Moviela

Contact Steve at MBenzNL.com, he has factory NAV's that will fit your 05. 05 needs a MOST based fiber optic system, NAV's from prior years are D2B and cannot fit. Some people sell Euro NAV's, but these have trouble tuning AM radio in the USA, and cannot support satellite radio.

If you just want Navigation, and it does not need to be integrated into the instrument cluster, there are a number of portable devices that are much nicer than even the oem NAV.

05-MB-C230K

Thank you for the info. I really appreciate it. I sounds like the only custom piece is the dash kit. I think I will buy the single din unit and just cut it to fit. Every installer that I talked to has tried to earn my business through saying that everything would have to be custom including the wiring harness. Thanks to the forum , now I know differently. It sounds like this install will be like every other car that I have worked on since there is a wiring harness available. Here is the one that I bought on Ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB..._promot_widget

When the harness gets here I will definitely test probe it before I make any permanent connections.


tromar1 - thanks for the link, recommendation and the contact info.

pmb600

Does anyone know how much dealer markup would be on the DVD COMAND Nav? I got a price of $3600 retail so how much of that would you say is profit for them?

05-MB-C230K

I forgot to ask about SOS functions. Will I loose my MB SOS functions if I change the factory radio?

Midnight Koop

if you dont mind me asking... how much did you get the AVIC-Z1 for? i've been shopping around for that unit for a while so I'm curious.

05-MB-C230K

The link that was provided has it listed for 1,569.98. The cheapest that I was able to find it is http://www.thecamerapros.com/prodeta...FU5xFQodtGZ-og

But I do not know anyone that has ever purchased from this site. It may be worth a few bucks more to buy from a reputable dealer that someone has dealt with before.

tromar1

I don't mind you asking...it's not a secret. Plus, this is what I believe the forum is for...us helping each other. I got mine for $1500. However, i'm not only buying the one thing...but several other things so I always asking for a package deal. My contact, Bay Coban, will make a deal that will be better then the lowest reputable price online. Other sites may have it for a few dollars less, but I don't trust eBay or a site i've never done business with. Additionally, Z1 made prior to 7/1/06 has a defect that was on recall. A lot of sites are selling the pre 7/1/06 model. The customer won't know until they receive it and start having problems. I spoke with a manager at Pioneer (Rocky) who confirmed the defect.

Here's a story. Without knowing this guy (Bay), I ordered an AVIC N2 and a bunch of other things. He ships for free and I have it within a day or two. I Kept the unit for a month then decide to have it installed. The installer tells me that the unit wouldn't power up and it's defective. Now, the installer could have blown the unit. I ended up not having him complete the work and disputed the charges and was successful. However, I called Bay that day and told him that the installer said the unit is not powering up. He said "no problem." Shipped a replacement to me and I had it the very next day. He subsequently told me to keep whatever I needed from the first package and send back what I didn't need.

I ended up buying 2 more Z1's from him plus a whole bunch of other stuff. He has never tried to sell me things I don't need and has even talked me out of buying something that wasn't a need. Plus, he acts as a consultant regarding the installation.

Just so you know, both my Z1's has the bypass...check out the site www.avic411.com

tromar1

05-MB-c230K: Exactly...i'm not buying car stereo from a camera shop. Been burned before buying things that they told me was new and it was refurbished. Tried returning the product as I received it and was hit with a standard 15% restocking fee. You won't have problems with Bay...

Secondly, to your question about the SOS....I never had it to begin with as I was the second owner. However, I've pressed the button before...and Just did before posting. I'm not certain as to how it worked, but when I pressed my sos button, it dialed and a reply came back that my number was not recognized or authorized. It then offered for me to call collect or use a credit card. So, I think it still works (at least in my car) and that's why I use a good installer.

Don't let installers tell you crap that it's difficult and fibre optics and yada yada...The only problem I see you having is finding a kit that will preserve your final finished look. Mine wasn't a simple install with all that extras I have, yet it integrates well with the MB, and preserved all the functions.

