CD Changer Install - I'm stuck
 

Most of this install I've undertaken today has gone seamlessly. Opening up the dash was not a problem, removing radio no an issue. ('02 C230K). The tips of this board were wonderful.

I did find the power cable taped/bundled behind the radio. I did NOT find a fiber optic cable bundled there. So, trip to the dealer, and $25 later, I have a cable.

Here's my frustration.
The head unit already has a fiber optic cable plugged into it... it has two (2) orange lines coming out of it, each of which has a tag on it marked "Amp". They proceed down into the transmission tunnel under the carpet. So, where do I plug in the new CD cable? If I unplug the cable marked "Amp" to plug in the CD changer, no sound whatsoever. So, I am at a loss. What does the CD Changer's cable plug into, if the only optic socket on the head unit runs fiber optic to the amp?
Please help. The guys at the stealership didn't know, and said I'd have to ask "John" Monday, that he was off today. <Sigh> Very frustrating... <Sigh>

You must connect the fibre cables to a loop.

Depending where you are going to install the CDC, you should either unplug one of the fibre cables from the HU or the amp, feed it to your CDC and a fibre cable from your CDC to the connector where you disconnected the fibre first.

But you have to make sure the fibre cables go from output to input and the CDC would have to be in the loop at the correct position relative to the amp (don't have that info at hand now but a search should help).

I am not familiar with installation details for your car. However, the fiber optics cable you mention is likely the one going to the amplifier in the trunk. When you disconnect it, you break the fiber optic loop, and none of the equipment in the loop will function.

Your CDC must be placed into the fiber optic loop. The physical location in the glove compartment would indicate you'll likely tap into the loop just ahead of the head unit - that's probably as long as your cable will reach. The diagram of the loop is in the phone bulletin for your car at http://home.earthlink.net/~phdwebsit..._bulletins.htm (yes, I did mean phone bulletin; there is much more information there than just for the phone).

The bulletin also references configuration of your CDC cable in accordance with Section A of S-B-82.64/135A. I do not have access to that document, but I am fairly certain it will tell you how to make the fiber optic connections for the cable you purchased. See your dealer for that.

Once you install the CDC, your fiber optic loop will likely have to be configured so the HU will recognize it. The dealer does that too.

The phone bulletin really covers the fibre loop order. The CDC would be the last in the loop before the HU (master). If the changer was placed to the glove compartment, you would have to plug the HU input to the CDC input and a new fibre cable from the CDC output to the HU input.

Wow, guys... yall are amazing. I've now read the phone bulletin, but I may be a bit over my head. Some issues I am wondering about...
1. The optic plugs that fit into the sockets have two nodules, one of which is red, the other clear. Which is input into a component, and which is output?
2. Since the cables coming (apparently) from the amp to the HU are not overly long, how would one route one of them up from the HU to the CDC to create this loop yall refer to?
3. If I was able to accomplish this loop creation, would I still have to ask the stealership to program something or whatever?
4. Are these issues something an aftermarket stereo shop could deal with, or am I probably asking for trouble even thinking of that?
5. The Phone bulletin mentions two (2) different part numbers for CDC cables... one for non-bose, and one for bose. Since I hadn't read that when I bought the cable I paid $25 bucks for, I didn't specify. My speakers have BOSE on them, and the fiber optic cables coming out of the HU are marked AMP, so I am assuming I have the Bose system (YAY). If I had specified this when making my purchase would it have been configured to make this precious loop deal?
Ok, I'll stop vomiting questions for now... thank you, guys for your expertise on this... all claims of "plug & play" were just eBay bs, huh... you'd think I'd learn. <G>

Its a fibre loop that passes through each device - you need to insert the CD changer into the loop. Dismantle the fibre connector up at the head unit, remove one piece of fibre connect it to the opposite colour fibre to the CD changer (the fibres have coloured lenses on them, ovbvious when you dismantle) using a D2B joiner, and put the other wire from the CD changer back into the head unit connector and put it back together.
To work out which of the fibres you should remove the head unit fibre optic connector from head unit, turn on power and see which one has light coming out of it, that is the one to remove - i.e so the CD changer is the last thing on the loop and passes it's output signal back into the COMAND unit.

The D2B joiner is part nr A000 545 33 84

R

[edit, sorry to repeat most of what others said, I didnt see their answers below the ad banner, but at least I gave you the part number of what is missing and enough instructions to fix !]

Richard and Diesel Benz have answered the fiber optic connections very well.

Because you are adding a new component to the fiber optic loop, you would have to have the dealer perform version coding of the loop (i.e., "program" it) to recognize the new component. If one had been installed before, and removed, that would not be necessary. However, you'd also have gotten a "No CDC" indication that you haven't mentioned, so I don't think your car ever had one.

Have your dealer or a good independent MB tech who has a STAR diagnostics computer do the version coding. A STAR computer is a laptop running expensive, proprietary MB software that you don't want to fool with if you don't REALLY know what you're doing. Circuit City won't have a clue.

The cable you bought should have a part number on the bag, or taped to it. If you have "Bose" on OE speakers, you have a Bose system. That's the part you'll need. The basic cabling would have been properly configured, but I don't know if the fiber optic connectors (joiners) would have been provided - Richard gave you the part number; they're not expensive, and connecting them is very simple.

They look like this (click on the small image to enlarge):

Awesome, Guys!!! With your input, and some help from MovieLa, the changer is in and I'm listening to Travis Tritt on my way to the CVS. I just couldn't get the "loop" concept.... but dismantling the connector and putting the CDC in the loop... well, thanks so much, Guys... much appreciated.

That's interesting. I unplugged the AMP fibers from my C230 and just plugged in the CDC cable instead. Everything works, though obviously this won't allow for another addition.

Before:
Amp ===== Radio

Now:
Amp Radio=====CDC

That doesn't sound right, or you've applied some magic. My guess is that you don't have an amp or the amp is actually copper wire connected and the fibre connection was pre-installed for some purpose but was not in use, most likely your car is running speakers from the HU amp?