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Backup Camera and Head Unit Installation questions - CLK - setup, parts, limitations?
I've searched far and wide on this forum and others, watched a bunch of youtube videos but still have a few questions regarding back up camera and head unit installation (some of them are pretty dated and/or applicable to the chinese android units which I am trying to avoid); appreciate the patience and apologies for the wall of words! I also wanted to write out so it'll be easier for people to find in the future, etc (also tried to write model numbers out as links break over time and i ran into a bunch of dead ends when people only provided links to parts..). I don't expect anyone to have all the answers but if possible, chime in where you can? And feel free to skip to the questions, a lot of this is background and/or less important questions. It's been a crazy multifaceted research journey and it's only just begun for something pretty simple but refuse to pay a thousand dollars for an install if parts/cables alone are $1,200 to $1,500 alone..
Will be receiving 2005 CLK55 amg cabriolet (convertible) a week or so and the first thing I need to do is get Apple Wireless Carplay and install a backup camera -- for modern comforts and also because my parking spot is TINY since I had no idea how large this car is. Thought it'd be small given it's a 2-door coupe but alas, I was mistaken.
First section is equipment, any feedback appreciated. Second is on wiring/installation Background:
- Car: '05 CLK55 AMG Cabriolet
- Current HU: 2.0 Command
- Audio: Harman Kardon optical fiber 10 speaker system
- Target setup: Sony XAV-AX6000($700): 7" receiver, Wireless CarPlay (no wired CarPlay)
Might consider downgrading to Sony XAV-AX4000 ($500) 7" but resistive screen and complaints about glare;
Won't get Wired-only CarPlay with Sony XAV-AX8100 ($650) 9" but no Wireless CarPlay and don't need floating screen as I want it to sit flush
Can't really justify the next level up to Sony XAV-9000ES ($800) +$100 7" and terrible reviews;
Can't justify Sony XAV-9500ES ($1,400) +$700 or 2x for 10.1" screen and an additional camera input;
Would consider Alpine iLX-507 ($750) +$50 similar specs to AX6000 but don't think the bottom buttons look good..
They didn't announce any new Head Units at CES and last year it took 6+ months for the Sony's to be available;
Alpine iLX-W670 is supposed to be the successor to the iLX-507 better looking buttons and but wired CarPlay only?! c'mon
Any Pioneer units equivalent to the AX6000?
Are there any recommended Dash Kit for 7" screens, aside from the Metra 99-8724B Dash Kit that Crutchfield recommends?
Can provide manufacturers and I can dig further...
Read previous mention of Scosche but didn't find compatible Dash kit on current site (only for 2002-2004 -- none for 2005, 2006
I couldn't figure out if any of the cheap chinese "D2B Digital Data Optical Fiber Decoder Boxes" work with the CLK; most are labeled CLS and/or Bose and/or wrong years (2001-2004) and not CLK and HK. There are a ton of them but they all look the same, have recycled photos, and no reviews.. what am I looking for specifically. This thread was helpful but is about a chinese android unit and for W205/C55; same for this thread but also dated..; a lot of dead ends all around and people suggesting to "return to OEM", which i don't want to do (b/c dated, no CarPlay, no Back up Camera..
but looks just like the aliexpress ones and not explicitly mentioned as compatible with CLK/W209/A209/C209
Who else makes one of these Optical Fiber decoders..? (question on wiring in next section)
I read that Seicane might make one but couldn't find for CLK/W209/A209/C209; which model is most similar to W209 2005? Is there an inference to be made -- like does it depend purely on the HK amp? b/c not sure why it wouldn't be otherwise interchangeable; there are different ones listed for G-class, SLs, E-class, CLS, SLK, ML, R ---> is it this one?!
