Benzlova

On ebay I bought a DVD Nav Drive Unit, my used car dealer told me my car was pre-install with navigation system. He said all I needed was the "brain" to get it to work. So thats when I decided to buy the drive unit instead of paying $2100+. The dealer told me when I took it there to get it serviced that my car does not have DVD Navigation wiring (according to the Original window sticker). Now I have a drive sitting here which I was so hyped up on installing right away. The dealer said it cant be installed, it has to originally come with it. I thought that Antenna was the GPS antenna on thecar, but I guess I was wrong? Well if anyone knows what I can do now, hopefully I find a cheap easy way to do it and tell my used car dealer to take it to mercedes that connected with him and get it done at wholesale price. But dont know if hes going to even pay half now.

Any idea/pics on howto retrofit it, cause iv been reading though all these threads and it I thought 02+ have it pre-installed, and ill I needed was extra drive behind the MCS Screen. Alot of people posted about this, and heard that it was just plug in play, I was shocked/pissed when the dealer told me.

PS: THEY SAID YOUR CAR HAS TO BE COME ORIGINALLY WITH NAV, OR YOU CANT HAVE IT INSTALLED.

mbsickness

I have a buddy that bought an '03 ML350 that did not come with navigation. Spent ten minutes dropping in a drive (CD version). The GPS antenna wire was taped to the radio harness. You will however have to have the dealer version code the radio to get the navigation voice to work. Easiest thing to do is pull out the radio and look for the GPS antenna connector.

Benzlova

Where and how much is the GPS Antenna at the cheapest? Will this be just a simple plug and play procedure for me?

I have a 2002 Mercedes ML320 With the MCS Screen with the tape player behind the screen and a dummy cover for a drive to be added. I have the DVD Nav Drive, how much will it be to install GPS Antenna and install DVD Unit Drive? As far as the coding, thats the easiest and last thing on my mind. I want to know if the dealer basically BS'ed talked me.

mbsickness

I guess I wasn't very clear in my response but the GPS antenna was already present in the ML. The connector (which plugs into the Nav drive) was taped to the radio wiring harness. I am pretty sure the dealer gave you a load of BS. Pull out your radio and take a look....willing to bet a beer that the antenna wire is there.

pleubner

There are no ML's without the coax roof antenna wire.... It's either a single coax (pre-MY 01.09.01) , or dual coax.

The 98,99,00,01 models need a splitter/amplifier combination, and later model just need to hook up to the connector. For the dual (later models) antenna setup you might need to inspect the underneath of the passenger seat for a break in the connection.

Loads of retrofits to almost any year model done on the various forums. This is one of the most discussed topics. (mine is MY2000, wolfgangs is MY1999, paul's is MY2003, etc....)

http://www.whnet.com/4x4/radios.html
http://www.whnet.com/4x4/mcsdvd.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~phdwebsite/comand_2.0.htm
http://www.mercupgrades.com/Retrofitting%20Comand.htm

pleubner

This link has most of the Antenna (Arial) info you need. Just scroll down to your relevant section. Paul has specifically collated his own, mine, and wolfgangs info to show the antenna connector you should expect behind the dash in each MY. (pics included)


http://www.mercupgrades.com/Retrofitting%20Comand.htm

Wolfgangs site has the MCS DVD Nav Upgrade.

Benzlova (If your MY is >= 01.09.2001) , then you need the dual coax roof antenna "163 820 15 75". They pop up every now and then on the US or German ebay....

mbsickness

Great reference documents for the install although a 2002 should already have the antenna installed and wired to the back of the radio. The splitter under the passenger seat should not be needed on a facelift model. Of course I would spend the 30 seconds to pull the radio and just see if the antenna connector is present.

pleubner

mbsickness,

The splitter is behind the dash and not under the seat for pre 01.09.01 models (see pics of splitter above .. behind the radio bay) ... but the break under the seat for the antenna coax must be checked only for post Sept. 2001 models.

MY 98,99 need the splitter with FME connectors (other wise oyu need adapters)
MY 00,01 need the splitter with fakra connectors

MY 02,03,04 Don't need a splitter since dual coax cables run form the rear to the front.

98,99 Vehicles also need the "speed signal retrofit"
http://www.whnet.com/4x4/vss.html