Hello, I’m fairly new to this forum. Yesterday night, I was attempting to finish the installation of my new Apple CarPlay kit in my vehicle. Trying to put the radio back, I was stuck due to the wires being in the way. No matter how I moved it, it seemed like it wouldn’t go back. Does anyone know how to move them to a place where I can put the head unit back?



Thanks, Fares

The wires post installation, the carplay kit does work.

It is very challenging! I ended up cutting some of the plastic at the rear of and to the right where the head unit slides in. This allowed me to route some of the wire harnesses and move some of the bulky pieces under the glove box. I recommend wearing gloves because my hands get pretty torn up with the sharp edges in there. Good luck!

I think I can help. I installed a system in my car (2014 Mercedes E550 convertible, 4.5/4.7 radio new system 12.3" screen Linux based operating system. It is android auto but not a full Android operating system, basic differences between the 2 systems, Linux can not down load apps it works with the apps on your phone and costs about 1/2 the price of a full Android operating system).

Any way down to your problem. Read it all you may learn from my mistakes.

I installed the system Iast weekend and it is not easy, it took me the better part of a day to complete and hours of internet research and youtube videos days before I got started. I had a hard time finding disassembly instructions especially for the center console were I needed to connect the AIM cable for sound.
I had the same problem you are having stuffing all the new cables back in to slide the stock head unit back in place. Its doable but not easy.

I found that you need to stuff the new cables in behind the factory heating and AC control unit as follows. Slide the radio in about 1/2 way and get your hand in the open space on top and behind the radio and start pushing the cables down even more in behind the heating and AC control unit. If you have big hands you may have to get some help from some one with smaller hands to get in behind the radio. I have average size hands and got it done, I got a little cut up though.

Also the factory 2 prong plug that plugs into the lower right corner in behind the front facia of the factory radio needs to be routed around the side of the radio and not underneath it, this is the same way it should have been originally installed, this held me up for quite a while until I figured this out.

Take a close look at all the wiring and make sure nothing is in the way. All of this fiddling around will probably take more than a few attempts but don't lose your cool and be patient, it is doable. I had to walk away a few times lol.

I was finally able to get the radio in but had to keep it pushed in with one hand and tighten the 2 top screws on the radio one at a time. The bundle of new cables kept wanting to push the radio out slightly and miss aligning the brackets that tighten the radio via the aluminum clamping brackets on the side of the hole in the dash that slides up when tightening or loosening the 2 to screws.

Very important side note: I loosed the 2 factory radio screws some more I thought that was keeping the radio from going all the way back in, that was not the case. Only loosen them enough to pull the radio out once you have the radio out they are loose enough to put it back in. I found out the hard way and loosened one to much and heard a god awful metal clunking noise. Something dropped down into the bottom of the console. It was the aluminum clamping bracket that I mentioned above. Luckily I had to remove the console any way to install the AMI cable and found the bracket easily but it was difficult getting it back in place. I had to attach a section of loose wire to it through the threaded screw hole in the bracket and fish it back into place.

Funny thing, after I thought all the hard work was do done the last and hardest things for me when finishing up the install was mounting the new screen. The new bezel fit just fine and the new screen attached to the new bezel fine but the 2 screws that secure the new screen to the new bezel were a reel pain in the *** to get in. So close to the windshield and can't see what you are doing. I put the top down that didn't help but I finally got it done after about an hour of fiddling around.

Most important do not skip these steps or you may be going through the whole install again. You need to complete these steps because you may have something wired incorrectly or forgot to connect something.
Before you reinstall the radio and the AC vent hook up the new screen (not mounted) power on and make sure all the functions work for the new screen. This will entail setting up the device. Bluetooth, WIFI, down load any required software to your phone Android Auto and so on. Check to make sure when you switching to the car screen from you new screen you can see the factory screen. You most likely have to go into setting to change the resolution. Check for sound on both devise and all your media, phone music and so on.

I have installed many car stereos in my life time, custom systems lots of wiring with amps subwoofer, fabricated custom speaker boxes you name it.

One killer system installed in my wife's 1979 BMW Z3 convertible included custom fiberglass subwoofer enclosure with 6-1/2" JL Audio sub to replace the very weak factory sub between the seats. Replaced the head unit all the weak factory speakers, installed Bass Shakers on the floor under both seats (they just vibrate giving the allusion of more Bass high end movie theater use them), 2 - 4 channel amps and crossovers in the trunk. All hidden factory appearance except for the amps and other equipment in the trunk.

My point is I've done it all and this installation in my Mercedes was no cake walk even though it is plug and play. But in the end well worth it.

I'm getting older and would rather of paid to get the touch screen installed so I called around to custom shops and no installers in may area Pittsburgh, PA wanted to touch it, maybe because I didn't buy from them (money is money installs aren't free and expected to pay a reasonable install fee) but I suspect they just don't have the knowledge to do these types installations or are just scared of touching a Mercedes

After a week of using the new system I really like it but still have a lot to learn about it.

Attached is are some pics, of my install probably won't help you much. I wish I would have taken more throughout the process.
Also attached is is a pic I found on how to change your boot up logo. I had to fiddle around resizing the pic I wanted to use. I had resize to just under the recommended 1920 x 720 resolution it worked for me as you can see in the attached pic of my boot up screen.

Sorry this reply is so long, I hope it helps you out. Good luck and be patient.