Crutchfield recommends Connects2 CT51-MC07 Amplifier Interface ($190), which I will go for, for peace of mind... apologies for the wall of text, in trying to save $90 lol
Going to get this Axxess unit unless there's a known compatibility issue; I saw on the manufacturer's website that the setup might be complex/unique with Sony, but i dont know
They have a bunch of models including: SWI-CP2, SWI-CP5, SWI-RC-1, SWI-RC
- Rear/Backup Camera hardwired: don't want to go wireless as I feel it's janky/deal with interference (although it's 2024, this should be solved by now..)
This should be simple, will find any random one w/ high resolution, low profile, low light, and 25ft+ cable... does anyone have a wiring guide for W209 convertible or I will just wing it as per the other ones..
Is there an ACC power source in/near the trunk of CLK55 AMG? or should I tap the one near HU for rear camera?
Can I tap the ACC power source for both the rear camera (^^) and for the Optical decoder thing?
Even if these two questions (^^) are 'Yes', how does the HU know when the car is shifted in reverse to switch the input on the display?
Would I still need to splice into the rear brake light power for the camera to send signal to HU to switch display?
Am I missing something about CANBUS that does this? if so, how does it trigger?
Sony HU say's comes with GPS antenna (attached 10' cable terminated by a FAKRA connector), can I use the pre-existing GPS antenna (assuming there is one..)?
Same question (^^) for microphone
For the questions about existing GPS and microphone, will the Metra wiring harness force me to replace the GPS/Mic or complicate the install if elect to keep existing equipment?
What does the parking break feature in Head Units do? The Crutchfield install kit says the install package isn't compatible but not sure what functionality this even provides..
Do I have a speed pulse line in? Sony manual says it's for CarPlay, does this exist in W209 existing equipment?
I hate to be the bearer of bad news here and I am sorry I am. Like yourself I was extremely happy to do this type of a setup to my CLK’s. At one point I had 3 CLK’s 320, 350 and 55AMG. I wanted to do it to all of them. Once was enough. The aftermarket units are just not of good quality nor are they reliable. Constant cutting out, functions now missing such as the clock,Bluetooth issues, slow to turn on. I hate to say it but it really is best to just keep it OEM. Find a aux cord and run it into your phone and listen to music that way. It works 100% of the time. The amount of time, energy and money to complete these installs are best spent somewhere else.
@C280 Sport which HU did you go with? Was it a chinese/android one? could that be the source of the issues (and not necessarily, the wiring and the adaptors, etc)?
Going to keep going until maybe someone chimes in and/or I figure it out. Between the Connects2 and the Seicane Digital decoders for HK, the difference is just the Red (ACC) Wire (see photos/screenshots). Why doesn't Seicane unit have ACC wire? (this Thread was helpful and kind of alluded to otherwise..?). Would it possible persistently drain the battery, Of if it's powered by cigarette 12V does it do both the power and the trigger in one?
Potentially useful component (if I cannot locate the speed pulse output; supposed to be green and white wire in passenger door sill..) -- CAN Bus Speed and RPM interface
Going to keep going until maybe someone chimes in and/or I figure it out. Between the Connects2 and the Seicane Digital decoders for HK, the difference is just the Red (ACC) Wire (see photos/screenshots). Why doesn't Seicane unit have ACC wire? (this Thread was helpful and kind of alluded to otherwise..?). Would it possible persistently drain the battery, Of if it's powered by cigarette 12V does it do both the power and the trigger in one?
Connects 2 Diagram (w/ Red ACC wire)
Update: reached out to Seicane and they said their decoder (without the ACC power) is only compatible with their HU
Thread on W209 CANBUS system w/ diagrams; i think the 2005 has the D2B system. I still cant figure out if I need something like this adapter in order to get the reverse trigger for camera (to signal into HU...)
Only need to plug in the cigarette lighter to use wireless CarPlay or Android auto, and you can use the original car audio. We can sponsor one for free. If anyone wants to try it, please contact us. https://carlinklife.com/products/7-5...-screen-player
as I have about the same amount of experience but I might struggle infinitely harder trying to pull cables through a convertible...maybe it would be wise to just use a crappy wireless video transmitter, instead of hardwiring to HU..
