Stereo upgrades: iPhones, bluetooth, and OEM look
#1
Stereo upgrades: iPhones, bluetooth, and OEM look
Hey all. New to the forum here, so apologies if this has been asked already.
After being a BMW fan for MANY years, I just got a 2005 CLK320 (my first Merc!) and I'm officially a convert. LOVE this car. But I want to know what's the best stereo upgrade available?
I want to keep it OEM, or at least OEM look. I'm not interested in altering the L&F of the car if it's at all possible.
I need Bluetooth and iPhone integration. Don't really care about Nav; that's what iPhones are for, right?
I want to keep the dash display and wheel controls.
It's hard to find this info online strangely, so any advice you can offer is greatly appreciated.
Cheers!
After being a BMW fan for MANY years, I just got a 2005 CLK320 (my first Merc!) and I'm officially a convert. LOVE this car. But I want to know what's the best stereo upgrade available?
I want to keep it OEM, or at least OEM look. I'm not interested in altering the L&F of the car if it's at all possible.
I need Bluetooth and iPhone integration. Don't really care about Nav; that's what iPhones are for, right?
I want to keep the dash display and wheel controls.
It's hard to find this info online strangely, so any advice you can offer is greatly appreciated.
Cheers!
#2
If you want the keep the factory radio, mCar makes an add-on that will give you Bluetooth hands-free and streaming, as well is iPod connectivity (by emulating the CD changer). There's info about it on the forum.
If you intend to replace the head unit, about your only choice to match the factory L&F is Dynavin.
If you intend to replace the head unit, about your only choice to match the factory L&F is Dynavin.
#3
You might need to compromise a little on what you want. Unfortunately there are not a whole lot of options available. What country are you in? Different markets had different options and different solutions. Its easy to keep the steering wheel functions with any option but generally full functionality only comes with an aftermarket head unit. Hopefully 2005 was the facelift year as that will make it easier for you.
#4
Thanks guys.
Dynavin is my go-to choice but they don't make a unit for the 2005+ CLK. It's frustrating.
They DO make a unit for the C-class, but I'm unsure if it will fit my car. Though the graphics show the HUD display of my car and not the C. Again, frustrating.
I'm in Canada, and yes 05 is the facelift year with the fibre-optic system and Harmon Kardon Logic7 sound.
Dynavin is my go-to choice but they don't make a unit for the 2005+ CLK. It's frustrating.
They DO make a unit for the C-class, but I'm unsure if it will fit my car. Though the graphics show the HUD display of my car and not the C. Again, frustrating.
I'm in Canada, and yes 05 is the facelift year with the fibre-optic system and Harmon Kardon Logic7 sound.
#5
There's also this company Seicane, but I've never heard of them and they seem sketchy as hell.
Anyone ever dealt with them before?
http://www.seicane.com/android-7-inc...-wifi-sia-9302
Anyone ever dealt with them before?
http://www.seicane.com/android-7-inc...-wifi-sia-9302
#6
The only difference between the W203 and W209 radio is about a centimeter's worth of width (the W203 is wider). Search the form (and benzworld) - I believe there have been some members using the W203 Dynavin in the W209. I seem to recall one guy actually shaved down the sides of the unit to make it fit better.
#7
Hey all. New to the forum here, so apologies if this has been asked already.
After being a BMW fan for MANY years, I just got a 2005 CLK320 (my first Merc!) and I'm officially a convert. LOVE this car. But I want to know what's the best stereo upgrade available?
I want to keep it OEM, or at least OEM look. I'm not interested in altering the L&F of the car if it's at all possible.
I need Bluetooth and iPhone integration. Don't really care about Nav; that's what iPhones are for, right?
I want to keep the dash display and wheel controls.
It's hard to find this info online strangely, so any advice you can offer is greatly appreciated.
Cheers!
After being a BMW fan for MANY years, I just got a 2005 CLK320 (my first Merc!) and I'm officially a convert. LOVE this car. But I want to know what's the best stereo upgrade available?
I want to keep it OEM, or at least OEM look. I'm not interested in altering the L&F of the car if it's at all possible.
I need Bluetooth and iPhone integration. Don't really care about Nav; that's what iPhones are for, right?
I want to keep the dash display and wheel controls.
It's hard to find this info online strangely, so any advice you can offer is greatly appreciated.
Cheers!
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#8
If you don't care for the NAV to be on your car's screen, in my older 2008 C-Class I used a Blackberry Bluetooth A2DP streaming connection. This connects to the AUX input and requires an external power source (I plugged it into the car power outlet that was in the glovebox next to my AUX input in my C-Class).
This allowed me to stream music wirelessly from my iPhone through my car when I connect to the AUX setting. It would also play nav instructions through the car's radio if I had it turned on (would even lower music).
It was pretty cool and seemingly integrated, it would power on by itself and my phone would connect automatically when my car started. I don't recall if calls came in over this setup as my C-Class had this feature and would take over.
The adapter was pretty expensive (~$70) on Amazon, but I think I found one on eBay for half that. You can get something other than the Blackberry one much cheaper, but I'm not sure of the quality of those. Sound quality on the blackberry unit was actually pretty good.
This allowed me to stream music wirelessly from my iPhone through my car when I connect to the AUX setting. It would also play nav instructions through the car's radio if I had it turned on (would even lower music).
It was pretty cool and seemingly integrated, it would power on by itself and my phone would connect automatically when my car started. I don't recall if calls came in over this setup as my C-Class had this feature and would take over.
The adapter was pretty expensive (~$70) on Amazon, but I think I found one on eBay for half that. You can get something other than the Blackberry one much cheaper, but I'm not sure of the quality of those. Sound quality on the blackberry unit was actually pretty good.
Last edited by jctevere; 09-08-2014 at 10:52 PM.
#12
#14
There are several options, here's one I found with a quick Internet search:
http://pac-audio.com/default.aspx
http://pac-audio.com/default.aspx
#15
There are several options, here's one I found with a quick Internet search:
http://pac-audio.com/default.aspx
http://pac-audio.com/default.aspx
#16
A pioneer (or any other after-market solution) doesn't work for me; I love the OEM look at I like to think my after-market stereo upgrade days are FAR behind me at this point.
Right now I'm considering a refurbished COMAND system; from what I understand they're plug & play, but I don't know if they have BT built in. If they do, that's a perfect solve for me, as my car came with the iPod kit already installed.
Will a refurb 09 COMAND solve my problem?
Thanks guys
Right now I'm considering a refurbished COMAND system; from what I understand they're plug & play, but I don't know if they have BT built in. If they do, that's a perfect solve for me, as my car came with the iPod kit already installed.
Will a refurb 09 COMAND solve my problem?
Thanks guys
#19
Drats.
Well then I guess all I'm looking for is a reliable and invisible way to add BT functionality to my existing head unit.
The car came with a Parrot installed, and it's just terrible. I'd really like for the phone buttons on the stereo to work...any thoughts?
Thanks everyone
Well then I guess all I'm looking for is a reliable and invisible way to add BT functionality to my existing head unit.
The car came with a Parrot installed, and it's just terrible. I'd really like for the phone buttons on the stereo to work...any thoughts?
Thanks everyone
#20
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 512
Likes: 11
From: Houston, TX
W209 CLK Renntech Widebody, C140 CL600 V12, AP2 S2000, NSX Twin Turbo, R8 V10
Get the mCar audio device. It's exactly what you want because I was looking for the same thing. Check eBay as mcar sells there.
#24
Not really branded but i think it is this one:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Merce...757260857.html
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Merce...757260857.html