Please don't flame me, I have spent several hours searching and I have learnt a lot but I still have a few questions before purchasing anything. I have a C32 and I would like to put in an aftermarket head unit and use the stock steering wheel controls. "Bose" is NOT written anywhere in the car so I assume I do not have it. I do not have navigation.

From what I understand I need a dash kit.... easy enough. I might need an antenna adapter.... again easy enough.

1) I have read the wiring adapter part is for a VW, could someone please confirm the one listed below is correct?

2) The adapter will run my power and 4x speakers right? I know there is an ACC mod which needs to be done to make the head unit turn on/off with the ignition.

3) Being an 2002 C32 I am guessing I need SWI-CAN to adapt the steering wheel signal? (as opposed to SWI-CAN2 which I am guessing is for later models?)

4) SWI-PS will convert that signal to one a pioneer head unit can use so this is simple enough? (For anyone else there are 4 types depending on what brand you use SWI-JACK is a common one)

5) Do I have an amplifier being NON-bose? or is the rear tray sub run straight from the head unit?

6) What is the easiest way of running the sub? Aftermarket amp and run RCA's?

These are the parts I am considering and I would like to know if they are correct. And yes I think I have to get these all from amazon, other stores I have found will not ship internationally.


Here are links to helpful info to help anyone else in the same situation.

https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class...install-2.html The posts by MarcusF on page 2 are very helpful
http://www.marcusfitzhugh.com/CLK/DIY/headunit2.html here is his writeup of installing a headunit into a bose vehicle with no wiring modifications.
https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class...ing-wheel.html short thread with useful info
http://www.pac-audio.com/productDeta...&CategoryID=29 link to pacific audio corp product details for SWI-CAN, the other adapters are all on this site.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...tructions.html details on how to remove the console on a w203.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...-images-3.html this is the giant audio thread, only page 3 has really useful stuff- good guide.

 

If you car is like the usa spec cars you have bose. Two things to check see if on the rear parcel shelf does it say bose? or check in the trunk under the parcel shelf you will see the bottom of a sub does it say bose.

 

There are no bose logo's on any of the speaker grills throughout the whole car. When I lie on my back in the trunk and look up at the parcel tray, I can see the cone of the sub which has nothing on it, it is plain black. I cannot see the other side of the sub through the speaker grill above.

Does a non-bose car have an amplifier? my searching would suggest it doesn't. Otherwise where is it kept? I have not been able to find one in the trunk.

 

Does your look like this
https://mbworld.org/forums/4288241-post4.html
if so you don't have bose if the sub is flipped the other way you have bose. If you don't have bose that is interesting since in the usa the c320 and c32 come standard with it. On such a high model car i am surprised.


https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...subwoofer.html

 

Yes that is correct, the cone of the sub faces down as per that post. My car is New Zealand new which could mean anything. I have the 6 cd changer in the glove box. My car is RHD but the sub is on the left side of the parcel tray which is as per the LHD cars. The right side has the first aid kit. Thanks for the thread, I missed it before.

So did anyone find the amp? it sounds like it comes straight from the head unit. In which case I would need a amp to run it. At least from the last picture on the last page we can see it is 4ohms which makes it aftermarket friendly.

 

I can confirm I have the two front door speakers with the high up tweeters, the two rear door speakers and the sub. I do not have a center console speaker from what I can tell.

 

you need the opposite side wiring harness, but everything else is right. you're right about the steering wheel controls, but you still need to program it. and yes, the parts are going to say "volkswagon" on them.

 

Thank you very much. So the metra "reverse adapter" I have selected is incorrect? Do I need this one? (photo from the giant audio thread)

It appears to have the speakers and the power/ground/acc swapped sides as compared to the other harness.

I have looked at the PAC website, it doesn't look too difficult to program the unit.

I hope the head unit can run the rear speakers and the sub ok. I would prefer not to have to run RCA's, power and power on through the car for an amp for the sub.

 

you're welcome. the one you have pictured is correct and the advice it gives for ACC is correct as well. do not run the factory sub off of the aftermarket head unit alone. if you want bass, you need to go the aftermarket route. do something small.

 

I have a 2002 c32 and I do not have Bose logos anywhere on my speakers, but I know I have it. In the trunk of the car on your driver side behind the carpet, you will find the Bose amp. Is your fuse box on the passenger side? I used an aftermarket amp and used the factory speaker wires to run my speakers. I cut the plug from the amp and extended the lined to run them into the amp. You may need to run those wires from the back of the car to your headunit if you do have the amp.

I didn't use a harness when I did mine I jus tapped the appropriate wires for my headunit. In order to get a switched line, I tapped the cigarette lighter wire. Pm me if you have any questions.

 

I am not looking for much bass. I have gone overboard in previous cars with a 12" sub or two and high power amps. If there is a factory amp (I need to have a better look in the trunk) I will run it. If there isn't I might use a small 2 channel fusion amp to run the factory sub unless I blow it up.... in which case I have no idea what I will do, maybe a slim 10" sub in a small sealed box under the parcel tray.

