johnny_88

Ok so I have a 2006 C280 and I need to know what kind of audio system I have so that i'll know if the wiring is fiber optics or regular wiring.
I have no clue if its HK, Bose, or what..It doesn't say anything on the speakers themselves.

Any help would be appreciated.

jbondox

easiest if you have the changer...

unscrew the single screw that holds the cd changer in place located in the upper right of the changer in the glove box.

pull changer out enough to reach in and unplug the fiber optic plug on the back side of it... the orange cable (2 of them)

turn the radio on to a local FM station...

hear anything playing?

Yes= base system no amp
No= amplified fiber optically

johnny_88

OK im gonna try this after work in about 2 hours.
One quick question though.

When you say to take the fiber optic plug out from the CD changer doesnt that then mean that the whole car is wired with fiber optics? Or is it just that one plug that might be fiber optic and the rest not?

So, if its a base system with no amp, the car is wired with reg wires? I'm trying to install a pioneer nav unit in it, so thats why this is essential for me to know ahead of time.

jbondox

just unplug it, and report back... the vehicle will be fine

johnny_88

haha im not worried about the car. I appreciate your info and will try it first thing when i get home. I was just wondering if i understood it right since im at work and browsing the forum.

johnny_88

OKAY. took out the plug with the 2 orange wires. Turned on the radio. Worked fine. Same as before. Put the plug back in. Still worked fine. So does this mean that the car isnt all fiber optic? aka no re-wiring will be needed?

amdeutsch

If your replacement HU has a built-in amp you should be fine. If not and you are adding an amp as well then some wiring will be required.

johnny_88

My question is regarding the wiring of the whole car. Does the test i did mean that the car has regular wiring and not fiber optic like the bose or HK systems? If its not fiber optically wired then the installation will be easier. If it is, then he'll have to run new wires throughout the car. Thats why i want to know does the test i did mean the car isnt optically wired? I dont want to go there and the guy lies about the wiring so he can rip me off on the price.

amdeutsch

Fiber optics is a signal transmission line between electronic boxes; speakers and power/gnd connections are via regular wires.

johnny_88

Up until now, the main question of concern between me and audio shops has been if the car is internally wired with fiber optic cables or regular cables. AKA they're not always regular wires. If it was Bose or HK, the speakers would be connected via fiber optic cables and that would make it difficult as the avic does not accept these. Therefore they would need to rewire the whole car with reg cables. Now, from the jbondox's advice i have hopefully prooved that i don't have fiber optic wiring throughout the car and that the avic can be simply installed (meaning the installation should cost less than if it was fiber optically wired). Assuming the unit has its own amp, i won't be using the mercedes amp.

Please, I am leaving my house to go to the shop to further discuss this, so I won't be able to write back, but can still read your replies. Specific, helpful information about the type of installation i should ask for would be very appreciated.

amdeutsch

There are several threads on the forum dealing with this type of installation. Please search and read those. All your questions should be answered within those; some even have pics. But if you choose to believe the installer you selected then maybe you better find another one more familiar with MBs.

johnny_88

I have read the threads, and even pariticipated in the discussions.
If you do a little search on my name you'll see that this is true on this forum,
on benzworld and on avic411 as well.
The problem with this is that everyone has different answers,
and the DYI page on the fiber optic rewiring wasnt much help in my case.
(though much appreciated)

I dont understand what you mean "if you choose to belive the installer"
because there is nothing to belive or not belive here.
The main question is between fiber optics = rewiring / no fiber = no rewiring.
I don't know why you are denying this seeing as to how everyone on this forums
has come to this same conclusion.
Also user C240Owner who has done both kinds of installations has said the same.


Did you really have to make it that hard?
All I was looking from you was something along the lines of...
"you'll only need to rewire if your car is fiber optics so if the shop tells you
to rewire even though your car doesnt have fiber optics then you need to watch out
because they're trying to rip you off."
This was basically the caution i was looking for instead you tell me to search the forum while I'm on a cell phone.
I don't know how louder I can say 'thanks for nothing.'
---------


Thank you to jbondox for the tips on how to find out if the car is fiber optics or not though.
That was of great help and gave me the preperation i was intially looking for before
going in a shop and talk to someone about this.

Anyway, it doesn't matter because i went to the shop.
The car thankfully doesn't have fiber optics so therefore the installation will be
much simpler and i won't lose the amp either.
The price also matched what others have paid for the same installation so all is well.

If anyone is looking for someone in the Boston area, Luxury Details seemed to have
a lot of experience with navs and mercedes and didn't try to rip me off like Boomer or Allston tried.

I can let you know how it all goes if you guys need a reference.

jbondox

In Boston I would only have advanced audio designs touch my vehicle. they're the ones doing all the Ferrari's and Maserati's

jbondox

BTW, yes you can do a simple wiring to make it all work since you don't have the fiber optic amp

here is what it should like or simular