Neicey59

I have neighbors who drive both the new Honda Accord, and the Nissan Altima..they laugh when they pass me loading the trunk located CD player in my 02 E class. Is there a nice in dash CD player/tuner for the E class??

Going to one's trunk to load CD's has truly become obsolete.

Dema

Buy '03 E class with CD changer in dash and be contemporary. If seriously, I do not see a big problem to load a CD magazine in a changer in trunk. I bought 4 extra magazines in Circuit City ($30 pair) and loading CD much easy than feed an in-dash changer disk by disk. I have also MP3 player in glove box, so when I'm on road I can load an equivalent of 10 disks.

apl175

There is a solution for this that is OEM (though not to the North American Market) - you can get the Mercedes Benz Audio 10 with CD or even the Audio 30 with CD.

Do a search on www.ebay.de for "Audio 10" and "Audio 30".

There are disadvantages:
- No weather band
- poor AM performance due to different frequency spacing

The audio 10 system though, is alleged to have noticeably better audio quality - with better bass....though this is also up to speculation. Also you get station naming, song naming, and traffic reports via RDS (Roadway Data Service) with EON (Extended Other Networks)...though these services are not as prevelant as in the states. The EON function allows you to listen to national stations while still being able to receive traffic broadcast interruptions from local stations.

Richard / E320

Neicey59:

I agree with Dema; buy a few CD magazines and you can label the magazines based on the type of music you have loaded.

Admittedly, changing the magazine isn't as easy because it's in the trunk but for me, I'd rather be driving my M-B, than a Honda or Nissan, in-dash 6-disk CD player or not.

And next time they drive by laughing, tell them you were just checking the air pressure in the spare...

apl175

If you want a changer however, there's no immediate OEM solution available.

The closest the one can come to is a DIN sized CD Changer/Tuner - the Nakamichi MB-75 and MB-100 combine a radio tuner with a 6 disc CD changer in a regular single DIN sized opening. www.nakamichi.com

The look isn't too bad, and not as ghetto as something from Clarion, Pioneer or even Sony or Blaupunkt.

There are pre-amp outs too.....

thuggirl

I happen to have the Nakamichi MB-75 6 disc in dash changer coupled with an alpine amp that was mounted vertically against the rear trunk wall that sounds great but the changer it's self is plagued with issues such as slower than crap cd-changing, disc load errors, problems reading some discs especially the new copy-protected ones, and has mediocre anti-skip protection. I am very dissapointed with my cd-changer and would not recommend it unless it was the only option available to me...

Limited Edition 190E

I found THIS on eBay but it ends in an hour

Regards,

Don

Fanatic

Does anyone have the OEM Part Number for the Audio 10 and Audio 30?

What are the differences?

Larry Sonsini

Another option is to retrofit command...then you'll have the in dash CD as well as the changer.

Fanatic

Thanks for the suggestion, however I think this is more work than it's worth. My car was never designed to have command, so I was looking for something that would just be a direct replacement and not look out of place.

Neicey59

Thanks to Steve K. I now have COMAND, and can load a single CD without going to the trunk - me and my car are once again in love...!!!!!!

Neicey59

Yes, I've revived the dead - that's what us Nurses do best! I have a question about this thread, I was digging around in the archives trying to find an answer to my comand question - and came upon this.

I have a Euro Comand is this why I no longer have weatherband and AM reception?

MikeyE430

I'm with you, Niecey! I HATE the changer in my trunk - it has never worked correctly, still doesn't (4th one in 4 years). I would settle for a nice in-dash SINGLE CD player.

raymond g-

I switched from the stock unit and popped in the Audio 10 last week. Took less than 1 min and it was up and running. It also gave you the option of continuing to use the boot CD changer, yet with the convenience of dash accessible, single CD. You lose the audio tape access. Presets are accessible in sequential fashion (twirl knob) as oppose to random (dedicated buttons). You gain shortwave band but I've not touched it. AM and FM seemed more sensitive as I was able to listen to stations heretofore, weak and staticky. I've seen low price of $275 and high of $399 for the Audio 10.

