C230 2005 Comand questions
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Asuncion, Paraguay
2013 C250 Sport Plus Coupe & 2005 C230 Sport Sedan
C230 2005 Comand questions
Hello everybody, I am new here. I just got yesterday a C230 2005 with US Comand, 32K miles, pretty good shape. I am in Paraguay, South America. I am a member of this forum since 1 month now and was reading many threads. I finally decided to post my first thread, so I have a few questions regarding the car:
1) Is there any possibility to make the navigation work here? May I use at least the navigation system to store way points?
2) My car does not have the Harman Kardon system. Does this HU (Alpine MSC II) has line level outputs so can I use an external amplifier and new speakers. Or can I use a speaker level to line level converter? How many audio channels can this HU handle, 2, 4, 6?
3) As it does not have the HK system it also doesnt have the CD Changer. I would like to use Dension Gateway 500 to connect my iPod but I read that the Dension should be conected to the CD Changer. Will that be a problem? Will I need to add a cable to conect the Dension? How difficult will that be?
4) I want to buy the genuine Bluetooth adapter to use Hands Free telephone system but I dont find the microphone in the car, where should it be? Maybe the car hasnt it?
Those are my questions for now, I will apreciate any answers.
Thanks
1) Is there any possibility to make the navigation work here? May I use at least the navigation system to store way points?
2) My car does not have the Harman Kardon system. Does this HU (Alpine MSC II) has line level outputs so can I use an external amplifier and new speakers. Or can I use a speaker level to line level converter? How many audio channels can this HU handle, 2, 4, 6?
3) As it does not have the HK system it also doesnt have the CD Changer. I would like to use Dension Gateway 500 to connect my iPod but I read that the Dension should be conected to the CD Changer. Will that be a problem? Will I need to add a cable to conect the Dension? How difficult will that be?
4) I want to buy the genuine Bluetooth adapter to use Hands Free telephone system but I dont find the microphone in the car, where should it be? Maybe the car hasnt it?
Those are my questions for now, I will apreciate any answers.
Thanks
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: NYC
2012 C300 4Matic
Hello everybody, I am new here. I just got yesterday a C230 2005 with US Comand, 32K miles, pretty good shape. I am in Paraguay, South America. I am a member of this forum since 1 month now and was reading many threads. I finally decided to post my first thread, so I have a few questions regarding the car:
1) Is there any possibility to make the navigation work here? May I use at least the navigation system to store way points?
You need to search. Yes you should be able to hack together a new custom nav disk to get full functionality.
2) My car does not have the Harman Kardon system. Does this HU (Alpine MSC II) has line level outputs so can I use an external amplifier and new speakers. Or can I use a speaker level to line level converter? How many audio channels can this HU handle, 2, 4, 6?
No line level outputs. Converter will work - I believe the HU outputs 4 separate channels. Tweeters are wired into the front channels for a total of 6 speakers stock.
3) As it does not have the HK system it also doesnt have the CD Changer. I would like to use Dension Gateway 500 to connect my iPod but I read that the Dension should be conected to the CD Changer. Will that be a problem? Will I need to add a cable to conect the Dension? How difficult will that be?
Dension Gateway should work fine without a CD changer - but I'm not 100% sure so do some more reading!
4) I want to buy the genuine Bluetooth adapter to use Hands Free telephone system but I dont find the microphone in the car, where should it be? Maybe the car hasnt it?
IF your car is "pre-wired for phone" the microphone array is under the rear view mirror. If prewired you will need to following to get the bluetooth phone system working: MHI module, Bluetooth puck, contact plate. Search eBay for those parts.
Those are my questions for now, I will apreciate any answers.
Thanks
1) Is there any possibility to make the navigation work here? May I use at least the navigation system to store way points?
You need to search. Yes you should be able to hack together a new custom nav disk to get full functionality.
2) My car does not have the Harman Kardon system. Does this HU (Alpine MSC II) has line level outputs so can I use an external amplifier and new speakers. Or can I use a speaker level to line level converter? How many audio channels can this HU handle, 2, 4, 6?
No line level outputs. Converter will work - I believe the HU outputs 4 separate channels. Tweeters are wired into the front channels for a total of 6 speakers stock.
3) As it does not have the HK system it also doesnt have the CD Changer. I would like to use Dension Gateway 500 to connect my iPod but I read that the Dension should be conected to the CD Changer. Will that be a problem? Will I need to add a cable to conect the Dension? How difficult will that be?
Dension Gateway should work fine without a CD changer - but I'm not 100% sure so do some more reading!
