When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
CURRENT:W209 2009 CLK350 Coupe FORMER: W245 2006 B200
[C209] Help! Final Steps of Bluetooth Retrofit
Hi all,
I'm a new member of the forum here, and I am on the final steps of the bluetooth retrofit on my 2009 CLK 350 Coupe w/ AMG package. It is equipped with both harmon-kardon AND sirius.
I've attached the 2 resources I used.
I am stuck on the part where I have to reconfigure the MOST ring (Sound-Out to Tel-In, Tel-Out to SDARS-Out), but I cannot find where to rewire these. Star Bulletin says that these are located in the "exposed transmission tunnel area". I have removed the carpeting there already, but see no signs of the fiber optics(please see attached images). Are they just tucked really far in??
Other than that step, I have the following already completed:
-UHI contact plate + puck installed. Puck powers up and can already connect to my phone.
-microphone connections completed
-uhi telephone module installed
Just to clarify, NO fiber optic re-connections have been made anywhere yet besides plugging TEL into the UHI telephone module.
If anyone has any advice at all, it would be much appreciated. Thank you!
You have to install much more than just the UHI dock. There are two or three pieces of old analog cell phone interface components along with the fiber that is necessary. I know that sounds strange, but it's because the electronics in your car were created in the days of analog cellular. What they used to sell was a special MBZ-branded analog cell phone that snapped into a cradle. That routed its signals through a 3-watt booster. Even after analog cellular died and they came out with simple docks and then the Bluetooth module, those still had to emulate an old analog phone.
There used to be a guy on eBay that sold a kit for about $1,000. I think he stopped as the source for those parts has dried up. My advice would be to find an aftermarket product that emulates all of this in a single box. There are several out there - search the forum for info on various brands and models. Most cost around $300. A better alternative might be to replace the radio with an aftermarket unit that give you all the modern feature you need.
CURRENT:W209 2009 CLK350 Coupe FORMER: W245 2006 B200
Hey Rudeney, thanks for the information! I was only going for the bluetooth, so I ignored all the analog components (linear compensator, etc). All my original parts came from eBay off salvage cars.
I got the bluetooth working today! In case anyone comes to this thread in the future, since I have sirius installed in my car, I was able to ignore the transmission tunnel completely. All I had to do was swap Sound with Sound1. And swap SDARS with SDARS1.
There was actually a discussion on this over at the w203 page.
If you got this to work without installing the booster, compensator, and about 8 different fiber cable connections, then that is a miracle. You should document the exact part numbers you purchased and where you installed them.
The exact parts list in in the "Notes" pdf I attached in the original post.
Side note: Newest bluetooth puck is CKIII-HFP4 (B6 788 0001). I used CKIII-HFP2 (B6 787 6131). The one I used was perfectly fine for importing my phone's contacts.
-Since I had nowhere to bolt the UHI telephone module, I just used velcro tape and stuck it wherever there was a flat surface. The power connector and the TEL fiber optic were located behind the HK amplifier. You have to dig them out.
-The two mic connections were easily accessible under the plastic panelling under the liftable carpetted floor of the trunk.
-Would like to stress that because I had HK sound system AND sirius originally installed, most of the fiber optic connections were already made. Only SOUND1 and SDARS1 connection had to be made.
-If you do not have sirius installed, then you would probably have to go to transmission tunnel for extra fiber optic rewiring.
-I didn't even need to install any extra fuses. When I checked the, all necessary fuses were already there.
If I am reading BRS25's message correctly, to install bluetooth, I need a bluetooth dock/puck, an HCU (which is what? something something unit) and a little time in the right rear of the trunk. I have the B&O sound system and Sirius (which I have never activated and don't want to). No nav, six disk CD changer, which I want to keep
I can't find the Notes pdf from the original post (because I can't find the original post), so I would request that someone either kindly direct me to it or simply list the parts on it.
It begins to sound (no pun intended) that if the collection of obsolete/unobtanium analog parts are actually not needed (per the message above), this may be a fairly simple way to get bluetooth in my car (08 CLK 350 convertible).
CURRENT:W209 2009 CLK350 Coupe FORMER: W245 2006 B200
Originally Posted by MachNone
If I am reading BRS25's message correctly, to install bluetooth, I need a bluetooth dock/puck, an HCU (which is what? something something unit) and a little time in the right rear of the trunk. I have the B&O sound system and Sirius (which I have never activated and don't want to). No nav, six disk CD changer, which I want to keep
I can't find the Notes pdf from the original post (because I can't find the original post), so I would request that someone either kindly direct me to it or simply list the parts on it.
It begins to sound (no pun intended) that if the collection of obsolete/unobtanium analog parts are actually not needed (per the message above), this may be a fairly simple way to get bluetooth in my car (08 CLK 350 convertible).
Is there a summary of "how to do it"?
Best Regards,
Mike/Florida
Hey Mike, before you consider the original Mercedes option, keep in mind the bluetooth does phone calls only. It does not stream music. The whole install took me 3-4 hours. I could probably do it faster the second time around.
You can find two pdf files in the first post (it's right at the top of this page). The links are underneath the photos I attached. Since you have a convertible, you need to access both the right and left sides of the trunk area. All of this is summarized quite well in the Notes pdf.
Since you have Sirius installed, your fiber optic re-connections may be similar to what I wrote in my earlier posts (meaning it will may differ from the Notes pdf slightly). Have a read through the files and post here again if you have questions for me.
By the way, I think you mean harman kardon. Not B&O
Yes, you are correct. The B&O stuff is in the house and in the hangar, the Harman Kardon stuff is in the car. (Incidentally, the B&O stuff, while absurdly expensive new, is often available on Craigslist for next to nothing.It still works just fine, sounds good, and I have never paid over $100 for any single B&O component. I also have a stack of Dynaco equipment, same deal. Parts and upgrades are widely available, these use discrete components and if you can work a soldering pencil, you can fix or modify them to your heart's - and to your ears' - content. Result is I have a really good sound system in my man cave, which gives me yet another excuse to be there.)
I only want the Bluetooth phone capability for the car, I don't need to stream music, nor do I want or need the steering wheel controls and track title displays for the music.
I do want to have steering wheel controls for the phone (if possible), my goal is to dial, talk and hang up without taking my hands off the wheel or my eyes off the road.
I'll review the two files (print and annotate them), and if (when) I have questions or need a bit of guidance, I will check back in. Optimistically, the next message will be "It WORKS!" but realistically, it will more likely be "How do I . . . ?" or "What is . . . ?" or similar.
CURRENT:W209 2009 CLK350 Coupe FORMER: W245 2006 B200
Hey Mike, the steering control buttons indeed work. you can accept, decline calls, and scroll through your phone's phonebook using the up/down keys. Unfortunately if you have a large phonebook, you will have to press the up/down keys several times before you find the person you want. It is a lot easier to initiate the call through the head unit. It is even 10x easier if you have linguatronic installed (but that's for another discussion).
Good luck on your install, and don't hesitate to ask more questions.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
[C209] Help! Final Steps of Bluetooth Retrofit
