W211 - Replace factory head unit with Android navigation unit

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Jul 20, 2017 | 01:52 AM

simhim

Thread Starter

Newbie

Joined: Jul 2017

Posts: 3

Likes: 4

Mercedes-Benz E500

W211 - Replace factory head unit with Android navigation unit

Hi guys, i have a e500 w211, the factory unit was defective, it would be expensive to repair or replace a new one, so i consider an aftermarket and i found this Android unit:

https://www.dvdgpsnav.com/mercedes-w...o-upgrade.html

It's with Android os, with all the features i need, i'm just a little worry about installation, i don't know if my car has fiber optic amp or not, can anyone recommend an installation shop near Houston? how much would it cost?

Thanks

Last edited by simhim; Mar 27, 2023 at 12:58 AM.

Jul 20, 2017 | 02:04 AM

gianton

Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 312

Likes: 81

From: Thessaloniki, Greece

S204 C250 CDI 4Matic Avantgarde - 2013

It looks great and you won't have to worry for costy upgrades on maps with mb.

Jul 26, 2017 | 07:22 PM

speedracer.eric

Junior Member

Joined: Oct 2015

Posts: 49

Likes: 6

From: Texas

2003 E320

Quote:

Originally Posted by simhim

Hi guys, i have a e500 w211, the factory unit was defective, it would be expensive to repair or replace a new one, so i consider an aftermarket and i found this Android unit:

http://www.dvdgpsnav.com/android-dou...head-unit.html

It's with Android 7.1 os, with all the features i need, i'm just a little worry about installation, i don't know if my car has fiber optic amp or not, can anyone recommend an installation shop near Houston? how much would it cost?

Thanks

Did you purchase this unit? I'm wondering if anyone has a good android radio they can say works well from experience

Jul 27, 2017 | 10:09 AM

Strigoi

MBWorld Fanatic!

Joined: Jan 2010

Posts: 3,249

Likes: 257

From: Richmond, CA

2001 E320 Wagon, 2006 LBZ Silverado, 2007 E63 (sold), 2001 E55 (sold)

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedracer.eric

Did you purchase this unit? I'm wondering if anyone has a good android radio they can say works well from experience

There's some info on it here. He recently installed one and I think he talks about it some a few pages in.

https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...-sideways.html

Jul 27, 2017 | 10:49 AM

Gangrene3075

Member

Joined: Nov 2015

Posts: 108

Likes: 25

03' Mercedes-Benz E500

Bought and installed my Android Unit back in 11/2015 from www.erisin.com been working flawless since.

Jul 27, 2017 | 10:57 AM

speedracer.eric

Junior Member

Joined: Oct 2015

Posts: 49

Likes: 6

From: Texas

2003 E320

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gangrene3075

Bought and installed my Android Unit back in 11/2015 from www.erisin.com been working flawless since.

Did you already have the HK speakers before upgrading the head unit?

Jul 27, 2017 | 11:05 AM

Gangrene3075

Member

Joined: Nov 2015

Posts: 108

Likes: 25

03' Mercedes-Benz E500

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedracer.eric

Did you already have the HK speakers before upgrading the head unit?

Yes. I have Harmon/Kardon Speakers. Used the extension cable and new amps for my install.

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Jul 27, 2017 | 02:10 PM

Gangrene3075

Member

Joined: Nov 2015

Posts: 108

Likes: 25

03' Mercedes-Benz E500

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedracer.eric

For what I gather, there is no low cost plug and play options to use the factory amp/speakers?

There is the Fiber Optic Decoder Box for the factory amp. Not sure if you can get them at low cost though. Those wasn't available at the time I purchased my unit.

Jul 27, 2017 | 02:59 PM

#10

Strigoi

MBWorld Fanatic!

Joined: Jan 2010

Posts: 3,249

Likes: 257

From: Richmond, CA

2001 E320 Wagon, 2006 LBZ Silverado, 2007 E63 (sold), 2001 E55 (sold)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gangrene3075

There is the Fiber Optic Decoder Box for the factory amp. Not sure if you can get them at low cost though. Those wasn't available at the time I purchased my unit.

Xtrons sells a decoder box for $100. I've never priced out any others so I don't know if that's a good price or not.

http://xtrons.com/fobb01-optical-fib...edes-benz.html

They also come with some of their head units.

http://xtrons.com/pb76m211ap-fobb01-...r-decoder.html

Jul 27, 2017 | 03:04 PM

#11

speedracer.eric

Junior Member

Joined: Oct 2015

Posts: 49

Likes: 6

From: Texas

2003 E320

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strigoi

To your understanding, this unit would be plug and play?

Jul 27, 2017 | 03:28 PM

#12

Strigoi

MBWorld Fanatic!

Joined: Jan 2010

Posts: 3,249

Likes: 257

From: Richmond, CA

2001 E320 Wagon, 2006 LBZ Silverado, 2007 E63 (sold), 2001 E55 (sold)

I think they're mostly plug and play. I'm not 100% sure on that though as I have never installed one.

