What are some ways I could ipod integrate my car? Does the MB dealership have anything to install? But they charge too much, i bet. Does bestbuy/Circ City do any installation? Or what else?

Btw, I drive a 2000 ML320.

 

Hi,

I have the same vehicle, and after research, I found two ways to do this.

1. Install the blaupunkt AUX2IN adapter from crutchfield for roughly 20 bucks shipped - behind the MCS where CD changer plugs in

COST: $20
QUALITY: Excellent
IPOD CONTROL: None
INSTALL: 20 Minutes top if you have the stereo removal tool.
MY RATING: 5/10 because you still have to look for and pick up iod to navigate songs.
CAVIAT: You must have the CD changer! If one was never installed in your vehicle, IT WILL NOT WORK. It will report "NO CD INSTALLED". You have to hook up the changer, play CD-1 and then turn off the car, remove the changer and it assumes you have the changer installed - hence lets you play ipod by pressing CD button.


2. Install SmartDeck by belkin (Tape adapter with dock connector and ipod control) in the tape - route the cable through an opening in the CD/DVD NAV drive blank (to lower storage compartment) or the lower left side of the MCS screen.


COST: $30
QUALITY: Good to Great
IPOD CONTROL: YES! Using tape controls you can skip songs.
INSTALL: 5 to use as-is. 40 if installed and routed properly.
MY RATING: 8/10 for ease of use to navigate songs.
CAVIAT: Since it iuses the dock connector, and it must to navigate songs, you cannot charge the unit at the same time. You will have to charge the ipod saperately ad if you are charging, you will not be able to play unless you have a Y-connector for two dock controllers (does this exist???)

Any how, I have not done either yet - have the Cable from crutchfield that came in last week, I did not even bother opening it becaue I will go with the Smartdeck that should be in before this Weekend. I should've picked the Smartdeck up froma local store for about $30 but I was lazy and ordered off ebay so now I wait for my package to be delivered.

I am excited about the install. Once the install is finished, I will try to post pics on my ML site at www.zaincarlson.com/ml320



thanks

 

hmmmmm.......anything else? Those 2 don't look promising.

 

Hi!

We just got the Harman/Kardon drive+play system for our 2000 ML430. We haven't installed it yet, so I can't tell you anything about how great it is, but I'll tell you why we got it....

It's got a digital display that you can mount on the dash that is supposedly just like the iPod's digital display. You control that display using a joystick that acts similarly to the iPod interface that you can mount somewhere convenient. It can be hardwired in or use the wireless FM transmitter that's included in the box. And, I think it charges the iPod, too.

We got the best price at Crutchfield, you can check out the drive+play at Harmon/Kardon's webpage. They've also got a "find and installation center" feature if you're not going to install it yourself.

We'll post more about how we installed it and how it works once that happens. We're also upgrading to the DVD Nav and doing some other electrical stuff, so we're waiting til we have all the parts before we start rooting around. Good luck in your search for the perfect iPod integration. (We had an IceLink in our Audi Allroad and were quite spoiled by it).

-D

 

no denison ice link? Im not sure on what years its compatible with

 

Dension Ice Link only works on Fiber-optic versions, I believe. I went to their wewbsite and they do not list any solution for pre-FO MCS (98-00)

 

hmm i too am trying to find a good solution. the iceLINK is $400!!! might as well buy a whole new audio system for my ML.