DIY installation of AVIC & other aftermarket HU's for W203 (Warning! lots of images!)
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: DC/VA
CL203
if the stock sub is integrated into the wiring harness, then there's nothing to worry about... if its a separate connection then you could connect through the separate output in the avic d3. sorry i can't provide more info than that...
good choice on navi!
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From: DC/VA
CL203
you gotta be careful if you watch videos on your nav... i was driving today with my windows down and was watching the cosby show in thick bumper to bumper traffic and a cop pulled right by me.... thank god that his lane was pullin faster than mine otherwise he could've noticed. dangerous dangerous... 
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From: Downtown Chicago
C32 AMG - Supra Turbo
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2002 c230k hb
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From: Downtown Chicago
C32 AMG - Supra Turbo
Problem: Avic is not 2 ohm stable
Solution #1: Replace all the speakers with 4 ohm speakers
Solution #2: Purchase a 2ohm stable 4 channel amplifier. Use a preamp RCA output for the Amp. Cut plug coming out of the factory amp. Wire the speakers into the new amp. Connect remote wire & power wire.
#1 and #2 lose functionality of both the stock bose sub, and bose center channel speaker
Solution #3: Go with method #2, but also purchase a 2channel amplifier and hook it up to the second preamp RCA, and connect subwoofer and center channel speaker to it. (according to the mercedes wiring diagram, they have their own crossovers in the wiring, so leave the amp set to full range)
I'm also attaching the wiring diagram from the factory bose amp
and search keywords bose amp avic d3 fiber optic
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,697
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From: DC/VA
CL203
save me one man! im still recovering from the bixenon group buy.. if i didn't find that deal i would have bought it, but i had to jump on it b/c they're so rare... then again so are your brabus rep lips! save one for me! 
good research.. i appreciate your post, but i hate the automatic scaling that this website does to pictures/diagrams... makes detailed pics hard to read 
---------------------------------------------------
on a personal note
I installed convex mirrors and sprint booster last week and am loving driving more than ever.
Sprint booster:
installation literally took 2-5 minutes max because the instructions in the sprintbooster thread were so easy to follow. am amazed with the pick up driving with manual transmission. my buddy drives a wrx and said it picks up no different than his car. when in installed it i immediately reset the throttle and it was a total beast. after a week of driving, i've noticed that it has calmed down a little and its easier to drive smooth again, but there is still noticeable pickup. i love having the option to reset the throttle anytime i want to drive aggressive again. i highly recommend it.
Convex mirrors:
installation was probably 10 minutes, also not bad at all. The outer third of the mirror is separated by a vertical dotted line that shows the boundary for the blind-spot region. from the minute i catch a car in my side mirror, there is continuous view of it until it is literally beside me. i guess thats what its supposed to do, right? anyways, i never appreciated not having to look over my shoulder before switching lanes as i do now. i also highly recommend it.
Next week is Bixenons and foglights... and installation looks pretty bad, so I'm not looking forward to it.
Well for future reference, anyone who is installing an AVIC D3 - Z2 - N3 into a bose car will run into the same problem as me.
Problem: Avic is not 2 ohm stable
Solution #1: Replace all the speakers with 4 ohm speakers
Solution #2: Purchase a 2ohm stable 4 channel amplifier. Use a preamp RCA output for the Amp. Cut plug coming out of the factory amp. Wire the speakers into the new amp. Connect remote wire & power wire.
#1 and #2 lose functionality of both the stock bose sub, and bose center channel speaker
Solution #3: Go with method #2, but also purchase a 2channel amplifier and hook it up to the second preamp RCA, and connect subwoofer and center channel speaker to it. (according to the mercedes wiring diagram, they have their own crossovers in the wiring, so leave the amp set to full range)
I'm also attaching the wiring diagram from the factory bose amp
and search keywords bose amp avic d3 fiber optic
Problem: Avic is not 2 ohm stable
Solution #1: Replace all the speakers with 4 ohm speakers
Solution #2: Purchase a 2ohm stable 4 channel amplifier. Use a preamp RCA output for the Amp. Cut plug coming out of the factory amp. Wire the speakers into the new amp. Connect remote wire & power wire.