 

I created a mold for my fiberglass box and I hope to have it finished in a few weeks. Just been procrastinating, going to use a shallow mount 10"

[IMG][/IMG]

 

In your trunk, there should be at least two access panels for taillight bulbs, fuse box, emergency kit, etc,... The passenger-side taillight access panel should have 3 sets of connectors (at least this is the case with the CL203). The connectors are as follow:
- fiber optic connector (for AMP)
- DB25 connector
- Coaxial RG-58 cable connector

I'm not really sure what the DB25 connector and Coaxial RG-58 connectors are for,... does anybody know? I'm guessing Sat Radio, or CD Changer (if mounted in rear), or Subwoofer,... maybe RG-58 cable for backup camera? Or you could at least tap into it for a backup camera instead of running wires the length of the interior of the car.

Tw2, which HeadUnit are you getting,... judging from the links you provided, you're thinking a Pioneer AVIC,... some of which have decent built in AMPS, so you may not need a separate AMP.

Why that one as opposed to this PAC SWI-PS
http://www.amazon.com/SWI-PS-Steerin...9647940&sr=1-3

For PAC SWI-PS & SWI-CAN,... did you also consider the Metra Axxess ASWC, a lot of feedback says they work better than the PAC SWI_CAN & SWI-PS especially since its plug and play without having to program it.
NOTE: Metra Axxess ASWC does NOT provide vehicle reverse for backup camera or speed information for more accuratte Navi/GPS in tunnels
Metra Axxess ASWC Universal Steering Wheel Control Interface (Black) by Metra
http://www.amazon.com/Metra-ASWC-Uni...9647940&sr=1-4
http://www.axxessinterface.com/vehicleguide_new.aspx

You might also need a Radio Pull out tool
http://www.amazon.com/Scosche-Dt2B-R...9649223&sr=1-1

 

Thanks for the help.

 

>>For PAC SWI-PS & SWI-CAN,... did you also consider the Metra Axxess ASWC, a lot of feedback says they work better than the PAC SWI_CAN & SWI-PS especially since its plug and play without having to program it.
>>NOTE: Metra Axxess ASWC does NOT provide vehicle reverse for backup camera or speed information for more accuratte Navi/GPS in tunnels
>>Metra Axxess ASWC Universal Steering Wheel Control Interface (Black) by Metra
>>http://www.amazon.com/Metra-ASWC-Uni...9647940&sr=1-4
>>http://www.axxessinterface.com/vehicleguide_new.aspx

>I did not consider it, only because I didn't know much about it and can only find a couple of worthy mentions on the forum. I take it, it replaces both the SWICAN and SWIPS? I might give it a go. Programming does not bother me, it seems the ASWC can be programmed if you want anyway. Retaining factory functionality is important to me.

Yes the (1 unit) Metra Axxess ASWC would provide you with steering wheel control as does the (2 unit) PAC solution which would require both SWI-PS & SWI-CAN.

The drawback of the Metra Axxess ASWC is that it does NOT provide vehicle reverse for backup camera or speed information for more accurate Navi/GPS in tunnels. Thus if you don't plan on using these functionalities or your head units don't have them then you should be better off with the Metra Axxess ASWC which is basically a plug and play unit (still need about 30 seconds to initialize).

If you go with the Metra Axxess ASWC and decides you need the vehicle reverse for backup camera or speed information for more accurate Navi/GPS then you could still connect these wires,... just that you'll do the more difficult direct connections instead of just tapping into the CANBUS (a la PAC 2 unit solution).


>>You might also need a Radio Pull out tool
>>http://www.amazon.com/Scosche-Dt2B-R...9649223&sr=1-1

>Thanks I did not know about this one.

You would only need it IF your current Mercedes Head Unit has two little slits on the front faceplate (bottom left and bottom right) for those hooks to pull them out. Some do, some don't. You'll have to examine the bottom of your headunit faceplate for those slits. Which Mercedes head unit do you currently have?

 

Not sure, took a photo.

I never plan to add GPS/navigation or a reversing camera.

 

I cannot see the other side of the sub through the speaker grill above.

 

http://www.pioneer.eu/eur/products/2...131/index.html

if you can get your hands on one of these, then done deal. you get everything minus the bluetooth option.

 

Thanks, I had actually found that in my searching however I am not sure I would ever be able to find one.

 

Your head unit doesn't appear to have those two little slits in the bottom corners,... thus you shouldn't need the radio pull out tool

 

Excellent, thanks for the help.

 

Purchased parts. Amazon did not ship all items internationally so I got this combo on ebay. Hopefully it is ok, it looks like all the parts are metra.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/C-CLASS-RADI...item53e8b29054
I then ordered the Axxess Metra ASWC from ebay also. Now to wait 1-2 weeks. I can do a install guide/ write up if anyone is interested.