so i wanted to know, if i buy the ipod kit or whatever it is, how and what does it do exactly. see i have an aux port already so i can play my ipod that way but i want to be able to see the names and songs on the COMAND as well as change the songs from my steering wheel. so if anyone can support some info on the thing i would appreciate. oh and if it does do that and anybody is getting rid of theirs pm me and well work something out.

 

Think it will replace your aux port but in any event you'll have a cable in your glovebox to which you can attach your ipod. Your ipod will be charged by this arrangement.

Set COMAND to Aux and then you can control playlists, songs, etc via steering wheel buttons and see the titles in the multifunction display (dashboard)

 

To further clarify. You WILL NOT see anything on the Comand. Everything is done through the steering wheel controls and displayed in the MFD.

The MB system is truly retarded. However, I understand there is a system by Denison? which replaces the disc changer with an iPod kit that will indeed show everything on the Comand.

 

really, well who is Denison? and where can i get one. oh and whats the price on this kits anyway. both the Denison and the OEM one from mercedes?

 

A sponsor here, Mid City Engineering, sells the Dension units. Contact them at www.midcityengineering.com

Unless you are very comfortable disassembling the car, I would not recommend the installation. It is time consuming at best. The dealer should be able to do the installation for you.

I don't recall what I paid for mine - I think it was in the $250-$300 range for the Mercedes iPod Integration Kit for the dealer, without installation.

 

What is the difference between the Ipod integration kit from the dealer and a simple 3.5mm plug into the glove box output and the other end plugged directly to the ipod. I'm assuming it will play through the aux on the comand - I understand it doesn't show on the dash but merely the instrument cluster -

True?

Steve

 

You should look for a solution offered for MY 09. It is a complete integration, iPod is starting showing MB logo after connection. You can navigate over all iPod content using COMMAND control buttons or steering wheel buttons. Complete information about played song is displayed in dash and COMMAND screen. I like MB iPod integration over of a solution offered by BMW.

 

may i asking where can you actually buy this stuff?
and where can i go to install it properly...

 

iPod kit can be purchased from the dealer.

 

False--it takes the get to achieve steering wheel control AND instru cluster display.

No ipod control at all via the simple glove box aux in plug and no iPod charging either.

 

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So with the Ipod integration, would the Ipod just sit inside the glove box plugged into the 3.5mm aux jack? How well do the controls on the steering wheel work for controlling the Ipod and how good is the display on the on the instrument cluster? I'm going to buy a used '07 E350 and trying to decide if it's worth finding one with the Ipod intergration. Would love to use my ipod, if the interface is worthwhile

 

If anyone is intrested in getting an OEM IPOD integration KIT i have one for sale brand new, i never installed it on my car. so if your intrested let me know and give your offer!! i payed a lil under $300 for it a month ago. Let me know..

 

The Ipod sits in the glove compartment, but it's connected to an Ipod connector -- not the 3.5m jack. You can select play lists, songs, etc. using steering wheel controls, and the instrument cluster display (but not the Command screen) displays the song title. Ipod integration is available as a kit, so it can be retrofitted, but I understand intallation takes around 3 hours or more. A cheaper alternative is to just burn your MP3 music onto CDs, and play them on the CD changer. You should be able to fit around 30 hours of music and play back in track shuffle, CD shuffle or in the order in which they were burned onto the CDs.

 

b_rashed:

I have had both on my car (MB IPod Integration and the Dension Gateway 500). They both have their Pro's and Con's. I paid close to $500 for the Dension. Several months ago I found the MB IPod Integration on eBay for like $120 and I just had to buy it to try it. For that price? Why not!. I have not seen the MB IPod on eBay again, it was one of those rare occurrences (in case you are wondering ).

