Nero Tenebre

Eddie, are you sure this would have worked with your Audio20 system? I am on the fence about just doing the headphone cable to AUX jack but if this works with my Audio20 then it's only a little more... except it's probably the old iphone4 connector and not iphone5. I bought an adapter for the 4/5 conversion but it does not work with the OEM jack even in the '11 GL450, I'm not sure if it's the adapter or the car though since the adapter is not apple genuine.

eddieo45

I am pretty sure that it would work with Audio20, mostly because i didn't believe the parts guy and made him show me multiple screens. At the time, I didn't pursue the iPod cable because I already had the Aux-in cable and didn't want to have to remove the headunit to install the iPod cable (the Aux-in goes under the doorsill.) Since then, I've had the headunit out multiple times so maybe I wish I did go that route, assuming it would show artist/title info in the MFD*. One "advantage" I've had is that I'm using iPods that are as old as our cars! If you think about it, it makes perfect sense for a late-2012 iPhone to not work in a 2007 or 2006 MB. I think it's worth whatever minimal trouble and expense to keep a separate iPod just for the car...

*in my wife's 2007 E350 with the OEM iPod cable in the glovebox, the artist/title info DOES appear in the MFD, but there's no way to control the iPod while it's connected, e.g. you can't scroll playlists.

Nero Tenebre

Thanks for the quick response Eddie, and for your suggestions.

I did some research on the apple 30 pin to lightning adapter and it seems that they are hit or miss when it comes to car audio though the consensus is that it should work for audio but definitely not video. I also am not clear on how the iPod cable works, if it would replace the AUX input mode for the headphone jack or what. I think it will be best if I also just do the AUX headphone jack input as forward compatibility will continue to be a problem in the future as new connectors are introduced, whereas the headphone jack will endure time much better (though bluetooth audio may hurt that). I actually have an extra iPod I could just keep in the car, but it would be a hassle to keep updating it with new music. I'm not after storage capacity as much as keeping current music available, which is most often found on my phone.

eddieo45

Bear in mind, with the Aux-in you'll have to constantly adjust the volume from the Ipod unless you get another 13 pin adapter (I can send you a link). I'm a music lunatic (djeddieo-dot-com) and I actually like having different iPods with different sets; iTunes makes that easy.

Rudeney

The MBZ OEM iPod kit works with any radio in any car using the MOST system (MY2005+ except the W163 ML and G-wagon). Basically, the head unit, whether it's an audio 20 or COMAND, is not involved at all with the iPod. The interface just uses the radio's AUX input to feed analog audio. The radio cannot be used to control he iPod. However, the steering wheel controls and the MFD can be used to display the song title and change tracks and choose a playlist. It's not an elegant way to get iPod control, but it works.

Oh, and to select playlists, you use the phone buttons on the steering wheel. It's covered in the manual.

Nero Tenebre

Thank you Guru Rodney! I was still unsure about the adapter but if someone is looking to use the old 30 pin connector then I would say the iPod cable is worth the little extra money to have steering wheel controls work.

Actually, can you have both? I presume not because they both operate on the AUX input.

Rudeney

No, you can't use both - the OEM iPod adapter "interjects" itself into the AUX input so it is disabled.