That's what I feared, but I will hopefully see/buy the car tomorrow so I won't know until then. It is not a deal breaker, but I was hoping to get some sort of iPod playing in the car. It looks like there are really no options, but I will look into having somebody soldering the aux wires in.

There's also an option of a bluetooth cassette adapter for a cleaner look (and sound perhaps)...

How do you think the sound will compare to an AUX cable input? From what I read, my head unit would need some work done to it in order to accept an AUX cable.

I Found this cassette adapter on Amazon (comes from radioshack) but I am really skeptical at this point based on the reviews. I also found a couple of FM transmitters, which would be my absolute last resort.


Here is a somewhat nice looking FM transmitter with Bluetooth built in as well.

I use an inexpensive 3.5mm tape adapter with a bluetooth dongle/adapter/receiver connected (specific one I use is the Samsung HS3000, but you can get much less expensive ones that'll serve the same purpose) and there is no drop-off on my sound quality. Oddly enough, on the w211 I bought, the MMI to 3.5mm cable that I purchased doesn't quite give as good of sound input. To compensate for that, I purchased this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/271671819084?lpid=82. I purchased the less expensive one ($29.99) and it really does amplify the sound output quite a 'bit, for bluetooth streaming. I didn't need it for the w203, but for those that have the Aux cable setup, but wanted to do bluetooth streaming (without losing sound quality), I'd highly recommend this. There are other "headphone amplifiers" in the market that might do the trick, but I saw a youtube video using the sound blaster and since it was a passive setup, I didn't want to go for a less expensive amplifier, knowing that this would likely work flawlessly.

I prefer Android, so I also have proclip mount setup for my tablet and it works perfectly. I almost prefer using that, over having steering wheel controls for the tracks, because the music player I use as gesture control to go back and forth on tracks. I never have to look down, just swype left or right on the screen.

I'd stay far away from the FM transmitters. I've tried almost all of them and they are nowhere near as reliable as the tape adapter (for those that actually do have the tape adapter) with a bluetooth dongle/adapter/receiver.

The soldering into the radio internals is quite easy and the sound is really good. It's really the best option for the bose system 203 to use your ipod. The directions floating around here are very helpful. If you don't have the bose system, an aftermarket head unit is an easy fit and they all have aux inputs.

I have Bose fiber optics, so it was a pain for me to integrate anything aftermarket but I now have my android tablet mounted inside my dash permanently as my headunit and everything runs through the bose system and sounds great. (for a stock system anyways)

I will have the bose, as I hope to buy a 2003 CLK500 this evening.

For the time being I am going to use a bluetooth adapter I mentioned earlier, and hopefully I can find someone to solder the AUX function into the radio at a later date.

I will let you know how it goes! The radioshack bluetooth cassette adapter is getting some pretty decent reviews

Update- The bluetooth cassette adapter is junky! Very low volume and it is not worth $50.

I am going to try to have a friend of mine solder the aux input, and then he will help me hardwire it into the car's power source. I do not understand much of it, but he did it on his 2006 BMW and the sound is amazing (for an AUX input setup)

It is basically a setup including these items
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-e60-e63-5-series-6-series-AUX-auxiliary-cable-65120153502-Iphone-Ipod-/291180172355?vxp=mtr

Hmm, that's kind of expensive, and it's only for iDevices. But then again you get the charging capability.
If you want to be able to connect anything with a mini-jack, just buy a minijack cable for $5, cut one end and solder that to the HU.

Its under $50 for the set. It won't break the bank, and it will have superior sound and charging capability (I only use my iphone/ipod anyways so this is perfect for me)

He can wire it into the cubby area or in the armrest

I will let you know how it goes, as I hope it is successful!

i need to know if any part from the above could be compatible with my C240 2001

A203440 1808
A203540 6107
A203440 5005

Guys I have an older version of the Audio 20 on my W211 E270 CDI and wanted to solder an aux input to the CD input on the circuit board. Can anyone identify the input for CD audio on this chip board for me? I've encircled what I think are the CD input connections.




I wanted to try to hardwire an aux cable onto it board before going for the aux-cassette option..

Hi

Just wondered if anyone could help?
I have post facelift 2005 C220. Today tried to look for "hidden" aux plug and found this so far:








It doesnt look exactly like aux plug which suppose to be white. Any ideas what it could be?

Thanks.

Hello there, I'm not sure if your car even came with that since you seem to be in a right-hand drive market but if the plug was there then you are looking too far back. You need to remove the kick panel located forward of the one shown in your pictures. Good luck!

Thank you for a prompt reply. Which kick panel did you mean? Is that the one under a glove compartment? Also If i press CDC button longer i get a message AUX input active which makes me think there is an AUX cable somewhere. Correct me if i am wrong.

Yes, think of it this way... The iPod/aux cable comes out of the side of the glove box and "hides" into the panel immediately next to it and not down where you are looking at. It's the panel covering the door hinges, the plastic panel your feet hit when you are sitting in the car with the door closed, hence the name "kick panel". The fact that you get the "aux input active" message is a good thing. It means you have the white plug... You're just looking in the wrong place. Good luck!

Thanks. Kick panel wasn't difficult to remove (partly)





Seems like i found it. I was surprised to see that its coming from the back of the car, not from a head unit. Though only small part is visible so it may turn around at some point.

Any ideas on how to find out a part number for AUX cable? VIN: WDB2032082F766260
I came across A2035406107 and A2034401808 on the forum. Will try a dealer tomorrow and see what they say.

Success! You're halfway there! What market are you in? Part numbers are different in different countries for the same thing... Again, good luck with your project!

Oh, i didn't realise that. Will speak to the main dealer. I am UK based.
Anyway, thanks for your help.

Success. Cable was cheaper than expected, £14. Thanks for your assistance.

Hello
I Have a 2005 S430. When checking for the Aux plug all I found were the plugs in the pictures. Am I looking in the right spot?

Thanks in advance

Can you provide some pictures and any tips? I am planning to do similar this weekend using a nexus 7 tablet in my 2005 w203, replacing the factory dvd nav.

On a side note I'll be selling the factory nav plus cd changer if anymore is interested.

Hey folks, how come when i hold on CDC it says Aux input available or something like that and i checked for the aux cable and it wasnt there i mean its not connected?

Do you mean the harness is not there in the kick panel/door sill, or the aux port in the glove box is not there?

The harness is there but the aux port is not, however when i hold CDC, it says aux active , hows that even possible?!

The harness is there means you can utilize AUX in in the radio. It is pre-wired and programmed to accept aux in. You just need to buy the aux jack for $40. But if you were to connect some audio wires directly to harness, it would play no problem. People have done that.