IPOD NANO hardwire to 03 SL500
01-17-2007, 10:17 PM
#1
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IPOD NANO hardwire to 03 SL500
what is the best way to do this ?
01-18-2007, 02:53 PM
#2
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2005 S500 4-Matic, 1978 450SL
Ordinarily when a question is asked on a topic that has been written up extensively, as this one has, I just tell folks to do a search, digest what they find, and then ask questions. We really don't like covering the same ground again and again.
However, much of what is on the forums has been altered significantly over time by new developments. To help you sort through what you need in your own search and reading, here are some things to keep in mind.
Your car has a D2B fiber optic data bus. It is compatible with iPod installations for D2B. The only difference between the Nano and other newer iPods (4th and 5th generations and Video) in the installation is the connector to the iPod and the cradle for it (if you use one). Usually, you specify the connector and cradle when you purchase the kit.
The Apple/MB iPod kit is for MOST bus equipped cars (and not even all of them). It will not work with a D2B equipped car.
Some options for D2B are discussed at http://www.benzworld.org/forums/audi...product-6.html . Dension Europe makes the Gateway 500 ( see http://www.dension.com/icelinkgateway500.php ) but you can only get it from European sources. Dension USA has discontinued the Ice>Link Plus for Mercedes, and hasn't offered their DICE unit for Mercedes (promises, promises) - it's vaporware.
Some newer approaches are becoming available for MOST fiber optic bus equipped cars, but a MOST-only unit can't be used with a D2B equipped car - so I won't discuss them here (if interested see http://www.benzworld.org/forums/audi...product-2.html and http://www.benzworld.org/forums/audi...gration-6.html post #54). Dension Europe offers a Gateway 500 model for D2B, and another for MOST.
Harman-Kardon offerers the Drive+Play, which has an installation option that hard-wires its output to your FM antenna. It is not connected to your fiber optic ring, so it will work in D2B and MOST bus cars. It does not rebroadcast over the air - it is a combiner directly wired to the antenna lead. It is superior to over the air FM options (which generally have poor audio quality and are more subject to adjacent channel interference). It also has a separate display that duplicates the iPod screen, since there is not a readout to COMAND or to the instrument cluster display. See http://www.harmankardon.com/drive-1/tour.aspx
Which is best for you? That's a subjective call that will require you to do your own research.
Those are a few places to start. Good luck.
However, much of what is on the forums has been altered significantly over time by new developments. To help you sort through what you need in your own search and reading, here are some things to keep in mind.
Your car has a D2B fiber optic data bus. It is compatible with iPod installations for D2B. The only difference between the Nano and other newer iPods (4th and 5th generations and Video) in the installation is the connector to the iPod and the cradle for it (if you use one). Usually, you specify the connector and cradle when you purchase the kit.
The Apple/MB iPod kit is for MOST bus equipped cars (and not even all of them). It will not work with a D2B equipped car.
Some options for D2B are discussed at http://www.benzworld.org/forums/audi...product-6.html . Dension Europe makes the Gateway 500 ( see http://www.dension.com/icelinkgateway500.php ) but you can only get it from European sources. Dension USA has discontinued the Ice>Link Plus for Mercedes, and hasn't offered their DICE unit for Mercedes (promises, promises) - it's vaporware.
Some newer approaches are becoming available for MOST fiber optic bus equipped cars, but a MOST-only unit can't be used with a D2B equipped car - so I won't discuss them here (if interested see http://www.benzworld.org/forums/audi...product-2.html and http://www.benzworld.org/forums/audi...gration-6.html post #54). Dension Europe offers a Gateway 500 model for D2B, and another for MOST.
Harman-Kardon offerers the Drive+Play, which has an installation option that hard-wires its output to your FM antenna. It is not connected to your fiber optic ring, so it will work in D2B and MOST bus cars. It does not rebroadcast over the air - it is a combiner directly wired to the antenna lead. It is superior to over the air FM options (which generally have poor audio quality and are more subject to adjacent channel interference). It also has a separate display that duplicates the iPod screen, since there is not a readout to COMAND or to the instrument cluster display. See http://www.harmankardon.com/drive-1/tour.aspx
Which is best for you? That's a subjective call that will require you to do your own research.
Those are a few places to start. Good luck.
Last edited by Skylaw; 01-18-2007 at 03:18 PM.
