Installed the Mercedes iPod Integration Kit Today
08-06-2008, 08:52 PM
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2005 C240 4MATIC, 2010 ML350
Installed the Mercedes iPod Integration Kit Today
Ok, so I ordered a kit from Keenan Motors. They have an eBay store. I saved a few dollars off of my dealer's retail parts price. Three days later, I have a box with the kit, and a black felted cradle that goes in my glove box.
I followed the excellent guide at http://www.mymbonline.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3331.
I have some observations:
1) Honestly, the toughest part of the whole install was the torx screws. It was apparent that they had never been removed since they were installed at the factory. It took all my might to get them to turn and avoid stripping the screws. The worst ones were the pair holding the climate control module in place. They are at a weird angle, and the fact that the shifter trim is somewhat in the way makes things harder. I almost stripped one out. It was a close call.
2) The "brain" box is the lightest thing I have held for an iPod interface box. I've installed a few before. The JVC brains are heavy and are encased in heavy metal. This one had to have been no more than a couple of ounces. I'm suspecting it's just a simple IC board inside, with an EPROM chip that has the iPod control codes, and a simple transcoder that receives the text transmission from the iPod and translates it to the text you see on your instrument cluster. Mercedes is making some sick profit on this relatively simple "brain". They give you a new wire harness that sits in between your head unit and the existing harness: that might cost some extra hand labor, but for $300, their profit margins on this thing have to be insane. To give you an idea of comparitive cost, the JVC ones are 59.99.
3) If the telephone menu already exists on your instrument cluster, then you're coded and the iPod menu will show up. It did for me. I was already pre-wired for the phone system.
4) Audio quality, to me, is outstanding.
5) This is interesting: when you disconnect the headunit, it loses power (obviously). However, when I connected it back up, I found that I had NOT lost all of my presets for AM, FM, and Sirius radio, but I did lose all of my source EQ settings. Odd, why it remembers one and not the other is weird.
6) There's definitely a control lag. I think that the Mercedes headunit CPU is processing the data slower than the iPod and the "brain" send it, so there's a bit of a lag skipping tracks. Not much, but you notice it.
7) It's a super tight fit behind the glove box. That's where you have to put the brain box. It was a stuff job for sure, and getting the torx screws back in was a tight fit.
Overall, it took me an hour to do. It was not hard at all. Once the head unit was out, it went super fast. There's plenty of room to route the cable to the brain, and super easy to route the cable from the brain to the glove box for the iPod.
I followed the excellent guide at http://www.mymbonline.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3331.
I have some observations:
1) Honestly, the toughest part of the whole install was the torx screws. It was apparent that they had never been removed since they were installed at the factory. It took all my might to get them to turn and avoid stripping the screws. The worst ones were the pair holding the climate control module in place. They are at a weird angle, and the fact that the shifter trim is somewhat in the way makes things harder. I almost stripped one out. It was a close call.
2) The "brain" box is the lightest thing I have held for an iPod interface box. I've installed a few before. The JVC brains are heavy and are encased in heavy metal. This one had to have been no more than a couple of ounces. I'm suspecting it's just a simple IC board inside, with an EPROM chip that has the iPod control codes, and a simple transcoder that receives the text transmission from the iPod and translates it to the text you see on your instrument cluster. Mercedes is making some sick profit on this relatively simple "brain". They give you a new wire harness that sits in between your head unit and the existing harness: that might cost some extra hand labor, but for $300, their profit margins on this thing have to be insane. To give you an idea of comparitive cost, the JVC ones are 59.99.
3) If the telephone menu already exists on your instrument cluster, then you're coded and the iPod menu will show up. It did for me. I was already pre-wired for the phone system.
4) Audio quality, to me, is outstanding.
5) This is interesting: when you disconnect the headunit, it loses power (obviously). However, when I connected it back up, I found that I had NOT lost all of my presets for AM, FM, and Sirius radio, but I did lose all of my source EQ settings. Odd, why it remembers one and not the other is weird.
6) There's definitely a control lag. I think that the Mercedes headunit CPU is processing the data slower than the iPod and the "brain" send it, so there's a bit of a lag skipping tracks. Not much, but you notice it.
7) It's a super tight fit behind the glove box. That's where you have to put the brain box. It was a stuff job for sure, and getting the torx screws back in was a tight fit.
Overall, it took me an hour to do. It was not hard at all. Once the head unit was out, it went super fast. There's plenty of room to route the cable to the brain, and super easy to route the cable from the brain to the glove box for the iPod.
08-06-2008, 09:04 PM
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2005 Mercedes C230 Sport Sedan (W203)
Chris,
This is awesome... I have been waiting for someone to do this to confirm how easy it would be for in my car. How does the interface work on the head unit and the MFD? Like obviously you can press +/- on the steering wheel to skip tracks, but how do you access different albums, playlists, etc?
Anyone done this who has comand?
Nick.
This is awesome... I have been waiting for someone to do this to confirm how easy it would be for in my car. How does the interface work on the head unit and the MFD? Like obviously you can press +/- on the steering wheel to skip tracks, but how do you access different albums, playlists, etc?
Anyone done this who has comand?
Nick.
