vikingmike10

I just bought a 2006 C230 Sport and was wondering how I can find out if it is prewired for the integrated phone. If it is what is the best way to go about getting a phone to work with the audio and steering wheel controls?

Diesel Benz

Should appear on the data card, do you have one? If not, post your VIN.

vikingmike10

vin #WDBRF52H76F767435. I did not get any data card or manuals for that matter from the dealer. They are supposed to send us the manual, but haven't yet. Thanks.

Diesel Benz

This car is equipped with option code 387, that isn't just prewiring but the full car kit. It must be MHI for a car this new.

You should find a small connector, normally from the centre arm rest bay. Could be under a protective plastic cap.

Once you find the connector, you should either buy a cradle that fits your phone (if there is one for your phone) or you could buy a BT puck if your phone supports BT (and is compatible, they all should but do not appear to be).

AWS could help more:
http://www.wireless4mb.com/

Here you can see how the MHI connector looks like:
http://www.whnet.com/4x4/phones.html

vikingmike10

Thanks, Diesel Benz. I will check it out and see what I have under the armrest.

I did pull the armrest apart and found an antenna wire and also another wire with a square connector on it. Looks like I only need to buy a cradle for my Motorola Razr or a Mercedes Bluetooth adapter and hopefully be in business.

Thanks again, Diesel

Diesel Benz

I should check the US option codes. If you find an antenna cable and another one from the armrest, then it looks like you "only" had the prewiring. In this case you would need more than the cradle, you would need the phone interface box and likely the microphone.

Someone could have removed the MHI connector but then you should see a hole somewhere.

Option code 386 in Europe definitely means the full UHI, the equivalent of the US MHI. Your car data card indicated 387, need to figure out if that equals to MHI or only prewiring.

vikingmike10

If I did have the interface, where would it be located and what does it look like? The knockout in the armrest for the cradle is still in place and looks like it has never been removed.

Is there a website that I can go to to access my car data?

Skylaw

I don't know about accessing your car data - but you can see what the '05 model looked like with the full installation at http://home.earthlink.net/~phdwebsit..._bulletins.htm - the '05 and '06 were similar if not identical in this regard. As Diesel Benz said, if you have the clip for the MHI cradle (called a "contact plate"), you likely have the entire MHI already installed. if you do not have the clip, but have wiring for phone components in the console - especially for the clip - you are most likely prewired. Figures 35-42 in the phone bulletin will help you to determine what you have by checking the console. Others show you what should be in the trunk. If you lack the wiring connectors shown already in place in the bulletin, then your model was not prewired; Mercedes began deleting prewiring in some models during the '06 model year.

Once you determine what kind of equipment you actually have - prewire or a full MHI installation, the "How-To Guide" sticky at the top of the page will help. Look for posts 5, 6, and 8 in the string. If your car lacks prewiring, the labor costs to put it in can be expensive.

vikingmike10

Thanks for the info Skylaw. I definitely don't have the contact plate, just the pre-wiring. So it looks like I have to start with the phone interface. Do I have to buy that from the dealer or is there somewhere else to purchase it? Thanks again.

Diesel Benz

Sorry for the confusing info, had a second look at EPC, it does not indicate the contact plate part belonging to your car (funny enough it does indicate the contact plate cover included, more importantly, the phone interface box isn't shown included).

The codes confused me, while 386 is the full UHI in Europe and called "mobile preinstallation", 387 is called "mobile preinstallation USA/Canada" but it obviously means phone preinstallation.

The prewiring at least makes on OEM kit simple to install, the cost is another issue. You may find parts from ebay too.

vikingmike10

Thank you very much, Diesel. I appeciate your help in figuring out about my phone status. I will try and locate an interface and install it myself. I think I read somewhere that even after installing the phone interface, I will have to have a Mercedes dealer do the fine tuning on the unit. Do you know anything about that?

