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The audio in my 2010 C300 has stopped working, and I'm not having any luck identifying the problem. At this point I'm assuming the head unit is bad, so I'm looking for recommendations for a replacement. I have the flip up screen model.
Have found no aftermarket replacement headunits for the W204. Recommend a preowned identical headunit sourced from an auto salvage or recycler. Have seen many on eBay, The first link the seller says both "Nav" and "No Nav", the second link states "Nav" https://www.ebay.com/itm/RADIO-GPS-N...EAAOSwR5VZlfxd https://www.ebay.com/itm/MERCEDES-C3...kAAOSwBahU8o1x
MAKE SURE you pull out the current headunit and compare the exact MB OEM part number and get an exact match, as there are a half dozen different variations of these headunits. Ones on offer on eBay from the UK or elsewhere in Europe are not compatible with those sold in the US, and vice-versa. Best of success!
Have found no aftermarket replacement headunits for the W204. Recommend a preowned identical headunit sourced from an auto salvage or recycler. Have seen many on eBay, The first link the seller says both "Nav" and "No Nav", the second link states "Nav" https://www.ebay.com/itm/RADIO-GPS-N...EAAOSwR5VZlfxd https://www.ebay.com/itm/MERCEDES-C3...kAAOSwBahU8o1x
MAKE SURE you pull out the current headunit and compare the exact MB OEM part number and get an exact match, as there are a half dozen different variations of these headunits. Ones on offer on eBay from the UK or elsewhere in Europe are not compatible with those sold in the US, and vice-versa. Best of success!
Thanks! I'm actually considering a Pioneer or Kenwood head unit from Crutchfield and just doing away with the flip up screen! Really irritated that the only thing wrong with the head unit is the loss of audio...ugh!
Not recommended. One would lose access via the steering wheel controls, including inability to answer a cell phone hands-free via Bluetooth, change volume or channels. The wiring would be a disaster. Doubtful if the MB screen could ever be connected to the SAT-Nav with the center console knob.
The amplification would also not necessarily be better, as the MB Audio20 headunit has a full 25 Watt RMS per channel into 8 ohms distortion-free digital amplification system, three-band per channel digital parametric equalizer, and the engineering menu. Don't be fooled by extravagant peak wattage claims, it's fake news, as 300 watts peak IMPO or whatever illegal marketing lie in reality is only about 15 WPC into 8 ohms in real life, with massive distortion.
If you have the HK Logic7 Surround system, swapping this for a - quite honestly crappy, sorry - Pioneer or Kenwood headunit, then you would lose one of the world's finest car audio systems. Admittedly MB failed to provide in your model headunit minimum available tech such as USB, Bluetooth music streaming (but really, who would want it? Such awful quality!), and voice Comand so incompetent that TopGear dedicated a segment on how useless it was in an S Class. If you really want to Bluetooth stream, get a $25 adaptor that plugs into your minijack.
Substituting the headunit would also erase a thousand dollars or more from the resale value of your W204. Consider carefully about substituting what is actually a very high quality OEM headunit with an aftermarket radio.
Here is an example of the absolute lack of "Truth In Advertising" for consumer audio power ratings. The product is advertised as "1000 Watt Peak, 500 Watts RMS". Reading further, this is actually "rated" into 4 Ohms, so that's "500 Watts Peak, 250 Watts RMS". IF IT WERE TRUE!!!! (See attached screenshot).
Then the specifications state T.H.D (Total Harmonic Distortion) of a whopping 10% @ 25 Watts. Remember this is into 4 Ohms, so into 8 Ohms this unit's amplifier produces only 12.5 Watts with 10% distortion. So at the 5% THD distortion maximum that the FTC requires for all amplifier RMS ratings, this "1000 Watt Peak" amplifier probably does not even produce 6 Watts RMS into 8 Ohms without exceeding 5% distortion
The MB Audio20 non-HK Logic7 headunit will produce 100 Watts Per Channel into 2 Ohms at less than 1% THD distortion. If you use 2 Ohm speakers, you have a full 400 watts RMS at your disposal. Not too shabby. Recommended is just replacing with another OEM headunit, then upgrade your speakers with quality aftermarket 2 ohm drivers. A well referenced thread is: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...r-upgrade.html
Not recommended. One would lose access via the steering wheel controls, including inability to answer a cell phone hands-free via Bluetooth, change volume or channels. The wiring would be a disaster. Doubtful if the MB screen could ever be connected to the SAT-Nav with the center console knob.
