timorgan

Hello All!

I found this picture on MB Canada's website (http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/), and I just noticed something different in it.

If you look where the radio display is, it appears as though there is a larger LED screen than usual? If you measure the length of the screen compared to the buttons for heated seats, etc. above, and compare that length to the length that we know the screen to be, it appears to be longer, and also green?! Does anyone know anything about this? Is this an older model or some such?

Just curious!

Thanks,

Tim

TimmyC230boy

No ideas here. Although it does look nice, I dont know about the green. I will keep an eye out for it.

timorgan

I think it looks really cool too!

Hopefully someone can come up with an explanation for it!

In my books, the bigger the screen, the better! It also looks like there're a dozen buttons along the bottom. What's up with that?!

Someone out there must know! With all their endless wisdom. MB-BOB, maybe? :p

Tim

MB-BOB

I wouldn't get my hopes up. This is a european model, where they offer several optional head units.

It also has the various buttons on the console to either side of the shifter, and the shifter itself appears shorter... probably the steptronic shifter. Also, it has the Parktronic module forward of the dash-top vent (the black, shallow semi-circle assembly).

No concrete knowledge here, just my 2 cents. Sorry I don't warrant your vote of confidence on this one.

Personally, I like the amber coloring of the radio face which matches all the other lighting.

timorgan

Thanks, MB-BOB! Knew you'd have something for us.

DtS

Ok, here's how it is (I think ):

The radio-unit is in fact a simpler version of the Command-system, that is offered in Europe. It's called MB-Audio 30. (There is also a in-dash CD-player available called MB-Audio 10 over here.) This Audio 30 nav system is, just like the Audio 10, made by Becker.

The shifter is the normal Auto-tranny shifter. (I believe the sequentronic is only available in the coupés and wagons). The extra button on the right side is for a engine pre-heater. The thing on the top of the dash, is indeed the parkatronic.

Ok, my guess on why the displays are green is that those pics is taken on a pre-production model. I was lucky enough to see and sit in the first official C-class in the world (maybe you didn't know, but the C-class was presented to the world on a car-show in Stockholm) and this car had all displays colored in the beautiful amber thing! But in the earliest broshures the displays sure seemed to be green.

Correct me if I'm wrong, please!

timorgan

Thanks, DTS. I found some of the options you're talking about at:

http://www.mercedes-benz.com/e/cars/...erausstatt.htm

PHYBENZ

option that is on European autos.... not available in the states...

revstriker

Well at least we have the "fancy cupholder"!!

DtS

Here are all (?) facts about the in dash CD-player that is offered in Europe. Still don't understand why the don't offer it as an option in US. Has is something to do with different frequency bands for FM-broadcasts?

And yes revstriker, I still envy all of you with fancy cup-holders

Mercedes Benz Audio 10 BE4410 / BE6021

Tuner bands:
FM 87.5 MHz - 108 MHz
AM 531 kHz - 1620 kHz
LW 153 kHz - 282 kHz
SW 5800 kHz - 6250 kHz

Station Memory:
8 in FM, 4 in MW, LW and KW.

Frequency Response:
50 Hz - 20 kHz with CD Player
30 Hz - 15 kHz on FM
50 Hz - 2.5 kHz on AM, LW, SW

Autostore:
FM, MW, LW

Amplifier output:
4 x 15 Watt

Loudspeaker Impedance:
min. 4 Ohm.

Speed Dependant volume.

Antenna:
Impedance 50 Ohm.

Telephone Mute:
Low active signal < 2 Volt.

Power Supply:
12 Volt.

Soundsystem:
Connection only for D2B Optical System.

CD Connection:
Available for Mercedes-Benz D2B and Becker Silverstone 2662.

8 cm CD's with adapter is not recommended nor guaranteed playback with recordable CD's.

CANBUS enabled.

Theft protection is handled by a unit identifier signal over the CANBUS with the vehicle (the devices have no code). This identifier is checked at each operation of the unit. If this identifier is missing, then the radio goes into the PROD lockout mode and can no longer be operated. The BE6021 is an update version of the BE4410. There are no operational or specification differences. Also available as an option: Audio 10 BE6020 cassette tuner.

Puhh, you didn't read everything, did you?

BruNo

looks just like my stereo!

hey DtS, hw do i distinguish if my radio is a BE6021 or a BE4410?

and i too envy the "fancy" 2nd front cupholder U.S. ppl enjoyyy...
hw dumb of MB to put only one front cupholder on our euro "C".

DtS

I don't know how you make this distinction. A more or less qualified guess may be that the BE6021 is made for the new C-class (since it isn't "standard shaped"). There is also a version for the E-class, wich is normally shaped (ie. rectangular). But, as I said, this is only my guess... I think there was a separete user's manual for the stereo delivered with the car. I think the correct model name is to read on that manual cover.

And about the cupholder - maybe they think we have better things to do than drink coca cola, while we drive around in our beautiful C's Kind of unfair though, I really like coca cola...

timorgan

Looks pretty nice!

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...tem=1721457658

Lynn

It is the Becker Audio APS 30. Here is some info about it. It is not for use in North America at this time, but it looks like it will be available someday.


"Becker makes an accurate and reliable system: TrafficPro. They have been supplying Mercedes-Benz radios for many years. Their MB navigation unit is called "Audio 30 APS", a single slot system, which is optional in vehicles sold outside of North America. The TrafficPro is the after-market version. "Der ultimative granatenmäßige Oberhammer" and more than 130,000 units have been sold already in Europe (early 2001). One CD covers most of Europe and with software version 4.0 dynamic traffic guidance became available, as well as much more map data. Once this system becomes available in the US (has been in beta for a year now) it will use only two CDs, one east of the Mississippi and one west of it. Another nice feature: It can play music CDs while it navigates. "

Also: http://www.soundlabsgroup.com/D2B/D2B_History.htm

I want one.

timorgan

Thanks for the info! That page has some great information.

Wish I could hook up a Nokia phone to COMAND/AUDIO system in North America

Tim

greg230

all this gazing at euro/canadian MBs makes me wonder.... do you think it would be possible to retrofit parktronic into a US coupe???

if so i expect it would be silly expensive, but i would be totally up for the challenge if i could find a shop that would do it.

more buttons and pretty lights the better!

jack230

I want one, too. I'm wondering if the American CDs for the aftermarket Becker unit (when it comes out) will work in the Audio-30.