mitchbeerwatch

My car came with an aftermarket DVD/NAV/Camera head unit with a nice touch screen and the thing is really cool. The only problem is whoever installed it did a horrible job and its not even close to flush. I wanted to re-install it and I was wondering if anyone used any specific kit to make it look nice. I have a Panasonic CQ-VD6503u if anyone is wondering, it has a screen that sits flush and opens to insert disk.

Maybe if some have pictures of how they made it look nice? I have a 2004.5 C230K.

ebargados

Depending on the depth of the head unit, it may be too deep and you may not be able to push the whole thing back for a flushed mount. I have an alpine unit and the hoses behind the deck prevents it from being flushed. Someone can please correct me I'm wrong.

ROLLNNN

do you have any pics? scosche makes a double din kit, it doesn't look too bad...

mitchbeerwatch

Here is some pics of the radio - you cant tell, but there is a black piece of plastic that is supposed to sit flush and make it look like its all one piece, but it bends and doesn't come close to sitting flush...

ROLLNNN

that's the older interior right? or a coupe?? I thought the 2004.5 were face lifted?? my dash is a little different so i'm not sure what kind of kit is available for that. Scosche makes one for the 05 and newer, they might have one available for your year too, might try searching their site..

mitchbeerwatch

I am not 100% sure I have a 2004.5. I just bought it about a week ago - I have been reading these forums trying to find out more about it - and it seems to fit the description of the 2004.5, other than the interior. I have the 5 spoke wheels, the brakes that say "Mercedes-Benz", the car seems to be lower than others I know are older. I have posted some pics, if someone can tell, I would definitely like to know - I tried looking through google based on VIN number, but no luck. Is there a way to tell the date the car was manufactured?

saer1one

looks like an 04..

MOBC200K

its the older one look at the back lights they're not the same as 04 on..... 04 on have kinda clear lights

M-bENZ

Check out this website for those Double Din,

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...+-+MZ2340.html

hcalvarez

I think this is an 04 because the 05 had AMG bumpers etc.

Cintoman

A simple way to see when your car was built is to check the VIN sticker on the inside of the driver's door pillar. The sticker has a barcode on it with your VIN#, weight rating, country of manufacture, date of manufacture, and paint code.

mitchbeerwatch's car does appear to be a 2004.5 model, because he has the funnel wheels, single wide exhaust finisher, cross-drilled front rotors, and the 4-pot front calipers. The 2004 (not 2004.5) models came with the 7-spoke wheels, higher suspension, non-cross drilled rotors, and the standard calipers.

In looking at my VIN spreadsheet, which I've been maintaining/updating for several years, I can get a better timeframe using approximate VIN#'s to determine whether his is a 2004 or 2004.5.

For the C230's, the 2004 model year run was a short one, starting around May 2003 and ended in August 2003. The 2004.5 run started in September 2003 and went until sometime in March 2004. The 2005 model year run started really early, with models being built in March 2004. I don't know the exact date in March when the cutoff for 2004 ended and 2004.5 started. The 2005 model year run ended in June 2005.

I don't have all the VIN numbers in my spreadsheet. But looking at some example VINs with the build dates around the time of the model changes. In the US, all (I believe) the W203 came from either Sindelfigen (A VIN code) or Bremen (F VIN code), with the vast majority of them coming from Bremen in my experience.

Here's my breakdown:

Sindelfigen:
VIN's from around A565977 and earlier were built around August 2003 and are 2004 models.
VIN's from around A586658 and later were built around September 2003 and are 2004.5 models.
My spreadsheets aren't complete, so I can't get a closer approximation between 565977 and 586658.

Bremen:
VIN's from around F481232 and earlier were built around August 2003 and are 2004 models.
VIN's from around F482440 and later were built around September 2003 and are 2004.5 models.
And again, I can't get a closer approximation between 481232 and 482440.

How do you know whether your car was built in Sindelfigen or Bremen? Check the plant code. As mentioned above, Sindelfigen is A and Bremen is F. This code is on the VIN and is the last letter in the VIN before the production number (last 6 digits of the VIN is the production number).

So looking at my VIN: WDBRF40J05F712503, you can tell that mine was built in Bremen. My production number (712503) is a very late April 2005 build date and was nearly a 2006 model. What's interesting to note is that in the Bremen plant, they were making 2005 models alongside 2006 models during the months of May and June. Example: I have a 2005 model VIN (F727832) built in June 2005, while at the same time a 2006 model VIN (F714269) built in June 2006. You would think the higher number VIN would be a 2006, but it's not. Strange.

Let us know what your VIN is mitchbeerwatch, as I'd like to confirm it's a 2004.5 model.

Thanks,
Cintoman

mitchbeerwatch

Hey Buddy - I appreciate all that information. Here is my VIN number WDBRF40J04F512011. Let me know what you decode that into.

