dn54168

Hi guys,

I've bought an audio 10 CD player from Steve to replace the stock head unit. Unfortunately, the unit was defective . Steve is nice enough to take it back .

Now I want to use an aftermarket Nakamichi CD player :v . I have a few questions in regards to parts and the possibility for me to replace the unit myself.

1. I remember I need a wiring harness either VW or from the ML series. Does anyone know the part number? How much should it cost?

2. When I replaced the Audio10 it is basically plug n play operation. I am wondering whether replacing an aftermarket unit is as easy as connecting the wiring harness to the back of the aftermarket unit, then connect the other end to the W210 wiring. If not, what steps should I take? Are there diagrams for me to follow?

3. Should I just get someone to install it for me? How much does it generally cost for something like this? I am in the Los Angeles area. Or can anyone recommend someone that does a good job w/good price?

Thank you all for your help.

bryanm

I suggest getting another unit from Steve.

Aftermarket units will not work with your steering wheel controls and look out of place.

dn54168

Thank you.

The bad news is my 99 W210 has no steering wheel control . The good news is the aftermarket nakamichi unit is matt black w/amber backlite so it should be ok. .

besides, I am also thinking of changning the bose system out at a later time when I have the budget, so Nakamichi unit should be a good start.

Barada

I would have it installed personally, most places charge @45.00. You will probably need an antenna adapter as well as a harness. The Metra Model number is 701784 and the AI number is VWH1004.

blueC230K

Could some of you please tell me if I just need either of one that Barada mentioned or I need both wires to install a head unit. All those installers giving me BS about the Fiber Optic crap and said they wouldn't touch it. So I am planning to install it myself. I am planning to get an Alpine CDA-9855. Thanks for all the help guys.

fatchance

Yep the harnesses Barada documented are what you need. I used these to install a Sony HU into my '98 E430.

Just make sure you switch the wires for 12+ and 12 switched as these were reversed on the harness. Symptom was everytime you turned off the car, you would lose clock, memory, etc.

-travis

blueC230K

Hey Travis, thanks for the reply. But I don't quite understand what you mean by 12 and 12+ switch? Are you talking about the harness in our Benz or the wiring harness (the VW ones)? Also, I understand that there's a ground (brown) wire that we need to hook up? I guess I don't need to attach to the car body since there's already a ground wire with the stock radio? Thanks for all the help

Jonathan

fatchance

Hi Jonathan,

The wires needed to be switched red 12+ constant with the yellow switched 12+ on the VW harness.

12+ constant gives power to the radio to preserve clock and other setttings.

Switched 12+ is the trigger to turn your radio on. They both should be fused too.

Of course, I may have had a poorly wired harness to begin with so check the radio requirements and MBZ harness and the VW harness so all the wires match up.

If you need me to take a pic of the harness as installed, I can do that too.

-travis

PS. Nice choice on the HU. Should sound really good once you get it all installed. What other components are you installing?

blueC230K

Hey Travis,

Thanks for all the help with the detailed explaination. But I would be greatly appreciated if you can take some photos with the install. I have a feeling I will mess up on the wiring part. Actually I got the CDA-9847 instead. It's only 20 bucks more with the XM player ready plus it is black which match the dash more. Btw, I only have the HU purchased at this time. I hope the Bose speakers can keep it up at least for sometime.

Jonathan

fatchance

Jonathan,

I've attached a pic of the harness I used. Look at the red and yellow wires coming out of the harness. You'll notice that the red harness wire attaches to a yellow radio wire and the yellow harness wire connects to the red radio wire.

Enjoy,

-travis

blueC230K

Hey Travis,

Bad news The HU would not turn on after all the wires are plugged. Also, for the orange wire (illuminaton/dimmer?), seems like the E class harness is not plugged to the VW harness? I have included couple pictures to see if they give you any hints? Thank you so much!

blueC230K

Could any others help me other than Travis? Do I just use the 16 pit connectors or also with the smaller 10 connectors too in this one? I have a 2002 E320 w/ bose speakers. Are the wirings same as the ones in pre-MY 2000? Please let me know guys! Thanks a million.

Jonathan

fatchance

Jonathan,

That's strange there's no power to the HU. I assume you checked the fuses? I didn't use the smaller 10 pin connector.