#1 and #2 lose functionality of both the stock bose sub, and bose center channel speaker
Solution #3: Go with method #2, but also purchase a 2channel amplifier and hook it up to the second preamp RCA, and connect subwoofer and center channel speaker to it. (according to the mercedes wiring diagram, they have their own crossovers in the wiring, so leave the amp set to full range)
I'm also attaching the wiring diagram from the factory bose amp
and search keywords bose amp avic d3 fiber optic
---------------------------------------------------
on a personal note
I installed convex mirrors and sprint booster last week and am loving driving more than ever.
Sprint booster:
installation literally took 2-5 minutes max because the instructions in the sprintbooster thread were so easy to follow. am amazed with the pick up driving with manual transmission. my buddy drives a wrx and said it picks up no different than his car. when in installed it i immediately reset the throttle and it was a total beast. after a week of driving, i've noticed that it has calmed down a little and its easier to drive smooth again, but there is still noticeable pickup. i love having the option to reset the throttle anytime i want to drive aggressive again. i highly recommend it.
Convex mirrors:
installation was probably 10 minutes, also not bad at all. The outer third of the mirror is separated by a vertical dotted line that shows the boundary for the blind-spot region. from the minute i catch a car in my side mirror, there is continuous view of it until it is literally beside me. i guess thats what its supposed to do, right? anyways, i never appreciated not having to look over my shoulder before switching lanes as i do now. i also highly recommend it.
Next week is Bixenons and foglights... and installation looks pretty bad, so I'm not looking forward to it.
Last edited by Midnight Koop; May 11, 2007 at 09:10 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 329
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From: Glendale, CA
C230 Kompressor Sports Sedan
hey, thank you for your help on d-3 installation pics...
i had a good use, however my Avic D-3 got stolen over the weekend. i only had it for one week....and i was just about to get used to it you know...!!
well...feeling sad.....haha
lates
i had a good use, however my Avic D-3 got stolen over the weekend. i only had it for one week....and i was just about to get used to it you know...!!
well...feeling sad.....haha
lates
Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
2002 c230k hb
Ouch man. If I'm parking in public I usually throw a hoodie on my dash and let it hang over the head unit. Plus I have 15% or 20% tint so you can't really see well inside the car anyway. The other night I put the end of a paper towel into the cd slot just enough to hold it up so to hide it slightly.
ya it may be dumb but if it does get stolen at least I can say I tried to do something about it.
ya it may be dumb but if it does get stolen at least I can say I tried to do something about it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,697
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From: DC/VA
CL203
best of luck with everything!
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From: City of Angels
05' c230K
AVIC-D3 installed on an '05+
Finally was able to do an install of an Avic D-3 on a my 05'. There isnt a kit made for the 05+ so I had to mod one out. Really happy with the results. Handsfree bluetooth calling, Ipod connection/controls with high quality sound and a incredible interface, great DVD video viewing, the navigation rocks and the sound quality is noticeably better than the stock unit. I was looking into a COMMAND and it was getting way up in price. $2800 for the COMMAND, $1500 for the MB Bluetooth interface, $200 for the IPOD interface. $4500 for a system that is substandard to what I payed $950 for. Sorry about the nighttime pic. 
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 37
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From: City of Angels
05' c230K
Thanks guys...used the Scosche VW03B . Its made for a VW but is an exact fit for 05+ W203.The color coding is an exact match. Crutchfield also has one but I would not recomend it as it is not as good as a match IMO. You will also need the Euro FM antenna adapter. Also modded it out so i could override the saftey features and change Navi course whie driving and so my eh hem...passangers could watch DVDs while i am paying attention to the road.