One final point, the mic from the Z1 fits perfectly where the original mic is currently located and preserve the clean look....

levi1826

That's good to know. I called my local dealer about it and they told me if my 05 C240 didn't come with a DVD Command unit then i can't put one in. Didn't sound right but then again i thought they would know more then I would.

pmb600

They are full of it. I called every dealership in the state of New Jersey and only two agreed that it is possible. There is a brochure you can get at your local dealership called "Mercedes-Benz Entertainment and Communication Accessories." In the back there is a grid of what items can be fit to what cars. It very clearly shows that the DVD COMAND can be factory OR dealer-installed for the 2005-2007 C-Classes. I would suggest getting a copy and then showing them. No doubt they will still deny it though, as several did the same thing to me.

Trust me I wanted to kill them all after dealing with this. I even called MBUSA and spoke with one of the "product specialists" who said it wasn't possible. He then gave me more bs that was inaccurate. Another person I spoke with on a different day said it is possible. Bottom line is, it is definately possible. One dealer agreed to do it for me for $3850 + tax. It comes with a 1 year parts warranty. The parts manager told me he could probably do better on the price, thats why I wanted to see if anyone knows how much this part would be marked up by the dealer so I know how much room I have to negotiate.

M230K

they had 2005 240's? i thought they stopped making them in 2004

pmb600

Yup, C240 was used through 2005 MY. In 2006 they introduced the C280.

05-MB-C230K

Thank you!. I truly appreciate all of the information and the fast responses. When I get my money together I will visit your friend's website. I like the Z1 but it only has 10gb for mp3 files where the Eclipse 5495 has 20gb. Either way I have to wait until after the holidays. Tis the season to give....not purchase for yourself. After the holidays...tis the season to treat yourself.

Midnight Koop

thanks for the response. its good to know these things because i hesitate to order from random online sites (especially when it is for items that cost this much). i am going to wait until right after the holiday season to get my z1, but i will definitely bookmark this page and keep your contact in mind. thanks thanks

Midnight Koop

one of the reasons i am getting the z1 is because it can integrate my 60gb ipod. so i am not really worrying about the hard drive space. plus, i read that you have to burn the mp3's to a disc then upload each one to the player. i figured its easier to use my ipod. im waiting until after xmas too... i wonder how many presents i'll have to return to pay for this thing? haha sike!

tromar1

Good for you. As for me, I'm never in the car long enough to put a dent in a 10 gig hard drive. I've been loading CDs for a while now and it haven't taken up that much space.

jgsx

Yup, you'll lose it if you put in an aftermarket head unit

levi1826

$3850! Wow! That's expensive. I would definately look after market like a few people here have. I think www.crutchfield.com has some pretty cool NAV/DVD units.

pmb600

I know but I'm a purist and I only want it if its official MB stuff. I have a magellan that I bought for $450 and it works great, but i hate the thing hanging on the glass. I know most people will say get it from Steve. I think he recently posted he had a few left for like $2300 or something, but I don't know how to install it on my own and I want the warranty from MB.

tromar1

Admittedly, I never used the SOS...but based on my test...it seem to still work. I pressed the button and a voice responded. Had I set up the SOS with a credit card and my info the voice would have been a live person and would have assisted...

Could you please explain on what basis are you saying it will be lost? Thanks...cause i'm thinking about calling MB and signing up. I did the same set up in my ML and when I pressed the button, a live person asked if I needed help. I told him that I pressed the button in error. He asked my name and then we disconnected. Of course when he checked the name that is registered, he'll notice that it is not the same name I provided. It must have been a carry over from the previous owner...

killahbean

I have the Eclipse 5495 installed and without the VSS wire hooked up...The Nav function wont tell you when to turn when you need to turn.....Thats what I was told by Eclipse themselves a year ago when I didnt have the VSS wire hooked up

rlee02135

thats a very nice unit. i like it wayy better than the Z1

jgsx

I'm basing that on the fact that you are completely removing any way for it to output to your speakers. At least that is what I had to do since I had a Bose system from the factory.

tromar1

Even with an MBA I can still be dumb sometimes...

If the person spoke to me when I pressed the button, then how is it that I'm "completely removing any way for it to output" to my speakers? In both the C240 and ML350 I press the button and received responses.

Maybe if I had attempted to do the install myself then it would as you said. However, I had it professionally done. I saw a series of test done to ensure that I wouldn't receive any error codes. During one of the test, the SRS light came on. My installer then knew what not to mess with. I should note that I didn't remove my Bose Speaker, just bypass the amp and remove the factory sub. Replaced the amp, added another amp for the sub and no factory OEM functions were missing.

rlee02135

they are both comparable units. i just like the eclipse better than the Z1