Guys,
This weekend I took the first steps toward upgrading the stock system in the 2002 CLK55 AMG that I picked up a few weeks ago. Gone are the factory head unit, cellphone mounts and wiring and cd changer in the trunk. Here what I have replaced the stock system with so far-

Alpine CDE-HD138BT

PAC SOEM-4

Keeping the Bose speaker system and trying this to add some badly needed bass
Sound Ordnance™ B-8PT

Per the store this was supposed to fit under the seat and be really clean.


The first thing the installer said was this will never fit under your motorized seats. For the time being I asked him to place it in the rear passenger footwell until I could figure out something more permanent in the trunk. More on subwoofer placement and recommendations later.



I was told at the time of purchase that these would allow me to continue to use the steering wheel controls with the new unit.


PAC SWI-RC

PAC SWI-CAN2 Interface

Again the installer turned on the cold water and said this will not work with your car, yes with the base model system but not with the Bose system.


So now I have a new HU which as predicted has brought new life to the Bose speakers and the temp subwoofer setup which is helping round out the sound as a whole. However I have now lost use of the steering wheel controls just as I was getting used to them. Does anyone know of a steering wheel control interface that will allow me to lash up my new HU with my OEM steering wheel controls? Thanks.

 

While continuing to research this topic I came accross this product in a different MBZ forum. Anyone have experience with it?

http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/prod...8b_p-23846.htm

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w208...l-adapter.html

As you can see not much to go on in that thread though I am grateful to that OP for the lead on a possible solution at least. Again any experience?

I found at least one thread here that recommends it,

https://mbworld.org/forums/3433763-post16.html

again assuming that I could find one. Thoughts? Thanks.

 

you are going to need a pac swix, I did one a decade ago and know I used an off the shelf piece. I believe I had to use resistors also. anyways you want to get the wires as they go into the cluster yellow, black, and blue... pins 14, 15, and 18... with a meter test what switch does what and what is the meter reading. if you dont have a meter, nor any electrical experience, or any MB electronic expierence than I am afraid you are over your head and you need to make the decision of how bad you really want steering wheel controls when a new touch screen is at you finger tips.

Further, it is not a CAN databus system

 

Thanks for getting back to me. In terms of tools I have them and experience I have installed head units before but on this car I really wanted something that looked super clean and OEM pro like. No nicks, no scratches no odd or funny quirks when I need to use it just smooth flawless OEM like performance. I don't mind that some of my install work on my 4x4 looks a little rugged as I am crawling around in the woods in that not using that to take the GF out to some special event , well not recently anyway. Found the unit:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-EWXvdK8...PAC-SWI-X.html

In going through the reviews, it seems like most folks had to test and solder the connections and then there was the programming to do with a few grumbling mentions of a IR pigtail having to be left hanging out of the dash somehow. At the end of the day the good news is that there is a solution out there that you have used and it worked. They seem to have them NIB on Ebay for not too much. That said I am still waiting to hear back from others on the Alpine unit and the Dietz unit which others have made mention of:

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/audi...ing-wheel.html

BTW you mentioned that this was not a CAN databus system. What type of a system is it them, Flexcan?

 

it is just an input, not data as in CAN, basically uses the varying of the push buttons resistors

the input goes straight to the cluster from the steering wheel controls. which is why the ALpine is at the cluster

also call midcityengineering and ask for Eric, tell him congrats on coming out of the closet and that you are happy with his recent same sex marriage and he might give you a discount

 

Given that the Alpine unit seems to be close to a direct fit, that is ports right into the instrument cluster and is made to mate with my HU, I'd love to get my hands on one but having some trouble finding one. Any suggestions? I will reach to your bud Eric and see if he can assist. Thanks for sticking with the thread and the info. Much appreciated.