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Just bought and 11 GL450 for my wife and she wants an upgrade head unit. She says that the Mercedes screen isn't colorful enough when playing tunes from her iPhone. Screen being in basic black, tan, brown, etc. In her 03 S600, I had upgraded to a Chinese unit. It works great, and is easy to use. Only problem was I had to disable the optical system which turned on the SOS light on the dash. Now I have to push the reset button to get rid of the light every time I start the car. I'm wondering if I will have the same problem with my GL450. I see that they sell the MOST optical adapter for this vehicle. Can anyone confirm that an aftermarket system will plug and play with no issues?
The Alpine Halo 9, displays the cover art, song title, etc... like this https://images.crutchfieldonline.com...9-o_other4.jpg
After installation of the new unit on my 2008 GL550, the SRS light was on, however the radio technician said that was normal and to take it to the mechanic that they will remove it, so I did, and the mechanic said it was ok, no issues so far.
I have a 2010 x164 GL450 and just got the Halo 9 with all the interfaces needed for the MOST Fiber optic connections, but the guys at Best Buy didn't know if removing the COMAND system would render my factory rear entertainment system useless, which is a show stopper. Before I start returning everything, has anyone with the Factory Rear Entertainment successfully replaced the COMAND?
I have a 2010 x164 GL450 and just got the Halo 9 with all the interfaces needed for the MOST Fiber optic connections, but the guys at Best Buy didn't know if removing the COMAND system would render my factory rear entertainment system useless, which is a show stopper. Before I start returning everything, has anyone with the Factory Rear Entertainment successfully replaced the COMAND?
No sure what you mean by removing the COMAND system, my rear entreatment still works as it used to.
Thanks for responding. The COMAND is the factory head unit. You can play the Rear Entertainment System (RES) from it as well as from the player in the center console. I have the Harmon Kardon system with all the fiber optics adding to the complication.
No sure what you mean by removing the COMAND system, my rear entreatment still works as it used to.
Thanks for responding. The COMAND is the factory head unit. You can play the Rear Entertainment System (RES) from it as well as from the player in the center console. I have the Harmon Kardon system with all the fiber optics adding to the complication.
Thanks for responding. The COMAND is the factory head unit. You can play the Rear Entertainment System (RES) from it as well as from the player in the center console. I have the Harmon Kardon system with all the fiber optics adding to the complication.
I have the Harmon Kardon as well, but mine is a 2008 GL550, so the dvd player is in the back seat, yours a believe the dvd player is at the front? in any case, the Halo 9 is a receiver so it doesn't play dvds... it does have HDMI input tho which I currently have an amazon stick plug into it... I wouldn't go to best buy, I went there and they didn't even want to touch a Mercedes Benz... I asked my mechanic who he recommended and there I went.
I have the Harmon Kardon as well, but mine is a 2008 GL550, so the dvd player is in the back seat, yours a believe the dvd player is at the front? in any case, the Halo 9 is a receiver so it doesn't play dvds... it does have HDMI input tho which I currently have an amazon stick plug into it... I wouldn't go to best buy, I went there and they didn't even want to touch a Mercedes Benz... I asked my mechanic who he recommended and there I went.
Thanks again onyx808. I think they changed the RES in 2009. Mine has the DVD in the center console beneath the Rear vents. You can play DVD's for the RES either from this rear DVD unit or from the COMAND unit upfront and that's what has me worried. I wouldn't mind a configuration where the RES only works with the DVD in the back, and I can connect an HDMI device; like the Fire stick, to the Halo 9 independently of what's happening in the back. BTW: were you able to use your existing GPS antenna for the Nav and the XM radio? If not, was there room in the dash to hide the aftermarket antennas? Thanks
Thanks again onyx808. I think they changed the RES in 2009. Mine has the DVD in the center console beneath the Rear vents. You can play DVD's for the RES either from this rear DVD unit or from the COMAND unit upfront and that's what has me worried. I wouldn't mind a configuration where the RES only works with the DVD in the back, and I can connect an HDMI device; like the Fire stick, to the Halo 9 independently of what's happening in the back. BTW: were you able to use your existing GPS antenna for the Nav and the XM radio? If not, was there room in the dash to hide the aftermarket antennas? Thanks
The installation kit I bought got radio antenna adapter, the Halo 9 does not have GPS, I use Apple CarPlay for that, and you need to get an adapter for XM radio, which I do not use since I use Spotify.
