OEM Comand GPS system questions. Can I even do this?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 22
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2005 Mercedes c230
OEM Comand GPS system questions. Can I even do this?
Hey guys! First post!
I just bought a 2005 c230. I'm so excited right now!
Okay, so the only thing I wish it had was the gps system. So i was looking to see if I can take my stock radio out and easily plug and play the OEM gps in. I would be doing this myself.
Couple issues though and i hope you guys can help me. I searched the forum to find answers, but ended up getting worried this may not even work. It seems some say it does and others say it won't. Before i put any money into this I just wanted to be sure.
Can i use a Euro model and still use the US maps and nav, radio stations, ect? Anyone ever tried doing this?
I've been looking on UK ebay and found some, but I have no idea if it's the exact model number I need to fit in my year of car (2005). Is there a general model number? is it w203?
I read i would only need to buy the GPS antenna and the unit?
For those who have installed this themselves. How hard is the install?
Will the unit install okay if I have a CD changer?
Oh and I pick the car up in a week I never checked whether it had the upgraded speakers or not (Harman Kardon). Will the GPS work on either system?
Guys, thank you so very much for any help you can give me. Please let me know if i missed a thread that answers this stuff already.
I just bought a 2005 c230. I'm so excited right now!
Okay, so the only thing I wish it had was the gps system. So i was looking to see if I can take my stock radio out and easily plug and play the OEM gps in. I would be doing this myself. Couple issues though and i hope you guys can help me. I searched the forum to find answers, but ended up getting worried this may not even work. It seems some say it does and others say it won't. Before i put any money into this I just wanted to be sure.
Can i use a Euro model and still use the US maps and nav, radio stations, ect? Anyone ever tried doing this?
I've been looking on UK ebay and found some, but I have no idea if it's the exact model number I need to fit in my year of car (2005). Is there a general model number? is it w203?
I read i would only need to buy the GPS antenna and the unit?
For those who have installed this themselves. How hard is the install?
Will the unit install okay if I have a CD changer?
Oh and I pick the car up in a week I never checked whether it had the upgraded speakers or not (Harman Kardon). Will the GPS work on either system?
Guys, thank you so very much for any help you can give me. Please let me know if i missed a thread that answers this stuff already.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 575
Likes: 1
More or less, yes. You would also need a nav disk.
Yes but depending on if the previous owner had the CD changer or not, you may have to reprogram your head unit to look for one (requires a visit to someone with Star Diagnose -- usually the dealership).
Yes but depending on if the previous owner had the harman kardon or bose amplifier or not, you may have to reprogram your head unit to look for one (requires a visit to someone with Star Diagnose -- usually the dealership).
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
2005 Mercedes c230
Nick thank you so much for the help! This forum is the best!
I'll make sure I get a US version for sure. I was going to get one from Ebay, but I wonder if I should check my local delaer for a new one just in case. I haven't found a vender that sells one online, but I'll keep looking.
Thanks again for all the help!
I'll make sure I get a US version for sure. I was going to get one from Ebay, but I wonder if I should check my local delaer for a new one just in case. I haven't found a vender that sells one online, but I'll keep looking.
Thanks again for all the help!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,848
Likes: 15
From: Orange County
2005 C Wagon (No snickering please!)
The radio of European units will not work. The AM frequencies are spaced 9KHz apart in Europe, and the USA is 10KHz. The FM bands are on different frequencies. You cannot convert a European unit to USA tuning.
The European NAV cannot read USA discs. The data is from NAVTEC and a DOS gennie can convert the US files to land on a Euro system, but it is not worth all the bother.
The antenna (GPS) needs to be installed under the dash pad above the instrument cluster.
There are units on Ebay that look very similar to the one used in W203 dash, bit it does not fit and the inclination sensor is different.
In almost every case a dealer or someone with a STAR diagnostics system will be needed to set the version coding for your car. 2005 and up cars have Media Orientated System Transport (MOST) fiber optic connections for signal connections of various audio components. Older D2B NAV units will not work in your car.
