Replacing the A-Class cassette holder with a CD holder

1. Firstly remove the radio; you need to be able to get your hand into the hole to get to the fixings.

2. The entire tape holder and plastic frame is held in at the top by two clips as indicated in the photo (photo1). Press down on these two clips by sticking your arm through the radio hole. The holder will then pull out.

3. If you are replacing the entire unit, its just a simple case of slotting the new CD unit back in. ***TOP TIP, I found that replacing the radio first was easiest, as my radio had lots of wiring that got in the way. If you put the radio in first you can route the wiring first from underneath. Then just slot in the new CD unit.

4. If you just have the CD holder you need to separate the original tape holder from the plastic unit first. This is easily done by lifting all the clips as shown in the picture (photo2) with a small screwdriver (be careful not to break or strain them). The tape holders slip out towards the rear (not through the front). There are 4 clips on the top and 4 on the rear. Each tape holder is separate so you will find it easier removing one at a time, each holder is held by two clips.

5. Once all the tape holders are removed (photo4) you just slide the CD unit in from the rear, ensuring that you have it the right way up.

6. I bought this CD unit from eBay it was out of a late Fiesta, the same unit is in Vectra's, Calibre's, A3 and late VW Golfs I believe.

7. The units are made by Fischer and as far as I am aware any unit with 4 CD's is the same, you just have to take it out of the plastic frame it fits in the original car. You can see in the photo (photo5) that the fittings are the same on the tape and CD holders. The original fitting is shown in the photo (photo3).

Installation complete. (photo6)

Thanks to Dean Paddock for the article