'89 Carrera radio conundrum!

[LeckerNeunelf]

I have an '89 Carrera with an after market CD/radio player. I do not think I have any sort of amplifier (just empty space under the passenger seat). When I bought the car, the seller told me he had the period correct Blaupunkt in his garage and he would get it to me -- never did.

I found and bought a Blaupunkt Reno SQR-46 head unit a couple of years ago, and I am only now getting around to it. Here's my problem, I only have the head unit, no wiring harness, and no amp (I'm not sure it needs an amp, anyone know?).

Also, I strongly suspect (without really knowing) that the unit is broken. I'm not sure why I think it is, but it was shipped to me in less than perfect packing, which bummed me out at the time. But that's all I have to go on. Anyone have any advice on how to test it before installing? What sort of power source could I use?

Next part of my conundrum...Reno's have become God-awful expensive! Now, I'm as much in love with the period correct "integrity" as the next guy, but my car will never win any concourse awards! And, I'm mostly in love with the look. So, I have recently been thinking of installing one of the other Blaupunkt models that are near twins of the Reno (Lexington, Houston, Philadelphia, etc..). Then selling off the Reno to fund the install and have some $$ left over for other improvements (heater blower motor).

I found a Philadelphia SQR-49 that seems nice enough. But I noticed that it is a pull-out unit. Here's my bottom line question:

Does anyone have one of these "other" Blaupunkt's installed? Could you post pictures to help me make up my mind? I'm especially interested in seeing a dashboard image of a 911 with a pull-out Blaupunkt installed! (Do they even fit?)

Alright, first world problems!

[dnovick911]

I put a new Blaupunkt Toronto in my Targa. See pic. Not really gaudy like most head units today. Nice to have BlueTooth for phone and music. Works pretty well and was only like $150-ish from Crutchfield. USB on the back allows me to charge phone, too...when my old cigarette lighter just didn't have enough juice to get the job done. I hope this helps a little and good luck in your search whichever way you go.

[Arne2]

Lots of older Blaus that look good in our cars. I found an NOS Ventura CD-83 a couple years ago for mine.

[997Sbeebe]

another Toronto owner here. looks quite good, considering it isn't period - doesn't 'junk up' the interior at all. it is shinier than anything else in the cabin, though. ;-)

[sky1jord]

BP Reno SQR-46 is a complete unit, no amplifier required, at least in my '88.

Who ever listens to a radio anyway? The most beautiful music in the world emanates from that mechanical gizmo behind you in the engine compartment.

[Calnan]

'89 and '87 Carrera owner here - I spent this last winter getting the original Reno SQR 46squared away in my '89 coupe. My first recommendation would be to get in touch with Stefan at SW Stereo in NJ. He is incredibly knowledgeable about all things Blaupunkt/Becker. He restored/repaired my Reno and was a wealth of advice re: wiring, amp, harnesses, etc. I think the '89s had amplifiers under the passenger seat - my '87 did not have an amp.

You can send him the unit and he can test it for you. He can also make you the right kind of harness. Worst case - the unit is not functional, and he can either repair it, or maybe you could get a new old stock Lexington from him that would work for you.

Good luck! PM me if you would like to discuss more - happy to help!

- Mike

[schulr]

I replaced my old head unit with a Becker 220 as I liked the look and was not interested in a high powered model as who really listens to the radio anyway. I bought this on line from a firm that reconditioned Beckers but cant seem to find them around anymore. I believe it was a factory site. (just noticed the dust accumulation in my vent, more work to do)

[slotmeister]

Nerd alert! I went the Blaupunkt Toronto route also, wanting Bluetooth/iPod compatibility with a simpler look to replace the disco-horror Sony unit installed by PO. I got a slim JD Audio XD400 amp fitted under the seat, too. Glossy Blaupunkt display also bugged me, so I bought iPad anti-glare film and trimmed it to suit. Have yet to do same for the knobs. I'm also thinking of swapping out the blue LEDs in the knobs for green; that'll make it a Gruenepunkt, I guess, but will be much more sympathetic to the interior lighting. Oh - and I have No. Idea. What. I'm. Doing.

[86 911 Targa]

^^^^^
I've had one of these.


^^^^^
With one of these.

Simple, and never skipped a beat in over 20 years.....

[rusnak]

IMO, any Blaupunkt after 2007 is not worth squat. Your best bet is to buy a used one on Ebay or something like that. After Robert Bosch sold Blaupunkt, they were not the same. Since you don't want to run an amp, you can put anything in there and it won't matter. If you want better quality audio, you need an amp and something higher end like a Blaupunkt MP74 Seattle or Los Angeles.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Toronto owners, how is the sound? The Monterey SQR in my 84 doesn't work. Want something that looks appropriate, sounds good, and has iPhone USB connectivity.

