Can you swap JUST the head unit in C43 Bose system?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 424
Likes: 13
From: Grand Rapids, MI
99 C43 AMG, 2001 CLK55 AMG
Can you swap JUST the head unit in C43 Bose system?
hey everyone,
C43 im picking up tomorrow has a trunk cd changer that doesn't work, even if it did i would still want a new CD player that could handle MP3 and USB input.
my questions is with the bose system can you use an aftermarket wiring adaptor that will allow me to just swap out the head unit? i have searched the forum and cant seem to find the answer to this basic question. everything i searched was about swapping out the whole system, ot just swapping speakers or using another mercedes stock head unit (maybe this is because you cant just swap the head unit??)
if i cannot then my only option is to replace the whole system?
thanks.
C43 im picking up tomorrow has a trunk cd changer that doesn't work, even if it did i would still want a new CD player that could handle MP3 and USB input.
my questions is with the bose system can you use an aftermarket wiring adaptor that will allow me to just swap out the head unit? i have searched the forum and cant seem to find the answer to this basic question. everything i searched was about swapping out the whole system, ot just swapping speakers or using another mercedes stock head unit (maybe this is because you cant just swap the head unit??)
if i cannot then my only option is to replace the whole system?
thanks.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 424
Likes: 13
From: Grand Rapids, MI
99 C43 AMG, 2001 CLK55 AMG
fyi,
I called crutchfield, they said that the wiring harness on the bose system allows for aftermarket cd player, the player just sends signal and uses bose amps.
Was hoping to get confirmation from someone on here because they dont always know specific details of each car, but worse case scenario i can return if it doesn't work.
I called crutchfield, they said that the wiring harness on the bose system allows for aftermarket cd player, the player just sends signal and uses bose amps.
Was hoping to get confirmation from someone on here because they dont always know specific details of each car, but worse case scenario i can return if it doesn't work.
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,437
Likes: 43
From: PDX
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
fyi,
I called crutchfield, they said that the wiring harness on the bose system allows for aftermarket cd player, the player just sends signal and uses bose amps.
Was hoping to get confirmation from someone on here because they dont always know specific details of each car, but worse case scenario i can return if it doesn't work.
I called crutchfield, they said that the wiring harness on the bose system allows for aftermarket cd player, the player just sends signal and uses bose amps.
Was hoping to get confirmation from someone on here because they dont always know specific details of each car, but worse case scenario i can return if it doesn't work.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 424
Likes: 13
From: Grand Rapids, MI
99 C43 AMG, 2001 CLK55 AMG
it is a 99...
dang thats not good news. I did tell them it was a 99, but i guess have to wait and see. There is a good car audio shop right near me so i guess can go to them if i cant figure it out myself.
the fiber optic cable runs from the head unit to the amps? and not just from the head unit to the changer?
damn mercedes and bose! that was pretty serious tech back then, I remember working at best buy in 2002 and optical cables for home audio was the newest thing
dang thats not good news. I did tell them it was a 99, but i guess have to wait and see. There is a good car audio shop right near me so i guess can go to them if i cant figure it out myself.
the fiber optic cable runs from the head unit to the amps? and not just from the head unit to the changer?
damn mercedes and bose! that was pretty serious tech back then, I remember working at best buy in 2002 and optical cables for home audio was the newest thing
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 424
Likes: 13
From: Grand Rapids, MI
99 C43 AMG, 2001 CLK55 AMG
I can deal with a wiring harness, just really did not want to overhaul the whole system.
did you have to source that yourself? Crutchfield sends the appropriate harness with their cd players so im hoping its the one meant for my car and will be really easy. If not I may have to PM you for some info.
CD player should be delivered tuesday.
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 861
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From: Fairfield county, CT.
2004 Ran SRT-10,2007 S550,2016 E400c
IMO the best way is to just by-pass the bose amp... most if not all head units on the market
today will out perform bose amp from 1998-99.. I just redid a customers 1998 c class it has new head unit all up graded door speakers but the factory bose amp and the distortion was
crazy.. just by-pass it and sound quality improved 100% only thing i would do next is run better quality wires or install up graded full range amp... very easy to do and can be returned to stock easy
today will out perform bose amp from 1998-99.. I just redid a customers 1998 c class it has new head unit all up graded door speakers but the factory bose amp and the distortion was
crazy.. just by-pass it and sound quality improved 100% only thing i would do next is run better quality wires or install up graded full range amp... very easy to do and can be returned to stock easy
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 424
Likes: 13
From: Grand Rapids, MI
99 C43 AMG, 2001 CLK55 AMG
IMO the best way is to just by-pass the bose amp... most if not all head units on the market
today will out perform bose amp from 1998-99.. I just redid a customers 1998 c class it has new head unit all up graded door speakers but the factory bose amp and the distortion was
crazy.. just by-pass it and sound quality improved 100% only thing i would do next is run better quality wires or install up graded full range amp... very easy to do and can be returned to stock easy
today will out perform bose amp from 1998-99.. I just redid a customers 1998 c class it has new head unit all up graded door speakers but the factory bose amp and the distortion was
crazy.. just by-pass it and sound quality improved 100% only thing i would do next is run better quality wires or install up graded full range amp... very easy to do and can be returned to stock easy
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,437
Likes: 43
From: PDX
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
ok, +1 for good news
I can deal with a wiring harness, just really did not want to overhaul the whole system.
did you have to source that yourself? Crutchfield sends the appropriate harness with their cd players so im hoping its the one meant for my car and will be really easy. If not I may have to PM you for some info.
