E320 radio replacement
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13
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2006 320 CDI
E320 radio replacement
I have a 2006 CDI. Couple of years ago the radio/central console stopped working. The MB dealership told me it was the central control module, and that it will cost 6K to fix. I tried going to my mom & pop repair shop (who is actually quite good working on my Jetta TDI). They told me there is an aftermarket radio available, but they would have to order it from Hong Kong and they did not seem very keen to do it. Any recommendations?
Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 178
Likes: 4
From: Austin, TX
2012 C250
I have a 2006 CDI. Couple of years ago the radio/central console stopped working. The MB dealership told me it was the central control module, and that it will cost 6K to fix. I tried going to my mom & pop repair shop (who is actually quite good working on my Jetta TDI). They told me there is an aftermarket radio available, but they would have to order it from Hong Kong and they did not seem very keen to do it. Any recommendations?
In what way did it stop working? On my old w211 I had my head unit become progressively unresponsive, and it turned out to be the audio gateway module. New they are hideously expensive, but I was able to buy a used one on eBay for around $100 or so, and replacement is pretty easy.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 19
Likes: 2
From: Maui, HI
2004 E500, 1997 C230
I would look around your local junkyards and see if they'd let you take one out, since something like the control module wouldn't be likely damaged in a collision, may take a while to find one, but its a money saver.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 15
Likes: 4
From: DFW, Texas
2006 E320 CDI
If you read around there are lots of threads about aftermarket look-alike stereos.
The catch is if you have the fiber optic sound system (Bose or Harman/Kardon) an aftermarket head can't just be plugged in. There are converters that allow you to connect an aftermarket head to the fiber optic system (google opti-1 or dynavin), of which opti-1 seems to be the better choice for retaining functionality.
In either case you will lose integral Sirius/XM if you have that.
So that's the catch with aftermarket stereos if you go that route.
The catch is if you have the fiber optic sound system (Bose or Harman/Kardon) an aftermarket head can't just be plugged in. There are converters that allow you to connect an aftermarket head to the fiber optic system (google opti-1 or dynavin), of which opti-1 seems to be the better choice for retaining functionality.
In either case you will lose integral Sirius/XM if you have that.
So that's the catch with aftermarket stereos if you go that route.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 301
Likes: 29
From: S. W. Washington State
2008 E320 BlueTec, 1980 300 SD
The Europeans and Asians use different tuning steps and those AM/FM radios are not much good here, unless it is adjustable like few are. My friend up in Canada bought a used Mercedes which came from Japan and he ended up replacing the radio for this reason (which was not a big deal on that particular M-B model).
Buyer be aware
http://www.epanorama.net/documents/r...fferences.html
Last edited by arto_wa; Apr 17, 2017 at 02:14 PM.