The installation kit I bought got radio antenna adapter, the Halo 9 does not have GPS, I use Apple CarPlay for that, and you need to get an adapter for XM radio, which I do not use since I use Spotify.
Thanks again. Got the answer to my original question from the Crutchfield website (Notes about your GL-Class When you replace the factory radio, the factory DVD player will still work, but audio will only be available through the factory headphones.) Which is what you also said, so my project is a go again. Also looking at the drawings, I do see a connection to a GPS antenna and it says one is included. Crutchfield says (A GPS antenna maintains accuracy when trying to use navigation through the phone.) Thanks again for your input.
Thanks again. Got the answer to my original question from the Crutchfield website (Notes about your GL-Class When you replace the factory radio, the factory DVD player will still work, but audio will only be available through the factory headphones.) Which is what you also said, so my project is a go again. Also looking at the drawings, I do see a connection to a GPS antenna and it says one is included. Crutchfield says (A GPS antenna maintains accuracy when trying to use navigation through the phone.) Thanks again for your input.
There you go! Crutchfield support is awesome, you can chat with them and they know a lot and give you good advice, you may also need a new backup camera, so you might want to look into that, because the Mercedes Benz backup camera does not work with aftermarket radios (as far as I know...)
There you go! Crutchfield support is awesome, you can chat with them and they know a lot and give you good advice, you may also need a new backup camera, so you might want to look into that, because the Mercedes Benz backup camera does not work with aftermarket radios (as far as I know...)
Let me know if the dongle works, I have to send the aftermarket surround view system back to the factory for fixing and I want to put back the old camera on the mean time...
Let me know if the dongle works, I have to send the aftermarket surround view system back to the factory for fixing and I want to put back the old camera on the mean time...
My project is postponed indefinitely. Was hoping to get it done before my family road trip, but once that wasn't going to happen, returned the major components, radio and fiber optic harness. May take it up when I return later in the summer.
Looking for an update to see if anyone found a decent replacement radio for the GL450. I'm thinking about this model here, but hate to give up Sirius XM, yet will live without if needed: https://avinusa.com/mercedes-benz-ml...on-system.html
In case anyone runs across this thread. I did install an AvinUSA head unit.
The pros: 1) Big. 2) Sounds great even without the Harmon Kardon amp. 3) Instant on. 4) Lots of apps available.
5) CANBUS functions work so no loss of steering wheel buttons or the display on the dash. However, I'm not sure how I'm going to set analog the clock now.
6) Backup camera works with their adapter. However, the view is huge and not sized for properly. Also the red and yellow guide lines are gone.
7) GPS picks up plenty of satellites with their adapter.
8) The factory mic for mobile calls works with their adapter.
9) I love the radio, but….
The cons:
1) No install or instruction manual provided.
2) ****ty customer support, either very slow or won't answer questions using their support email account. Must leave a voice mail if calling.
3) On the 2012 X164 there's no way for the factory antenna amp to work. They provide the correct blue wake-up wire, but the pin out doesn't match the factory CANBUS connector. I'm waiting on an adapter and will have to use an aftermarket antenna.
4) I haven’t found a way for the the WIFI to automatically connect to the hotspot from my i-phone. Each time I turn the radio on it I have to open the Settings >Hotspot on my phone, then open Settings > WIFI on the head unit. Bluetooth connects automatically if I have something playing on the phone using Bluetooth.
5) Mirroring from the i-phone doesn’t work and pops an error on the screen the “software has not been legally authorized”.
Last edited by StephenPage; 07-12-2018 at 03:22 PM.
Thanks to Stephen Page for his insight. The Pro's and Con's are helping me make a decision. With the Bluetooth adapter I bought for the stock head, I can play the music from my iPhone. I think I might just stick to the stock head and update the nav.
