Which Becker

[acme]

Sorry fellas probably been asked before (lots!).....but which Becker head unit is it that everyone has/wants and which background colour?

Any ideas on estimated cost for a second hand (& alternative illumination colours?) unit & if you need a separate iPhone connector etc?

Plus, any alternative head units which 'suit'. All I need are radio/DAB if poss, Bluetooth and iPhone connection I not through Bluetooth & charging capability.

Sorry lots of questions. Just working out if it's all worth it.

Cheers
_________________
1996 C2 Manual Polar Silver

 

[dommorton]

For me it has to be the Grand Prix 7990 Which has Amber illumination. Looks just perfect.

They can go for silly money now, but occasionally they pop up on eBay so keep um peeled.

The iPod adaptor is a nice touch too, although I guess it's as good as outdated now as not an Apple lightening connector.

Worth getting for the looks alone, but its actually a decent well spec'd piece of kit too.

Do you really want DAB? I paid more for it in my BM and its actually pretty limited and frustrating.

 

[Dream911]

I've got the cascade pro and can't fault it apart from the slight problem it doesn't take 6 digit post codes.

If you want a slight more factory look then get a grand prix ( hands free) or Indianapolis ( sat nav). Get the amber or red display and they would look great.

Rough prices, all second hand of course
Cascade pro £650
Cascade £550
Grand Prix £300
Indianapolis £220

 

[dommorton]

Grand Prix go for as much as £600 with an amber display. Red ones seem easier to come by.

 

[jonttt]

Always worth checking german ebay direct as well. The units are multi lingual so does not matter if you get a german version ;-)

Its easy to "upgrade" the system CD to v5.1 (which was the last) and the last Becker maps (2009) and I can give you instructions how to download / install them on the cascade units.

I'm running BMW 2013 maps on both my cascades with speed cameras alerts which is a great feature as you get 3 beeps when approaching a speed cameras even when the sat nav if not being used

The thing I always point out with the Beckers is that they are an investment ie pay £300 for a decent "new" unit and it will be worth not very much in 2-3 years second hand. Buy a Becker and you will get most of your money back at any time so in the long run they are no more expensive / cheaper.

One warning though the iPod connectors are getting harder to source. They used to be c£75 but I ended up paying £110 from Germany for a genuine one. There are "copies" that are cheaper but I don't thiink you get all the Ipod functions. The Ipod interface on the Becker using a genuine cable is as good as using the ipod directly and well worth it.

The Beckers are a great quality headunit. We had a Ferrari F430 with a cascade specced from new and it was >£2,000 option

 

[acme]

Thanks for all the responses fellas, especially as I appreciate like suspension this topic has been discussed to death, though unlike suspension it's one we seem to agree on! Beckers looks great!

Bit confused though, so an amber Grand Prix 7990 is seemingly the one to go for and has an analogue radio & CD, but you need the iPod/iPhone adapter separately :?:

So £250 is really £350+?

And from memory some have had difficulty getting it into the standard DIN?

Re Dom's question re DAB in an ideal world I'd like it as I only listen to XFm, which you inevitably lose 30 miles out of London, but if its rubbish then little point.

Does the iPod lead charge too? Got satnav on the phone but it of course destroys the battery!

Right, off to continue clay barring & polishing the '93!

 

[996dom]

I've just had a Amber Becker Grand Prix 7990 fitted, I brought it a few months ago and it came with the ipod lead. It does look really OEM and sounds pretty good, the Bluetooth works well but does seem very dated compared to modern units.

As to charging the Ipod, all the fairly modern ones won't charge. Luckily I have a 2nd gen classic which charges so it has to be an old ipod for the charging to work.

As to Dab the FM on the Becker does work very well and has a far greater reception than my 2011 X5 and the CDR22 in the GT3.

It does cost me a lot but I think it's money well spent :thumb:
Dom

 

[dommorton]

Thanks for all the responses fellas, especially as I appreciate like suspension this topic has been discussed to death, though unlike suspension it's one we seem to agree on! Beckers looks great!

Bit confused though, so an amber Grand Prix 7990 is seemingly the one to go for and has an analogue radio & CD, but you need the iPod/iPhone adapter separately :?:

So £250 is really £350+?

And from memory some have had difficulty getting it into the standard DIN?

Re Dom's question re DAB in an ideal world I'd like it as I only listen to XFm, which you inevitably lose 30 miles out of London, but if its rubbish then little point.

Does the iPod lead charge too? Got satnav on the phone but it of course destroys the battery!

Right, off to continue clay barring & polishing the '93!

iPod connectivity comes via a separate add on unit. It's a small box with an apple connector one end, and the connector for the back of the HU the other. This gives full control of the iPod and it's paylists, also charges.

There are about 4 versions of the iPod lead. Earlier ones only charge early iPods, as Apple went over to 5v USB chargers rendering just about all aftermarket connectors obsolete. The last version of the Becker connector charges the last of the large connector iPods and iPhones.

I think your prices are a little out though. Reckon on paying considerably more for an amber GP. The lead on top, and as Jon says these too are shooting up in price now they are no longer available new from Becker.

It is standard DIN sized, but can be a tight fit as can any HU in the 993 dash. The space behind is not exactly generous and so needs some careful placement of the wiring behind to get it to go in flush.

 

[sparky1pq]

Slight off topic but just got a becker unit for my 993, any recommendations for someone fit it for me? i'm based in the north west.

 

[Red993C4]

Slight off topic but just got a becker unit for my 993, any recommendations for someone fit it for me? i'm based in the north west.

In case nobody turns up with local knowledge of installers in your area: I suspect that a Becker radio into a 993 is a no-brainer for an experienced installer, since this brand was supplied as original equipment and shouldn't need any harness adapters.
You should be able to take it to any any convenient local installer who has a good reputation for his work on other brands of car and radio. :dont know:

 

[jonttt]

An experienced installer should be able to fit one no problem but is worth making sure they know the quirks of the original 993 install.

check out my install as part of my journal which will confirm the quirks.

http://911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=82158&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=112

Looks cool fitted.

I'll try to start a new thread in the week on how to upgrade the system CD and maps to the last / latest versions :wink:

ps you will need to tell them where you want the GPS receiver and microphone fitting. You can fit the GPS in a void above the central vents under the dash but I prefer clear line of site and so fitted on the top right of the dash against the glass.

You can see the mic next to the unit on the pic below. You could route it through to the rear view mirror which I did on another car but the "shelf" on the 993 is perfect for it and very easy to wire through.

 

[dommorton]

Mines stuck at the top of the A Pillar. Very easy to get it there and route the cable behind the inner screen seal as the alarm sensors are.