COMAND NAV is dead. Everything else works,CD,radio,etc. all good. So,I go to BestBuy and find a Pioneer, a Kenwood and an Alpine that would suit my needs which are; Blutooth,Nav,Ipod and CD. Salesman tells me there's no fit kit(Crutchfield confirms this) but, the REALLY BAD news is that,since I have Bose speakers I have to replace them,too! He said only adding a new head unit would result in a "tinny" sound. All together about 2000.00. I don't think so.
Soooooo,any advice out there on what to stick in this car? It's double DIN and I'd like it to work with my steering wheel controls. BTW the car is a 2001 E320 4matic wagon which I have owned for about 3 weeks.

 

IPhone? plug it into the aux feed and use that gps turn by turn. Better anyway.
Best buy is hardly the place to get stereo advice. Highest margin items for them,least knowledgeable advice for you.
If you want a different headunit
Look and post in the Audio section below in the forums. You need not replace speakers you just need to have a good shop match the 2 ohms.
You can pick up used rebuilt units all day long if you just want to replace stock.

 

I'm using the AUX feed for my iPod and I've found an attenuator to eliminate the ground loop hum. I can also use the AUX for the iPhone too. For Pandora etc.
When you say the use the GPS in the iPhone(good idea) will I see anything on the screen?

 

turn by turn directions will play.
Rebuilt comand units often go for $200 might be an option.
Many owners install double din headunits and pass on the wheel controls.

 

How about mounting a Garmin / Tom Tom etc. down by the Ashtray? Far superior to an iphone solution and less than $200 for a unit with all the necessary bells and whistles. In the city you might need an external antenna though. Ours works fine resting there but I've not explored any perm mount.
I don't think any factory GPS is worth the money - $200 worth of electronics for $2,000. And you don't even get a state of the art GPS w/ lifetime maps and Poi.
As Ohlord mentions though - finding a used replacement might be the best way to go if you can find one.

 

Thanks for the feedback everybody. I think I'll try the iPhone via the AUX. I already have a good Garmin with POI and TRAFFIC. I have an external Motorola Blutooth which works fine. A Valentine Radar detector,too. I was just hoping to get rid of all those power supply wires and have it all integrated through the steering wheel.

Trouble with a rebuilt COMAND is I also have to buy an updated disk which is 200.00 at the stealer. Maybe,I'll just mount the suction cup mount on the COMAND screen and call it a day.

I'll keep looking in the forums.

Thanks again!

 

I have recently removed the COMMAND from my 02 E55. I have replaced with an Alpine W205 that I had from another vehicle. I did go with steering wheel controls. Works pretty slick.

I would be willing to let my old COMMAND go, if your interested.

Hugh

 

Thanks for the offer. Right now I'm thinking of mounting an iPhone on the right side of the console and utilizing the AUX output in the glove box. I'm also using an attenuator for ground loop interference so I can play PANDORA digitally through my existing BOSE system which sounds great to me. I'll put both the Valentine and the Garmin on either side of the rear view mirror and power both(if I can) with the power supply to the mirror. I'm hoping this won't blow a fuse.