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and TTtodd is there anything that you don't like about the Grom?
I installed the Grom MST3 Plus into my 2006/10 SL350 which already had the Mercedes HFP bluetooth adapter in the armrest for phone calls only.
I swapped out the 6-CD changer (surprisingly heavy) and installed the Grom in place of the changer under a false floor (black self adhesive felt on a piece of stiff cardboard). I have a USB extension cable running through to the armrest and I use 8GB stick with MP3 files. I also bought the Grom Bluetooth adapter for music streaming from my Samsung S4 phone. I set the phone to continue to use Mercedes bluetooth for phone calls but to use the Grom for media playback. It works well and it is a joy to play Spotify and MP3s on the phone.
The main drawback I have with the Grom is with USB playback. As it acts as a 6-CD changer the MP3 have to be stored under 5 folders names 1-foldername, 2-foldername, etc (where foldername = 80s, dance, classical, etc). Unfortunately, the 6th CD provides the Grom menu so you can only have 5 folders. Furthermore, you can only have up to 99 MP3 tracks in each folder, so that is a maximum of 495 MP3 per USB stick. It is quite a limitation, doesnt make full use of an 8GB stick and is a bit more hassle than other car systems which play 1000's of MP3, but it is still so much better than just the NTG-1 with CD changer.
I don't regret it for a minute and along with a recent upgrade from the stock steering wheel to one modelled on the AMG, I am now enjoying my SL more than ever before.
My main goal was to be able to stream music from my phone to the stock system. For that it works well and glad I installed it. At first I didnt thing the sound quality was very good. Then I changed the options in Spotify to extreme quality. world of difference. I also stream FLAC files from my phone that sound great.
I do have one issue that Grom is working on. The BT connects to the Grom as soon as I open the door. However no sound will come out of the speakers.
I just turn off the Comand, wait for a min. The BT disconnects. Then I turn it on again and it connects and works perfectly.
just a little update. I have been working with Grom support to resolve this issue. I have to say the Grom support has been great to work with.
The developers have sent me test firmware to try. That firmware made a big difference and things are working almost 100%. They are working on tweaking a final version for me.
04-01-2015, 04:37 PM