Haven't found a single video or instructions on how to pull cables through the cabriolet, specifically, only stuff on general wiring and trunks.. so watched a bunch of other videos just to try to catch a glimpse of what cabling/ports were exposed due to each step...
From my research it seems, i'll need to do the following (in this order, too..)
- take dashboard side trim (to get to HU under the steering wheel column)
- remove door trim
- take off seatbelt
- take off seatbelt presenter -
- take off rear seat back
- take off bottom rear side panel -- this one looked THE WORST
HOPEFULLY, from there I can follow the large bunch of cables to the back, under all the convertible top components straight into the trunk -- wonder if will be able to run along the bottom of where the top side panel is...
- wire into the trunk fuse box/ sam module
- wire up along the trunk hinge
- then follow all the standard instructions on trunk interior panels (easiest part...)
All the videos of people taking off the rear side panels look like a gigantic mess, would love if this could be avoided...
Only need to plug in the cigarette lighter to use wireless CarPlay or Android auto, and you can use the original car audio. We can sponsor one for free. If anyone wants to try it, please contact us. https://carlinklife.com/products/7-5...-screen-player
NGL, the more i read into this, the more tempting this is.. is your device only dash mounted? And only wired CarPlay? As a chinese guy, i don't want my data going to China ;] No offense mean tho!
I ordered the Sony AX6000 and Metra dash kit but am looking for something the might be better fitting. There's a slight gap when test fitting the components - see below - but a comment on Crutchfield mentioned that it was gone upon install.. we shall see.
Wish i had access to a 3D printer to fix this gap..
@C280 Sport which HU did you go with? Was it a chinese/android one? could that be the source of the issues (and not necessarily, the wiring and the adaptors, etc)?
I got the dash all ripped apart but cant figure out wiring for the HU =/
I'm still looking for can lo, can hi, reverse, speed ...
My wiring bundle doesn't look like the Comand 2.0 pin out diagrams that I've seen online. Aside from the 3 fakra cables (black - antenna; yellow - phone; blue - GPS), I only have one bundle (black connector), which has 7 wires coming out of it - see photo. Then I have another 5 cables coming out of a white plug.
I had initially thought the 7 or 8 were as follows (if it was the Connector A based on aforementioned diagrams):
1 - tannish orange : non-can speed signal
2 - blue/black : diagnostic connector under hood
3 - brown/red : telephone mute
4 - blue/red/orange : +12 bat
5 - yellow : 12v+ ant antenna out
6 - missing : illumination <----- i don't have a cable here is this N/A?
7 - brown : 12v
8 - black : ground
but someone on fb said, "typical Mercedes cable colours are "black/blue = D2B or MOST wake up", "brown/red = CANbus high", "brown = CANBus low" (if the cable is twisted with a "brown/red" one); a thicker brown cable is normally "GND" (ground). "Red/Blue = 12V"." Can anyone confirm this? And does anyone know what's coming out of the white connector?
Maybe you should consider 1 of the Seicane units that utilize al the old button space, no face gaps, give you a full 8" screen and leave plenty of room for wiring behind. Either https://www.seicane.com/for-2006-201...-support-h2697
or https://www.seicane.com/android-for-...lay-obd2-h6776
Looks like the 1st one has an upgraded touch screen. Here's a link to photos of my Seicane, same face but an older version. I've left the top button panel loose to make easier access because I'm still trying to get CANBUS to work. https://photos.app.*******/zDqNZydqg8Dbug4t9
As to your Q's, I don't believe there is a speed or reverse wire in the HU wire bundles. For Reverse, I tied into the Shifter R light. I thought I found the 2 CANBUS wires, a twisted pair, 1 brown and 1 brown with strip as shown in Marco's video but it doesn't work for me.
01-15-2024, 01:34 AM
