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According to my local dealer here, MB USA is now not going to offer iPod accessories on c300/c350 without Multimedia package. Don't know if this is true or not ...

Anyone have the ipod accessories without the multimedia package hooked up?

Does the ipod songlist comes out on your dashboard and also your center console? Can you change the ipod songs through streering wheel? How's the sound quality?

stealtheo

Do not know about it will be offered without MM. I was told only with MM

Songlist, both on the flip and dash.

QQQ

That decision if true makes no sense.

rocketchris

I got my iPod kit installed yesterday.

The songs / playlists show on the instrument cluster, not on the center dash screen. center screen only shows 'aux input' then all the ipod controls are for the driver only controlled via the steering wheel.

Sound Quality:
I have a 3rd generation iPod. I can hear the hard drive noise through the car sound system when I dial up a new song. the NAND flash based players wouldn't have this obv. Haven't tested it with a newer iPod.

Also, the sound level is much quieter than the CD. Like the aux input isn't calibrated correctly to the line output of the iPod. When you switch from ipod back to CD, the CD blows your eardrums out because you had to turn the ipod volume all the way up.

anyone else experiencing this?

berenyi

the reason they deleted the iPod kit without the MM pkg is because of the input level issues (as mentioned above...i.e. you have to crank it to get decent volume and then go deaf when you go back to CD).

it's still a smaller issue with the MM pkg....but it's much worse on the base h/u.

rocketchris

Just a follow up here:

I had my C300 in for it's 3000 mile check-up and I complained about this again.
They installed an ipod amplifier booster. it works great now. part # spo 204 870 39 94

micropower99

Hey I'm having that same problem (the iPod sound is much lower than the CD) so I'm going to try to get them to install the ipod amplifier booster, hopefully it's available in canada. On the side note does anyone know when the first service is suppose to be done in canadian C300's or C350's? My service booklet says the first should be done at 20,000 km, which is way too much in my opinion.

Thanks!

Daniel

rocketchris

I would like to assume the part is available in Cananda. Take that part number in with you so they can look it up easy.

Regarding service. 20,000 KM sounds about right. You've got synthetic oil in there that will last for a good 24,000 km. Obv, if you experience any issues before hand, take it in.

tanktube67

did you had to pay for?

firstbite

MB offered the Ipod kit w/o MM in sept. '07 then removed it from their list of options unless you ordered the MM package, then in Nov -Dec they allowed it to be purchased again w/o the MM package. needless to say I went back and forth with MB to get this option. Ultimately, I was able to get this option installed at the Port of entry when my came to the states from Germany. this option was $375..i think.

question 2: the playlists and other Ipod function shows in the gauge cluster. it does not show on the standard dash screen, control is through steering wheel.

tczupta

The ipod integration into the C300 is probably the worst aspect of this car. When you connect an ipod, you DO NOT see a anything on the center screen. You can only control the ipod through the stearing wheel, and by "control" i mean you can only click either up or down through all the songs. You CAN NOT choose a playlist, or artist, or genre, or album, or podcast; essentially, the user interface is completely inefficient.

So, since you have to go through the songs alphabetically, if you want to get to a song that starts with a letter at the end of the alphabet with a library of about 5,000 songs, you have to click the down button 4,999 times to get there.

Mercedes makes a great car, but this so called ipod integration is an embarrassment.

Therein I proposed: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w204/230701-car-apple-tv.html

rocketchris

Dude... didn't they give you an instruction manual when they installed the iPod adaptor? You CAN access playlists / albums etc...

when in the ipod control view on your dash, hit the phone 'hang up' button on the steering wheel. takes you to the top menu of the ipod. playlists, artists, albums etc.

Derspeed

Do you have to have the MM package for the amplifier to work? How much did it cost?

rocketchris

I do not have the Multi-Media package.

The amp booster was FREE.

The ipod adapter simply didn't work right because the volume was way lower than the CD or radio, so to satisfy my complaint, they installed the booster. warranty work.

PoaMike

^Rocket, welcome to MBworld if no one has welcomed you already and thanks for being so helpful. Never knew they had a "ipod booster"

Derspeed

Cool.

rocketchris

ya know, I can't remember if anyone welcomed me or not. Hard to imagine that I joined 4 whole years ago already.

In case anyone needs some cool tunes for their iPod, I host an electronic music podcast in the iTunes music store. Search keyword on the ITMS: Shake Down Trance Podcast

Saks_C350_Sport

If anyone is interested, I stumbled across this while looking for goodies for my ride............

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mercedes-MB-IPOD...sid=p1638.m122

PoaMike

Only saw the 28 posts and figured your just one of the trollers

e1000

or you can press the up button once. If you hold down the up or down buttons, it scrolls quite quickly though as well.

tczupta

Thank you... I was never told that.

tmehanna

The ipod amplifier is listed in Mercedes' parts ordering catalog as part of the W204 ipod kit. However, it doesn't seem to actually come with the kit. When I complained to the dealer after installing the kit that the volume was low and sound quality was poor they said that was the way it is! I went home, did some online research it turns out that the amplifier is required with the W204's kit. When I went back to them with the part number for the amplifier they checked the catalog and said it was listed as part of the kit and must have been already installed. After a word with the technician who actually installed the kit, no amplifier came with it. We checked 2 new kits in the parts warehouse and they also didn't have the amp. To cut a long story short, I didn't want to wait 1 month for the part to arrive from Germany and had mine ordered at www.comandonline.co.uk which happens to also sell the kit but they mention that the amp is needed if you don't have the harmon-kardon system. The amp did indeed completely transform the sound in terms of volume AND quality. A must.

rocketchris

So you paid for it out of pocket?

micropower99

http://www.comandonline.co.uk/produc...cat=249&page=1

I'm thinking of getting it just at the dealership instead. In canada it's possible to get the MM package without the H/K system, which is the setup I have, I guess that's why I have the ipod problem as well.

Regards,

Daniel

mac911

Can they put the amplifier into the cars with just AUX input?

Why they put out the car with this annoying issue is rather upsetting, but I know it doesn't bother all.