bagwell

I bought 6 CD changer from AUTOCLASS and have the changer/bracket/cable ready to go. My dealer wants $125 and surely it can't be that tough...right ????

thanks for any input !

LA Benz Driver

Do you have Comand? If so you will have to bring it in. However, I am not sure about non Comand systems.

newMBz

Why need to bring it in for dealer install if you have the command system? Any answers? Thanks !!

awiner

If you have COMAND you will need to have the computer reprogrammed via the Star Diag system in order for the CD Changer to interact through COMAND correctly. It should be a 5-10 minute thing. I woundn't pay more than a 30 min shop labor bill. If you are close with your service advisor, I have been told by some they got this re-program done for free.

mmutlu

I think Pete has successfully installed it with no dealer "initilization". I assume everything is working fine. Any updates on that Pete?

awiner

I have heard stories about swapping the fiber cables to make itwork, however, I would still have it porgrammed correctly if need be. The fiber loops needs to be in a particular sequence for the D2B protocol MB uses.

mmutlu

I am still waiting for Pete's technical documentation. I think his "plug'n play" CD player did not seem to act up.

awiner

Does Pete have COMAND ? The re-program is only for COMAND equipped vehicles.

mbtech208

Not entirely true Adam. Any Benz with the fiber-optic D2B ring has to be programmed when introducing a new component into the ring. this includes non-COMAND equipped vehicles.

Buellwinkle

What I've read in older posts and from the Becker Autosounds website is that if you hook up the CD changer and it's not programmed in by the dealer it will work initially but will throw error codes everytime you use it. Once the error codes reach a threshold the CD changer will stop working with a message saying something to the effect that the CD cartridge is bad. This usually happens in 2-4 months depending on how many times you listen to the CD changer. If this is true you will have to bring the car in and have the problem diagnosed and corrected and you know they are going to try to take advantage of you. So the money you save now you may have to pay later.

My biggest hesitation was in removing the dash panel, vents and center console to get the radio out. I felt that I would have damaged it somehow or will not fit together as well as before and it would have cost me way more than $123 to make it right again.

bagwell

how does the CD changer get power ?

thru the radio or ?

Buellwinkle

It gets power from the CD Changer power connector that's buried behind the glove box. You'll have to dig it out.

Zeppelin

Plugging in the fiberoptics and making it work is not the hard part. It's tearing the dash apart that requires the right tools to keep from scratching the vents and panels. All dealers want $ 120-140 too install, which is a rip off considering they can do it in 45 minutes.

Darnac

I have installed the CD changer myself on my 02 240/6 and it was no picnic. Save yourself the grief and spend the $100 - $125 to have the dealer do it. The installation requires the removal of: center vent, upper console trim, lower console trim and ashtray. The changer than must be connected and the fiber optic system "initialized" to recognize the new component in the loop. If you have command, initialization is easier and can be a DIY situation. I was not so lucky If anybody has any specific questions I can answer on this board. No special tools are required unless you consider the smelling salts to revive you when you see your brand new baby torn apart.

mbtech208

Oh you guys, it's not THAT bad! Yeah, you have to take some things apart, so what? The hardest thing I've found is trying to find where they hid the 3-pin power connector for the changer. It seems to be in a different place on every car. Usually it's buried underneath the carpet on the right side of the center console, under the dash.

Darnac

Yes, it is not that bad but not too many people are rushing out to do it. I think part of the problem is no one to my knowledge has posted (internet in general or forum) detailed instructions specific to the C-class. This may be a good time for an MBWorld forum member to begin the changer installation process and we could walk them through it and inform all as we go along. Its really is not that bad with the proper guidance. (Not unlike everything else in life.)