Fiber Optic to RCA

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Sep 28, 2016 | 09:32 AM

srfrboy

Thread Starter

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Joined: Jan 2015

Posts: 152

Likes: 10

From: Illinois

2013 GL550 4Matic

Fiber Optic to RCA

Looking to replace the factory head unit on my 2011 GL 550 with an Alpine Apple Car Play unit. How can I incorporate the factory amp?

Sep 28, 2016 | 02:45 PM

carlosrg

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Joined: Nov 2005

Posts: 165

Likes: 27

From: Buford, Ga

2023 EQE AMG

you need a MOST adapter.. Be aware of the following..
1. The MOST adapter is only for 1 set of RCAs input from the head unit. Thus you loose front and rear separation.

2. Personally I don't like the Alpine ILX-007 its not a canbus enabled unit thus you loose steering wheel controls, and infomatics screen (the screen between the gauges). Alpine has another unit but not available in the US that I like called the X800d http://www.alpine.co.uk/p/Products/m...l4845/x800d-ml which looks good. The Kenwood also is car play but has I feel more features.

3. The adapter is available from Avin, NavTV, ebay, and MoBridge. It literlay takes an RCA output from your head unit and sends the signal to the MOST gateway/amplifer makes OEM stuff all work.

Post up what you results are :-)

Sep 28, 2016 | 03:05 PM

srfrboy

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Joined: Jan 2015

Posts: 152

Likes: 10

From: Illinois

2013 GL550 4Matic

Thanks so very much for your response. I am surprised to hear that you loose the info screen in-between the tack and speedo. Also loosing the steering wheel controls is a down side. That Alpine unit you suggested, all the radio stations are even numbers so it would play the radio in the states. Correct? How about using the factory backup camera. Or do I have to go with the one that matches the new head unit?

Thanks...

Randy

Sep 28, 2016 | 03:36 PM

AWDAudi

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Joined: Aug 2015

Posts: 2

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2008 GL320 CDI

Quote:

Originally Posted by srfrboy

Looking to replace the factory head unit on my 2011 GL 550 with an Alpine Apple Car Play unit. How can I incorporate the factory amp?

I installed the iLX-007 from Alpine in my 2008 GL320 - everything stated about CAN-BUS is true - but I owned (and sold) the AVIN AVANT-2 so popular here which did everything the iLX-007 lacked. Selling it was the best move I ever made. Carplay included with the iLX-007 is great; I tapped into the factory backup camera; I've tried one CAN-BUS steering wheel adapter so far but have not had much luck with it.

Very happy with the iLX-007. Just know without your iPhone attached, this head unit is literally an AM/FM radio with a backup camera.

Sep 30, 2016 | 10:15 AM

carlosrg

Member

Joined: Nov 2005

Posts: 165

Likes: 27

From: Buford, Ga

2023 EQE AMG

AWDAudi tell me what you didn't like about the AVIN? I been looking at that unit? Or was you wanted Carplay?

Sep 30, 2016 | 10:33 AM

AWDAudi

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Joined: Aug 2015

Posts: 2

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2008 GL320 CDI

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlosrg

AWDAudi tell me what you didn't like about the AVIN? I been looking at that unit? Or was you wanted Carplay?

The AVIN certainly does what it advertises. I want an entertainment system in a car to "just work". I don't listen to physical media, so that leaves an online connection or Bluetooth. On the iPhone, Bluetooth functionality with this unit is limited to basic information. To provide an always on connection to the internet to use connected apps, I would either have to tether with my phone (which with the iPhone you have to do every time you get in the car) or get a 3G cellular USB stick and pay a bill for that every month.

In my opinion our phones are superior entertainment systems, I will never pay extra for navigation or an entertainment system in a vehicle again as long as I can get Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

My opinion.