i have the standard audio 20 player without cd changer. How can i upgrade to a high quality sys (eg Bose, HK) with minimum modification, . ie a system that just plugs in to existing wiring, speaker mounts etc. dealer will charge a fortune. Any good sites with discounts etc? thanks

 

Just buy the new comand system that has integrated storage, navigation, memory card reader, basically, everything plug and play into the same spot.

 

Are you sure it would fit? You know anybody who did it? How much it runs?

 

The CDC is not important but is your device Audio 20 CD or Audio 20 CC? This affects the retrofit complexity (I'm expecting the old being easier for the CC model while the new Comand is likely simpler for a car with Audio 20 CD).

The retrofit options are soon to be looked at by experts, better to wait a bit.

 

While I have not done it, as far as I know the new COMAND unit is completely self-contained. If this is the case, removing the Audio 20 and putting the new unit in its place should be very simple.

 

I assume it does not include Tele-aid? What about if you have a Sound system amp at the MOST RING and did VCS also remain a separate unit (VCS could even be integrated as it comes standard with the W204 Comand)? TV tuner or Sirius receiver? The phone cradle option probably also comes with UHI kind of add on like on the W204? I hope those old devices are compatible with the new Comand but I don't see they would have to.

I guess one could already figure out this from the diagrams, I just did not spend more time but at least there is an option with an integrated audio amplifier, BT support, navi processors and what else, so I do agree that it is pretty complete.

I don't see any good reason why MB would have made it non-compatible but then again, that has happened before.

 

I may be wrong in some of the following assumptions, but I will attempt to explain what I meant in my previous post:

Since the OP has an E220 CDI with Audio 20, he is not in the US. From what I know, Tele-Aid and Sirius are only available on US spec cars, so those conflicts are eliminated. I also believe the TV tuner could not be ordered with the Audio 20, so that is not an issue.

The new COMAND comes with a UHI cradle option, so that should be able to be retrofitted to any existing phone system.

Perhaps a simple plug and play assmption was exaggerated, although I think it should be able to be done in a short time with the proper instructions.

 

True, I ignored the fact that the person asking was from Europe (or at least not from a Tele-Aid country). But I was also trying to think about it more generally.

In any case you seem to have a very similar view about the new device (your view is probably more based on facts than mine). I guess I just wanted to avoid too high expectations, better if people are positively surprised at the end. But I hope and so far I assume there would be a good deal of compatibility with other equipment in the car. And the minimum installation hardly needs anything else than the new Comand unit, at least if the instrument cluster interface remains compatible (which it should). Some additional info will appear once EPC covers these new parts.