Just installed MB ipod kit
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 442
Likes: 1
From: Australia
2012 MB E63 Wagon, 2012 BMW M5, 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo S, 2010 Ferrari 458
Just installed MB ipod kit
I just picked up my wife's e500 wagon from the dealer after getting the MB ipod kit installed. It took them longer than expected (most of the day) - apparently the wagons are trickier to install.
Anyway, I'm still working out what it can and can't do. I don't get the tracks showing on the Comand screen - is that right? Only on the miniscreen on the dash.
I don't know what I was expecting (considering I've read the limitations of the Ipod as a source many times) but the sound isn't much good. With the HK, the CD and radio work fine - Ipod sound is definitely worse. It wasn't the biggest mistake I made this week, but I wouldn't bother if you are thinking of one.
Anyway, I'm still working out what it can and can't do. I don't get the tracks showing on the Comand screen - is that right? Only on the miniscreen on the dash.
I don't know what I was expecting (considering I've read the limitations of the Ipod as a source many times) but the sound isn't much good. With the HK, the CD and radio work fine - Ipod sound is definitely worse. It wasn't the biggest mistake I made this week, but I wouldn't bother if you are thinking of one.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
I just picked up my wife's e500 wagon from the dealer after getting the MB ipod kit installed. It took them longer than expected (most of the day) - apparently the wagons are trickier to install.
Anyway, I'm still working out what it can and can't do. I don't get the tracks showing on the Comand screen - is that right? Only on the miniscreen on the dash.
I don't know what I was expecting (considering I've read the limitations of the Ipod as a source many times) but the sound isn't much good. With the HK, the CD and radio work fine - Ipod sound is definitely worse. It wasn't the biggest mistake I made this week, but I wouldn't bother if you are thinking of one.
Anyway, I'm still working out what it can and can't do. I don't get the tracks showing on the Comand screen - is that right? Only on the miniscreen on the dash.
I don't know what I was expecting (considering I've read the limitations of the Ipod as a source many times) but the sound isn't much good. With the HK, the CD and radio work fine - Ipod sound is definitely worse. It wasn't the biggest mistake I made this week, but I wouldn't bother if you are thinking of one.
Some things to try in order to get best possible sound include adjusting Ipod's volume level and then the radio volume (don't over or under drive the radio's line-in audio), select standard instead of Logic 7 mode to reduce over processing of the audio signal, upgrade your Ipod's audio files to higher bit rate files, and adjust tone controls according to your taste.
It'll never sound as good as the built-in CD but it should come close to the sound quality of your FM radio.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 442
Likes: 1
From: Australia
2012 MB E63 Wagon, 2012 BMW M5, 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo S, 2010 Ferrari 458
The MB Ipod kit works over the CAN bus so track information can only be viewed on the instrument panel display. (Radio display requires MOST bus input like the CD Changer). Ipod audio is fed into the head-unit through a line-in audio input to the radio.
Some things to try in order to get best possible sound include adjusting Ipod's volume level and then the radio volume (don't over or under drive the radio's line-in audio), select standard instead of Logic 7 mode to reduce over processing of the audio signal, upgrade your Ipod's audio files to higher bit rate files, and adjust tone controls according to your taste.
It'll never sound as good as the built-in CD but it should come close to the sound quality of your FM radio.
Some things to try in order to get best possible sound include adjusting Ipod's volume level and then the radio volume (don't over or under drive the radio's line-in audio), select standard instead of Logic 7 mode to reduce over processing of the audio signal, upgrade your Ipod's audio files to higher bit rate files, and adjust tone controls according to your taste.
It'll never sound as good as the built-in CD but it should come close to the sound quality of your FM radio.
Thanks for these tips - I'll try this.
