Hi All,

I'd like to know if I can change my C32 headunit for an after-market one?

Also, can I add an MP3 player to the original headunit if I cannot replace it with after-market?

Appreciate it if someone in here can help answer these questions.

Thanks...

 

Of course you can. The stock system is sooo ****ty! But if you have the stock CD changer, you'll have to give that up as well.

 

What do you mean by a "Head Unit" -- just asking.

 

The place where the sound, pictures orginate. I.e, Cd player, Cassette player, DVD player, Mp3 player, Radio, AKA Head Unit

 

Hi Harris,

I keep hearing that the whole sound system is built around fiber-optic cables and you cannot use after-market head-units. Is this true? From what you're saying, it doesn't seem to be so...

So, I should be able to buy...say an Alpine and plug right in and listen away with stock amps and bose speakers?

Thanks for all your help...

 

From what I've been reading on various forums, no, you can't plug and play a new head unit. Something about the resistance with the speakers - it's here on mbworld somewhere. But you can replace the h/u with new stuff, or even replace the wiring from the h/u, amps, and speakers, and have a much better-sounding system, but wouldn't be able to play mp3s, of course.


Besides, if you replace the h/u, wouldn't you want to upgrade everything else as well?

 

h900rr & tommy:

I've not changed the headunit alone and hook it up with the stock speakers. So, I cannot confirm the resistance question.

However, the fibre optic part is incorrect. Fibre optic cable EXISTS ONLY IF you have stock CD changers. If you dont have stock CD changers, there's NO fibre optic cable in yr car.

But if you're only adding an aftermarket HU and an Amp, you're already upgrading 2/3 of the whole system. Mind as well change the speakers as well. Then you dont have to worry about the resistance problem!! Make sense?

 

Answer is yes you can.

My 1999' CLK 320 is now fitted with a Kenwood KDC-X859 MP3/CD Receiver.

Everything else is stock Bose. Works like a champ. Will I upgrade further? Probably not much. For what I want this works fine, is a relatively understated unit and cost with install was around 500.00.

Will my car jump sideways from the bass? Nope. But it doesn't have a fog or neon kit or drag wing either. And it's not going to. It does have enough bass for me to feel it in my chest. It has enough treble for me to notice the peaks.

The volume goes to 35. At 28 it became uncomfortably loud for me. Having worked nightclubs and rock concerts for over a decade it's fair to say that I don't have the most sensitive hearing anymore. I'm not deaf, but my ears are.. well used.

Be advised, none of this applies if you have teleaid or an installed MB CD changer. They use the fiber optic ring in the car to communicate with each other as well as the radio. If you put in non standard components they cannot communicate with the radio and worse, can interrupt other systems.

If you do not have these items, then you can add an aftermarket HU without much difficulty.

Regards,
-Bouncer-