How to install 2nd Hand Comand?
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 520
Likes: 45
From: Regina SK
2008 C-230 4Matic Sport
I have thought about this and am curious also.
I have basic Audio20 and would like the head unit with the data card slot. I also would like to install an ipod kit and get away from the terrible sounding 1/8" Aux jack in the glove box.
I wonder if it is just plug and play since I don't have Nav or anything like that. I have searched for info since I bought the car a few months back and can't really come up with an answer other than me buying a used unit off ebay, installing it myself and seeing what happens. I just don't want to spend $300 to find out and would like to know before I take the plunge.
I have basic Audio20 and would like the head unit with the data card slot. I also would like to install an ipod kit and get away from the terrible sounding 1/8" Aux jack in the glove box.
I wonder if it is just plug and play since I don't have Nav or anything like that. I have searched for info since I bought the car a few months back and can't really come up with an answer other than me buying a used unit off ebay, installing it myself and seeing what happens. I just don't want to spend $300 to find out and would like to know before I take the plunge.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,128
Likes: 19
From: Acapulco Mexico
2010 C300 Sport
Making a successful Comand unit upgrade is difficult, as many Audio20 units have different connector pinouts and shapes, especially in the case of 2008-2009MY (manufactured in 2007-2008). As a start, suggest pulling the Audio20 unit and taking a photo of the rear of the unit, with and without the connectors attached. Then you and the supplier will know if the Comand unit is plug and play or not.
Of course, the substitute Comand unit must not have the Premium HK, some do and others don't. If it does, the extreme equalization for the Logic7 is not compatible with the stock speakers, besides that the subwoofer feed is fiber optic, so one would also need the subwoofers and amp - I am unsure if this can be done reasonably.
@Colin G - If you are experiencing a "terrible sounding Aux jack", an impedance mismatch is suspected, as even with the iPod Integration Kit or the Media Interface, the headunit uses the analog signal via the Aux input anyway. Data cards also have their issues. After being disappointed by not having the Harman Kardon system in my Eurospec 2010 C300 Sport, an iPod Integration Kit was installed along with a third party speaker upgrade. While not the HK system, the sound is distortion-free from an iPod and Apple Lossless encoded tunes. MP3 in any kbps of course is by design both distorted and dynamically compressed, and is an inferior music format. The Third Party Speaker thread is here: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...r-upgrade.html
The Sound Shocker impedance matcher provides 12db of gain can be purchased from their website, this would be an economical first course of action, @Colin G: http://phpaudio.jigsy.com/passive-preamp
Of course, the substitute Comand unit must not have the Premium HK, some do and others don't. If it does, the extreme equalization for the Logic7 is not compatible with the stock speakers, besides that the subwoofer feed is fiber optic, so one would also need the subwoofers and amp - I am unsure if this can be done reasonably.
@Colin G - If you are experiencing a "terrible sounding Aux jack", an impedance mismatch is suspected, as even with the iPod Integration Kit or the Media Interface, the headunit uses the analog signal via the Aux input anyway. Data cards also have their issues. After being disappointed by not having the Harman Kardon system in my Eurospec 2010 C300 Sport, an iPod Integration Kit was installed along with a third party speaker upgrade. While not the HK system, the sound is distortion-free from an iPod and Apple Lossless encoded tunes. MP3 in any kbps of course is by design both distorted and dynamically compressed, and is an inferior music format. The Third Party Speaker thread is here: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...r-upgrade.html
The Sound Shocker impedance matcher provides 12db of gain can be purchased from their website, this would be an economical first course of action, @Colin G: http://phpaudio.jigsy.com/passive-preamp
Last edited by Acapulco Bill; Oct 16, 2016 at 01:18 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 520
Likes: 45
From: Regina SK
2008 C-230 4Matic Sport
Making a successful Comand unit upgrade is difficult, as many Audio20 units have different connector pinouts and shapes, especially in the case of 2008-2009MY (manufactured in 2007-2008). As a start, suggest pulling the Audio20 unit and taking a photo of the rear of the unit, with and without the connectors attached. Then you and the supplier will know if the Comand unit is plug and play or not.