I don't know what year is your MB so, I will tell you about mine. I have a 2003 E320. I got the EURO COMMAND (which plays DVDs ) installed because the original unit was an AUDIO 50 (the one with the cassette player YUCK! ). I installed DENSION 500 myself. Took me like 2 hours since it was the first time for me taking apart my precious Mercedes. It was not that hard, but then again, I love to work on cars and installing stereo on cars. I was able to control the IPod from both the COMMAND and from the Steering Wheel. I had some minor problems with not being able to access some of the IPod Menu options. I did not mind that much since most of the time I just like for the system to Shuffle Songs which I was able to select from the limited MENU options I had. The cool thing is you were able to see the Song Titles both on the COMMAND and on the Dashboard.

I got the MB IPod Integration several months ago. I installed it myself. It took me like 1/2 a day since there are wires that need to run from all the way in the trunk (Main Unit) to the front (near glove compartment). The kit came with a CD that had very detailed documentation on how to install it. I have to say you have to be pretty handy since you have to remove a wire from a connector without messing it up so, you have to be careful when doing it. With the MB IPod Integration I have the same Menu options as the IPod, the only drawback is that you do not see anything on the COMMAND nor you can control the IPod using the COMMAND buttons. Everything has to be controlled by the Steering Wheel buttons and the Dashboard Display. I went to the Mercedes Dealer since I read that SUPPOSEDLY a software upgrade would take care of that but they told me that it was not true, that the MB IPod Integration was designed to work with the Steering Wheel only. Also, you need to have had the phone option activated (or coded) by MB for the buttons to work correctly, it least that is what it says on the documentation. I did not have any problems with that since I already had the phone activated since I have the Bluetooth Puck and base (the Dealer did it for me, for a price of course).

I am honestly going to go back to the DENSION Gateway 500. I like to be able to control the IPOD from both the Steering Wheel and from the COMMAND and to see the Song Titles in both places. Right now I rarely use the IPOD MENU options since it takes too much pressing the Steering Wheel buttons to navigate to those options. I just like to play music randomly but be able to skip songs from both the Steering Wheel and COMMAND when I want to and to see the Song Titles in both places.

That is my personal take on both.

 

What about the sound quality? Big difference?

 

To me the DENSION had better sound quality and sounded louder. I find myself sometimes cranking the volume all the way to the max because with the MB IPod Integration the sound is kind of lower. It may have to do with the fact that the DENSION connects via the Fiber Optic to the COMMAND and the MB IPod Integration uses the AUX connection in the back of the COMMAND which are normal wires. They both have a module that connects the IPod to the system but the DENSION uses the Fiber Optic to communicate to the COMMAD.

Again, that is my personal experience and opinion.

Oh, I also forgot to mention, the DENSION what it does it fool the system into thinking that is communicating with the 6 CD Changer Unit. This means that the 6 CD Unit will not work if you have the DENSION connected (not that you will need it or miss it if you have all your songs on your IPod ). By that I mean that you will not be able to play the CDs from the Unit.

 

Thanks for the response. I assume the Dension is full digital since it is placed on the MOST ring. The COMAND doesn't seem to have the best A/D converter in the HU and therefore is a little quiet and has some background noise at high volume. I have considered removing the changer, installing the Dension, inserting the pocket in it's place, and placing the iPod connector and iPod in there behind the motorized door.

 

Sounds good. Once you are done, please post some pictures.

Good Luck !

 

will any of these ipod kits work with my 03 E500, i was told I couldnt install a navigation unit due to the fact that my car is the first year 211.

 

I did not see anyone mention it but an inline Ipod amp (from MB) helps boost audio output from the Ipod. Its an easy self install; the small amp connects between the MB Ipod connector and the wiring to the Command unit. Its plug in only. You can find the P/N in the Audio section. It only cost me (and dozens of others) 10c; its really worth a lot more.

 

has anyone had any experience with blitzsafe?
seems to be the simple solution for less than $100
http://blitzsafe.com/catalog/mercede...8/cat_376.html

 

Don't think I would recommend that one for a Mercedes. It doesn't offer the integration the other units do.