Does anyone know how one could get aftermarket COMMAND? Say from EBAY, or from a dealer, or from some sales website?

I am interested in getting this, especially after hearing about people connecting TV tuners, dvd players, and mp3 players to it. Sounds expensive, but I love gadgets. :p

Anyone done this?

 

It is significantly difficult to add aftermarket, with perhaps the exception of the ML

The problem is that MB's arent installed with a standard wiring harness, and so you have to retrofit the COMAND wiring harness because COMAND needs lots of signals from the car.
Doing this properly means removing signifcant parts of the interior of the car including center console, and most panel work to access the wiring ducts in the car to get the wires to the correct place. The aerial and CD cables run from front to back of car - and the other cables run via the center console across the front of the seats and then forward into the appropriate places.
(above is true on CLK, ducts are subtly different on each model)

The execption to this is the ML, because some of the functionality isnt there [for instance the displays on the dash board, the steering wheel controls] and the aerial cable is pre-wired. So, there is in fact just and adapter cable and a aerial splitter to install it.

Now, if you are going to buy a unit from ebay, then buy the correct one for you car - the part numbers start A xxx 820 yy zz - the xxx is the model identifer - 163=m, 208=clk, 210=E - on the E class you also need a new dashboard section with the double cut out and the plastic bits behind (see www.megacomm.de). - On CLK you'll need some extra mounting brackets which are installed when the center console is out. And of course, the appropriate wiring looms. You may also need new aerial amps, but Im not quite sure about that. Officialy the rear windscreen is different with COMAND on E/CLK, whether thats just a European thing as the TV antenna are in there, or theres something more significant I dont know.

If you are in Europe, then while you are installing this you should think about installing integrated-phone, TV and voice-recognition. On US models the wiring for those [except TV] are pre-installed, and the TV is not available. [you still have to take the car apart to put the aerial wiring in]

You'll also need a friendly MB dealer to configure it all afterwards.

Theres some info at http://www.ibex.co.uk about how to retrofit some of this stuff - but its aimed at your dealer and so doesnt describe how exactly to dismantle the car.

My view is it is cheaper to sell the car and buy one with COMAND in it ... and Ive actually taken my car apart to add TV/new-phone/voice recognition to the factory supplied COMAND

R

 

That sounds really intensive and complicated. What if I just buy a Kenwood eXcelon KVT-910DVD? http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S...910DVD&o=P&a=0

Probably have to get a custom made molding for the center console, because it isn't standard DIN size, right? And what about hooking this thing up to the audio system?

 

I installed the Kenwood in my car. I found the molding in production already so the instal in the center console looks good.
I did not add the nav or 5.1 unit yet. We mounted the brain box under the foot pan on the passenger side plenty of room there.
I'm very happy with this system so far.

Randy

 

Can you give me more information on how you did this? I contacted Crutchfield, and they said that my car, the 2002 C230 Sports Coupe was too new, so they did not have any information on the compatibility of the Kenwood...

This will help a lot, thanks!

 

I'll get you phone number monday so you get priceing on the trim parts. It took about four hours, we put the TV Antennas in the "A" pillers worked great. If you pull back the carpet on the passenger side floor board, you will see a large foam block pull that back and you will find perforated metal plate which covers a void in the floor board there is plenty of room there to mount the brain box under and pull the wires through the back of the console with of cutting any holes.

 

I do not know if this question has been answered in another string or not, but would there be a way of making the steering wheel controles compatable with the Kenwood system and what about the MB cell phone, is this able to interact with the system?

David

 

With the install of an aftermarket head unit you will lose the following features. Factory CD changer, if installed. Steering wheel controls. Radio display in instrument cluster. Hands free use of factory phone, if installed.