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Is there any way to add bluetooth to a 2008 CLK550?
Probably not, but maybe someone knows something?
That's the big disadvantage of the integrated systems, you can't just go to Best Buy and install the latest system...
depends on what bluetooth function you talk about?
If you just want to pair your smart phone with the car audio system, a bluetooth cradle is all you need (assuming your CLK came with telephone connector in center armrest). I got mine working on 2009 CLK550 with my iPhone 5s/6.
If you want to stream music from your smart phone, that's a lot of work. Just remember back in 2008, there was not such thing as streaming music on bluetooth. Nowadays almost every new car comes with bluetooth. I actually think MB did a great job back in late 2000's to prepare for bluetooth-connected phone.
What is a bluetooth cradle? I have a cable in my glove box which connects to the old style iPhone 4 connector (before the current connector) and yes, all I want to do is use the speakerphone.
The cable in the glove compartment is likely just for music playback. Look in the center console. Do you have a connector like the photo below? If so, then all you need is a ~$150 Bluetooth puck to snap onto it. If not, then don;t bother trying to get the factory parts - they are well over $1000.
Take a look at my previous post (below). SIGagain posted great photos of the cradle on his 2007 CLK350 Cabriolet. That's exactly how I did on my 2009 CLK550. I got my bluetooth cradle from amazon (sold by reggy275, used, $195) and it works perfect. The cradle is in a vertical position with its butt connected to that little jack that Rudeney posted. On other Mercedes cars, the cradle seems in a horizontal position. https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class...clk-550-a.html
The cable in the glove box compartment is a 30-pin iPod connector for connecting to iPod to play music - that was the technology back in 2007-09. At that time, most car still used in-car telephone with physical phone wire. I use the 30-pin to lightning adapter to play music off my iPhone 5s.
Nowadays smart phones integrate both music and phone function together via bluetooth (wireless), so a $200 used bluetooth cradle (dealer price $500 new) does allow you to use the Mic and speakers of the car wirelessly on a 2007-09 MB, assuming your car has that little jack in the back of center armrest.
Mine doesn't have the little jack inside the armrest compartment. Is it in a different place on the convertible?
How did the phone function work (I have the premium HK system) for that car, where did one plug the phone in?
First, check if your steering wheel and command console has the "Tel" button. I'd think the Tel button means the car is pre-wired for Telephone. Finding an old cell phone that is compatible with MB hard-wired system might be difficult, I'd talk to the local MB dealer to find out.
Gus, for your MY2008 cabriolet, you have the roll-top center console. The connector for the puck, if you have one, would be inside the center console on the very back panel. Remember, the cell phone interface was a very expensive and rare option.
with Command and the premium Harman Kardon system your phone just pairs with the signal that comes from the "puck."...every time I get into my car now, the phone "connects", the bars show on my Command screen and I can use the phone function through the steering wheel with prompts on the instrument cluster (in phone)...
My steering wheel has the phone buttons, and the head unit has a "TEL" button, but I don't see anything inside my roll top center armrest to connect anything to.
Maybe it was meant to go through the iPhone connector?
the part that is under the roll top console is an extra cost item (puck) to pair your phone with the stuff already on your car then...mine had it already and I believe Rudney has an aftermarket system that is very good as well...
The mCar is very easy. You can install it in the glove compartment. It goes in place of the CD changer - so just remove it, do some minimal changes to the wiring and fiber connectors, and plug it in.
It's not $1200. (no offense Rudeney , I expected that but hunted it down)
I just did this in my CLK63. Cellguy85 on eBa, (Keith Valentine-7.one.4.746.593zero) had everything I needed. Cabrios can skip some parts, and my car setup was about 600. Works great with steering wheel, dials, mutes, etc. Install doable yourself if you can handle electronics, if not, really not awful in billable hours.
I also got the iPod adaptor from MB thru ECS, was about 160 for parts, install fiddly so sloth will make me take it to stereo shop.
Losses on BT streaming and lousy bitrates from itunes etc. make music sound awful. Try back to back plugged in and BT stream of same song. You'll never stream again.
HTH, great threads around with pics, KV has pics. A thread on adding voice control module has awesome pics of trunk areas where wires are.
I have the JB LAB "ClusterTalk2" installed on my CLK350 (2006), hands free calling and bluetooth audio combined. It's got decent sound quality but I'll be selling mine after I get the Android all-in-one navigation system installed next week.
It's not $1200. (no offense Rudeney , I expected that but hunted it down)
I just did this in my CLK63. Cellguy85 on eBa, (Keith Valentine-7.one.4.746.593zero) had everything I needed. Cabrios can skip some parts, and my car setup was about 600. Works great with steering wheel, dials, mutes, etc. Install doable yourself if you can handle electronics, if not, really not awful in billable hours.
Maybe prices have come down? The last time I checked Cellguy85's eBay listing, it was well over $1,000 for the parts, and that was the cabriolet (which yes, is a little easier than the coupe).
The mCar is very easy. You can install it in the glove compartment. It goes in place of the CD changer - so just remove it, do some minimal changes to the wiring and fiber connectors, and plug it in.
I have been looking for a way to contact/purchase a mCar Bluetooth handsfree system, but cannot find them!? I found the site at mcar.us but all of the sales links are bad. I would love to add integrated Bluetooth handsfree support to my 2007 CLK Cab, and the CD changer is dead anyway! Any tips onhow to proceed?
Thanks