One thing to keep in mind is that I completely removed the Bose system. Amps, speakers, HU. I don't see in any of the messages whether or not you have Bose?

First step is to make sure you have power to the 12+ and 12+ switched lines. Use a voltmeter and check fuses at the car and radio.

-travis

blueC230K

I found out what was the problem. The harness on the VW harness doesn't have a spot for ignition wires. I have to hard wire from the car to the Alpine. Anyway, thanks for all the help! Props to Travis. The function that I really like is the 4 color illumination. I think amber would have the best fit for the e class.

P.S. As documented above, you only need either one of the harness. I chose VW METRA - 70-1784 and the antenna adapter METRA - 40VW10. Both of these parts can be found at here Service is very good. So yeah, for people who want to install aftermarket head unit, this is all you need!

fatchance

Woo Hoo! Good job on getting it all sorted out. Glad it wasn't anything too complicated.

Enjoy your new HU!

-travis

paulunm

So this is all possible with a 2000+ Fiber Optic vehicle? I have a 2000 E55 and I would love a in dash CD (maybe NAV). Would most installers be able to do this?

blueC230K

Do your car have Bose? I assume yes since it's a 55. I have a 2002 E320 w/ Bose speakers and amps. Like many people said in this forum, fiber optic has nothing to do with the head unit and the speakers. Only if you have a cd changer, then an aftermarket system would not work with the stock CD changer.

So I think you should have no problem getting a HU like mine or perhaps a NAV. As long as it is those standard size HU, then you wouldn't need a dash kit. Also,
if those stupid installers give you crap about "fiber optics", get the wiring harness and antenna adapter here and tell them is do-able.

Jonathan

d2Benz

Yes, most installers should be able to hook your car up with a nice nav system, you might want to educate them about the wiring harness to use, some of them will tell you to replace the Bose system OR just cut into your MB wiring harness.
If I were U, I'll just get the necessary harness and supply it to them...incase they try to tell you otherwise....
Thanks to the Gurus on this web 4 that discovery.

BTW, which NAV are U considering????

cheers!

blueC230K

hey D2,

It's a little off topic, but I see you live in Greenbelt, MD? That's cool. I am in Rockville. Do you do mods yourself or you go to a shop? If so, where? Laters.

Jonathan

d2Benz

Blue230, some myself if its simple....I did what U just did about a year ago, but didn't have any problems....I'm about to upgrade to a NAV...waiting for AVIC N3 to come out in march....Eclipse AVN7000 has crossed my mind too...but a lil' pricey.

I know a guy, a mechanic at the mercedes stealer in bethesda....he does some repairs and help with mods.

U can PM me and we can share ideas OR work 2gether.

cheers,

e420benz

do you still have your bose amp hooked up and how is your sound quality

blueC230K

Yes I still have bose amp hook up along w/ the speakers. The down side is that I hear a little static between and during each songs. But I guess you really have to pay attention to find these static. Nevertheless, the alpine is so much more powerful that the stock HU; now the car can pump some bass with the bose sub without having to turn the volume all the way up.

Question to all gurus out there: Is it me or there are no Tweeters and front speakers at the windshield? If I remembered correctly, there were sound coming out from these speakers with the stock (cassette) HU?! Thanks

fatchance

Yep, no speakers in the corner of the door (a pillar) or on the dash. There were some really small speakers installed in the dash for a telephone system, but not for the audio system.

I ended up installing a 3 way system and utilized the door pillar tweeter pod and the dash hole as well as the 6.5 in the door.

-travis

rcoppens

Hey Blue....I am going through the same installation with my CLK. How did you hardwire into the the Alpine (power)?

ron m.

Travis, your wiring harness was correct. I had the same issue with the constant and ignition 12V lines being switched. I actually had the HU installed by a big box store yesterday because I didn't want to deal with any issues, but I did find the proper harness through a search on this forum. After the installation, I thought that everything was okay. This morning, I started the car and found all my presets gone! I figured it had to do with the 12V constant being dead (I thought it only supplied memory power, not for the entire HU). Anyway, reading your comments allowed me to correct the problem and save a trip to the installers. Thanks, man!