Alpine Radio Cassettte Type

[Scotty2]

Can someone tell me the model type fitted to a 96 Turbo RL?

I can't see the model number on the unit. When I put the removable facia back on it seems to go off at random and won't play. I have a CD unit (Thanks to 2woody) so I want to replace the head unit with like for like.

Any newer units are too Bling and Flashy and also I like the novelty of listening to my old cassettes!

Might have to get it repaired...

Edited by Scotty2 on Tuesday 2nd December 16:45

[enjoythemusic]

Please post a few high quality photos. Thanks.

[matt5791]

Scotty2 said:

Can someone tell me the model type fitted to a 96 Turbo RL?

I can't see the model number on the unit. When I put the removable facia back on it seems to go off at random and won't play. I have a CD unit (Thanks to 2woody) so I want to replace the head unit with like for like.

Any newer units are to Bling and Flashy and also I like the novelty of listening to my old cassettes!

Might have to get it repaired...

Ha - you are singing from the same hymn sheet as me - the wrong stereo, just looks wrong in these cars. I have a Continental R, 1996 - it has the original stereo, but when I acquired the car a year ago it was broken, just "pulsing" on and off. I eventually found a chap in Brighton who managed to repair it for me by going through the circuit boards. But before I found him, I had searched high and low for a replacement. They are tricky to find unfortunately.

The model is the Alpine TDA-7537R. However, Rolls had them supplied with some slight differences to the same model sold on the high street, namely, it has no visible Alpine logo, ie. it's unbranded on the face of it (Rolls obviously considered a brand too vulgar to grace the interior...) and it was not designed to be completely removed for security - the regular ones have a handle to pull the whole stereo, in addition to the face removal facility. The Rolls version has this handle deleted and you have to use a small screwdriver to release it if required.

The problem is, they are really rare, and in Rolls unbranded form, even rarer. Before getting mine fixed, I thought I would make a phone call to Flying Spares and they would say, Oh yes, we have 10 second hand ones on the shelf. But no such luck.

I have had a watch on ebay for 12 months. In this time 2 have come up. the first one I missed, and the second one I managed to buy (£58 or something) as a spare - but both of these were the regular version, with Alpine logo.

My advise is to keep a watch on ebay and phone all the breakers you can find.

Finally, I had to replace all the main speakers in my car because they had just disintegrated (they were the originals). Once I had done this, the sound quality from these Apline stereos is really superb, and I would imagine, in the day, one of the best you could buy.

This is the regular (branded) version:


This is the original Rolls Royce Spec one:


Note, deleted Alpine logo, black buttons.

To be honest, the standard one would be a good second best option if you can find one.

Edited by matt5791 on Tuesday 2nd December 12:51

[Scotty2]

Cheers Matt.

Just finished taking the unit out and indeed it's as you say. TDA-7537R.

Will check out repairs.

ETA: Being sent off to Western Car Radio in Bristol as recommended on another thread. Had a chat and seems like it might be repairable.

Edited by Scotty2 on Tuesday 2nd December 16:45

[matt5791]

Scotty2 said:

Cheers Matt.

Just finished taking the unit out and indeed it's as you say. TDA-7537R.

Will check out repairs.

ETA: Being sent off to Western Car Radio in Bristol as recommended on another thread. Had a chat and seems like it might be repairable.

Edited by Scotty2 on Tuesday 2nd December 16:45

Great - if you need a second opinion, this is the bloke who repaired mine:

http://www.caraudiorepairs.co.uk/

Several other people had told me it couldn't be repaired.

[Scotty2]

Thread Update:
I have found another firm who can repair the Alpine unit which has now lost its memory and won't tune. PH Auto funnily enough!

Does anyone have a copy of the wiring for the ISO connectors on the Bentley side of things?

[Mavic82]

Hi, did you get any conclusion to your wiring? I would like to from the Alpine plug to standard ISO plugs to easily fit a modern head unit without chopping the wires but all the adaptors seem to go the other way.

[Scotty2]

I couldn't get the original repaired after all.

I replaced the original one with a CDA-9854R which has the AI port for the CD changer AND an AUX cable (not mentioned in the manual) which will allow other inputs. I just bought a cable from the AUX to a 3.5mm jack for other modern sources (PPP0192189001) ETA - This doesn't fit although it looks like it should!

Anyway, Yes you can buy iso connectors that will mate with the Bentley/Alpine ones. My local Car and Cycle shop has a guy who knows these sort of things and he ordered them for me.

One for the speakers with 8 standard colour wires and another for power, aerial, dim, earth e.t.c.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_t...

This is the "Aux" which will allow other stuff to connect with the above mentioned cable.


ETA that Aux cable doesn't fit!

Edited by Scotty2 on Wednesday 31st July 11:11