Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Replace Alpine CDE-120R

Hello!
The current radio/cd have no option for remote control.
I found a radio/cd with remote included plus blue tooth hand free for mobile phone calls with separate microphone included. Are there a standard for this kind of radios so they are interchangeable?
//Bosse

Looking up your head unit on the Alpine-Europe website says:

Dimensions
- 1 Din Size
- Chassis Size (W x H x D) mm: 178 x 50 x 160

General
- Power Requirement: 12 (11-16) V.DC
- Pre Output Voltage (Before Clipping): 2 V
- Maximum Mounting Angle: 30° from Horizontal
- Weight: 1.2 kg

Max Power Output Ratings
- Max Power Output: 4 x 50 W

All of this will be important information when comparing a new unit (except for weight, that is not as important), full specs can be found here:

www.alpine-europe.com/p/Products/cd-head-units19/cde-120r

If you just want to add the functionality of a remote but have no other issues with your head unit, there is also this an an option. Keep your current head unit and add this:

KRE-502E
Item is available.
Price: GBP£ 59.99

http://shop.alpine.uk.com/products/productdetail/KRE-502E/part_number=KRE-502E/9280.0.4.3.0.0.0.0.0?

By using the KRE-502E it allows you to control a Non Remote Control Ready Head unit via a remote control. The KRE-502E uses the Steering Wheel Remote Control input on the rear of the Head Unit.

Caution:
You can’t use the KRE-502E in combination with an Alpine steering wheel control interface!

and you can order the remote there as well:

RUE-4202
Item is available.
Price: GBP£ 29.99

http://shop.alpine.uk.com/products/productdetail/RUE-4202/part_number=RUE-4202/9280.0.4.3.0.0.0.0.0?

Head unit remote control for all ‘Remote Ready’ head units.
Recommended Accesories:

By using the KRE-502E it allows you to control a Non Remote Control Ready Head unit via a remote control.

Thank you for the information!
I did not know the possibility to use the current radio with some extra added.
//bosse

I am in the process of having a "discussion" with MMC on this topic. To supply one of the cheapest units on the market with no remote is a disgrace!!!!!

I was told a Blaupunkt would be fitted and, as I have that in writing I think I have a case.

I used to be really into car stereos a few years back, so my perspective may be out of date, but what I remember is that they are both very comparable brands in the car stereo market. Alpine was very popular in the states and if I remember correctly, they were featured in Lamborghini vehicles where as Blaupunkt was featured in Ferrari's (factory stereo manufacturers).

Now I can not speak for the current aftermarket offerings or quality of either company or on this specific head unit, but personal preferences led me to Pioneer car audio and then SONY for head units. I put Pioneer head units in my first 3 cars (Ford Probe, Jeep Wrangler x2) and did not have a single complaint, they were in the one hundred to few hundred dollar range. Then SONY released a single din unit that had a sweet LED screen but no internal amp. All said and done, that ended up being a bigger money-sink than I hoped for; reaching well past a thousand. And then that was all traded in with the Subaru. Now, since the BMW and MINI are not friendly to aftermarket stereos I have left the head units well alone and kind of faded away from that whole scene.

Alpine supply a wide range of stereos and I am sure that the top end units are good. Problem is that some "expletive deleted" buying clerk at Morgan has bought a batch of stereos that you can purchase in every discount electronics shop for €80 or £75 tax included. Given that it is reasonably well known that you need a remote control for use in the trad Morgan and that the current price for a stereo as an optional extra is £341.88 (ok that does include speakers and fitting)

IMHO they could do a lot better. There are Alpine models that can be purchased from about £110 on up that can work with or have included a remote.

I should probably have remarked that the add-on remote option that I posted above may or may-not work with your specific head unit and that you should probably check with a reputable car audio place, or possibly the dealership, or Alpine themselves to make sure it will work with what you have. I just searched Alpines store for this feature as I had seen it before, but I do not see specified in your head units specs anything about steering wheel hook up or pre-wireing, not that it doesn't have it, you would just have to look or find someone who knows to be sure before investing in this kit.

Yeah, I understand your point, if a remote is necessary then it should be supplied on something that is as integrated into the vehicle as the stereo system, besides it being an extra option. If what they offered on paper is better than what you received I would inquire myself.

Unfortunately the Alpine CDE-120R series does not support any form of remote input. It is not equiped for connection with existing steering wheel controls that are now fitted to many cars. It is the lowest price, entry level, model stereo that they make and as such lacks all but basic features.

About the only thing in its favour is that it is DIN compatible and therefore easily replaced by any number of better units.