I appreciate all the information - I actually got the radio looking nicer, I took it to Best Buy yesterday to have Sirius integrated into my Panasonic head-unit (have to listen to my Stern) and the guy re-mounted the radio and got it looking pretty flush.

SickSpeedMonte

Loos like a Bremen built 2004.5 car according to his post...

Cintoman

That's correct SickSpeedMonte. mitchbeerwatch, your car is in fact a 2004.5 model built in Bremen Germany in November of 2003.

Thru a website I'm aware of, I was able to find out more info on your car, based on the VIN you provided. Here's the info:

VIN WDBRF40J04F512011
Model C 230 KOMPRESSOR
Chassis 2030401F512011
Engine 271948 30 277162
Transmission 722695 04 921994
Order 0 4 704 54300
Delivery date 18.11.03
Dealer United States (USA) (704)
Interior mb-tex anthracite (151)
Paint:747 perlit grey

Options:

M18 engine pre-heater
ND8 Unknown code
232 Unknown code
244 sports seats, front (с 01.07.1986)
249 automatically dipping inside rear view mirror (с 01.06.1990)
254 Unknown code
264 shifting gate for automatic transmission (с 01.01.1996)

265 installation parts kit and connecting cable harness for TeKaDe BSA 31s car phone with one set, elimination of lettering elegance/sport/esprit,
omission of line logo elegance/sport/esprit/classic (с 01.02.1993), Becker radio set Mexico, stereo

293 trunk set, 3-piece
sidebag in rear left and right (с 01.01.1995)

345 rains sensor for windshield wipers (с 01.10.1993)
414 electric tilting/sliding roof in glass version (с 01.10.1988)
423 5 speed automatic transmission / nag (с 01.03.1994)
461 instrument with mileage reading and english lettering (с 01.04.1990)
486 sports chassis (с 01.04.1997)
494 California version, version for USA/California/Canada (с 01.01.1996)
524 paintcoat preservation (с 01.01.1964)
531 automatic antenna (с 01.01.1963)
540 roller blind, electric, for rear window (с 01.05.1985)
543 sun visor with vanity mirror, illuminated, left and right (с 01.11.1978)
551 anti-theft/anti-break-in warning system with anti-towing system (с 01.04.1998)
573 front seats, left and right, with seat height adjustment
580 air conditioner/Tempmatic (с 01.11.1982)
600 headlamp wiper/washer (с 01.08.1971)
614 lamp unit, asymmetrical, l.h. traffic, with amber lenses
634 elimination of first aid box (с 01.08.1977)
636 elimination of warning triangle (с 01.03.1973)
639 elimination of first-aid box and warning triangle (с 01.08.1977)
668 Unknown code
673 high-capacity battery (с 01.01.1964)
690 blue heat-insulating glass all round, rear window (laminated safety glass) (с 01.10.1995)
691 blue heat-insulating glass all round, rear window, single pane safety glass (с 01.02.1995)
763 Unknown code
804 Change of year of model, last figure shows new model year
819 CD changer - alpine - in trunk (с 31.07.1992)
875 heated screen wash system (с 01.02.1988), windshield washer heated (W201)
949 equipment package mk-line (с 12.06.1997)
954 equipment package for avantgarde vehicles (с 01.06.1993)
rotating emergeny flasher, front (red light)
986 identification plate (vin no.) (с 01.07.1992)
989 identification label under windshield (с 01.10.1997)
150A Unknown code
212B Unknown code
221B Unknown code
7XXL Unknown code


Hope this helps you out !!!

Cintoman

mitchbeerwatch

WOW - Thanks a million Cintoman, +10 for the amount of information. I have been trying to find out what color my car is, because its a blueish/greenish/grey (depending on the light), so thats great to have all that information - I am not sure what half of it is, but I can't wait to find out.

Again, thanks everyone for taking the time to help me out, especially you Cintoman.

Cintoman

Anytime. My pleasure. That's what we're here for.

Cintoman

bdgdl08

That's great! Do you want to share the website? I'd be interested in finding out more about my car.

Cintoman

Not Really....


Kidding. Here it is: http://old.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/?lng=eng

I found it works on most VIN's, but I did have some that for some reason, it didn't recognize, even though they were valid VIN's.

Thanks,
Cintoman

bdgdl08

Thanks alot!!!

SickSpeedMonte

Mine says the same thing, is this something to get excited about? I dont have TeleNav.

jbrown405

I'm hoping that someone could help me out by telling me for sure that i can install a double din hed unit in my 05 merecedes c-230k.im wanting to install the clarion vx409 or kenwood ddx 512. i found the scosche dash kit but just didnt know if it only worked one certain head units. plz give me the info as soon as possible because i want to put this together for when i get back from iraq here soon.