phatisfy

Thanks for the info! Post some pics up of that nav system asap.I have the exact same 1 waiting for install.

dkim

http://picasaweb.google.com/dyk917

enjoy! sorry for the low quality...pics taken with iphone

phatisfy

That looks sick!!!!

phatisfy

Just placed an order on the dash kit and harness.How long did it take for you to receive it?

dkim

took 3 days..not bad!

phatisfy

Kool thanks!

Lance10

Well the stereo shop did my install and my steering wheel buttons don't work. They said they are able to do it but it would cost an ADDITIONAL 250 dollars and they would have to have the car ALL DAY. The install was clean and the sound is almost as good as stock without an amplifier. I have a separate subwoofer in the back but the installation is so horrid and ugly I dare not post

Here's a pic of the HU installed

phatisfy

So I guess I'll need to get an amp for the subs? Or the bose sub would be useless

dkim

nice HU. I kinda regret getting the eclipse just cuz the navigation picture quality is horrible. I cant tell the difference between the blue route highlighted and the black streets esp. with sunglasses on. They should have made the color red instead of blue. maybe pioneer has a better looking navi.

so they did away with your bose amp but hooked your speakers up to the HU?

My bose amp is gone and replaced with an alpine amp. I'll probably add a nice sub and another sub amp in the next month. I need more bass. The bose sub now doesnt hit as hard as when it was factory.

i wonder if the installers can change the amp settings so the bass hits better.

???

anyways, good to see others making the change to aftermarket. Relatively cheap, looks soooo much better, and better navigation than the benz navi.

gotta love touch screen!

MikeDC

Hey Dkim,

Thanks for posting the pics. The install is outstanding! Did you consider using the Alpine IVA-W205 HU that Lance10 used? Which Pioneer are you referring to? What was your final cost on the install and do your steering wheel controls work? Do you have an AUX input for your iPOD (if so, where did you locate the AUX jack?).

Once again, great job!

dkim

thank mikedc

I never liked the alpines in the past because they had everything separate. dvd player but no navi, cd but no dvd, and so on. Plus a few years ago, they were expensive as hell. I dont know how the new alpines are, but lances' looks pretty good. plus i think their screen resolution is supposed to be better

After being turned off by the way the navi looked on the eclipse, i saw just pics of the pioneer avic-d3. much more better looking graphics and pics for the navi it seems. eh, too late now i guess.

final cost including all parts and installation was under $1200. Saved some money so i might add a jl w7 10" with amp.

steering wheel controls dont work, and to be honest, i kinda miss it. if there's a cheap solution in the future, i'll consider it.

no ipod connection but when i was considering it, i was gonna have them run the wire to the glove box where the changer is.

Lance10

After a week of having it installed, I love the Alpine unit, the picture is amazing compared to some of my friends video screens. As far as the steering wheel controls, I'm really missing them so I will be returning to have that done.
The quality of the sound versus the Bose stock system I feel is a bit worse without the factory AMP involved. MB did a great job in making a good sounding stock system and duplicating that would involve replacing the whole mid/high speakers and adding a high quality amplifier.

For my bass system in the back, I am seriously thinking about ripping it out. I basically spent $1100 for bass that cuts off every 10 seconds and has the Clarion amp flash blue 3x. The speaker and power wires were never hid and it's just hideous to look at. So far I'm hesitant to put the company's name down until they make it right but it's almost laughable how bad they did the work in the back versus the clean front end install.

rattler555

DKIM, great thread....lots of useful info for installing aftermarket HU for the CLK w/ FO . Where in nj is your installer located. I live in PA and can not find anyone who will touch my clk320 '04. I would like to have someone who is familiar with the process. I purchased a jvc nd nx5000 - navi,40gb hdd, dvd HU and found out afterwards all that is involved in the install. Does anyone who if all clk's 2004 are wire via FO? Thanks!

rattler555

I found an installer that will install my HU for 85$ He said my system is probably not Fiber since there is no Navi installed. Does anyone know for sure if all Bose systems are fiber from the HU to the amp? Also, does anyone know what ohms the bose 6.5s are? thanks.

dkim

if it's not fiber from hu to amp, i'm gonna sue my installer

haha good luck with the install. i think i remember reading the 6.5s are 1.5~2 ohms

MikeDC

It's fiber. That's what F's the whole thing up in trying to swap it out!

Sreilly

I would be interested to see your factory plugs send me pics if you have them. I just put a IVA-W205 into a 2004 G55 very similar command unit and it was wire to the amp and fiber to the CD Changer and ARGOS. I am not positive but I believe if your car is D2B fiber then that is just a ring for Changer,phone,Etc. not the Amp. we just used a newer VW harness and grabbed Switched at the Cigarette lighter.

1999-2004 are D2B not MOST and it is generally most that has Fiber to the AMP

rattler555

DKIM....dont sue your installer. I found out the inevitable, that my HU is indeed fiber so no NAVI or HDD or DVD . It would cost me $1100 just to replace the existing speaker system to install the HU. I opted not take that route and spend the extra $$$$on more tuning mods. Isthere any easy Ipod integration for the w209? thanks.

phatisfy

Does anyone know where you can tap the "speed sensor" wire to?
I have an 03 Clk and my installer can't find where to tap the speed sensor wire to.Any help is apreciated!!

mralf

Does anyone know or know where I could get the specs for the 2004 Bose CLK 500 system?
I was wondering what the amperage and speaker sizes are