Radio 10: '08 versus '09?

[Padawan]

Does anyone know whether it is possible to distinguish between a 2008 Radio 10 and a 2009 Radio 10? Is there any difference, no matter how slight? Perhaps the display, menu items, or the way the CD slot illuminates? Serial number? Thanks in advance.

[Big Panda]

Don't know of any physical differences, but 'usually' there is a Production Date on OEM radios. hopefully the smart is no different.

[jwight]

Same operation, etc. as far as I know.

[Padawan]

My radio was supposed to be swapped out for a brand new unit from an '09 car, because I was experiencing an issue with the changer often cycling through all of the disks when I would first start the engine. The new radio did the same thing twice yesterday, so I'm trying to determine whether in fact the new radio is in my car, or if there was a mix-up in the service bay.

To me, it looks as though the CD slot has a small rectangle of illumination at night that I never noticed on my old radio. Can anyone post a photo of their '08 radio at night with the headlights on?

Any other info on how to tell if it's an '09 without pulling the radio out?

[John_H]

The Radio isn't something that's typically changed in functionality without people finding out about the different features, is it? I've heard nothing and I've tried to hook a few owners owners up with Radio10s, keeping my ear to the ground.

If there was a difference, I'd expect the first thing they'd change is the ability to receive US Radio Data Service info (station, song, artist). The information is received for the European market but not the US. Nothing.

[mikie]

an issue with the changer often cycling through all of the disks

I also have this happen on occasion. I'm curious how common it is?

To be more clear, as you listen to the radio, you hear the CD changer cycling through the CD's. When you try to switch to the CD Changer, a message on the radio appears saying something like "Please wait CD Starting", and then the unit switches back to the radio....

[Padawan]

Originally Posted by mikie

To be more clear, as you listen to the radio, you hear the CD changer cycling through the CD's. When you try to switch to the CD Changer, a message on the radio appears saying something like "Please wait CD Starting", and then the unit switches back to the radio....

I rarely listen to the radio, so when I start my car, the source is normally already set to CD. But yes, you do hear the changer cycling, and nothing will play until it has finished. It will then begin playing exactly where your song left off last time you were in the car.

John H: I'm pretty certain that no functional changes were made, but I was wondering/hoping that there might be a very slight change that I could look for (like the way the '08 gear indicator above the fuel gauge is larger than the '09).

[jwight]

Here's a 2008 Radio 10:



You can see the production week under the barcode. I'd assume the smart part number would change if the radio had major changes, but you never know. The one in our 09 operates exactly like the one in our 08.

[Carlarm]

Several years ago when the radio went bad in my new Mercedes I was told that if the car had more than 1,000 miles on the odometer their policy was to replace the radio with a refurbished unit rather than a truly new radio. I suspect smart has a similar policy. So if there is a problem with your radio don't delay bringing it to their attention.