There are multiple original radio options in the Mercedes SL-Class (R230), which option is the original fitted system?

Mercedes SL R230

Production years 2002 - 2011

The Mercedes SL had a facelift after 2004. The dashboard changed and this affects the way a new radio is fitted.

The older pre facelift models had a single large dashboard panel that surrounded the radio and the climate controls. The later models had a split panel that surrounded the climate controls but the radio was wider and filled the top half.

The above picture shows the pre facelift dashboard, see how the original silver dashboard panel surrounds both the climate controls and the radio.(use facia 50-658)

The below picture is of a post facelift car, the dashboard panel ends above the climate control, the radio is larger. (use facia 50-880)

Mercedes SL cars have fibre optic audio systems. The head unit communicates to the amplifier and tuner module on a fibre optic network. Because of this there are no plug and play adapters, the CANbus steering control interfaces need to be hard wired and the audio amplifier needs to be bypassed.

After changing the radio, the clock cannot be adjusted.