4) I want to buy the genuine Bluetooth adapter to use Hands Free telephone system but I dont find the microphone in the car, where should it be? Maybe the car hasnt it?
IF your car is "pre-wired for phone" the microphone array is under the rear view mirror. If prewired you will need to following to get the bluetooth phone system working: MHI module, Bluetooth puck, contact plate. Search eBay for those parts.
Those are my questions for now, I will apreciate any answers.
Thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,078
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From: NYC
2012 C300 4Matic
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 17
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From: Asuncion, Paraguay
2013 C250 Sport Plus Coupe & 2005 C230 Sport Sedan
Hello acr2001, thank you for your answers. Here is a pic of the owners manual, it says that the mic should be at the top of the rear view mirror. My car doesnt have anything there. But like you said in the bottom of the rear view mirror there are like 4 little holes, I am confused. I am pretty sure that my car has the phone pre-wiring, I found a thick cable in the center console.
Regarding MP3s, this Comand does read MP3s and WMAs from CDs, I already tried that and works very well. What I didnt try is MP3s burned in DVDs, that was my question. I will try later burning MP3s into a DVD to see if it works.
Regarding MP3s, this Comand does read MP3s and WMAs from CDs, I already tried that and works very well. What I didnt try is MP3s burned in DVDs, that was my question. I will try later burning MP3s into a DVD to see if it works.
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,295
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From: VA
THE C350
Hello acr2001, thank you for your answers. Here is a pic of the owners manual, it says that the mic should be at the top of the rear view mirror. My car doesnt have anything there. But like you said in the bottom of the rear view mirror there are like 4 little holes, I am confused. I am pretty sure that my car has the phone pre-wiring, I found a thick cable in the center console.
Regarding MP3s, this Comand does read MP3s and WMAs from CDs, I already tried that and works very well. What I didnt try is MP3s burned in DVDs, that was my question. I will try later burning MP3s into a DVD to see if it works.
Regarding MP3s, this Comand does read MP3s and WMAs from CDs, I already tried that and works very well. What I didnt try is MP3s burned in DVDs, that was my question. I will try later burning MP3s into a DVD to see if it works.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,078
Likes: 4
From: NYC
2012 C300 4Matic
Hello acr2001, thank you for your answers. Here is a pic of the owners manual, it says that the mic should be at the top of the rear view mirror. My car doesnt have anything there. But like you said in the bottom of the rear view mirror there are like 4 little holes, I am confused. I am pretty sure that my car has the phone pre-wiring, I found a thick cable in the center console.
Regarding MP3s, this Comand does read MP3s and WMAs from CDs, I already tried that and works very well. What I didnt try is MP3s burned in DVDs, that was my question. I will try later burning MP3s into a DVD to see if it works.
Regarding MP3s, this Comand does read MP3s and WMAs from CDs, I already tried that and works very well. What I didnt try is MP3s burned in DVDs, that was my question. I will try later burning MP3s into a DVD to see if it works.
Or your car isn't a 2005?
I just checked my 05 owners manual and the microphone array under the mirror is properly labeled with an updated illustration. There are still other pictures in the manual that show the old microphone because Mercedes neglected to update all the illustrations.The 2005 US comand unit does not read MP3s or WMA files from CDs. Can you take a picture of the comand unit you have? It could be a Euro unit, or a 2006/ 2007 comand unit. If the OK button / joystick on the right side of the unit has a bowl like indentation on the front, then it is the newer comand unit. If it is completely flat, it's the 05 MCS II.
That thick wire in the center console is indeed for the phone system prewiring. You should also have a cellular antenna on the top of your rear window. The top of your console should have a separate smaller console that opens to the side. The holes under the mirror should not be little, they should looks more like 4 circular vents.
Last edited by acr2001; Jan 3, 2010 at 04:07 AM.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: NYC
2012 C300 4Matic
I tried to find a photo... no good...
Vehicles that are prewired for phone have that upper center console. When you open the lower part of the center console and look towards the back you can see a mesh covering a bunch of wires that go into the upper console. Those wires are there as part of the pre-wiring for the handset or bluetooth contact plate as well as for the tele-aid buttons that go in there if you have tele-aid.
Since you have a pre-facelift vehicle I'm not sure if it's different from what I described.
Vehicles that are prewired for phone have that upper center console. When you open the lower part of the center console and look towards the back you can see a mesh covering a bunch of wires that go into the upper console. Those wires are there as part of the pre-wiring for the handset or bluetooth contact plate as well as for the tele-aid buttons that go in there if you have tele-aid.
Since you have a pre-facelift vehicle I'm not sure if it's different from what I described.
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,295
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From: VA
THE C350
I tried to find a photo... no good...