Neicey59

sounds inviting - now lets talk about the less than 1 minute installation - do you have pics?

raymond g-

No, sorry. The installation was so quick the camera shutter wasn't able to record the installation. :-)

1 - insert the left radio key into the small horiz slot on lower left panel
2 - insert the right radio key into the small horiz slot on lower right panel
3 - pull radio out 6" and remove connectors. remove radio and set aside
4 - pick up Audio 10 and snap on connectors
5 - remove left/right radio removal keys
6 - turn on radio to ensure power/live radio
7 - dial in radio/security code
8 - push radio into dash panel
9 - drive off

Seriously, don't worry about trying to beat any installation speed contest. Even so, it's unlikely to take more than a couple of minutes.

Audio 10 manual

E55 KEV

Your neigbhors are ignorant and envious of the Benz and the only thing they can attack is the CD changer. Give me a Break.

How can anyone driving a pitiful front wheel Drive Accord or Altima laugh at a Benz Owner? No matter where you load the CD you are driving a Benz and they are driving Compact Econo cars! So be proud. No matter where you load the CD - they secretly wish they had a Benz - which they can not afford - esle they would have one or something similar!

Ask them what type of CD changer was in an Accord or Altima is 1995. That is when your W210 chassis went into production. There was no such thing as an In-Dash CD changer, especially from Honda or Nissan in 1995.

I always hate it when people compare something from different years of production. How you gonna compare a chassis from 1995 to a 2004 Honda Chassis. That is stupid.

raymond g-

Oh c'mon on....you've got to at least recognize the irony that with the plethora of accouterments designed to pander to the MB owners (auto this, self adjusting that) that the sight of an MB owner having to stop the car, exit that fine leather interior and to ambulate to the boot to change tunes ...isn't a tad amusing? I do......and I hate having to get my Ferragamos wet in the process. :-D

BigSis

Neicey, are you really considering giving up your comand for an Audio 10 CD unit? Sure hope you don't go through with this...

Greetingz,

BigSis

E-Klasse

I have had the Audio 10 CD in for over a year. I got it on German ebay for 100 euros plus shipping.

E55 KEV

With that reasoning then owners of 2004 Hondas with factory Navigation or Sat Radio, etc. would be laughing at owners of Mercedes E-Class cars built from 1995 thru 1999. I can see it now -- "He-He! Look at that expensive Mercedes E-Class, the owner is still using a fold out paper map an still listening to Amplitude and Frequency Modulation radio. He-He!"

If having a CD changer in the trunk bother anyone that much they can buy a 2003+ E-Class to keep up with the Honda owners. Those 2004 Accord owners are also snickering about the measly 221HP versus their 240HP. Again, how much HP did a 1995 Accord have?

MikeyE430

KEV:

I hear you, brutha! I don't mind the changer in my trunk, IF it would only work properly. Again, I have had 4 changers in 4 years. The 4th one just replaced by warranty (again) doesn't work (magazine will not eject 80% of the time).

Neicey59

I got worse news for us MB owners - we would HAVE to buy a HONDA to get the quality MB once possessed. Now maybe we can send the Japanese over to Stuttgart to teach the Germans a thing or two...oops, I forgot, when the Japanese get there they will have to wait on the Plants strike to be over before the learning process can begin. I too have had 4 CD changers, 2 Window regulators (dang those things make a loud sound when they break), 3 cup holders, 4 visor mirror covers, various bulbs weekly, new rotors (92 miles after delivery of the vehicle), and engine work at 18,000 miles (yep they had to pull the head ) couple those with various other little "non Honda" qualities which make going to the trunk seem "non-significant".

When my car was stripped down for the Nav/Comand unit to be installed, several factory clips, and screws were found to be MIA. The Honda's are beginning to look better and better each day. Actually I may consider a Acura. I would be even more bitter if I'd paid for the E55 (she says with tongue in cheek)

MikeyE430

I hear you loud and clear, Neicey. I had forgotten about all the cup holders and bulbs on mine too. Yep, Honda, Toyota, and Nissan (and even GM) have their quality game-on over M-B.

Have you looked at an Infiniti? I drove a G35 and WOW! Oozed quality, super fast, handled on rails, super safe, and the price is right. Dealer service is better than M-B too.

My 1995 E420 was heads above my E430. I am now driving my last Mercedes. Really sad.

Neicey59

There is a Advisor at RBM in Atlanta who has been around the service drives of Mercedes for over 25 years - he said quality hasn't been the same since 1998 in his opinion. He cited the pre 99 W210 as the soundest car ever built by MB. Basically we are all driving a "grill" in fact the unfortunate thing about this car is it is such a spectacular grill...!!