Kardacian

Hello all,

I just recently purchased a 2007 E-350 and I love it. However, I was driving a Volvo S80 with an after market system (Kenwood DNX7100) with all the works (Ipod, BT, Video, Amp Sub). So overall its better than the command in the E-350. So I am trying decide the best path. Leave it as is buy Ipod interface or upgrade the whole thing. Help from any of you will be greatly appreciated and any work I do will be posted with pictures.

Question #1 Does the iPod adapter charge the Ipod? I read somewhere that it does only for the older ones. I have model MB754LL (Apple 4th Generation 8GB iPod Nano). If it will not then I may just do the upgrade.

Question #2 If I remove the Command will the street information that displays on the cluster as I am driving stop being displayed? I am not asking about when I am getting navigation directions. Just driving around the cluster shows what street I am on. I like that and just curios if it goes away. I understand that the GPS is actually a seperate unit and was wondering how much of a role the command plays.

Question #3 If I buy a 2009 command (US or Eur) is it plug and play in my 2007 E-350?

Question #4 I have a Blackberry Curve 8330 and the phone book wont synch. I think its a BB issue, anybody else have any luck or the same issue.

I just installed a Panvise mount for my phone. Had to pull the changer to install it. Was very easy to do. If anybody is interested I will post pictures on how to do it. Have not seen allot on the E-350s here so I will be happy to contribute anything I do.

Thanks in advance.

Diesel Benz

Don't know about #1, I heard there were issues with the older iPhone cradle and the 3G iPhone that used a different charging voltage but the iPod thing may be different.

For #2, it is Comand that feeds the info to the cluster, you would not be able to use the Navi processor without a Comand head unit anyway. You would certainly lose this info from the cluster.

For #3 it isn't plug and play, it is doable but in your case actually quite a lot of work (simplest on a car with an Audio 20 CD head unit).

Don't know about the Blackberry stuff.

Kardacian

DO you know where or how I can find / confirm what components are installed (part numbers and versions) so that I can determine what will need to change?

oldimpala

Alright;I can help a bit with some of these...

The iPod issue revolves around the pin-outs on the unit; Apple switched from FireWire based charging, to USB charging. I have a pinout diagram.

Your 4G should charge (Like 95% sure); I have a Gen-1 Touch; same vintage, ad it works correctly. If you need the pinout diagram, I can provide. It's really as simple as moving a few wires on the circuit board/cable.

But, onto the bad news. The MB iPod kit isn't so hot. I actually bought an H/K Drive & Play; still haven't installed it permanently, but it allows for a much better interface. I'm having issues sticking things to my interior..

Drove a friend's W211 with the Benz system, and the interface is really underwhelming. Sound is OK; just don't like the interaction.

The BlackBerry should work fine; I have a Storm/9530, an dit syncs fantastically with the factory MB Bluetooth puck. I believe there are some issues with older Puck models, and some newer phones. Only thing that doesn't/won't work, ever is SMS. Did you tell your BB to "Allow" swapping of the phonebook?

If you need help with the BlackBerry, I may be able to assist, let me know.

-Andy/Oldimpala

Long Islander

If your car doesn't have the iPod adapter in the glove compartment, you have to buy the kit for around $400, and then have it installed. People on this board who have had the dealer do it have spent around $500 for the installation (apparently, it takes several hours to install). If you do get the iPod adapter, you'll only be able to control it from the steering wheel controls, and see the display in the instrument panel. For pre-2009 models, iPod information does not appear on the Command screen and you cannot control the iPod using the Command buttons.

A better solution might be to contact www.autoaddiction.com. They sell an iPod integration kit that connects up to the Command, but you lose the 6-CD changer. The cost may turn out to be less than the factory iPod connection kit.

Kardacian

Oggie,

Based on everything I have read on the MB iPod kit, its not worth it. I did find this kit which appears to be better than the MB version. Anybody have experience with it? I can find a $100 cheaper but still not sure if its worth it.



http://www.crutchfield.com/p_581BENZ...ce.html?tp=120

Polar Bear

That thing only does playlists. I would skip on that one. I would go with the MB one over that one.

The Dension ICE 500 would be the one I would go with, if not the MB one.

The 2009 head unit would give you about everything you want - it's just a labor intensive installation.

Kardacian

Polar Bear,

I don't mind the labor to do the install. My concern is researching all the details of what needs to be replaced rewired etc.... Does anybody have that information?

Polar Bear

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/audi...08-2009-a.html

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ing-2-5-a.html

Kardacian

So I am learning slowly but surely I am getting there.

If I replace the command with an after market HU (kenwood), the AGW can not be used because it takes a data feed via fiber and has copper connections to the speakers.

I will have to wire an amp from the HU to the speakers. The HU alone can not drive all the speakers. And unless I can get a schematic of the speakers with power ratings and how they are wired I will have to tear the car apart to get this information. Anybody have this information?

Upgrading to NTG2.5 means replacing hardware but what I dont like is that I will have get the Mercedes service guys to reprogram the car after the installation and i am concerned they wont do it? There are very few in my area. More to come.

Kardacian

I wanted to do a test and bypass the CDC so I purchased a fiber connector that will splice the two fibers together. When I tried to remove the fiber cables from the plug I could not get them out of the plug. There was a little blue clip that came out but the plug but the fibers would not unseat from the plug. Maybe I did not pull hard enough but I was afraid I would damage the fiber.

Kardacian

Does anybody know what the Ohm ratings of the speakers in a 2007 W211?