I'm very near pulling the trigger on trading in my 2003 M5 on a 2007 CPO E350. The car is equipped w/ Nav, premium sound, BT to name a few of the convenience options. Can this car be easily retrofitted w/ MB's factory iPod interface, and if so, what what this typically cost? Thanks for any help.

 

I'd like to know too...

 

I just purchased a 2006 e350 with the AUX connection in the glove box however the command center does not recognize my ipod when it's plugged in. Am I missing something? Any advice is appreciated.

 

One can retro fit a MB I pod kit into the W211
It will take Several hours labor as the wire harness starts in the trunk and goes to the glove box

 

I was quoted $600-$700 for the retrofit and decided to use the glove box aux input jack instead. Haven't tried it yet, though.

 

Glovebox interface is sound only--how could it possibly be anything more?

 

Correct -- you still navigate playlists using the iPod rather than through the COMAND display or the steering wheel controls; dash and steering wheel volume controls work. A basic stereo cable with 1/8" jack at both ends will fit -- I picked one up at Radio Shack today and it works fine.

 

If you search around, I have seen members move their jack to the center console instead of having a wire hang from the glove box. I haven't done this myself yet but it looked like a fairly easy mod and I think well worth the effort.

 

WELL worth the effort and the 15 minutes (and I'm not a mechanic).

 

its like $170 for the ipod kit and $55 to install (best buy)

 

How is this done???

 

Can you provide a link to the topic?

 

If you read both of these discussions, you'll be able to DIY:
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...-familiar.html
and
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ss-drawer.html

Do it...you'll love your Ipod again.

 

Thanks -- I'll check this out.

 

You have two options, the MB Ipod Integration and the Dension Gateway 500. I have both installed on my Mercedes right now. I posted some of this information on another post but let me paste it in here.

They both have their Pro's and Con's. I paid close to $500 for the Dension (bought it at enfigcarstereo website). 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 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 a bit more than 1 hour since it was the first time for me taking apart my precious Mercedes. It was not that hard at all, but then again, I love to work on cars and installing stereo on cars.

With the Dension I am able to control the IPod from both the COMMAND and from the Steering Wheel. I have some minor problems with not being able to access some of the IPod Menu options. I do not mind that much since most of the time I just like for the system to Shuffle Songs which I am able to select from the limited MENU options I have. The cool thing is you are able to see the Song Titles both on the COMMAND and on the Dashboard.

When I got the MB IPod Integration, I installed it myself also. 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 use the the DENSION Gateway 500 all the time. 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. To be honest, I was barely using the IPOD MENU options with the MB Ipod Integration since it was taking too much time pressing the Steering Wheel buttons to navigate to get to the menu 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.

The MB Ipod Integration connects to the AUX connector in the back of the COMMAND and the sound if far lower than the Dension. The Dension connects to the FIBER RING and I find the sound louder and clearer. Dension is far easier to install than the MB Ipod Integration.

Your call, good luck !

 

I like the MB iPod since it allows me to dock my iPhone.

You can still find the MB iPod kit for a good price if you look around.