cognizance8

Hi Everyone,
Our family has a '98 ml320, '01 ml320, and a '08 ml320 cdi. Anyway, we are looking into upgrading the '08 radio to include navigation. From what I understand, it is a long process, which I am very willing to undertake. The dealer has said that all radios are the same, the ones that don't have navigation do not have certain components installed but you can buy them and retrofit the car.

Anyone know exactly the list of parts I will need?

Thank you.

vinceching

you need to recheck with your dealer. the ones without navi don't have a disc slot for the dvd disc.

imho, it isn't worth your time or money to get factory. get tomtom or something similar.

if you are really bent on getting factory navi, talk to your sales person to try and do a trade in for one that has navi

cognizance8

thanks, I agree with you but it was a request that has been asked of me.

paulybagadonuts

I had navi installed by the dealer after purchase. Was not cheap but physically no change in appearance from the existing radio/cd player setup.

The only visual difference was that the navi map etc. showed up on the screen.

I couldn't see owning a $50k car without one.

Cost was right around $2k but I just figured it into the price of the car.

No problem - done in a few hours. Not sure what components your dealer is refering to but mine was a seamless install. No antenna or anything visible.

Good Luck.

XJ9

when you press open on the screen of your 08 ML you will see a single CD slot and a blank area. That gets changed to be a DVD slot that holds the navigation disc.

Adding navi involves getting that DVD slot and attaching it to the radio. you take the radio out of the dash and attach the dvd drive with 4 screws and then plug in an extra blue antenna cable that is sitting taped up behind the radio. thats step one.

step two involves popping in a small antenna splitter underneath the rear driver seat. You pull up the seat and then a cover to reveal the equipment bay. There is a loose antenna cable that plugs into the splitter. Then you locate a junction in the antenna cable going to the teleaid module (in the same spot) and unplug the junction and plug both ends into the splitter as well. done.

tkeskic

Contact the guys at Midcity Engineering and I'm sure they can assist you to get all the parts etc you may need; I dont know for sure, but they have supplied me with a number of retro-fit kits for my 2007;

http://www.midcityengineering.com/

am_beagle

Exactly that. The Navi DVD player you can search on eBay (Much cheaper than at the dealer) I bought one around $400, the spliter $71 (dealer price). Last step: Dealer Star activation the head (one hour charge) and VOILA. Good luck. (Less than $600)

Philport

Hey, glad to listen that you´re really happy with the new command...

ShoremNJ

Get a Garmin Nuvi, works better and easier with more locations than the nav i had in my 06 ml350.

Flubadub

I coudn't agree more. The MBNAV is woefully lacking for this class of car. I also have a Lexus and a Garmin portable(several years old), and both are MUCH more user friendly and accurate than the MB system. I would NEVER buy NAV from MB again and won't be updating my disc.

AMGfan

+3...the Garmin nav vs. MB nav...no comparison. Plus you can transport the Garmin nuvi from car to car...

Save yourself some time and money...

Flubadub

Its not just the time and money! With a Garmin you will have a nav that really works!! Cognizance8 should also realize that the Garmin units cover about every little track wherever you are. The MB nav has little detail outside major metro areas. I had my Garmin in Canada last year near Horsefly, BC. It knew exactly where I was.

AMGfan

I also like the ability to search points of interest so easily with the Garmin. I just type in the city and I can locate most any golf course, shopping center, movie theater, etc...the navigation between the menus is simple stupid. I can't say the same for MB nav...

MJ50

contact MBenzNL@gmail.com - best source for OEM mod parts!

bazz6

Please see my comments about retrofitting comand in my car in few threads before yours by the title "comand retrofit"

am_beagle

Hey Phil,
How are you doing in Portugal ? Enjoying your ML under the sun ?

ml3504me

Am_beagle did you buy a new radio all together or is it simply a DVD add? You said it was around $400 so I assume it was just a drive of some sort.

I assume you mean a splitter? For $71.00 and can you please give more info about the process at the dealer ?

Thank you very much...

my email is smartbet2@gmail.com if that is easier, again I appreciate it!

ml3504me

has anyone else had good luck like beagle upgrading?

I am very interested in doing this with as little issue as possible. Thank you!

DUTCH

Go with a Garmin Nuvi. If ytou get the 770, it has both North America and Europe maps preinstalled.

Mine sits on the dash of my 2007 ML320CDI; and the factory MB unit goes pretty much unused. Other than a larger screen, the factory unit has no pluses in comparison to the Garmin unit.

ml3504me

Has anyone taken the radio out of the dash before?

I searched forum, and google with no luck...

Thank you

Paul