raed_jan

Gents,

Thanks to JBONDOX for providing all the help I needed prior to the installation process of the OPTI-1
Please find attached the write-up I made for the Head Unit Replacement in me '06 R230. The end results were amazing

Raed Jan

jbondox

Nice! looks great also!

raed_jan

Thanks Jim.
You were right when you tested it, it really brought the Bose Amp and Speakers to life... a totally different performance curve, and that's including the rear fill speakers, that's why I changed my mind and didn't wire them directly to the Kenwood and let the Amp do his job

I really appreciate your help with this

jbondox

That is great to hear !!

jbondox

I love that!

fergsonfire

Anything in the works for those of us with the old D2B from the 2003 SL?

jbondox

can't find parts for d2b vehicles which is a huge problem at the moment. You might have to go by the way of a complete install with an amp.

Akhlys

I just purchased an '03 SL500 and I've been looking all over to have the head unit replaced. I've been told that the unit has to stay in the car because it is the brain of the vehicle and it will not run without it. Is there any truth to this? If it is possible to put a new unit in does anyone have any recommendations?

E55Freak

I just had a place try and tell me the same thing, I am pretty sure this is not true. Otherwise, people wouldn't be swapping out, I think the reason most people dont is due to the cost quote you just experienced. I was quoted close to 3k replacement.

jbondox

The vehicle will continue to run if the radio is out. The shop is just inexperienced. Unfortunately with the older d2b system a lot has to be replaced.

Depending on the quality of the shop you can replace the radio with an aftermarket and run a 2/4/5 channel amplifier to the factory speakers. All will require some type of passive crossover to send the correct signals to the factory speakers if you chose to retain them.

A lot of the expense is the new radio to replace the comand system and the amplifier.

Basically if you get the radio in there as a DIY project, the next step to get audio is the wires to an amp. I suggest the alpine PDX or JL Audio HD amplifier because of their small foot print and can easily and effortlessly be placed where the CD changer is located, as you wont be able to use that anymore.

To wire the aftermarket amp up, run the RCA cables from the radio and amp turn on, a power wire from the battery, and ground at the grounding stud near the factory amplifier. Next comes your outputs to the factory speakers. The wires can be had at the factory amp which is under the changer and to the rear. I have seen some people utilize the factory power wire though I don't recommend it.

To find what wires are where, just use a 9v battery, the brown striped is the ground. The front door has a mid bass, mid range, and a tweeter, the center channel, and the rear fill if equipped. The last 2 are a mono signal. The subwoofer is sometimes a dual voice coil speaker, and can be series wired to create a higher ohm load for the amplifier.

If using a 2 channel, a lot of time will be needed to figure out the correct components needed. 4 channel amp same thing of channels 3 & 4 are used for the sub. 5 channel you can get away with using channels 1 & 2 going to a passive crossover for the mid range and tweeter, and 3 & 4 channels going to the mid bass speakers. 5th to the sub.

Obviously the later is the better way, and offers more flexibility, unless you want to run multiple amps, which is great in my opinion also.

For the center channel you can grab left positive signal and the right negative off the passive crossovers, though it will cause a difference in the impedance and slightly change the crossover frequency.

If you have the rear fill speakers, I recommend running them off the rear channels of the radio in stereo, with the fade settings of the radio set to 75% of the front.

Hope that helps.

jbondox

As you can see there is slot to it, don't forget to run a 12' antenna extension to the audio gateway which is under the side panel on the drivers side where the changer is. If you keep the rest of the system plugged in, you can still have the gateway power the antenna up, and also the CAN wires are there if you want steering wheel controls.

The OPTI 1 saves alto of that headache with amp, crossovers, power wires, speaker replacements....

Also look into the new Kenwood DNN990HD, probably the best radio out there right now.

E55Freak

So if I purchase the opti 1 and aftermarket unit do we have to replace the antennae?

jbondox

No, just run an extension from the audio gateway, in you case in the trunk, to the new radio, there is no antenna cable behind your factory comand.

jbondox

Navtv will be distributing them from now on. I just hooked someone up on here and they said that derek@navtv.com gave him a price break for mentioning this thread???? Pretty cool, I guess, so email him and mention this thread if you need one.

J

steamroller

Will this work for W211 E55 with Harman Kardon sound? Different AGW/amps...

jbondox

All 211's

DougnMT

Jbondox, thanks for putting this together.

I have a 2007 R350 and upgrading my Nav Disc 1 week after buying the car killed most of the command unit. I can still play music through the changer in the glove box. The volume control works but everything else is dead including getting the Nav to eject.

I have 2 questions. The first one is does anyone know how to bring that unit back from the dead? The local dealer's guys tried but I am not certain of how talented they are.
Second question is I do not see R class mentioned in the list of models the kit works in. Will it work for me?

jbondox

Unfortunately it will not work with the r class. You can however gut the comand system and install aftermarket navy system and amplifier(s) to make it work. The new Kenwood dnn990hd is a great unit, but does require someone with half a brain to set up correctly.

It isn't worth the money to throw a factory in there or repair it if it is out of warranty since it is so outdated. I would hit derek@nav-tv.com up for a kit or a time frame for the development of the interface for your vehicle. Let him know I sent you

DougnMT

I am OK with gutting the system as that was my original plan, however there seem to be no head unit's available that will connect to my current HK system due to the fiber optic lines and I have no desire to spend the time or money to rewire the entire vehicle. I wonder why that kit will not work with the R class as all of the MB's from that time period use the same command unit's or seem to be anyway. Until a short time ago I was selling new and used MB's. Selling VW's now.

I think I am going to have to just purchase a used one as I have found them on line for less then $500, also when looking at EU websites it would appear that the Pioneer AVIC-F50BT is a "drop in" replacement. I am awaiting a confirmation from Pioneer on that. Frankly I hope to find something that will fit the hole. I don't need GPS or a bunch of fancy junk. I am kind of like the guy you asked if AM radio and an 8 track would be ok. I already have a Sirius with a lifetime subscription.

I will post here when I hear back from Pioneer.

jbondox

The other units that it does work for have an external audio gateway, the comand you have has it built into the comand. Which requires a whole different programming.... in a nut shell.

Jeffereygreen

Has anyone tried the Opti-1 in an ML350? Will it work with the Harman Kardon system?

Thanks

Jeff

jbondox

no it will not work for that vehicle, version 2, due out the end of the year will.

DougnMT

OK, well I purchased a used command for my 07 R class that works well enough but not perfect. Is there a shop that can repair the old ones for a reasonable price?


Thanks.

sethro1980

If I have the base Audio 20 system, I wouldn't need a device like this to add an amp and sub, right? There is no amp on Audio 20, so I should be able to just tap into the speaker wires and use a line out converter...right? I can't seem to get an answer to this and really want to add the amp and sub and have it sound great. Already replaced the mids but there is no bass whatsoever.

Arab_Homie

Is this only for aftermarket radios? I have a C55 and bought an NTG 2.5 and would like to not have to buy a new amp, loom converter, etc. Would this allow my ntg 2.5 to be plug n play? (minus STAR for cluster integration)