Sierra Grande

Slightly after purchasing my 2000 E430 I was distressed to find no CD player and no possibility of connecting an MP3 palyer!! Radio or tape my only options, I decided there needed to be an upgrade. The aftermarket options to add and AUX jack were not much cheaper and sometimes more expensive than upgrading the entire HU so I decided the HU was the way to go.

After reading extensively I would like to thank everybody who posted stereo install threads. This is a far more complicated car to install a stereo in than the Hondas and Chevrolets of my past. I wanted to throw in my two cents, and hopefully, help the next fellow doing this a bit more. Most aftermarket stereos I have seen lost the ability to use steering wheel controls and illumination so this is exciting new territory for me.

Excellent info here:
http://www.marcusfitzhugh.com/CLK/DIY/headunit2.html<!-- google_ad_section_end -->
It is all the same for W210.

Here's is a pic of all the stuff laid out on the table.

New Kenwood KDC-X994. ($203 shipped on Ebay) Chose this since it spec'd out with the most bang for the buck. Blue tooth, rear aux and USB inputs especially. Excellent technology with active crossovers and listener position systems and more. After playing it though, I found it doesn't read scratched CDs half as well as my trusty old Alpine 7878 (cheap laser??).

SWI-JACK. Steering wheel interface ($50 on Ebay).
You must also purchase the:

SWI-CAN2. To operate in conjunction with the aforementioned SWI JACK ($50 on Ebay).

NOTE. The SWI-JACK communicates with the head unit, these are head unit specific (see website). The SWI-CAN2 translates between the SWI-JACK and the Mercedes.

Also you will see the radio removal tools, antenna adaptor and wiring harness.

Note. I purchased the wiring harness from Crutchfield ($20 shipped). This is worth while. They will send you a sheet detailing how to remove and install all the radio/speakers in your car. The rest of the stuff on their website is overpriced and I won't buy it.

Sierra Grande

DISCLAIMER- These steering wheel control units are compatable with many vehicles, read your instructions very closely and utilize the PAC website for vehicle specific instructions.

When you use these two units each comes with a wiring harness. For this application the harness which comes with the SWI-JACK will NOT BE USED. This baffled me during the initial outlay, therefore the bold type. Apologies to all who found this obvious. The wiring harness that comes with the SWI-CAN2 will interconnect the two units. This wiring harness will have a black plug which will be clipped off for THIS APPLICATION. These are the wires which connect to the vehicle. There is a red wire which will not be used, it is labeled well, "accesory only, do not connect to vehicle". Insulate the end and move on.

You will be left with 4 wires:
+12v constant (yellow)
Ground (black)
+ CAN BUS
-CAN BUS

There are 2 wire for the connection to the new HU. Some have a 1/8th inch jack. My Kenwood does not, it uses the blue and yellow striped wire.

Sierra Grande

For the life of me I could not find the +12v switched or illumination in the factory harness. I had noted this in reading another post so wasn't totally suprised. I still must say, WTF. I've never seen this. This post will deal with +12v switched and illumination.

I found the +12v switched by tapping my cigarette lighter, as advised by other members.

(side story. I thought I was screwed with the cig lighter. It kept blowing fuses. I went to remove the cig lighter to troubleshoot, expecting to find barren wires. What I found was a bent up paper clip which had fallen into the socket. An old farmer once told me "always try the simplest solution first.)

For the illumination I found some wire behind the radio which increased and decreased voltage with the dash dimmer. Tapped in there as well.

Pic 1 is cig lighter tap
Pic 2 is illum tap
Pic 3 is both both behind dash
Pic 4 is bith protruding from dash with connectors installed

Sierra Grande

Here's the whole convoluted mess put together. Thank god MB leaves a giant cavern behind the radio in this car. This would never have worked in all my old Hondas. I was going to solder all the wires but got lazy seeing the 40 connections......

Left to right:
Kenwood harness----->SWI-CAN/JACK tapped into power----->OEM2----->Factroy style harness

Sierra Grande

Here we are roughed in. Time to test functionality and program the SWI-JACK. I found programming the SWI-JACK required a lighter hand than the instructions called for. (easy to hold the buttons down for too long resulting in programming errors). I tried about 6 times before it worked. Also, for Kenwood it only notes a function for SEEK UP, but no SEEK DOWN. Skip SEEK UP altogether and program TRACK UP and TRACK DOWN. This will result in having seek up/down anyway.

I found no need to adjust the levels on the OEM2, it pretty much maxed out the stock amp at 30 on the Kenwood, which is perfect.

Sierra Grande

All ready to stab it in there!! Hmm.. Except one detail, notice what's missing? Very perceptive, yes, the Kenwood sleeve is not yet in place. Time to disconnect and try again.

Sierra Grande

I mounted the rear USB input in the cubby below the radio. I removed the telephone wire and mounted the AUX input in the arm rest. The ability to hide the inputs is one the reasons I chose the Kenwood. Having such an excellent interior I eopuld not want my MB's interior permanently muddled with wires.

