Bluetooth Workaround c43
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2013
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From: New Jersey
1999 AMG C43
Bluetooth Workaround c43
Curious if anyone has a decent bluetooth workaround? I found a bunch of bluetooth kits on crutchfield and even a few rearview camera bluetooth mirrors on ebay, but before I pull the trigger on any of those things, I wondered if anyone has had success. My goal is to leave everything as stock as possible without running wires or installing an additional screen.
I have the stock radio with the flip down face, it has both CD and a TEL buttons, even though the car doesn't have a phone (I believe there is space for a phone in the top half of the armrest). Also there looks like some kind of factory microphone up in the headliner. Am I wrong about this?
I'm guessing the radio has some tel-aux input (not sure if it is RCA or some other special connector) where I might be able to connect a bluetooth dongle and get it going without making an additional installation. Alternatively, I might be able to disconnect the CD player and use that aux input.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_822BTRE...MIL-BTREC.html This seems like the least intrusive bluetooth adapter, but I'm concerned it'll only function one way (meaning not allowing me to use the cabin microphone if that is a cabin microphone up in the console), however it very well may allow me to broadcast my music, calls and gps directions over the cars speakers and still use the phone's microphone to give the phone commands or speak on the phone.
Anyone have similar experience?
I have the stock radio with the flip down face, it has both CD and a TEL buttons, even though the car doesn't have a phone (I believe there is space for a phone in the top half of the armrest). Also there looks like some kind of factory microphone up in the headliner. Am I wrong about this?
I'm guessing the radio has some tel-aux input (not sure if it is RCA or some other special connector) where I might be able to connect a bluetooth dongle and get it going without making an additional installation. Alternatively, I might be able to disconnect the CD player and use that aux input.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_822BTRE...MIL-BTREC.html This seems like the least intrusive bluetooth adapter, but I'm concerned it'll only function one way (meaning not allowing me to use the cabin microphone if that is a cabin microphone up in the console), however it very well may allow me to broadcast my music, calls and gps directions over the cars speakers and still use the phone's microphone to give the phone commands or speak on the phone.
Anyone have similar experience?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: America
1999 C43 AMG, 2005 E55 Wagon
Wait. What kind of flip down face? You mean the screen that opens up to let you insert the cassette tape?
Apparently some out there have had success using Argos bluetooth adapter of some sort.
Also, before you drop money, consider other routes:
Apparently some out there have had success using Argos bluetooth adapter of some sort.
Also, before you drop money, consider other routes:
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,649
Likes: 46
From: New Jersey
1999 AMG C43
Thanks for the video, it's pretty cool actually. After thinking about it, I decided to keep the electronics original (Although I keep dreaming about what it might be like to have the 5.5+SC under the hood!!)
This seems like a low cost (less than $100) way to keep everything original and even continue to use the CD player which I've failed to test out yet.
Looked over the Crutchfield options and think this is going to be my set up: 541ISFM21 iSimple TranzItBlu Wired Bluetooth Adapter for Android
12040VW12 Motorola/Male to Volk/Female Antenna Adapter
12040VW21 Motorola/Female to Volk/Male Antenna Adapte
I'd really like something that incorporated the car mic for phone calls, but I just can't seem to find anything that would adapt as such without having to add an extra screen or something. I'm going to keep searching though and will let you know what I find.
This seems like a low cost (less than $100) way to keep everything original and even continue to use the CD player which I've failed to test out yet.
Looked over the Crutchfield options and think this is going to be my set up: 541ISFM21 iSimple TranzItBlu Wired Bluetooth Adapter for Android
12040VW12 Motorola/Male to Volk/Female Antenna Adapter
12040VW21 Motorola/Female to Volk/Male Antenna Adapte
I'd really like something that incorporated the car mic for phone calls, but I just can't seem to find anything that would adapt as such without having to add an extra screen or something. I'm going to keep searching though and will let you know what I find.
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From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
I agree utterly disrespectful. More fitting on a surfers truck of the west coast.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,418
Likes: 194
From: America
1999 C43 AMG, 2005 E55 Wagon
Yeah. That sticker bomb crap made me want to punch my screen. He did a great job on the comand upgrade and complete with wheel and gauge cluster. That's how the w202 should have been originally. The fact that its an easy plug n play shows how easily it could've been but they just left it out. Same as how the 5.4 motor is an easy drop in. Why do they always undercut the C? It can't really affect sales of their other cars!
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 636
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From: MN, USA
C43 5.4, ML320CDI, Fords
I got a Bluetooth tape cassette.
It pairs up with your phone, has its own rechargeable battery that can charge off cig lighter, battery lasts long.
It's nice because you can also be doing navigation from your phone, and the directions come on over the speakers even if you're streaming audio with Bluetooth. It's actually really slick. There are a couple brands, get the one with true stereo output.
It pairs up with your phone, has its own rechargeable battery that can charge off cig lighter, battery lasts long.
It's nice because you can also be doing navigation from your phone, and the directions come on over the speakers even if you're streaming audio with Bluetooth. It's actually really slick. There are a couple brands, get the one with true stereo output.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,649
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From: New Jersey
1999 AMG C43
So I ended up installing the the iSimple TranzItBlu Wired Bluetooth Adapter for Android. Very simple install, took me all of 5 minutes. Crutchfield gave me instructions on which wires to crimp and I got it working the first time around.
This Bluetooth allows me to keep the original radio and stream Pandora from my phone, the Google Maps GPS Navigation also streams over the speakers, however the phone does not work over the speakers. What I have learned from using this is twofold:
1. I need more powerful speakers, Not sure if I'm dealing with originals or what, but whatever it is, definitely could bump a little louder.
2. Preserving the original radio may not be as important as I first thought because I'm feeling that I have a really dated look on my console.
I saw a video where someone relocated their climate unit and put in a pretty large screen. I may opt for that solution if I can find a replacement wood console so I don't have to destroy the original.
This Bluetooth allows me to keep the original radio and stream Pandora from my phone, the Google Maps GPS Navigation also streams over the speakers, however the phone does not work over the speakers. What I have learned from using this is twofold:
1. I need more powerful speakers, Not sure if I'm dealing with originals or what, but whatever it is, definitely could bump a little louder.
2. Preserving the original radio may not be as important as I first thought because I'm feeling that I have a really dated look on my console.
I saw a video where someone relocated their climate unit and put in a pretty large screen. I may opt for that solution if I can find a replacement wood console so I don't have to destroy the original.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,418
Likes: 194
From: America
1999 C43 AMG, 2005 E55 Wagon
I got a Bluetooth tape cassette.
It pairs up with your phone, has its own rechargeable battery that can charge off cig lighter, battery lasts long.
It's nice because you can also be doing navigation from your phone, and the directions come on over the speakers even if you're streaming audio with Bluetooth. It's actually really slick. There are a couple brands, get the one with true stereo output.
It pairs up with your phone, has its own rechargeable battery that can charge off cig lighter, battery lasts long.
It's nice because you can also be doing navigation from your phone, and the directions come on over the speakers even if you're streaming audio with Bluetooth. It's actually really slick. There are a couple brands, get the one with true stereo output.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 949
Likes: 47
From: San Diego
2004 E55
I got a Bluetooth tape cassette. It pairs up with your phone, has its own rechargeable battery that can charge off cig lighter, battery lasts long. It's nice because you can also be doing navigation from your phone, and the directions come on over the speakers even if you're streaming audio with Bluetooth. It's actually really slick. There are a couple brands, get the one with true stereo output.
Last edited by eFifty5AMG; Dec 24, 2013 at 04:06 PM.
