iPod /aux input /more ideas?
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From: Rochester, MI
iPod /aux input /more ideas?
Ok, I've searched the forums and found some ideas here but I'd love to get some more input.
I'm not totally against soldering into the tape deck, although it isn't my best choice. What I'm hoping is that there is another way to get an input or possibly a parts supplier that I could look into buying a command unit and just getting the aux input through there. Anyone have good references to places that sell aux inputs / adapters / command units for mercedes vehicles?
I'm not totally against soldering into the tape deck, although it isn't my best choice. What I'm hoping is that there is another way to get an input or possibly a parts supplier that I could look into buying a command unit and just getting the aux input through there. Anyone have good references to places that sell aux inputs / adapters / command units for mercedes vehicles?
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From: Toronto
Maybe I misunderstood you, but I assume you are looking for any alternative to soldering and not just using AUX? If so, I think you can use a cassette adapter to hook up your iPod. I plan to do that to play mp3s from my PDA, but I can't find any cassette adapters with a flat wire that could come through the cassette door without filing it down yet.
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From: stix of florida
Honda Grom
I am running the XM through the cassette adaptor..... it is working fine ... i tucked it inside the top left corner of the cassette door... no problems after more than a month now 
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From: New Jersey
C320 Sport Sedan 4matic
I agree...
However, it is the only way to get true CD quality sound from your Ipod. I've tried the FM transmitter and it's crap! The cassette adapter is better but there is still noise and it's hard to get the door closed. Mine keeps beeping every couple of seconds telling me the door is open. Very annoying!!!
There are some pretty good instructions in this forum for soldering the pins on the cassette deck. It looks pretty easy. Actually, it will be harder to get the dashboard off than to make the mod. You can also run the cable through the ashtray or even into the center console. I'm going to try and do it this weekend. Let you know how it goes.
Good Luck
There are some pretty good instructions in this forum for soldering the pins on the cassette deck. It looks pretty easy. Actually, it will be harder to get the dashboard off than to make the mod. You can also run the cable through the ashtray or even into the center console. I'm going to try and do it this weekend. Let you know how it goes.
Good Luck
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
I'm using XM through the FM modulator and sounds OK. Don't want to take apart my audio 10 to get aux in either and if I did it wouldn't matter because my Pioneer XM unit does not have line out. But if your looking for a PIE or Blitzsafe adapter then wait no more, it will never exist for our cars. Also on my kids car she uses XM through the cassette adapter and it sounds as good or better than any FM station. On mine it sounds close to FM but not as good. So I would say the cassette adapter is better if you can live with a wire hanging out.
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From: Houston, TX
2015 E250D
For a comand system, you need to contact. Please see my site for more info on that. www.mercedesmods.com. Also, will be putting up more details on aux input for teh cassette player soon.
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From: Rochester, MI
I've got an iTrip and I'm not that happy w/ the way it sounds in the car. In Detroit here we have stations on every other frequency and there is always something bleeding in on the signal. I'm not a fan of the cassette adapter either, did that and it gets a little annoying. I guess I can do the solder thing since I've done it with other stuff before, I just was hoping I could find something that I could plug directly into the car's antenna or something. What the heck do they use to get the antenna into the radio on these cars? I don't recognize anything on the back of this radio.
dave
dave
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
MB C230K
I'm using the cassette adapter - found that if you squeeze the wire at the edge near where two buttons on the radio come together, I can close the door without that beeping sound.
Then I just leave the adapter in whether I'm using the MP3 player or not.
--Steffen
Then I just leave the adapter in whether I'm using the MP3 player or not.
--Steffen
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From: Detroit, MI
c230k
ive got a hardwired fm modulator.
I tried every possible route to get my ipod working at its peak. I too am from detroit and found that most external FM modulators like the I trip and Irock didnt work in most cases. I couldnt deal with the cassete adaptor wire hanging down my dash, so that was out. What I finally arrived at is an FM modulator that plugs into the aentena input behind the radio. When it recieves a signal from my ipod it turns on and overpowers any station being broadcast. I just tune my radio to 88.5 and thats it. I've got the line in wires feeding into the ashtray compartment and the ipod fits nicely in an upright position between the top of the open ash tray door and the bottom of the ash tray if you have a groove jacket. I also stepped up from the casstete radio to the Audio 10 with a 10inch subwoofer, and I couldnt be happier. There is a minimal amount of static but its only realy noticeable during the silence between songs.
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From: Rochester, MI
Pixelpro, could you tell me which adapter this is you use and where you got it? This sounds most like what I want.
The biggest problem I have w/ my iTrip is that I get a constant tone in the background that is really annoying. It's mostly heard during quiet parts of the song and is really annoying. Trying to figure out if the iTrip is broken or if it is something else. Would really love to know what it is that you used for the antenna adapter.
davae
The biggest problem I have w/ my iTrip is that I get a constant tone in the background that is really annoying. It's mostly heard during quiet parts of the song and is really annoying. Trying to figure out if the iTrip is broken or if it is something else. Would really love to know what it is that you used for the antenna adapter.
davae
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From: Detroit, MI
c230k
here ya go.
This is the modulator...Its the cheapest one at crutchfield, but it gives the largest range of frequencies and also allows you to set the output level to match that of your radio. I set mine to medium, but I should have set it to high, now I have to remove the dash and radio to get at the modulator to change it. I mounted mine in the space between the radio and back wall with a piece of double sided tape.
Good Luck.
heres the link:
http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S...500#morephotos
Good Luck.
heres the link:
http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S...500#morephotos
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From: Detroit, MI
c230k
one more thing.
You'll need to get an antenae adaptor for both ends of the modulator. All modulators use the US standard plug, you'll need the VW adaptor. Two of them. One for between the wire from the aentenae and the modulator and one from the modulator to the head unit.
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From: Detroit, MI
c230k
answers
i got the power by splicing into the main power for the radio. If I remember right it was a thick brown wire (?).
le848dave-
I think those are the right adaptors. I didnt get mine through crutchfield so they looked a little different, it looks like the larger of the two adaptors has an additional ground wire witch mine didnt have.
If you want to listen to what it sounds like I work in royal oak and live in Birmingham and wouldnt be opposed to giving you a listen.
le848dave-
I think those are the right adaptors. I didnt get mine through crutchfield so they looked a little different, it looks like the larger of the two adaptors has an additional ground wire witch mine didnt have.
If you want to listen to what it sounds like I work in royal oak and live in Birmingham and wouldnt be opposed to giving you a listen.
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From: Chicagoland, IL
09 C63
Brown = ground in german cars.
You'll need that as well. For the power look for another lead. Search for pinout in the forum someone had a nice .gif with the pinouts. I also tested with a meter to make sure it was truly 12V+.
Peet
You'll need that as well. For the power look for another lead. Search for pinout in the forum someone had a nice .gif with the pinouts. I also tested with a meter to make sure it was truly 12V+.
Peet
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From: nj
MB s430
Using a flat wire for the cassette adaptor
I modified my cassette adaptor by using ribbon cable. The same type of cable used on media drives in PC's. I used a strand of 4 ( 2 for common, 1 for left and 1 for right channels). I use this for my IPOD and the sound is great. You way have to cut a notch in the cassette adaptor so it feeds correctly.
Good luck.
Good luck.
