Unfortunately my camera died on me almost half way through, but at least I got some of the most tricky parts,
Here we go:
Removing the center air outlet, remove the two rubber dampers and insert MB special tools, its a small wire shaped like an "L" in the end, push in twist the tool 90 degrees and yank the air outlet straight out, disconnect connectors to lighting and center ESP and warning button.
A tool like this could easily be made by thick piano wire or by bending a clothes hanger.

Remove the four torx screws (20) to both display unit and head unit, then flip up both plastic lugs (red arrow) wich will free the head unit, pull it angled up and against you to pull it out.
Remove the panel below the head unit by loosening four torx screws.
Reattach it to your new unit.

The opened space, the monitor is removed by loosening the two screws then lifting it up in the front, then outwards.

Removing the IC first remove the plastic frame, use a plastic or nylon wedge at the red arrows to release three plastic lugs, then yank the plastic frame firmly against you (yellow arrows)

Unscrew four torx screws to free the IC, remove the light adjuster, (yellow) just pull out, then FOLD the IC carefully forward, disconnect the connector and slide it out sideways.
Remember to pull out the steering wheel as far as you can before you do this.

The open space behind the IC, the GPS antenna is to be placed at the red arrow, the antenna is covered with a self adhesive and will stick to the underside the air duct, use thick self adhesive foam pads to keep it from moving or falling down.
Route the antenna cable into the HU cavity

This is next to the drivers seat, remove the carpet lining by pulling the the plastic door sill cover straight up, loosen the plastic cover next to the handbrake pedal by pulling it in the cars direction, remove the cover above the pedals by loosening three torx bolts and the hood release lever.
Also remove the accelerator pedal by unscrewing two 13mm hex nuts, disconnect the pedal connector and remove, then fold the carpet lining and pull out.

Here I have installed the retrofit cable harness (blue arrow) , the two black and white cables are interior CAN cables to be connected in the CAN hub (yellow arrow) connect them anywhere in the hub, the red arrow is pointing to the ground point for the harness, the other end is routed to the forward SAM module,
The SAM module must be removed by loosening four torx screws, then pull the entire SAM unit up, then locate a large 14-pin pink connector, remove and disconnect the red/blue line placed in cavity 6, replace with retrofit harness wire, assemble in reverse order.

This is the left side of the AC housing, the arrows are pointing at the two holes where the additional cooling fan are placed.

Here you can see the first in order duct pipe, pretty easy to install, just plug in, make shure the clip gets in the right hole.
Gets easier if you loosen the steering jacket tube cover by unclipping it at 12 o clock towards the center then continue all the way down until its free, then pull it against you to use the hole in the steering column to align the duct.

Here is the other end of the same pipe, shown from the steering wheel hole opening.

The extension pipe fitted

Fan placed, unfortunately heres where my camera freaked out, what is left to do is to route the three remaining cables from the harness, one goes to the fan in the picture, the other two to the screen and HU.
Fairly simple, just make sure the cables doesnt rub against anything sharp.

Now make sure the fan is connected, place the third fan duct, the largest piece, fit it in the front part first, then place the pipe on the fan,
then fit the air intake pipe, route it behind the fan unit, place it in the socket and twist slightly foward to lock in place secure with the attached screw and make sure everything fits nicely.
Remove the old monitor cable and insert the new one into the rightmost cable duct, very easy.
Remove the black 12-pin connector from the big HU connector cluster and attach the connector from the retrofit harness instead.
Remove the blue plastic housing around the bluetooth antenna connector, do the same with the GPS antenna connector, then fit them both in the blue dual connector housing (A022 545 74 26)
make sure the GPS antenna gets in the HU left socket and the BT antenna in the inner right socket.
Now connect the monitor, only two connectors are used, the new retrofit connector and the monitor cable that is routed to the HU, tuck the remaining connectors away safely, route the monitor button connector below the plastic bar underneith the monitor.
Fasten the monitor with the torx screws.
Connect everything in the HU, one connector is left over, strap it down, re insert the HU, flip down the plastic tabs and secure with the two screws.
Remove the middle part of the old air outlet housing and fit to the new air housing, also inser the monitor buttons.
Connect, the blue lighting connector, the middle ESP/warning light connector and the monitor button connector, route cables so they do not obstruct the two air channels, place the air outlet between the HU and monitor and press into place.
Got the camera working again after I was finished, took this quick picture of my finished work

Now everything should work exept for navigation in the IC, the IC need to be SCN coded for this.
the code for your old system need to be removed (523 for Audio 20) and the code for COMAND with (512) or without (527) DVD changer needs to be added, then the COMAND unit and the IC need to be SCN coded, this can only be done using a valid star diagnosis tool.

 

how much and do have part numbers?

 

also nice work well done

 

A2048702851 Central air nozzle screen switch
A20483041549116 (black) Central air nozzle
A0225457426 Clutch for antenna cable
A2118200088 Antenna adapter cable
A0018207675 GPS Antenna
A1234750120 Pad for GPS antenna x3
A2045405706 Screen wiring harness
A2045409706 APS wiring harness
A2119840429 Bolt for fan x2
A2048321245 Air duct
A2048320645 Air duct
A2048320545 Air duct
A2048321045 Air duct
A2048300508 Axial fan
A20482046979F45 (black) 7" monitor
A2048703596 Operating unit with DVD changer (ECE)

 

lol you are too brave.

 

does the screen auto open and close?

 

Yes, if the radio is on when turning the car off it will open and start the next time i start the car.

 

impressive, of cousre i knew someone would someday do it, great job.

 

Very nicely done!

 

Well done. Nice write up.

 

Small clip of my retrofitted setup:

http://www.garaget.org/video/8umvx3hccs8s

 

I can't see the pics, can you post them again please?

 

Pics are temporarily down, I bet theyll be up soon.

 

Good job.

 

Any guesses how much it would cost someone to do this for me? Lord knows I don't have the skills/time for this but kinda regret not gettng this option...

 

I hope its cheaper to get this than to get the MM package Since the labor is *yourself*

 

Its for me, less than half the cost of factory fitted COMAND

BTW, did you know that COMAND stands for:

Cockpit Managment and Data System

 

Excellent writeup, I must admit that I will not even attempt to do that. Somewhere I am bound to mess up

 

Oh nice, so my guess is around $1500?

The abbreviation of COMAND sound dirty lol :P

 

$2000 actually, options are way more expensive over here

 

Just one question, How do you power the axial fans? Does it connect with a sensor wire too?

Which cables do I need?

 

The axial blower is powered from the retrofit harness, just route the feed wire from the harness to the fan and plug in, guess I forgot to mention that.

 

A2045409706 APS wiring harness

So is this harness? May i ask if you remember the price for it (w/o discount)?

It is quite a hassle to fit this harness. I am thinking if it is possible to fit it by just normal 12v power from the head unit.

 

Here in Sweden it cost 314SEK wich with todays rates is ~$40

Only 12V wont do as this fan is connected through 4 wires, it is possible to set the fan RPM through the engineering mode in the COMAND unit and I suspect that the fan is revving up when its hotter, this wont work if its only powered with 12V and ground.

 

Thanks i thought so, i seen that setting in COMAND. I also installed VIM now so i am very relundant to start it all again from the harness.