Feb 4, 2018 | 09:48 AM

#13

Absolut257

Newbie

Joined: Feb 2017

Posts: 12

Likes: 5

2006 E55

Xtrons 7.1 Android Head Unit is Junk

I can assure that the 7.1 android head unit kit that they sell is garbage because it does not even work. Their fiber optic decoder and canbus controller did not even a wire up physically to the available ports in their wire harness. Xtron is a joke, the kit did not even come with any instructions because obviously they never installed that product on a w211 let alone an e55. This was not even me attempting to install it but a pretty decent car audio shop in my area that does high end cars.

Mar 20, 2018 | 04:53 PM

#14

DJRehab

Newbie

Joined: Feb 2018

Posts: 5

Likes: 1

2009 Mercedes C300 Sport

I have installed the screen, I love the way it looks and I love the fact that the factory screen and system are now on this big screen. I haven't had the best luck with navigation or connecting with wifi. Youtube and internet is so slow, and I have ATT. But just to have the screen there, with the stock radio and door sensors and other things working makes it worth it to me. I'm not impressed with the Blue tooth on this thing, there's a slight buzz.

Apr 22, 2018 | 07:28 PM

#15

speedracer.eric

Junior Member

Joined: Oct 2015

Posts: 49

Likes: 6

From: Texas

2003 E320

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJRehab

When you say you have the screen, do you mean the 8" or the 7" because it seems xtrons now has a larger 8" version with no physical buttons/knobs?

I have yet to take the leap to purchasing one of these head units, as right now I'm using a $20 bluetooth dongle plugged into the headphone tape deck adapter. It surprisingly doesn't sound bad after tuning my phones equalizer but this was a $30 fix so I wasn't expecting much.

Anyone with experience with these units mind chiming in?

May 20, 2018 | 11:26 AM

#16

mycroftxiii

Newbie

Joined: Apr 2018

Posts: 9

Likes: 1

CLS 500

I'm really interested in knowing if there is anyone who has successfully install this android unit into a W211.

Certainly there has to be a way. This unit fits perfectly into a W212. It felt like such a loss if we are stuck with the old COMAND Android unit style.

May 23, 2018 | 06:55 AM

#17

Steveo85

Newbie

Joined: May 2018

Posts: 3

Likes: 1

2006 e500 4matic

Im would like to put a andriod in mine as well. Im going to go with this 1 due to it having a camera to record everything while driving.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B076P6HBGR/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1526154282&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=w211+andr oid+head+unit+dvr+camera

May 30, 2018 | 10:23 PM

#18

blackmagma

Newbie

Joined: Dec 2014

Posts: 2

Likes: 2

From: Austin, Tx

2008 E350 4Matic

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steveo85

Im would like to put a andriod in mine as well. Im going to go with this 1 due to it having a camera to record everything while driving.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B076P...nit+dvr+camera

I've ordered too much things from China that came much different then advertised then to believe this is as perfect as it seems.

Jun 1, 2018 | 12:15 PM

#19

guillermogc

Newbie

Joined: May 2018

Posts: 9

Likes: 3

w204 2011

Was anybody able to sync Iphone contacts with the phone app?

I've tryied many times but no luck for me.

Jun 1, 2018 | 09:39 PM

#20

guillermogc

Newbie

Joined: May 2018

Posts: 9

Likes: 3

w204 2011

One more thing.

I installed waze but can't get it to work.

When I launch the app I would get "No connection" error and the app closes.

Of course I have wifi and gps connected.

What should I do?

Thank you!

Jun 2, 2018 | 11:52 AM

#21

bigrob126

Junior Member

Joined: Aug 2016

Posts: 57

Likes: 4

2013 Mercedes C250 Coupe

Quote:

Originally Posted by guillermogc

I had an Eonon unit in my BMW....another chinese product, which I am sure this big screen item is as well. I had a first model that was very good, then I had an itch for something more sophisticated and purchased an Android based unit. Much of it worked OK, but many things were not so perfect and the issue you speak of was one I had as well. I ended up returning that particular unit.

Jun 3, 2018 | 03:03 PM

#22

guillermogc

Newbie

Joined: May 2018

Posts: 9

Likes: 3

w204 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigrob126

If anyone runs into this error, the solution was to set the car time and date to the correct ones. The date on my car was wrong.

That's it!

Jul 20, 2018 | 03:00 PM

#23

kavik

Senior Member

Joined: Oct 2015

Posts: 252

Likes: 40

2013 c63

is there any difference if you have the HK system with the amplifier

Last edited by kavik; Jul 20, 2018 at 03:02 PM.

Aug 26, 2018 | 09:43 AM

#24

Pupu

Newbie

Joined: Aug 2018

Posts: 2

Likes: 2

W176

hi, by any chance do you know how to reverse the menu screen? I attach photos

Dec 13, 2018 | 02:47 AM

#25

Philip Ware

Newbie

Joined: Dec 2018

Posts: 4

Likes: 1

W204 C250 AMG

Hello!

Does anybody know if it is possible to edit the original menu that the Android screen comes with. For example, to delete the ´Music' and ´Video´ links and change them, to say, Spotify and Netflix?

I can´t seem to edit anything.