2003 e500 w211 BLUETOOTH ?
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e500
2003 e500 w211 BLUETOOTH ?
I just recently bought a 2003 e500 (w211) that has a standard head unit with no navigation system, harmon kardon speakers and a motorola flip car phone in the center council.
I'm trying to figure out the best way to get bluetooth enabled in the car for phone and music.
I've spoke to some shops and a tech guy that was referred through my mercedes mechanic and have a few options.
I'm curious about the bluetooth module that mercedes sells and if it can be plugged into the same jack in the center council that the phone is in. Also, if that will play music, or I would have to get a separate bluetooth setup installed through the tape deck, or sat.
Or, just run both through a new bluetooth setup?
I have been informed more than once that this is a difficult process due to the system being fiber optic, etc, but I'm just looking for any advice on this.
I would really like to be able to have proper phone that runs through the head unit screen and can be hung up through the car buttons.
It would also be amazing to do the same with music and have legit sound quality.
I'm brand new to this and have never posted, so please bear with me.
Any suggestions are much appreciated.
I'm trying to figure out the best way to get bluetooth enabled in the car for phone and music.
I've spoke to some shops and a tech guy that was referred through my mercedes mechanic and have a few options.
I'm curious about the bluetooth module that mercedes sells and if it can be plugged into the same jack in the center council that the phone is in. Also, if that will play music, or I would have to get a separate bluetooth setup installed through the tape deck, or sat.
Or, just run both through a new bluetooth setup?
I have been informed more than once that this is a difficult process due to the system being fiber optic, etc, but I'm just looking for any advice on this.
I would really like to be able to have proper phone that runs through the head unit screen and can be hung up through the car buttons.
It would also be amazing to do the same with music and have legit sound quality.
I'm brand new to this and have never posted, so please bear with me.
Any suggestions are much appreciated.
Member
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 171
Likes: 34
From: USA Tennessee
2008 SL550 R230, 2004 E320 W211
@26gh Depending on what you have in the center console, you might be able to add a Mercedes "puck" to give you Bluetooth phone calls, but as I understand it, this will NOT do streaming music...
Do you have a CD changer (CDC). If you do, my recommendation would be to unplug the motorola car phone in the center console and go with the set up described in the post below (this is what I did in our 2004 E320) which replaces your CD changer and gives you Bluetooth for calls and streaming:
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...b-adapter.html
There is a lot of information in the post above, but I believe this is your best option currently available. With the LA Power (MR 12VOLT) installed in place of your CD changer (assuming you have one), you can make calls and stream music using the factory controls with a Bluetooth connected phone.
Hope this helps.
Lee
Do you have a CD changer (CDC). If you do, my recommendation would be to unplug the motorola car phone in the center console and go with the set up described in the post below (this is what I did in our 2004 E320) which replaces your CD changer and gives you Bluetooth for calls and streaming:
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...b-adapter.html
There is a lot of information in the post above, but I believe this is your best option currently available. With the LA Power (MR 12VOLT) installed in place of your CD changer (assuming you have one), you can make calls and stream music using the factory controls with a Bluetooth connected phone.
Hope this helps.
Lee
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From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
I believe the puck only works for certain cars, usually after the facelift and if they're pre-wired for mobile phone so 2006+. The earlier models had a different setup. None of the W211 streamed music over bluetooth. Only way to get that would be to change out the Comand. There are several android and other systems out there you can use. They're usually a few hundred and they include stuff like navigation, backup camera, bluetooth and even Apple Carplay/Android Auto. But they don't look factory anymore.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 401
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From: Cedar Rapids, IA
2009 e550 4Matic
I believe the puck only works for certain cars, usually after the facelift and if they're pre-wired for mobile phone so 2006+. The earlier models had a different setup. None of the W211 streamed music over bluetooth. Only way to get that would be to change out the Comand. There are several android and other systems out there you can use. They're usually a few hundred and they include stuff like navigation, backup camera, bluetooth and even Apple Carplay/Android Auto. But they don't look factory anymore.
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e500
Apologies for the delayed response. I appreciate all the feedback and advise. This forum has given me the confidence to buy and install the part. My stereo install guy was pushing me to get a similar device from a company called Nav Tv, but its 550 + 350 for him to install. I'm pretty confident this does the same job.
Few quick questions running through my mind still...
Is LaPower the same as Mr. 12volt?
Is it ok to buy the LaPower device off of amazon even though it only list to work for bmw?
