Caboz

Hi,

So much as been written about ipod and Audio 20 integration…

Since 2004 when I bought my R171 that I intend to have my ipod integrated with the car.

Some solutions came out but none 100% clean install.

Now there is another hope, the new Audio 20 CD from the facelifted r171.

My idea is to connect a new unit to my 2004 R171.

Does anyone as any experience?

UK-C200

I've not heard of anyone retrofitting a A25 from a facelift to an older R171. It's actually pretty easy to retrofit a COMAND NGT2.5 to a non-facelifted car.

Given that the pinout on the NGT2.5 is different from the A20, I'd suspect it would be the same for the A25.

Caboz

Thanks!

I´m trying to get as much info as I can, the pinout I think is this one:

http://geranium.neuf.fr/Assin/Comand.pdf

Do you know of any one that upgraded to the new COMAND NGT2.5 on a non-facelifted car?

UK-C200

Correct - that's the pinout of the NGT2.5 comand and an A20. You need the pinout of the A25 to be sure.
Absolutely, the last one was about a week ago for #4. Works great - pop over to slkworld.com, there's a very good DIY.

MBenzNL

just to prevent people from tossing around with wiring diagrams: the US spec R171 audio 20s are wired DIFFERENT then the ROW spec R171 audio 20s are (as far as pre modelupdated R171s are to be concerned)

swapping headunits is def possible

greetingz,

Caboz

Thanks, I suppose this schematics are for the non-US models.

I have one other concern, I have factory installed Phone UHI and CD changer, are they going to work after the upgrade?

This in theory would also enable me to install a ipod or usb pendrive and control it from the steering weal, correct?

Thank you all for the great replies!

UK-C200

True - and good point, these are ROW, not US R171 diagrams.

Caboz

Ok, I will share my experience of upgrading the 2004 audio 20 to the new Audio 20 (25?) NTG 2.5.

The questions I intend to discover are:

• Is it going to work on my 2004 R171? – As far as I learned so far it will need a cable adapter.
• Is my UHI Phone Cradle going to Work (option 386)?
• Is the Bluetooth going to work?
• Is my 6 cd changer going to Work? Is mp3 available on de CDC?
• Are there any more cables needed?
• Is it going to be ipod compatible?
• Are the color of the dashboard exactly the same?

I just bogth a audio 20 NTG 2.5 unit of ebay (280 euros) and post all the developments of this story as a go along.

For now I´m just waiting for the unit.

Hope this help!

Caboz

I just ordered a cable set from http://www.kabeldaviko.de/r171-w211-adapterset_ntg.html.



Frank Kozlowski speaks (reads and writes) English and has some knowledge on the mater.

And the Audio 20 is still on the way…

Caboz

Here are some pics of the audio 20:

EduardoJoel

Wow, that unit looks beautiful. How much does it cost?

Caboz

This unit costs new around €600, from MB Dealer.

But as some people are upgrading to the Comand NTG 2.5 there are, from time to time, some nice barely used units on ebay like this one.

In ebay they are selling from €200 to €300, mine was €280.

Please wait till I install mine so that you now any compatibility issues.

Stay tuned!

EduardoJoel

that is great. I hope i can do this too. I have a 2007 280 and without my ipod i've been going crazy. The price seem very reasonable. I see ithas a screen, does it play video?

Caboz

I don't think so... and I don't really care...
I just need that awful old audio 20 out of my really nice car.

But serious, I don't think so. To do that you have to go up to the Comand.

UK-C200

A1718705294 is the current part number for the A20/A25 radio. You do get AUX in with it, so at least iPod is possible - and you can always add the media interface if you wanted to.

You are also going to need mikes, unless you already had factory bluetooth, and the AUX cable as well. I *think* the right AUX harness is A1715409808, I'll try and check and make sure.

Caboz

Thanks

My A25 is A1718704294 as you can see in the picture. It’s probably not the last model. But there are at least 4 different part numbers for it since it came out… Probably SW revisions.

About the mikes I already have a UHI phone in the car is it not possible to use the same microphone? I hope so!

Caboz

The waiting is keeling me, UPS is taking 5 days to deliver it from Germany to Portugal...

Caboz

There are good news and bad news...

Good news:

• It as arrived and it is in mint condition.
• The cables kit is on the way.

Bad news:

• It does not have integrated cd changer CODE 510, it is a CODE 523, this is not an issue since I intend to add ipod integration.
• The CDC in the glove compartment, forget it... the new audio 20 CODE 523 does not have optical connectivity MOST (the 510 does), so the old CDC is gone. (now I have a glove compartment).

The part numbers: (there may be new part numbers as UK-C200 stated)

• CODE 523 is A 171 870 42 94 (MB Audio 20)
• CODE 510 is A 171 870 43 94 (MB Audio 20 with CD Changer) if anyone as one of these to sell please contact me...

Caboz

Now I have to clarify one thing... what kind of ipod kit must I buy? And were is it less expensive?

Caboz

One other thing, please don't try any of this until I finish or if you are not comfortable around MB electric systems.
This is only valid for European R171 2004 only.

UK-C200

Hey Caboz - depends on what you want for the iPod - i *think* - since yours does not have a MOST connection - your only option is the AUX port kit.

Can you do me a huge favor and take some photos of the back of the unit?

Caboz

Hi, sorry for the quality, I'll try to take better ones wen I have the time...

There are no MOST connectors:


There are 3 antennas, why? (bluetooth, aerial and ???)



What is the aux ipod kit? Does it allow steering wheel control? Thanks for your help!

Caboz

Hello, I think the ipod kit does not use the MOST connection:

"The Mercedes Benz iPod kit is a sort of kludge that connects to the Auxiliary input of the stereo system (for sound) and uses the car's network (Canbus) to display information on the instrument cluster and read the steering wheel controls, as oppose to other audio devices like phone and CD changer that connect to the audio fibre-optic network called MOST.

There are various iPod kits for the different models but basically they contain the same basic parts.

Each kit consists of an iPod control unit, a cable from the iPod control unit to the iPod, a power and audio cable, a manual and some mounting hardware."

in http://www.mercupgrades.com/What+is+...rticle-46.html

EduardoJoel

I thought I saw one of those with an SD card slot above the CD slot.

Caboz

If there is a SD Card slot it is not an audio 20, it is a Comand NTG 2.5.