Audio Questions, Really Confused - Please Help?
 

Hey Everybody,

I just bought an '08 C350 that has navigation and upgraded Harmon Kardon audio system.

I've been doing some research on how to fully integrate my iPod touch with the navigation and it seems that it's quite expensive to do. One shop quoted me $699 USD for full integration. Does anyone know how to do this for any cheaper?

Also I'm thinking that an alternative solution would be to use the memory card slot, but from reading the posts on this forum I'm really confused as to what kind of memory card to buy, what the maximum size can be, what card reader to buy, and what other hardware I need for my Macbook Pro to copy music from my Mac to the memory card.

Any help would be greatly appreciated on either of these two questions.

Thanks so much!

what do u mean by "integration"? if ur meaning putting/playing songs from ur touch then i think all u need is the ipod kit from mb for 375, it should play all ur songs from ur nav screen, as for memory cards u gonna need a pcmcia slot card, not that ez to find anymore but u can use either cf cards or sd cards for ur mac i would probably go sd unless u use cf alot, if u get a cf pcmica card reader it will run u about 10-15 bucks vs the sd reader that can cost 20-100 depending on what kind u get, i think the max for sd is 8gb and cf im not sure but u should be good for at least 4gb. Cost for the cards also vary, right now sd cards are dirt cheap compared to cf cards.

the ipod kit for 375 will only put the songs on the instrument cluster and not on the nav screen. frankly 600 is cheap because i though the Media Interface is more like around 2K

if u read what he wrote he has the mm installed so he wouldnt need the media intreface and if i remember right the new update actually has it so u can change the songs on the nav screen.

I don't recall any update for iPod interface to be able to display info on nav screen...
The only way to control iPod from nav screen other than aftermarket 3rd party solution is the new media interface (universal consumer interface)
which is available in europe but not in the States and looks like MBUSA won't even offer the option here..at least not for retrofit..

Yes i know, but you can still get the media interface for 2K just to get the ipod nav screen if you really wanted it. it doesnt come seperately.

Hey everyone,

Thanks for your input. I was able to locate a compact flash memory card, a flash memory reader, and a pcmcia flash reader card so I'm going to give that a shot as that might be the cheaper alternative to hooking up my iPod.

I called an aftermarket audio install place and the guy said that there are essentially two ways to hook up your iPod aftermarket. One is to do the wiring that just allows you to have limited functionality through the instrument cluster and the other is the $699 solution that would allow me to control everythign through my nav screen and charge my ipod in the process... sounds pretty sweet. but after dishing out $$ for the car, not sure I want to run out and spend another $700 to integrate my iPod!

Anyway, I'm hoping my solution with the compact flash card will work. I got one that's 16gb so Ill test that tonight to see. Others on the forums seem to have a lot of luck with that.

I guess I'm just amazed that integrating something as simple as an Ipod is so difficult. Crazy. Even the memory card technology seems outdated. Why not just use USB? One day these car companies will get with the program I hope...

Hey guys,
Thanks again for your help. I was able to get a CF card 16gb, PCMCIA card adapter, and CF card reader for my Mac all for about $60 at Fry's. I've dumped about 5gb worth of music on the CF card and tested it in the memory slot of my C350 and all woks great. So this very well may take the place of needing to integrate my iPod with my nav system if all continues to work well. I may still get some other prices from some audio install places just for the hell of it, but all is working well for the time being.

Thanks again for your help, being a new MB owner this forum is great!

I am not sure, if you got this option in US, but here in Europe you can order Media interface code 518 for like 300 dolars. Its not a retrofit, its basicly better version of iPod interface. It comes with 3 cables - iPod,Aux and USB. USB works like a charm, I got portable HD connected with like 70 GB worth of media files and it works with no problems, folders are like in PC etc. This is best solution IMO, all music in one device, didnt even need to use build in HD.

unfortunately, Media Interface is not available here in the States..