Looking to replace the old aftermarket stereo in my '79 240. It works fine, but only has radio and CD, so I can't listen to podcasts or my own music without burning a CD. I don't need anything fancy - as long as it has a 3.5mm jack and a radio, I'm a happy camper. I would really like to have a cd player, but I would sacrifice that if needed. Bluetooth would be a nice to have, but I would rather have no bluetooth than a bluetooth implementation that gets in my way. Every single din unit I have found is either ugly or not available in the US. I have looked at units like the Blaupunkt Milano 200bt, but I worry about how the plastic will wear (also, need to get one from overseas) Are there any decent quality head units without glossy plastic and extra buttons?

After poking around a little, I am considering picking up an 80s Blaupunkt tape deck. Possibly an SQR 26. Has anybody installed one of those?

im not sure but Blaupunkt tend to make good stuff..

the original 1988 radio has a separate amp and I find my tape deck sounds great if I use good chrome tape and do decent recordings. the off the shelf ones are not that great quality tape usually. I like the 120 minute ones it will fit a lot more so less tape changing. the amp is up under the dash over on the drivers side, It could still be in there.

I much prefer the older non digital tuners but they are a little older. I'd prefer to tune the stations myself than have the machine do that, less buttons and it's a road distraction. one thing I dont like about the OEM one is I can;t read the buttons and it has too many unnecessaary features like programmable buttons.

right now mine seems to be on the blink, it will fade out then if I smack the side of the console and jar it it gets louder, maybe a bad capacitor or a bad wire connection in there.

I have a little unit that plugs in the cigarette lighter and I can plug in a stereo input and it broadcasts over FM. Then you just set the FM dial right to receive it. I think there are also more modern units that can connect from your phone, etc by bluetooth or similar.

If the deck you have works ok I'd just do that and then there is no need to replace it. I still use cassettes, I like them , no menus or other electronic garbage to worry about, or commercial advertising.

where I go to play pool there is a radio tape deck cassette player phono CD combo thing.. It isn't new or sophisticated.. someone plugged in a little box to it and those that have music lists connect their phones to it without plugging in, and stream their own music to it that way.

you could plug one of those it to the FM broadcast device or there may be a modern equivalent in one package.

I like cassettes too. If I still had the factory stereo, I would keep it. You can get a 3.5mm jack to cassette adapter to play music from an outside device or keep recording over a tape with whatever music you want available. I considered getting an FM transmitter, but decided against it. Having to fiddle with frequencies as I come in and out of range of other stations on a long trip would bug me and I don't want extra lights and out of place glossy plastic in the car. Since I'm not a fan of how my head unit looks anyway, I would rather just replace it.

I just thought of this (thanks to the RF interface suggestion): If the aftermarket CD player has CD changer control capability, there may be an interface (either from the player manufacturer, or third party) to add aux-in capability via the CD interface. I briefly considered this as it seems to exist for the later '90s Volvo factory radios (SR-xx models, I think). But I'd still need to buy another factory radio, and the interface isn't cheap, either. But it may be for the aftermarket radio.

Interesting point. I may have to look into that. I might still replace it though - I might just gamble on an ebay tape deck. I found a working 80s Blaupunkt head unit at a reasonable price and that will match better than anything else. I can have a cassette adapter plugged into any device and listen to the radio, so as long as it doesn't catch on fire I'm happy.

I can sympathize. No modern offering looks like something I'd want in my '90s car, let alone one from two decades prior. I was recently given an older single DIN Alpine head unit, and decided to use it as a stopgap until I figure out what I want to compromise. Well the head unit looks off, obviously. But the Metra kit (for the 7xx/9xx cars only) is absolutely hideous. I guess they were accounting for some DIN options which are deeper than what the car can fit. Not the case with my radio, but I get why they had to do it. So I'll stick with this a while, because I have other priorities to address with both the car and home, and limited time and money. But eventually I might just go all in with a full DIN (requires some custom fabrication and relay relocation in my case). This will probably look better than what I have now (as it would be flush with the console, if not period appropriate), and give me navigation in-dash. But part of me thinks of going with an amplifier with bluetooth, and putting the broken OE head unit back in. Would be simple and clean, except I'd require a phone mount somewhere to be able to control the audio - so in the end not so great after all.

Sorry to post without any solution, but I felt like commiserating. I hope you find a compromise you can live with.

If you ever come up with a solution you like, please drop me a line. At this point, I am considering just getting a normal modern head unit and paying the extra $10 for one that lets me adjust the color of the lights. At least that way I'm not stuck with hideous blue LEDs. I'm lucky to have my radio mounted in the lower position - not like I'm looking that way at all while driving.

Sure thing.