Diesel Benz

Yes, you have to get the car hooked to DAS for version coding. This is to activate the instrument cluster display and for reconfiguration of the MOST ring. A very simple task for a service guy who knows this. Actually independent shops may have the DAS computer too, don't know if they would charge less.

Skylaw

Please be aware that there is much more needed than just the console interface ("contact plate"). If you are installing a unit for a plug-in phone, you will need all of the parts shown in the phone bulletin I referenced.

If you are going to use Bluetooth, you can skip the linear compensator and antenna switch altogether if you are in a strong signal area; and you need the MHI Bluetooth puck, not a plug-in cradle.

If you are not in a strong signal area you will want to use the linear compensator and antenna switch, and a cradle setup that allows you to connect to the phone's external antenna.

The voice control is not required for any option - but it is a nice feature.

vikingmike10

Thanks Skylaw I really appeciate your help.

I realize that there is more involved than just installing the plate at the armrest. It just seems that if I can do the install of the phone parts themselves it will save some $$ and a day at the dealer. I think at this point I want to do a plug-in phone so that the battery will charge and the antenna will work better. Do you know what the part number is for the phone kit on an '06 C230?

my06clk

This kit is about $1500+ at the dealer BEFORE you get the phone. That should add another 5 to 700 to the price.

Diesel Benz

It could be $1500 (I would browse the forums and see what other members have paid) but why would the phone have to be 500 to 700, or did you really mean 5 to 700, 5 sounds already a bit low (unless subsidized when it could be $0).

The parts may be available from eBay, I think from some MB parts shops too but of course it is simpler to buy from the MB dealer (well, should be), at least safer.

vikingmike10

I just got off the phone with the parts guy at the dealer. He said I need the Vehicle Install Kit part #Q6820965 for $965.00. He seemed to think that was all I need to get installed to the point of the contact plate in the console. From there I would have to decide whether to get the phone cradle or the Bluetooth module. He told me only their Razr phone would work in the car unless I went Bluetooth.

Diesel Benz

The US selection of cradles and compatible phone models is limited, still it is not only Moto RAZR.
http://www.wireless4mb.com/

Paul's phone bulletins don't mention Q6820965 kit (or I did not find it), normally there seems to be a vehicle core kit and a completer kit but perhaps this one has them all.

vikingmike10

I noticed the bulletins mentioned BQ 682 0906 as the core and BQ 682 0907 as the C-class completer kit.
I am sorry I meant that he told me if I already had a Razr phone and still wanted to use it I would have to use the BT module.

vikingmike10

If I have the core phone kit with BT adapter will the address book appear on the screen of the HU if I don't have COMMAND but just the standard radio? Thanks again.

Diesel Benz

Not sure about your current HU model but if the phone book does not appear on the HU, you should always be able to browse the address book on the instrument cluster. On a car with Comand one could do it on either one, not sure about Audio 50 or similar head units but an Audio 20 as in my W211 would not do it.

vikingmike10

Is there a way to tell which HU I have in my w203?

Diesel Benz

VIN is the most accurate, assuming the head unit is from the factory. I assume the US options are Audio 50 and Comand where the screen size should make it easy to identify the model.

Analia

I have a 2006 C Class C230 Sport, I just bought it and I would like to know if it is pre-wired, I have an I-phone and the vin number is WDBRF52H96A860907


Thank you in advance!


Analia

chadworks

Hello! I didn't see a "Welcome" forum to introduce myself. I just purchased a 2006 C Class C230 Sport (Sedan) tonight. Pretty excited about it. Sounds like a great group here.

I'm planning on outfitting it with electronic bells and whistles. ie bluetooth, nav, iPod, etc. I have all the head unit and steering wheel controls for phone calls, but how do I know if its prewired for the blue tooth module add-on? My VIN is WDBRF52H06A881452. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

On another note, I'm looking at:

http://www.cartronics.com/MBMost.htm...&VIM=1#itronic

See the "OEM REPLACEMENT NAV / AUDIO / BLUETOOTH / VIDEO" product. Where would I find a discussion about this type of thing?

Thank in advance. -Chad