08-06-2008, 10:41 PM
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2005 C240 4MATIC, 2010 ML350
In navigation mode (menus):
- up and down arrows scroll up and down
- Talk phone button selects
- Hang up/end call button goes backwards to a previous menu
- + and - are volume controls
Playing:
- up and down go up and down tracks
- the End call button takes you to the iPod menu
- + and - are volume buttons
Once you do it a couple of times, it makes sense. It's pretty easy.
- up and down arrows scroll up and down
- Talk phone button selects
- Hang up/end call button goes backwards to a previous menu
- + and - are volume controls
Playing:
- up and down go up and down tracks
- the End call button takes you to the iPod menu
- + and - are volume buttons
Once you do it a couple of times, it makes sense. It's pretty easy.
08-07-2008, 01:23 PM
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C300. FJ Cruiser, 370Z
I had mine installed by Steve (MBenzNL) and I love it. . .
The only things is he didn't include the (velcro) tray to hold the iPod in place.
The only things is he didn't include the (velcro) tray to hold the iPod in place.
08-07-2008, 01:30 PM
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2005 C240 4MATIC, 2010 ML350
However, since you're pre-2005 anyways, it kinda stinks.
Have you looked into the third party products out there? How about another head unit?
08-07-2008, 01:31 PM
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2005 C240 4MATIC, 2010 ML350
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08-07-2008, 09:22 PM
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white and whiter
The user manual came in a few languages - so I'm assuming that it's already setup to display other text and characters, but I didn't see any Mandarin or Kanji characters in it. You would think that Mercedes sold this in Asian-Pacific countries. You might want to see if there's a dealer selling parts online in that part of the world.
However, since you're pre-2005 anyways, it kinda stinks.
Have you looked into the third party products out there? How about another head unit?
However, since you're pre-2005 anyways, it kinda stinks.
Have you looked into the third party products out there? How about another head unit?
08-07-2008, 09:44 PM
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08-12-2008, 03:50 PM
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06 c230 v6 SS
man i have the mp3 cd changer, but i dont think i have an aux port, how do i get one? i felt around my glove box and looked where everyone says it is, but nothing?
08-12-2008, 05:51 PM
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2005 C240 4MATIC, 2010 ML350
If you want the Aux cable, you can run that yourself from the headunit.
If you want to use the iPod adapter, the kit comes with a new wire harness that includes a cable that runs to the brain, and then from the brain to the glove box.
The new wire harness has a plug in it that hooks into your Aux port on the head unit.
08-18-2008, 01:47 PM
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2005 C240 4MATIC, 2010 ML350
Well I have an Audio 20 headunit, so I only get a display of Song titles and menus on my instrument cluster. You can only control the iPod from the steering wheel.
In my kit manual, it does show that some Command units will show song information, but you still have to control the iPod from the steering wheel.
Newer Command units and command software versions have a prettier face on the headunit screen for the iPod, but the control scheme has not changed, even on the w204 C Class.
In my kit manual, it does show that some Command units will show song information, but you still have to control the iPod from the steering wheel.
Newer Command units and command software versions have a prettier face on the headunit screen for the iPod, but the control scheme has not changed, even on the w204 C Class.
10-22-2008, 07:22 AM
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Does the iPod turn itself on and off when you toggle AUX? I'm considering just leaving my iPod in the car all the time, but don't want it on all the time.
10-22-2008, 10:51 AM
#21
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Poor phrasing on my part. I meant to ask does the iPod integration kit turn the iPod on and off depending on if I'm using it from the Command. As I understand I need to be in AUX for it to work.
10-23-2008, 01:53 PM
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any idea how much instillation may run on the integration kit? im too lazy to do it myself and knowing my luck thats problem a good thing sine i'd probably short out my entire electrical system!
10-23-2008, 01:57 PM
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2005 C240 4MATIC, 2010 ML350
This I do know:
To do it yourself takes about a half hour.
The shop manual at the dealership quote a default of 4 hours or so, because every model is different. They don't have separate listings for each car. Now, if you go to an intelligent dealer that has installed enough of these, they should tell you a hour or an hour and a half - so probably $200 in labor or a bit more. Some, quoting the higher number might want to charge upwards of $700 for the labor.
If you have the money to spare, then spend it.
This is a very easy install, and there are great, step by step, picture based guides. You can save yourself a lot of money. If you do it yourself, take your time, and do NOT force the Torx 20 screws, or over pull your panels or over-force the clips on the upper A/C vent.
My two cents.
To do it yourself takes about a half hour.
The shop manual at the dealership quote a default of 4 hours or so, because every model is different. They don't have separate listings for each car. Now, if you go to an intelligent dealer that has installed enough of these, they should tell you a hour or an hour and a half - so probably $200 in labor or a bit more. Some, quoting the higher number might want to charge upwards of $700 for the labor.
If you have the money to spare, then spend it.
This is a very easy install, and there are great, step by step, picture based guides. You can save yourself a lot of money. If you do it yourself, take your time, and do NOT force the Torx 20 screws, or over pull your panels or over-force the clips on the upper A/C vent.
My two cents.
10-23-2008, 03:45 PM
#25
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Steve (MBenzNL) can provide and install the kit for something around $400 usd. I understand that he'll be in FL sometime around mid-November too.