CD player should be delivered tuesday.
I can deal with a wiring harness, just really did not want to overhaul the whole system.
did you have to source that yourself? Crutchfield sends the appropriate harness with their cd players so im hoping its the one meant for my car and will be really easy. If not I may have to PM you for some info.
CD player should be delivered tuesday.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 424
Likes: 13
From: Grand Rapids, MI
99 C43 AMG, 2001 CLK55 AMG
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,437
Likes: 43
From: PDX
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,784
Likes: 84
From: SCV SoCal
2002 CLK430
Swapping the head unit and retaining the Bose amps and speakers is pretty simple. This link shows how I did it. Your install is easier because you don't have steering wheel controls. A wiring harness converter, antenna adapter, and a PAC OEM is all you need.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 424
Likes: 13
From: Grand Rapids, MI
99 C43 AMG, 2001 CLK55 AMG
Swapping the head unit and retaining the Bose amps and speakers is pretty simple. This link shows how I did it. Your install is easier because you don't have steering wheel controls. A wiring harness converter, antenna adapter, and a PAC OEM is all you need.
i did read your thread, thanks for that.
I have one question:
what is the difference between the PAC OEM and the wiring harness converter? i thought they were both the same, or rather didn't know i needed 2 things? crutchfield is only sending me this:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_1207017...ml?tp=2977#Tab
from your post the PAC oem converts the signal from balanced to unbalanced?
thanks.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,437
Likes: 43
From: PDX
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
Marcus,
i did read your thread, thanks for that.
I have one question:
what is the difference between the PAC OEM and the wiring harness converter? i thought they were both the same, or rather didn't know i needed 2 things? crutchfield is only sending me this:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_1207017...ml?tp=2977#Tab
from your post the PAC oem converts the signal from balanced to unbalanced?
thanks.
i did read your thread, thanks for that.
I have one question:
what is the difference between the PAC OEM and the wiring harness converter? i thought they were both the same, or rather didn't know i needed 2 things? crutchfield is only sending me this:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_1207017...ml?tp=2977#Tab
from your post the PAC oem converts the signal from balanced to unbalanced?
thanks.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 424
Likes: 13
From: Grand Rapids, MI
99 C43 AMG, 2001 CLK55 AMG
The wiring harness adapter (convertor) is so you don't have to hack up the OEM wiring harness to get the wires exposed. It plugs into the OEM harness and has exposed wires that you connect to the PAC OEM. You could do it without the wiring harness adapter but you would destroy your stock wiring harness and make it very difficult to re-install the OEM stereo.
will have to look over the install instructions when they get here. Maybe i will not be concerned about putting the stock radio back in, with the CD changer gone i doubt i will ever put it back in and im sure whoever else would want the car would want a CD player, although i do understand the appeal of being able to return it back to stock.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,784
Likes: 84
From: SCV SoCal
2002 CLK430
You don't have to hack up the factory harness. That's the purpose of the harness adapter. The harness adapter is about $10 (in many cases its free with the head unit), will save you at least a half hour on the install, and is much cleaner than the alternative.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 424
Likes: 13
From: Grand Rapids, MI
99 C43 AMG, 2001 CLK55 AMG
So the CD player is in!
the wiring adapter that crutchfield sent was the same as the PAC harness, i was forgetting that the cd player itself had its own harness so that was my confusion on the topic.
Install went pretty smooth, only hiccups i had were that there seemed to be only ONE screw or bolt behind the radio to tap into as a ground! and it was super hard to get to by sticking my hand in the radio opening, but eventually got it.
Nice to finally hear clean sound from a CD rather than FM radio.
I picked up a sony head unit that has customizable display colors (full 32 level RGB adjustment) so i matched the radio display color to the orange of the AMG Also has bluetooth, usb, aux in, and all the other goodies i wanted, but it was really the color customization that sold me. They also had a kenwood that could do it as well but was $70 more, and only additional option was the HD radio tuner.
the only other thing i came across was that the top plug on my factory radio was maybe for the phone? since the C43 doesn't have steering wheel controls, i was wondering if maybe there was a way to adapt the cars stock phone mic (?) into the sony unit. not a big concern for me though, i just ran the mic that came with the sony out where the HVAC controls are to the top of the IP.
the wiring adapter that crutchfield sent was the same as the PAC harness, i was forgetting that the cd player itself had its own harness so that was my confusion on the topic.
Install went pretty smooth, only hiccups i had were that there seemed to be only ONE screw or bolt behind the radio to tap into as a ground! and it was super hard to get to by sticking my hand in the radio opening, but eventually got it.
Nice to finally hear clean sound from a CD rather than FM radio.
I picked up a sony head unit that has customizable display colors (full 32 level RGB adjustment) so i matched the radio display color to the orange of the AMG
Also has bluetooth, usb, aux in, and all the other goodies i wanted, but it was really the color customization that sold me. They also had a kenwood that could do it as well but was $70 more, and only additional option was the HD radio tuner.the only other thing i came across was that the top plug on my factory radio was maybe for the phone? since the C43 doesn't have steering wheel controls, i was wondering if maybe there was a way to adapt the cars stock phone mic (?) into the sony unit. not a big concern for me though, i just ran the mic that came with the sony out where the HVAC controls are to the top of the IP.