I do have a 6 disk cd changer in the car, but when I go into the audio settings on the head unit there isn't a CDC option. Will this still work?
Thanks beyond again for the advice.
Greg
Few quick questions running through my mind still...
Is LaPower the same as Mr. 12volt?
Is it ok to buy the LaPower device off of amazon even though it only list to work for bmw?
I do have a 6 disk cd changer in the car, but when I go into the audio settings on the head unit there isn't a CDC option. Will this still work?
Thanks beyond again for the advice.
Greg
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
e500
@26gh Depending on what you have in the center console, you might be able to add a Mercedes "puck" to give you Bluetooth phone calls, but as I understand it, this will NOT do streaming music...
Do you have a CD changer (CDC). If you do, my recommendation would be to unplug the motorola car phone in the center console and go with the set up described in the post below (this is what I did in our 2004 E320) which replaces your CD changer and gives you Bluetooth for calls and streaming:
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...b-adapter.html
There is a lot of information in the post above, but I believe this is your best option currently available. With the LA Power (MR 12VOLT) installed in place of your CD changer (assuming you have one), you can make calls and stream music using the factory controls with a Bluetooth connected phone.
Hope this helps.
Lee
Do you have a CD changer (CDC). If you do, my recommendation would be to unplug the motorola car phone in the center console and go with the set up described in the post below (this is what I did in our 2004 E320) which replaces your CD changer and gives you Bluetooth for calls and streaming:
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...b-adapter.html
There is a lot of information in the post above, but I believe this is your best option currently available. With the LA Power (MR 12VOLT) installed in place of your CD changer (assuming you have one), you can make calls and stream music using the factory controls with a Bluetooth connected phone.
Hope this helps.
Lee
Few quick questions running through my mind still...
Is LaPower the same as Mr. 12volt?
Is it ok to buy the LaPower device off of amazon even though it only list to work for bmw?
I do have a 6 disk cd changer in the car, but when I go into the audio settings on the head unit there isn't a CDC option. Will this still work?
Thanks beyond again for the advice.
Greg
Member
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 171
Likes: 34
From: USA Tennessee
2008 SL550 R230, 2004 E320 W211
@26gh I had a older NAV TV ipod adapter in my R230 (SL550) and didn't like it. I took it out an replaced with the LaPower (MR 12Volt). I think is much better! I think you will get the same functionality from the LaPower (Mr12Volt) for a lot less$$$.
Regarding your questions
YES, the LaPower and Mr12Volt are the SAME. I think they are just branded differently.
Regarding the listing on Amazon for BMW, I'm not sure??? I bought both my my LaPower units from ebay that were listed for Mercedes W211. Here is one example on ebay (I have no affiliation with this seller, but it says he has sold 46 of them...):
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bluetooth-A...EAAOSw5cRZK8dj
Regarding your question about the CDC option not showing up (when you press audio, are there any "CD" options?), this might be a problem. As I understand it, your Comand unit must be programmed for a CD changer option (I think this can be done using Star SDS). It seems strange that you have a changer, but CDC is not showing up. However, when I first installed the LaPower (Mr12Volt), the CDC option disappeared on my radio at first, but once the LaPower booted up, and the Comand unit recognized it, everything was fine and CDC shows up. I'm wondering if there is a problem with your CD changer, and this is why your Comand unit is not showing the CDC option??? Hopefully someone else would have some insight on this?
Good luck.
Lee
Regarding your questions
YES, the LaPower and Mr12Volt are the SAME. I think they are just branded differently.
Regarding the listing on Amazon for BMW, I'm not sure??? I bought both my my LaPower units from ebay that were listed for Mercedes W211. Here is one example on ebay (I have no affiliation with this seller, but it says he has sold 46 of them...):
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bluetooth-A...EAAOSw5cRZK8dj
Regarding your question about the CDC option not showing up (when you press audio, are there any "CD" options?), this might be a problem. As I understand it, your Comand unit must be programmed for a CD changer option (I think this can be done using Star SDS). It seems strange that you have a changer, but CDC is not showing up. However, when I first installed the LaPower (Mr12Volt), the CDC option disappeared on my radio at first, but once the LaPower booted up, and the Comand unit recognized it, everything was fine and CDC shows up. I'm wondering if there is a problem with your CD changer, and this is why your Comand unit is not showing the CDC option??? Hopefully someone else would have some insight on this?
Good luck.
Lee