Wish I could find an old Eclipse.

[slotmeister]

Shaun, I'm no kind of audiophile, rarely listen to the radio in the cars these days, but I do listen to the iPod via the Toronto. I have that JL Audio amp under the seat, and JL Audio speakers - TR 525s in the doors (I had to stretch their mount holes to fit original holes in door trim) and TR400s in rear shelf (4" round, with 4x6 adaptor supplied, the latter modified to accept original 911 grilles).
After all that, it's, uhh, about average for sound quality, I guess. Bluetooth phone connection works great (I wouldn't trust the built-in mic in the fascia, so I had one wired in, above interior mirror) and iPod works well through it, although the Blaupunkt's playlist, shuffle etc options require several reads of the manual.
Biggest hassle was that the Toronto's "antenna trigger" didn't have enough grunt to trigger the electric antenna (standard fit in Australia), or even a small relay. Unit had to go back for some tweaks. Even so, electric antenna doesn't work exclusively for Radio mode - as it used to with the previous Sony. Having aerial up all the time bugged me, so I had to get a separate, hidden switch fitted.
Man ... I'm not selling this, am I?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Thank you Slot, great write-up, much appreciated!

[LeckerNeunelf]

Wow, such a great conversation!

Thank you all, especially those who posted dashboard images of their stereos. It really helps me parse this down to its very essence, which is most of the fun!

A couple of points: YES, the radio is mostly NOT for listening, as there is no better sound than the waish!-urr! of an angry German air cooled!

Speaking of metal, every now and then, I still find it necessary to play slightly loud, if not very pretty, music. So, there is a rare need for a functional stereo. But if that was all that there was to it, then this would not be much of a conundrum. New units are functional, relatively inexpensive and there are plenty of places to have them installed. It's a knot, because I also have a need (I assume I'm not alone) for proper optics. Proper curation could be mentioned, even if it is a little pretentious. I mean, our Porsche's are, collectively, a piece of human achievement that will out live us, assuming we don't all wrap them around cell towers trying to master down shift blips.

I can tell that I am following in the footsteps of others, because I was once convinced that installing a Toronto was the exact right way to go. But I must report that this thread has convinced me not to go there. They are just too techno-shiny. Having said that, I would like to bow slightly at the waist in honor of slotmeister's solution (adding iPhone shield). It is creative, functional and darn near gets the aesthetics right.

Then there's schulr who went with a cassette deck from the decade that followed. Smart thinking, looks pretty good, it's probably better quality. I will have to mull this approach some more. However, I think these units were code-locked or something like that. Schulr, did you have to do anything out of the ordinary to get your Becker CDR-220 working in your '87?

On a side note, I like your floor matts! Yet another conundrum I mull during red lights. Seeing yours in an '87 makes me think; yep that works nicely.

What I really want to see are dashboard images of Blaupunkt radios that are LIKE a Reno SQR-46, but are not actually the that model. Bonus points if you have a pull-out unit with a tuck-away metal handle. Here's why -- I hate pullout cassette decks. They remind me of my youth growing up in an area where having a pullout cassette deck was actually a smart idea. That can't still be true anymore can it? Am I out of touch?. Be that as it may, I might be able to compromise. But I have to see it first.

[schulr]

Locker, the CD-R 220 is a cd version with the front face plate dropping down. Works pretty cool. From what I have read, this unit is considered average which is fine with me as I was looking for a head unit that was not too flashy, no red lights, and blended in. The Porsche name on the faceplate was an added plus.

[Sputnik]

I mounted this one on my 88 carrera. No CD, but aux and USB in. New, but with a very classic look.

[pc100porsche]

I have a NOS Ventura CD-83 shown in earlier pic if you might be interested ?
$180 + shipping

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I just tried removing my Monterey SQR with coat hanger hoops to no avail.

Any ideas? Do I have to buy the special hoops/keys?

[rusnak]

Tough to say. Can you see the release tabs under the dash? Auto zone and Oreilys might lend you the tools for free.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by schulr

Locker, the CD-R 220 is a cd version with the front face plate dropping down. Works pretty cool. From what I have read, this unit is considered average which is fine with me as I was looking for a head unit that was not too flashy, no red lights, and blended in. The Porsche name on the faceplate was an added plus.

These guys might be able to help:

porsche upgrade