Sorry been busy, and now I went to take some pics and my camera battery was dying, so I took this ones as quick as possible... so have in mind I didn't have time to adjust, and the screen came out a little overblown...<br /><br />My setup is, Alpine Halo 9 which has Apple CarPlay and I added, Surround view backup camera and Amazon Fire Stick... I will be adding a sub soon.<br /><br /><img src="https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbworld.org-vbulletin/1200x800/1_a8e4e853dbd9b1c116a707607df9c6b26ef98da9.jpg"/><br /><img src="https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbworld.org-vbulletin/1200x800/2_be284536cd6963e473c240fd883f482c8754be2a.jpg"/>
Would you say that its worth paying the price over the cheaper ones for 400$? Yours is a fenominal look and i bet the device has a more features.
Go with the name brand and not the cheaper unit. You don't always get you what you pay for but you certainly will with a name brand unit. The name brand unit will have the ability to get sat radio without the use of wifi, a clear and strong radio signal, product support, and a true warranty if anything goes wrong with the unit.
The Chinese units do look good but, from what I've seen and read, I would not go that route. Maybe once they get rid of all the issues and have the ability to get sat radio and the ability to get a strong local radio signal, maybe.
In case anyone runs across this thread. I did install an AvinUSA head unit.
The pros: 1) Big. 2) Sounds great even without the Harmon Kardon amp. 3) Instant on. 4) Lots of apps available.
5) CANBUS functions work so no loss of steering wheel buttons or the display on the dash. However, I'm not sure how I'm going to set analog the clock now.
6) Backup camera works with their adapter. However, the view is huge and not sized for properly. Also the red and yellow guide lines are gone.
7) GPS picks up plenty of satellites with their adapter.
8) The factory mic for mobile calls works with their adapter.
9) I love the radio, but….
The cons:
1) No install or instruction manual provided.
2) ****ty customer support, either very slow or won't answer questions using their support email account. Must leave a voice mail if calling.
3) On the 2012 X164 there's no way for the factory antenna amp to work. They provide the correct blue wake-up wire, but the pin out doesn't match the factory CANBUS connector. I'm waiting on an adapter and will have to use an aftermarket antenna.
4) I haven’t found a way for the the WIFI to automatically connect to the hotspot from my i-phone. Each time I turn the radio on it I have to open the Settings >Hotspot on my phone, then open Settings > WIFI on the head unit. Bluetooth connects automatically if I have something playing on the phone using Bluetooth.
5) Mirroring from the i-phone doesn’t work and pops an error on the screen the “software has not been legally authorized”.
Do you have any more pictures of the unit installed but perhaps from a little further away?
My local audio dealer is leading me in the direction of the Kenwood DNX995s ($1299) with a GL450 adaptor kit ($450) plus some other accessories for a total of just over $2K. I like the size of the Alpine Halo9 but not sure I can wrap my head around a "floating" screen. Old school, I suppose, but I prefer flush-mount...
I'll try to create a video. I'm still working out a few issues, but overall have it working fairly well. Most recently have Amazon Prime and Dish Anywhere working on it. Can now watch streaming video and baseball while driving.
My local audio dealer is leading me in the direction of the Kenwood DNX995s ($1299) with a GL450 adaptor kit ($450) plus some other accessories for a total of just over $2K. I like the size of the Alpine Halo9 but not sure I can wrap my head around a "floating" screen. Old school, I suppose, but I prefer flush-mount...
Those Kenwoods are really nice. Did they get the factory antenna working with it? I only have around $400 into the Avin radio. The only annoying thing about it is I had to install an aftermarket antenna, but it works fine. There's no manual that came with my radio, so I've had to email support several times to get past a few issues.
Those Kenwoods are really nice. Did they get the factory antenna working with it? I only have around $400 into the Avin radio. The only annoying thing about it is I had to install an aftermarket antenna, but it works fine. There's no manual that came with my radio, so I've had to email support several times to get past a few issues.
06-26-2018, 07:53 PM