Sierra Grande

Here are intalled pics with and without flash. Although Kenwood supplied me with 10 possible illumination colors, only one came close (not that close). Better than the old days when dual illumination (green/amber) was high technology.

Bose sound. This is a very nice sounding setup. It has 3 way front speakers! I paid alot of money to get a 3 way set up in my Integra (years ago). I find the sound very smooth (while not providing overwhelming volume) and capable of providing sufficient bass. I think the cost to benifit ratio of replacing the factory stereo is just not acceptable. I may possibly begin to lust after a subwoofer in the future but that will probably be all. I can not really comment on whether the Kenwood radio had better sound than the stock Becker, however. The only option I had to listen to on the stock setup was FM radio, which is spotty at best in western Colorado. The radio sound seems comparable on the Kenwood. CD of course sounds very good in comparison.

BTW, If anybody needs the stock Becker (in pic), I will sell it for $25 shipped. (first come)

Sierra Grande

Sale of factory HU is pending.

bad hare

Great overall write up.
I just did the same install w/ a Clarion VZ709 flip dvd/navi setup.

I did though buy the head unit from crutchfield. On their behalf, if you WAIT for a deal, you will find. I got mine for 499 (no tax no shipping) & they added a free navi unit. (no-other website would match that a 400 or 500 value).

I didn't do steering wheel controls because the hu comes w/ a remote. After seeing yours, i kinda wish i did it.

Once the aftermarket hu was installed, i was very happy w/ the bose system in the car. I honestly, was not expecting such clarity & quality from a 10 year old set up. (then again, speaker technology hasn't really advanced).

I'll post pics up later today.

good work!

bad hare

crappy phone photo. I'll try to put together some better ones.

Ghostsamurai25

You two are my heroes, Ive been looking for directions and pics for this install. Im going the route of fold out screen. One installer wanted 600, said he had to custom make a molding trim to go around the radio. Thought to myself your freaking retard for thinking that im a sucker. If you guys have any other suggestions let me know. I will post what im working with. What do I need to order from crutchfield id no of the stuff would help.
Thanks fellas.

Sierra Grande

You moved the climate control to the bottom slot, I would have never thought of that! That's awesome, I considered a pop out screen, but thought it would be in the way of the climate control. That's so cool I might move my radio up just to get it closer to eye level. I think the steering wheel controls were well worth the money, it would bother the hell out of me to have buttons on my wheel that do nothing.

Sierra Grande

Factory becker radio is sold.

DRGilroy

Is the PAC OEM2 required with the Bose system or can a aftermarket head unit drive the Bose system with just a wiring harness?

bad hare

^ i just used the wiring harness.
works fine.

DRGilroy

Thanks! I was hoping so. I pulled my old Pioneer DEH-P860MP out of my 99' Passat and I believe it has the Metra 70-1784 wiring harness still attached. It would be great if I could just plug that into the Benz.

I do have the PAC SWI-CAN2 and SWI-PS steering wheel control interfaces ordered and on their way.

araltd

I did basically the same upgrade in my wife's 2000 e430, with a pioneer 7200hd - which has hd-radio built in, and thats actually pretty good! We did the whole swipac canbus thing too... works great. Congrats on the install.

NOW: The quoted picture above shows a flip screen, and the HVAC lowered to the radio spot... OK: I get the idea of NOT wanting to hide the HVAC controls so you lowered them.... but by moving the radio UP you end up blocking the A/C vent's which seems WORSE than blocking the controls.!????!??

bad hare

araltd

I do want a double din setup honestly, but the prices I keep seeing are $300-$500 just for the trim.... I can't justify that. Right now - I may give up on the double din project for this car unless I luck out and find the pieces cheap at a junk yard or something.

Ghostsamurai25

Does the hu require a bracket or metal sleeve before entering the radio into the dash.
Before I disconect the Becker I want to make sure the radio will go in without any further equiptment needed. Thanks for the help fellas

bad hare

The aftermarket hu does need a metal sleeve.

you can buy the install parts w/ wire harness from crutchfield (if you already have the hu)

Ghostsamurai25

Bad Hare thanks for the reply.
I will order the sleeve and post pics when completed.
Thanks guys for all the info.

EdzBenz

I just installed the same head unit as the OP. It's a good radio with nice features for only $200! It was installed with the adapter from Crutchfield. I'm having a few issues I was hoping the OP or anyone else could chime in on:
-When playing Pandora via the Bluetooth connection from my Android, only the two front door speakers play music. Anyone have tips on why it is only playing through the two speakers?
-It seems like the bass is now non existent through the two rear deck subwoofers. I have tried adjusting the equalizer but to no avail. Any tips on how I can get the bass back up to normal?

Yellow98Cobra

Edz. Dont use the bluetooth. Get a male/male connector and connect to the HU (aux port) from the 3.5mm jack in the phone. It will sound much better.