Ipod on Command Screen?
11-08-2008, 05:43 AM
#26
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ML350, Lotus Elise
sorry for not posting back sooner.. we were at sema this week...
anyway here is the deal with the media interface. The interface is actually called the UCI by mercedes and its a metal box that hooks into the optical ring. (see pic below). the module is actually the same for all 2009 models and can be retrofitted to any W204 provided it is brought up to 2009 firmware. There is some harnessing involved that we are in the process of building. It will be a T-Harness similar to the one used with the VIM module. Once the telematics update is done there is also some special programming that is needed. The way we are thinking about doing this is to have programmers that you can borrow when you purchase a kit. You would plug the programmer into the OBD port and it will set the firmware up for the media interface. once its programmed you're good to go.
So the rough outline of the installation would be like this:
1. take your vehicle into service to have the latest telematics update.
2. purchase media interface kit from us.
3. pull radio, install T-harness and run the new leads behind the glovebox
4. plug programmer into obd port to program command.
5. send programmer back to us.
right now we are trying to get the best pricing on the media adapter parts.. we know that the kit will be less expensive than the mercedes retrofit piece which is supposed to be somewhere around $2K installed. The goal here is to get the price to around $1200 or lower for the media adapter. Additionally if you have the current factory ipod kit then that would be removed and can be sold on ebay.
anyway here is the deal with the media interface. The interface is actually called the UCI by mercedes and its a metal box that hooks into the optical ring. (see pic below). the module is actually the same for all 2009 models and can be retrofitted to any W204 provided it is brought up to 2009 firmware. There is some harnessing involved that we are in the process of building. It will be a T-Harness similar to the one used with the VIM module. Once the telematics update is done there is also some special programming that is needed. The way we are thinking about doing this is to have programmers that you can borrow when you purchase a kit. You would plug the programmer into the OBD port and it will set the firmware up for the media interface. once its programmed you're good to go.
So the rough outline of the installation would be like this:
1. take your vehicle into service to have the latest telematics update.
2. purchase media interface kit from us.
3. pull radio, install T-harness and run the new leads behind the glovebox
4. plug programmer into obd port to program command.
5. send programmer back to us.
right now we are trying to get the best pricing on the media adapter parts.. we know that the kit will be less expensive than the mercedes retrofit piece which is supposed to be somewhere around $2K installed. The goal here is to get the price to around $1200 or lower for the media adapter. Additionally if you have the current factory ipod kit then that would be removed and can be sold on ebay.
11-11-2008, 05:39 PM
#32
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2008 C350 Sport-Arctic White
11-12-2008, 12:24 AM
#33
MBWorld Fanatic!
No thanks. That's $1200 that can go to engine/suspension/tires/gas/booze anything else that is infinitely more useful to spend on than an ipod adapter.
No offense Rob - I know it's not your pricing.
I'm sure there will be buyers though.
No offense Rob - I know it's not your pricing.
I'm sure there will be buyers though.
11-14-2008, 06:21 AM
#34
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ML350, Lotus Elise
Yeah I hear ya... A big part of the pricing comes from the fact that the MOST optical system is licensed so manufacturers have to pay a royalty for every MOST device right now and that has limited the market. We are working on getting something produced for MOST which will bring the cost down considerably...
11-16-2008, 08:52 AM
#36
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EuroCharged 2012 C63 BS Coupè
Yeah I hear ya... A big part of the pricing comes from the fact that the MOST optical system is licensed so manufacturers have to pay a royalty for every MOST device right now and that has limited the market. We are working on getting something produced for MOST which will bring the cost down considerably...
12-15-2008, 09:40 PM
#39
MBWorld Fanatic!
what do the command s/w updates do?
also is there any point in updating the command system on an 06cls55? its actually a euro command unit that allows dvd video playback.
and can that ipod stuff on the screen be added to my screen?
right now i have the mb ipod kit but it doesnt provide info on the command screen, just on the screen in the dash.
also is there any point in updating the command system on an 06cls55? its actually a euro command unit that allows dvd video playback.
and can that ipod stuff on the screen be added to my screen?
right now i have the mb ipod kit but it doesnt provide info on the command screen, just on the screen in the dash.
01-29-2009, 11:33 AM
#40
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M5, C63, 335Ci
Any more news on this front? It looks like the media interface is available as a $300 option on the new GLK? Hopefully that makes it more readily available for those of us in the C63.
08-14-2009, 07:03 PM
#44
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2008 C Class
Hi Guys
my First post. I have a 2009 build C63 with Australian specs.
The media interface does everything you could wish for the ipod. The ipod sits undisturbed int the glove compartment, is charged by the interface cable, goes into standby when the car is off. Tracks, playlists, artists, etc are displayed on the comand screen and tracks on the instrument panel display. Voice command (linguatronic) can be used to control track skipping and also with voice you can switch between ipod, radio and Cd.
my First post. I have a 2009 build C63 with Australian specs.
The media interface does everything you could wish for the ipod. The ipod sits undisturbed int the glove compartment, is charged by the interface cable, goes into standby when the car is off. Tracks, playlists, artists, etc are displayed on the comand screen and tracks on the instrument panel display. Voice command (linguatronic) can be used to control track skipping and also with voice you can switch between ipod, radio and Cd.
08-20-2009, 05:37 PM
#45
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2014 Lotus Evora S
Hi Guys
my First post. I have a 2009 build C63 with Australian specs.
The media interface does everything you could wish for the ipod. The ipod sits undisturbed int the glove compartment, is charged by the interface cable, goes into standby when the car is off. Tracks, playlists, artists, etc are displayed on the comand screen and tracks on the instrument panel display. Voice command (linguatronic) can be used to control track skipping and also with voice you can switch between ipod, radio and Cd.
my First post. I have a 2009 build C63 with Australian specs.
The media interface does everything you could wish for the ipod. The ipod sits undisturbed int the glove compartment, is charged by the interface cable, goes into standby when the car is off. Tracks, playlists, artists, etc are displayed on the comand screen and tracks on the instrument panel display. Voice command (linguatronic) can be used to control track skipping and also with voice you can switch between ipod, radio and Cd.
11-01-2009, 10:08 AM
#47
MBWorld Fanatic!
Are there actual HARDWARE differences between the Canadian models and the US models? Is there an adapter or something we can buy, or a software update to make the ipod visible and hopefully controllable from the comand screen?
11-02-2009, 09:28 AM
#48
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M5, C63, 335Ci
It is a hardware and software solution. You need the UCI hardware and the latest firmware on the COMAND unit as well as the COMAND programmed so it recognizes the UCI.
11-02-2009, 02:42 PM
#49
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09 C63
