FraKctured

Hi All: I need to replace the stereo in my wife's 2000 ML320. I've read a lot about what others have done. I've got the Bose system with Nav (but nav not installed) so I have the big head unit box (4x7 inches or so) with the screen (see pic attached).

One of the problems replacing the stereo is the big hole in the dash. The non-Bose/NAV version of the stereo has a normal thin stereo (1 din) and there's a storage place underneath (see attached picture).

The part numbers for the storage bin (#52 and #53 in the attached picture) are: #53: 163 689 0096 #52: 163 689 0547

I've searched online and I called my dealer and these parts don't show up anywhere. Any ideas on where to get these two parts to hide the hole in the dash and get a new stereo in there?

Thanks!

Maj. Dundee

M/B of South Atlanta has them.

http://www.mbpartsworld.com/productS...erm=1636890547

FraKctured

thanks Major D--I'll call them tomorrow. Much appreciated. Any idea why these wouldn't be showing up at the usual online parts sites, and at my local MB dealer?

Maj. Dundee

I have no idea.

M/B of S. Atlanta ships & hopefully you won't run into the same problem.

FraKctured

Update--the parts are color coded, which is why they are harder to find. My friend at MBCA figured that out and supplied the right codes (four more at the end). Just ordered both of these parts for about $90, including shipping. (Why aren't more people members of MBCA? 10-15% off parts at the dealer pays for the membership fees of $45/year many times over and you get a great magazine and meet new MB enthusiasts at the same time--win-win-win!!!)

Will now order a new "1 Din" stereo from Crutchfield and bring my wife's ML audio/cel-bluetooth into the 21st Century. I'll start another thread with pix since this might be something that others might want to do.

Here's the stereo I'm planning on buying:

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_158GS60...ml#details-tab

I'm still annoyed about MB's idiosyncratic approach to Nav/MP3/Ipod etc. They should be ahead of the curve, not behind it.

FraKctured

New parts on the way, new Sony ordered (Crutchfield service and selection is fantastic!)

Install next week, will post with pictures.

FraKctured

Here's the pictures of the install. Very easy to do, needed to call Crutchfield once because the wiring schematic was not very precise (yellow to yellow, red to red, blue-white strip to blue white stripe, and black to black--orange-white stripe is not used, which wasn't made clear in the schematic).

Part #53 (see diagram at beginning of thread) is MB part 163 689 0096 is not needed, it just looks nice (rubber pad for bottom of the plastic insert which is part #52: 163 689 0547

There is a four digit code that goes at the end of each part number to identify the color code. Mine are both black, and the codes are as follows:

#52:163 689 0547 7167 $48.50
#53 163 689 0096 7C45 $28.50

You'll see the microphone for the phone in the insert. I drilled a small hole in the back and ran the microphone through that (had to cut the cable and reattach--would have needed a fairly large hole to get the 1/8 inch male through).

Insert (Part #52)

DrX

The usual online parts sites aren't based on the MB EPC, while MB of South Atlanta's is.

Your local MB dealer's parts guy is not the best at his job. But they pay him anyway.

P.S. Radio install looks good. What are you doing with the old headunit?