Finally I got around to installing the command today after a few months of waiting for a nice day. Everything turned out great and working 100%. It was all plug & play once I got the bracket issue worked out. I refused to take apart the entire dash just for the bracket so I improvised and it worked out perfect. Some of you may not like it but hey it works for me and Im happy with it.

I first took everything apart and got the nav plugged in so I can see it working OK. I then took the old single din bracket and started to cut off the bottom of the slot for the single din radio. The bracket is still very stable and secured. On the side of where the storage bin goes there is a lip of some sort on both sides which I guess held the storage bin. You can see it in the pics.
I took a piece of 1 inch plywood off a used pallet and cut it to fit in that slot. The wood holds up very well. The wood is wide enough to hold the NAV and wide enough to fit snug inside the bracket. Every piece went back into place just fine and I also hooked up the AUX line into the C2 connector and ran the wire through the shifter area instead of the glove box area. This way I can have the Ipod next to me on the console.

So everything works just fine and looks great. The only thing is a small piece of ply wood inside the dash which no one can see. I do have the double din bracket and maybe one day if needed I can get it put in. The Ipod works OK through the AUX line until I get a interface of some sort installed. At least with the Ipod next to me on the console, I can control it and look at it when I can.

Thanks to SAMAS for the NAV unit and the advise on the install. The next project is Ipod interface and bluetooth system. Also thanks to everyone on this site who gave me advice when I was searching.

 

is that headlamp washer button a "fake" one?

 

Yeah it came with the wood trim I got from SAMAS. The car doesnt have headlamp washer. It looks better then the void.

 

awsome job, very clean, something u rarely see

how long did it take?

 

Nice job! But why did you choose to hack up a perfectly fine 1-DIN bracket when you do have the proper 2-DIN cage?

 

Looks awesome; can it be done on pre-facelift models also? Or should I better go for some universal double-DIN retrofit?

 

good job.

Hearing some of the comments on here, I figured it would be impossible to use, but after having it for about 3 months, I really like the NAV and its pretty simple to use.

Enjoy it.

 

Nice job, thanks for the step-wise instructions and the photos. I was lucky enough to buy my E320 with the COMAND/NAV and I really like it. I have to practice with the navigation though, I don't have the hang of it yet.

 

Good to see you happy, wood steering wheel, Nav and shift knob looks great, congrats and enjoy it !

 

well I cut the single din because I just didnt want to remove all the dash board parts. It took me about 2 hours for everything. The NAV is easy to use and looks great in the blue color at night. Im not sure if the pre face lift models are the same but I would guess they are the same inside.
Thanks.

 

does your "cluster directions" work? can you control the COMAND via Steering wheel?

 

looks great!

 

Yes the steering wheel controls work everything and I will be taking it to my friend at MB for them to program the cluster to work with the directions. I believe no one can do this but them and maybe Steve. Thanks

 

clean install

 

What steering wheel is installed? I want to purchase one with controls...and purchase a new gauge cluster display w/screen. But I'm thinking I would need to purchase a computer for that huh?

 

looks good!

 

Looks great!

 

The steering wheel is just a regular wood/leather wheel for the the 2001. I think to use the wheels with controls you will need to change the cluster and the computer but I'm not really sure. Maybe Steve can answer that question better. His email is around the forum somewhere. Thanks.

 

Great job
I have E280 2000 without comand and I want to install one,

advice me please?

 

Well once you have all the parts needed, I can give you step by step instructions on how I did mine if you are ok with it. remember I cut the single din bracket to make my command fit. It was cut very neatly and very stable so nothing is damaged or in jeaporady of any issues. It was just easier then removing all the dash board to change the bracket. Thanks

 

Wow looks great, very clean.
I did mine and that @#$%$#@ rack was a pain to get in. Good idea!

And tahanks forum for all the help with mine.

BG

 

Looks good, man. But what are those ~30 pin connectors in your dash? My 2002 E320 with Bose only had three blocks of 8 and 10 pin connectors. Was your car "prewired" for Command? Doesn't your car need a lot of other equipment to work the command? ie: speed sense (from radio?), gps?, what else?

 

The connectors are from the climate controls. The radio/command connectors were all used with the wiring harness I got with the NAV unit.
Its very easy to figure out and once the bracket is in the rest is plug & play and enjoy.