just bought the WRONG head unit for plug&play swap; any expert help please?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,122
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From: Milton/Westport, MA USA
me: 2015 SL400 & 2015 ML400; wife: 2022 GLC Coupe; daughter: 2017 GLC SUV
just bought the WRONG head unit for plug&play swap; any expert help please?
I foolishly though one Audio 20 was the same as another Audio 20...not so! The one I bought (from a W203) is slightly wider and won't fit my (post-facelift, 2006) W209. Can someone tell me what OEM options I have out there for plug and play HU swap? I had considered a COMAND, but don't really want to deal with the trunk-mounted DVD unit (which I only know about because that's what I have in my 2007 E350.)
I'll sell the W203 Audio 20, but before I just buy another Audio 20, I hoped to get some member thoughts. Thanks.
I'll sell the W203 Audio 20, but before I just buy another Audio 20, I hoped to get some member thoughts. Thanks.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Berkshire, UK
2004 SL55, 2015 A250d, 2016 GLC250d
On the W203/W209 its not got a seperate nav unit, its all in the main unit upfront - so you may like to consider COMAND again.
Make sure you get a North American unit if you are in North America - completely different to the rest of the world
R
Make sure you get a North American unit if you are in North America - completely different to the rest of the world
R
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,122
Likes: 222
From: Milton/Westport, MA USA
me: 2015 SL400 & 2015 ML400; wife: 2022 GLC Coupe; daughter: 2017 GLC SUV
Thanks Richard; would you know the model number or part number for that COMAND? That's the one that the display flips down to reveal CD and DVD slots, right?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,122
Likes: 222
From: Milton/Westport, MA USA
me: 2015 SL400 & 2015 ML400; wife: 2022 GLC Coupe; daughter: 2017 GLC SUV
what about by "model #"? I note that the Audio 20 has many different "Part #'s" but they all seem to be either model # MF2531 (for W203) or MF2541 (for W209). I found one model #, BB0660, for MCSII Comand (amazing how often that gets misspelled, which makes searching difficult). Do ALL MCSII Comand's fit in post-facelift W209?
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Mercedes CLK280 2007
Hey Eddie, have you considered going aftermarket? (Pioneer, Alpine, etc.) I've been researching the hell outta the topic and am close to installing a system myself in couple of weeks (waiting for parts to arrive). If you don't have Bose in your car, then aftermarket headunits can be pretty straightforward.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,122
Likes: 222
From: Milton/Westport, MA USA
me: 2015 SL400 & 2015 ML400; wife: 2022 GLC Coupe; daughter: 2017 GLC SUV
Hey Eddie, have you considered going aftermarket? (Pioneer, Alpine, etc.) I've been researching the hell outta the topic and am close to installing a system myself in couple of weeks (waiting for parts to arrive). If you don't have Bose in your car, then aftermarket headunits can be pretty straightforward.
Last edited by eddieo45; Nov 19, 2011 at 04:49 PM. Reason: spelling
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Mercedes CLK280 2007
I'd love to see your results (and your research) but I haven't liked any of the aftermkt units I've seen on these forums: buttons are too little and they never look OEM. The one exception for me is the Dynavin, but they don't have a post-facelift W209. At $650, that one's about the best I've seen. Oh, I have Harman Kardon, BTW.....
The best thing I found for my case (Audio 20, no HK or Bose) that it makes my install a lot simpler. Since non-HK speakers are already 4ohm impedance, they would work fine with an aftermarket HU.
I'm going with the Pioneer AVH-P3300BT for my car. I know it may not give a good stock look, but it gets me all the features I really want and greater sound quality, and that has more value to me. All I needed was a double-DIN fascia kit for our updated W209, a steering wheel adapter that retains your steering controls AND makes your headunit install easier (no splicing wires), and an antenna adapter. That cost me $125 for those 3 parts.
I'll make a thread in the W209 forum once the parts get here next week and I get the weekend to install the headunit myself (first time on a Merc). My fascia kit: http://www.ebay.com/itm/350498464048...ht_2180wt_1270
As far as I have found out, you (and HK cars in general) can do everything the same way as above, except for:
(1) you will have to run new wires straight to your speakers, since the original HU uses fiber optics to communicate with your HK amp.
(2) You will have to change your speakers to 4-ohm impedance (aftermarket standard) since your HK speakers are 2 ohm.
If you have good audio shops in your area, maybe you can consider this.
Here are some good threads to read and see other folks' work.
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/elect...to-w209-2.html (especially check out post #20)
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...-images-3.html (page 3 and then later pages 39-41 have some good examples of installations).