My suggestion is to contact MBenzNL.com and inquire about a unit for your VIN that will fit and have all the proper parts.
I appreciate people who like to have an OEM factory system, it certainly looks nice and displays the route on the NAV unit and on the MFD (Multi-function Display) in the instrument cluster. A Tom-Tom with a bean bag sitting on the dash, however, has better maps, more POI (points of interest), and live traffic.
The European NAV cannot read USA discs. The data is from NAVTEC and a DOS gennie can convert the US files to land on a Euro system, but it is not worth all the bother.
The antenna (GPS) needs to be installed under the dash pad above the instrument cluster.
There are units on Ebay that look very similar to the one used in W203 dash, bit it does not fit and the inclination sensor is different.
In almost every case a dealer or someone with a STAR diagnostics system will be needed to set the version coding for your car. 2005 and up cars have Media Orientated System Transport (MOST) fiber optic connections for signal connections of various audio components. Older D2B NAV units will not work in your car.
My suggestion is to contact MBenzNL.com and inquire about a unit for your VIN that will fit and have all the proper parts.
I appreciate people who like to have an OEM factory system, it certainly looks nice and displays the route on the NAV unit and on the MFD (Multi-function Display) in the instrument cluster. A Tom-Tom with a bean bag sitting on the dash, however, has better maps, more POI (points of interest), and live traffic.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
2005 Mercedes c230
Hey guys!,
So i got my new car ( 2005 c230 Kompressor with a Harman/Kardan and CD-Changer)! I want to get a navigation unit installed in it. I have to look at getting one through Ebay though. I can't order one through Mercedes Benz. (discontinued)
The funny thing is the parts manager at the dealer said it was impossible to put one in unless it came from the factory? Eh!? This is on a 2005 c230 Kompressor with a Harman/Kardan and CD-Changer.
I forgot a few questions I wanted to ask if you guys can help.
Since I have a 2005 c230 can I put any w203 nav unit from 2004-2007? I just want to make sure before I start bidding on one since it's alot of money.
What's the part number I should check to make sure this is a USA version of the nav unit? (I'm sure this is somewhere on here I couldn't find it)
Do i need any special harnesses to connect it to the car? Or am i good to go with just the unit?
Since I'm buying one off of EBAY is there anything I should check or make sure of before buying? I know this is a general quesiton, but since it's pretty expensive I'm really worried I'm going to get screwed. I hope paypal will protect me from getting stuck with a broken unit or wrong unit.
Oh last thing. Can you get this Star programmed fairly easily? I'm worried my dealer won't do it for me. Wouldn't know what to do if they denied doing the work.
This forum is the best and you guys rock. Seriously, I appreciate any help/advice you guys have!
So i got my new car ( 2005 c230 Kompressor with a Harman/Kardan and CD-Changer)! I want to get a navigation unit installed in it. I have to look at getting one through Ebay though. I can't order one through Mercedes Benz. (discontinued)
The funny thing is the parts manager at the dealer said it was impossible to put one in unless it came from the factory? Eh!? This is on a 2005 c230 Kompressor with a Harman/Kardan and CD-Changer.
I forgot a few questions I wanted to ask if you guys can help.
Since I have a 2005 c230 can I put any w203 nav unit from 2004-2007? I just want to make sure before I start bidding on one since it's alot of money.
What's the part number I should check to make sure this is a USA version of the nav unit? (I'm sure this is somewhere on here I couldn't find it)
Do i need any special harnesses to connect it to the car? Or am i good to go with just the unit?
Since I'm buying one off of EBAY is there anything I should check or make sure of before buying? I know this is a general quesiton, but since it's pretty expensive I'm really worried I'm going to get screwed. I hope paypal will protect me from getting stuck with a broken unit or wrong unit.
Oh last thing. Can you get this Star programmed fairly easily? I'm worried my dealer won't do it for me. Wouldn't know what to do if they denied doing the work.
This forum is the best and you guys rock. Seriously, I appreciate any help/advice you guys have!
Last edited by Grey Rabbit; Jun 21, 2011 at 02:24 PM.
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