Clean and lube the rail that the Lens slides on.

[Skyedriver]

Yet to clean the lens but everything works fine at centre of cd, just deteriorates towards the outside. Will have a go this afternoon, alcohol? Will single malt be OK. Or should I pop out and get some vodka. Assume Taylor Landlord no good.
Did attempt to clean up the plastic bit and steel disc that clamp the cd. Still think it's probably the bearings or the clamping.

Rails spotless and slide easily.

[HustleRussell]

What’s a CD?

[psi310398]

I know it might not be the right answer if you are the kind of person who likes mending things but a cheeky bid on eBay for a functional unit from a broken car would surely save a lot of time and effort?

In my experience (I ran a R129 for a decade) parts are generally very well made and there is little risk getting stuff from reputable breakers. eBay.de is a good source, too.

[Skyedriver]

Reached the stage where I agree with you.
Actually at that stage last night but co. Uk etc had nothing, will try. de
Cleaned the lens twice, the central spindle and black plastic disc, still the same. Just screwed it back together. It'll play short CDs, up to maybe 40 mins just no long compilation stuff.

[psi310398]

Is this what you are after?

https://r129.co/interior-body-equipment/mercedes-0...

I see that they are currently out of stock but it might be worth registering interest. They tend to be quite good at finding bits IME.

[HustleRussell]

Mercedes won’t have been making multi-changers, it’ll be a proprietary unit from Sony or Pioneer or similar.

I remember my Dad’s 90s W124 or W210 having a 6-disc Pioneer.

Edited by HustleRussell on Sunday 20th October 15:58

[psi310398]

HustleRussell said:

Mercedes won’t have been making multi-changers, it’ll be a proprietary unit from Sony or Pioneer or similar.

Alpine, I think. Although mine (a very early R129) was a Blaupunkt unit but I'm not sure it was OEM.

[Skyedriver]

psi310398 said:

Is this what you are after?

https://r129.co/interior-body-equipment/mercedes-0...

I see that they are currently out of stock but it might be worth registering interest. They tend to be quite good at finding bits IME.

That's the one just a tad more expensive than I would like to pay.

[Skyedriver]

psi310398 said:

HustleRussell said:

Mercedes won’t have been making multi-changers, it’ll be a proprietary unit from Sony or Pioneer or similar.

Alpine, I think. Although mine (a very early R129) was a Blaupunkt unit but I'm not sure it was OEM.

Found an Alpine one with a similar connector, it's not the later fibre optic type.
It's not an identical unit, the model numbers are not the same but there is a similarity.
What's the chances of them being interchangable? It's actually a Renault Laguna/Megane item?

Edited by Skyedriver on Sunday 20th October 17:03

[David Beer]

Have you seen any marker on the laser assembly? Sony made most in that era. If so it will have a part number .

[psi310398]

Skyedriver said:

Found an Alpine one with a similar connector, it's not the later fibre optic type.
It's not an identical unit, the model numbers are not the same but there is a similarity.
What's the chances of them being interchangable? It's actually a Renault Laguna/Megane item?

Edited by Skyedriver on Sunday 20th October 17:03

I wouldn't like to guess I'm afraid as I tend to stick resolutely to OEM spec.

You might very usefully pose a query in one of the Mercedes fora (MB World and MBOC spring to mind). I tend to find that the American owners are more adventurous and often have good home-brew backyard/own garage fixes (often accompanied by detailed step by step instructions).

[Skyedriver]

David Beer said:

Have you seen any marker on the laser assembly? Sony made most in that era. If so it will have a part number .

No just dust, and a little rust on the steel chassis too. It sits in the rear wing, directly below the aerial which is a known leak point on these cars when the plastic "grommet" deteriorates.

[HustleRussell]

psi310398 said:

Skyedriver said:

Found an Alpine one with a similar connector, it's not the later fibre optic type.
It's not an identical unit, the model numbers are not the same but there is a similarity.
What's the chances of them being interchangable? It's actually a Renault Laguna/Megane item?

I wouldn't like to guess I'm afraid as I tend to stick resolutely to OEM spec.

But Alpine, Pioneer and Sony were OEMs for CD changers in that period.