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I drive a lot for work and need to add bluetooth to my 2008 GL320 CDI with the factory COMAND system and Harmon Kardon components. I've been driving myself insane trying to find a nice aftermarket unit that just works without a lot of monkeying around or retrofitting. AvinUSA seems to be the goto for a lot of applications but the support and sound quality appear to be lacking. Crutchfield doesn't seem to have anything that will work without adding multiple modules, all of which increase the cost.
Unless I find something worthwhile I might just stick with the factory bluetooth module for phone and add a 2nd bluetooth adapter that connects to the iPod cable in the glovebox. I think these will work but I'm not sure. Can someone confirm?
I drive a lot for work and need to add bluetooth to my 2008 GL320 CDI with the factory COMAND system and Harmon Kardon components. I've been driving myself insane trying to find a nice aftermarket unit that just works without a lot of monkeying around or retrofitting. AvinUSA seems to be the goto for a lot of applications but the support and sound quality appear to be lacking. Crutchfield doesn't seem to have anything that will work without adding multiple modules, all of which increase the cost.
Unless I find something worthwhile I might just stick with the factory bluetooth module for phone and add a 2nd bluetooth adapter that connects to the iPod cable in the glovebox. I think these will work but I'm not sure. Can someone confirm?
The 30 pin BT adapter will work with the connector on the bottom. I used one for a few years but the biggest drawback is that it stays on even when the car isn't running, so your phone will constantly connect to it once you're in range, which is a problem if you use bluetooth headphones around the house and you can't use things like Waze/Google Maps from the head unit screen. I ended up replacing the Command unit with a double din Pioneer head unit, which IMO is a better solution than buggy Android based head units like the one Avin sells, You can't run Android apps on the head unit, but it will work reliably unlike the android units that can be a headache, and will run any Android Auto/CarPlay apps on the screen so you don't have to use the phone while driving (I'm not sure it is really any worse than doing it on the screen, but you won't get a ticket if you're doing input on the head unit). I just posted a picture of my head unit in the broken down in Phoenix thread if you want to see what it looks like. It is a more expensive solution (It was ~$600 all in from Crutchfield), but is a better one too IMO.