Vehicles that are prewired for phone have that upper center console. When you open the lower part of the center console and look towards the back you can see a mesh covering a bunch of wires that go into the upper console. Those wires are there as part of the pre-wiring for the handset or bluetooth contact plate as well as for the tele-aid buttons that go in there if you have tele-aid.
Since you have a pre-facelift vehicle I'm not sure if it's different from what I described.
Vehicles that are prewired for phone have that upper center console. When you open the lower part of the center console and look towards the back you can see a mesh covering a bunch of wires that go into the upper console. Those wires are there as part of the pre-wiring for the handset or bluetooth contact plate as well as for the tele-aid buttons that go in there if you have tele-aid.
Since you have a pre-facelift vehicle I'm not sure if it's different from what I described.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 17
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From: Asuncion, Paraguay
2013 C250 Sport Plus Coupe & 2005 C230 Sport Sedan
Maybe I have the wrong owners manual, I downloaded it from mbusa.com, it is supposed to be the manual of 2005. I dont have the original manual, just the digital copy. I have the array in the bottom of the rear view mirror, here is a pic:
Pic of the "Thick Cable"
Pic of the antenna (I thought it was for the radio ???)
Here are pics of the COMAND, this car was originally purchased in California, so I think the COMAND should be the US version. The functions are in spanish because I changed the language in the configuration. There you can see a MP3 CD playing Sarah Brightman. Where it says "Carpeta" means "Folder".
Pic of the "Thick Cable"
Pic of the antenna (I thought it was for the radio ???)
Here are pics of the COMAND, this car was originally purchased in California, so I think the COMAND should be the US version. The functions are in spanish because I changed the language in the configuration. There you can see a MP3 CD playing Sarah Brightman. Where it says "Carpeta" means "Folder".
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: NYC
2012 C300 4Matic
Yep, that's the microphone array.
The radio antennas are built into the rear windshield - they are the two "defroster" lines that are going vertical. That stubby antenna is there only for the cell phone and for tele-aid if you had that option.
You are definitely pre-wired for phone.
That is not a 2005 comand unit. It is 2006 or newer - if your vehicle is a 2005 that version of the comand unit didn't come stock.
The radio antennas are built into the rear windshield - they are the two "defroster" lines that are going vertical. That stubby antenna is there only for the cell phone and for tele-aid if you had that option.
You are definitely pre-wired for phone.
That is not a 2005 comand unit. It is 2006 or newer - if your vehicle is a 2005 that version of the comand unit didn't come stock.
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 546
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From: Cumberland, RI U.S.A.
2005 C230WZ SS Capri Blue/Ash
Papa.... by any chance, could you tell me what build date your C230 is? If you open your driver's door, on the door pillar, there's a black and white sticker with a barcode. On that sticker, there's a date. Could you let us know what that date is?
Thanks,
Cintoman
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 17
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From: Asuncion, Paraguay
2013 C250 Sport Plus Coupe & 2005 C230 Sport Sedan
I think I am a lucky guy then 
. Build date is 02/05. I also have the original navigation DVD. The DVD case says 2005 C & CLK but the year printed in the DVD itself is 2006. (That is weird).
I have seen others C230 2005 with COMAND and the head unit looks exactly like mine, but I dont know if they read MP3s.
I have tried a DVD burned with MP3s but didnt work, DVD videos didnt work either.
. Build date is 02/05. I also have the original navigation DVD. The DVD case says 2005 C & CLK but the year printed in the DVD itself is 2006. (That is weird).I have seen others C230 2005 with COMAND and the head unit looks exactly like mine, but I dont know if they read MP3s.
I have tried a DVD burned with MP3s but didnt work, DVD videos didnt work either.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1
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From: Hoover, AL
2005 C230
What's the difference between the MH1 module and the Bluetooth puck
Hello,
I recently bought an 05 C230, I was reading this post about converting the standard phone system to a bluetooth system. ACR2001, you mentioned that you would need the contact plate, MH1 module, and the bluetooth puck. I searched ebay and found both the MH1 module and the bluetooth puck. They look exactly the same, what is the difference between the 2? Do you only need one or the other? I couldn't really find anything on ebay for the Contact plate.
Any thoughts?
thanks.
I recently bought an 05 C230, I was reading this post about converting the standard phone system to a bluetooth system. ACR2001, you mentioned that you would need the contact plate, MH1 module, and the bluetooth puck. I searched ebay and found both the MH1 module and the bluetooth puck. They look exactly the same, what is the difference between the 2? Do you only need one or the other? I couldn't really find anything on ebay for the Contact plate.
Any thoughts?
thanks.