Of course, the substitute Comand unit must not have the Premium HK, some do and others don't. If it does, the extreme equalization for the Logic7 is not compatible with the stock speakers, besides that the subwoofer feed is fiber optic, so one would also need the subwoofers and amp - I am unsure if this can be done reasonably.
@Colin G - If you are experiencing a "terrible sounding Aux jack", an impedance mismatch is suspected, as even with the iPod Integration Kit or the Media Interface, the headunit uses the analog signal via the Aux input anyway. Data cards also have their issues. After being disappointed by not having the Harman Kardon system in my Eurospec 2010 C300 Sport, an iPod Integration Kit was installed along with a third party speaker upgrade. While not the HK system, the sound is distortion-free from an iPod and Apple Lossless encoded tunes. MP3 in any kbps of course is by design both distorted and dynamically compressed, and is an inferior music format. The Third Party Speaker thread is here: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...r-upgrade.html
The Sound Shocker impedance matcher provides 12db of gain can be purchased from their website, this would be an economical first course of action, @Colin G: http://phpaudio.jigsy.com/passive-preamp
Of course, the substitute Comand unit must not have the Premium HK, some do and others don't. If it does, the extreme equalization for the Logic7 is not compatible with the stock speakers, besides that the subwoofer feed is fiber optic, so one would also need the subwoofers and amp - I am unsure if this can be done reasonably.
@Colin G - If you are experiencing a "terrible sounding Aux jack", an impedance mismatch is suspected, as even with the iPod Integration Kit or the Media Interface, the headunit uses the analog signal via the Aux input anyway. Data cards also have their issues. After being disappointed by not having the Harman Kardon system in my Eurospec 2010 C300 Sport, an iPod Integration Kit was installed along with a third party speaker upgrade. While not the HK system, the sound is distortion-free from an iPod and Apple Lossless encoded tunes. MP3 in any kbps of course is by design both distorted and dynamically compressed, and is an inferior music format. The Third Party Speaker thread is here: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...r-upgrade.html
The Sound Shocker impedance matcher provides 12db of gain can be purchased from their website, this would be an economical first course of action, @Colin G: http://phpaudio.jigsy.com/passive-preamp
Thanks for the link on the sound shocker. I think I may give that a try.
Last edited by Colin G; Oct 16, 2016 at 09:57 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,128
Likes: 19
From: Acapulco Mexico
2010 C300 Sport
Personally, I do not recommend the iPod Integration Kit. In any case remember that the iPod output feeds directly into the Aux input on the Audio20 headunit, not via the digital feed available in the iPod socket. The only advantage is that the 30-pin cable (old-style iPod connector) charges the iPod... SOMETIMES (my iPod discharged completely about every time I went out of town). And the newer Lightning connector on iPods and iPhones is not supported on the original iPod Integration Kit available for your 2008 W204.
Unfortunately, the Universal Media Interface is not compatible with the 2008-2010MY Audio20 headunit.
That said, I now have a Bovee Tune2Air WMA1000 connected to the 30-pin iPod connector through the iPod Integration Kit, and it's status appears on the speedo, plus Next and Prev tune changing through the steering wheel buttons. Although the sound quality is crap due to the Bluetooth+MP3/Spotify Extreme Quality. Nothing like the iPod+Aux+Apple Lossless encoded tunes as your music source.
Unfortunately, the Universal Media Interface is not compatible with the 2008-2010MY Audio20 headunit.
That said, I now have a Bovee Tune2Air WMA1000 connected to the 30-pin iPod connector through the iPod Integration Kit, and it's status appears on the speedo, plus Next and Prev tune changing through the steering wheel buttons. Although the sound quality is crap due to the Bluetooth+MP3/Spotify Extreme Quality. Nothing like the iPod+Aux+Apple Lossless encoded tunes as your music source.