I was a little disappointed to discover that the (free, mind you) radio I installed does not allow for color change. That goes a long way in making things feel cohesive.

I added a new Blaupunkt Bremen im my ‘76 245. I had a radio with CD from a V40 but that didn’t fit because my shifter is in the way using the CD. The Blaupunkt works really good, music comes either by Bluetooth or USB cable. For Europe it is nice to have DAB and with the Bluetooth integration I have a handsfree device for my phone, very useful as using the phone while driving will cost you 100 €/$. Maybe this helps for your decision Michael

I was looking at that one. I like the way it looks, but I just can't justify the cost, especially considering the cost of shipping one from Europe. Have you used any of the cheaper blaupunkt units like the Milano 200bt? While they don't look as cool as the Bremen, the price is much lower and it is less obtrusive than most others I have seen. My only concern is the plastic - that matte texture looks like it might wear quickly.

Hi,

I can only suggest that if the CD head is not working that you open up the unit and wipe the lens “gently” of dust.
If it cannot focus it won’t read the disc and skip into a hunting mode. It shuts down, as if on strike (:) and puts out a read error code.

Sometimes a no disc code even comes up but that’s can be a little deeper issue than just cleaning a lens.
The rubber supports can break or the arm jams and does not travel.
Most cases the lens is mounted in a plate or arm that traverses across the disc.
It is meant to float float over the CD in the air current above the disc.

All this Subdues vibrations and jostling of the car.
I have substituted tiny o rings in some units because of one being rotten or too hard and the lens was being cocked out of focal range.

If the unit doesn’t work you got nothing to lose.
Gaining some experience on how things work, for nearly free, is a real commodity nowadays.
This way you get one more valuable payback out of it that you build on to fix other things.

Knowledge is an accumulation of experiences. If we got all we needed to know in one shot in our beginnings, there would be no need to explore, as there would be no unknowns. (:)

Phil

In my case, it's the factory issued cassette deck (CR-915, I think). It's key inputs are not working, only the power switch - at which point I'm prompted to enter a code which doesn't register due to the failed keys. I did take the time to open it up, and see if there was a cold solder joint, burnt component, or other visible sign of failure. My eyes (and nose) could not detect any. Great suggestion, however. My very first VCR (maybe my only one) was given to me non-working. Having no idea what I was doing, I somehow thought to adjust the heads (after cleaning them) while the thing was playing a tape, and got it working fine. When something's already broken, there's nothing to lose, as you point out.

Incidentally, I can personally live without a sound system. Having something in the car which doesn't work bothers me more. But I also have young kids, and they benefit from some tunes. Just like the OP, I listen to podcasts, but I'm happy to use ear buds for that - one of the more heinous crimes I commit on a regular basis...

Crutchfield helps!

https://www.crutchfield.com/

What model? A 242 coupe, a 244 sedan, or a 245 estate / wagon?

Metra may be the last aftermarket maker of auto radio fitting parts for 240 / 260 for fitting a stereo head unit into the lower or on newer 240 dashes, upper cubby.

Lower Cubby mount in older 240 / 260. This is what you use?



Image from:
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-uNp6cIpJjXp/learn/1975-1993-volvo-240-series.html

A post to fit speakers in 240:

Front door speakers in 240/260 (sort of blah blah long)

Youtube has many videos on Volvo 240 / 260 stereo upgrades treating fitment.

Before choosing a head unit model, you will want to consider fit of the radio front bezel and bit and how to support the head unit weight at the back end.

Unless you are in Europa or the UK as the dash and center console may be more like that in, say, a 1991 240 in any market.

In the 1979 (1974 to 1980-1981 or so), the stock dash fits the radio above the transmission / driveshaft tunnel hump in front of the transmission lever in the center console. No other option without modifying the dash and maybe the sheet metal.

The cubby is about 2 DIN or rack units in height. When auto radio used two durable shafts let and right, these shafts are what the black bezel secured. The bezel secures to the two front left and right metal center console support the plastic bits, like the kick panels and front control panel secure to.

What do you have have for a radio now? How is it mounted?

Also, how do the current speakers mount? In my former 1979 242 GT, a 4" / 100 mm speaker will fit the profile of the inner door card. On older year front door inner door cards, you could fit a 5" or so speaker. You may be able to secure it to the inner door sheet metal without modification. The speaker must mount securely while sealing the air space behind from the speaker front and the speaker frame must be free to allow resonance.

The rear hat shelf may have a middle speaker hole for a 4" by 6" oval speaker. I'm not sure.

Why the Crutchfield site. Oft mentioned here on your brickboard.

Questions?

Hope that helps!

Duffed
--
Give your brickboard.com a big thumbs up! Way up! - Roger Ebert.

Thanks.