http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...=p4506.c0.m245



how would these work? would the VIM still be required?
I tried taken our headrest off...but it doesnt seem to even come off....

 

These appear to each have built-in DVD players so you shouldn't need VIM at all. Tell us how it goes.

 

Theses won't be active headrests like your OEM ones. I also would be concerned with the color matching or even coming close. I've been looking for a solution for this but have not found one I like yet. I was thinking of puting a DVD under the front passengers seat to drive the screens also some sort of game console would be good for long trips.

 

correct.. you need to use a system like this (see pic) that mounts behind the factory headrest. The vizualogic system is really nice and has DVD players built into the headrests as well so you dont have to worry about figuring out where to mount an external DVD.

 

Rob how do they mount onto the existing headrests? Screw into the rest itself or mount with brackets to the rails? Also hiding the wiring may be difficult. A couple of final questions what is the approx cost and could you hook up a game console? I most likely wouldn't be doing this until 2nd quarter of next year at the earliest.

 

The headrests mount using a system of clamps that mount around the bottom of the seat post plastic trim. The pic below shows the monitor about to be mounted: 4 bolts lock the clamps together. The wires pass through the same holes as the seat posts so there is no cutting of the seats or making holes which means the kit can actually be completely removed and everything goes back to factory. You can hook up a game console as well. There are a few ways that the AV can be routed between the front command and the back: The headrest has AV out and AV in so you can send the AV from the headrest kit to the command and watch the kit using the aux video option (you would need vim though). You can hook up a game to the the aux input on the headrest kit as well and then the game can be seen and heard on the rear monitors as well as the front command through the front aux input. The newest hardware/software W204 commands support A/V out so you could also send the AV out from the front DVD or aux input to the headrest kit (e.g. play front dvd on the rear screens or plug game into front aux and then select aux video and send it back to the rear screens as well.)

Its a pretty versatile setup with the new command and it looks great installed because the leather is actual factory sourced so it matches perfectly. We are in the process of putting these kits together as a plug-and-play kit (e.g. no cutting or splicing of wires at all) we just finished the ML/GL/R version but the W204 is next. The price of the plug-and-play kit is probably going to be in the area of $1750 and that would include VIM and all the AV cabling and harnessing. You can get just the regular kit for about $1400 but thats just the kit: you would still need splice in all the wiring and get the AV connectors.

 

Rob thanks for the information I will have to think about this. I really don't want VIM in the car so I would want this to be a stand alone system for the back seat passengers only.

 

sounds good...thanks for the info everyone..

 

wow, 600 bucks is pretty cheap. i am strongly considering this. thanks for the link. i sent the seller an email, he is right next to where i live, i asked him if he does installs.

 

just a heads up about this ebay seller. i sent an email asking if i could come take a look since i live 5 minutes away, he said no. they only ship parts.

take that for what it is; they do have very good feedback, but its kinda alarming in my book. they wont let someone come and take a look at what they are selling????

 

It looks like it is some basic universal kit from China. I have one very similiar in my R-class that I also bought from ebay. I think the price is high especially mine has the 9"LCD and not 7. I think you can do better with the price.


The seller probably never has it on hand and just has it shipped to the buyer from the manufacturer directly. Quite normal.

 

Keep in mind that if you do the cheaper headrest replacement kit you will lose your active restraint headrests.. while that can be done its not a very good idea. you also have to disable the headrests or you get the big SRS error message on the cluster.