The amplification would also not necessarily be better, as the MB Audio20 headunit has a full 25 Watt RMS per channel into 8 ohms distortion-free digital amplification system, three-band per channel digital parametric equalizer, and the engineering menu. Don't be fooled by extravagant peak wattage claims, it's fake news, as 300 watts peak IMPO or whatever illegal marketing lie in reality is only about 15 WPC into 8 ohms in real life, with massive distortion.
If you have the HK Logic7 Surround system, swapping this for a - quite honestly crappy, sorry - Pioneer or Kenwood headunit, then you would lose one of the world's finest car audio systems. Admittedly MB failed to provide in your model headunit minimum available tech such as USB, Bluetooth music streaming (but really, who would want it? Such awful quality!), and voice Comand so incompetent that TopGear dedicated a segment on how useless it was in an S Class. If you really want to Bluetooth stream, get a $25 adaptor that plugs into your minijack.
Substituting the headunit would also erase a thousand dollars or more from the resale value of your W204. Consider carefully about substituting what is actually a very high quality OEM headunit with an aftermarket radio.
I hear what you're saying, but how can it be one of the world's finest systems if losing audio is a common problem? Even if it is a firmware problem, there seems to be lot of problems with them...from what I've found anyway. Also, I bought this car used and it had a custom sound system in it. Not sure of the speaker upgrade, but it has a high end 1000 watt JL Audio Amp in it, so it's well built for quality sound. At this point, I just want a nice stereo that works, and by the way, i have streamed Spotify in my other vehicles via Bluetooth and it works quite nicely, so I would have to disagree with you on that...
With that said, I have looked around a little for replacement OEM units, and I haven't had much luck If you have any leads for where I could find one and it not cost $700, that would be great.
Have found no aftermarket replacement headunits for the W204. Recommend a preowned identical headunit sourced from an auto salvage or recycler. Have seen many on eBay, The first link the seller says both "Nav" and "No Nav", the second link states "Nav" https://www.ebay.com/itm/RADIO-GPS-N...EAAOSwR5VZlfxd https://www.ebay.com/itm/MERCEDES-C3...kAAOSwBahU8o1x
MAKE SURE you pull out the current headunit and compare the exact MB OEM part number and get an exact match, as there are a half dozen different variations of these headunits. Ones on offer on eBay from the UK or elsewhere in Europe are not compatible with those sold in the US, and vice-versa. Best of success!
Hey do you know what part number my 2011 C300 sport would be for the radio?
I am looking to replace my head unit with an identical one, 2008 NTG4.0, same loss of audio issue. I am very sure my internal Amp is dead. My question is will it be plug and play if the replacement unit is exact part number? Or will I need coding?
Had wiring problems with first unit from aliexpress so sold it to auto electrician interstate (Australia) having a the new Pioneer Z6350BT 6.8" unit fitted soon, the dash panel and full harness only just arrived so being fitted on 11th. This new model can be used cable free as it has Wi Fi. Price was AUD$850 plus fitting to my W204 coupe.
Last edited by Limewood; Dec 29, 2020 at 07:33 PM.
2013 E350 Facelift (Japan Import) 2007 E350 Elegance Wagon, 2014 E350 Wagon facelift model Jap Model
Originally Posted by Limewood
Had wiring problems with first unit from aliexpress so sold it to auto electrician interstate (Australia) having a the new Pioneer Z6350BT 6.8" unit fitted soon, the dash panel and full harness only just arrived so being fitted on 11th. This new model can be used cable free as it has Wi Fi. Price was AUD$850 plus fitting to my W204 coupe.
Hi I'm in Australia too, how did you go with the Pioneer head unit?
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