2001 S500 - Q&A Help
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Florida
01 S500
2001 S500 - Q&A Help
I just purchased a 2001 S500, Arctic White over Grey Ash Leather. Here is what the car has in it from what I can tell:
Standard COMAND Nav, Tape/ CD Changer combo in trunk, TEL, etc.
Rear comfort package (Power rear seats)
Airtronic Suspension w/ ADS
Parktronic
AC/Heated Seats
I'd like to change some things and/or fix some things, but need help. I am sure more questions will follow, but here is one for now:
1. In the center console, there is the standard 2 wrench icons for a phone, but all I see is a black plastic backing with gold screw looking pieces. No phone, no wire, no nothing. Having a Droid smartphone, is there any options to connect bluetooth phones to this car? The car is bone stock w/ Nav, etc. The COMAND center says TEL, but obviously I dont want a 2001 cell phone stuck in my center console to make calls... I do NOT want to change the head unit, just add something to be able to use the car's phone setup w/ my phone.
Standard COMAND Nav, Tape/ CD Changer combo in trunk, TEL, etc.
Rear comfort package (Power rear seats)
Airtronic Suspension w/ ADS
Parktronic
AC/Heated Seats
I'd like to change some things and/or fix some things, but need help. I am sure more questions will follow, but here is one for now:
1. In the center console, there is the standard 2 wrench icons for a phone, but all I see is a black plastic backing with gold screw looking pieces. No phone, no wire, no nothing. Having a Droid smartphone, is there any options to connect bluetooth phones to this car? The car is bone stock w/ Nav, etc. The COMAND center says TEL, but obviously I dont want a 2001 cell phone stuck in my center console to make calls... I do NOT want to change the head unit, just add something to be able to use the car's phone setup w/ my phone.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16
Likes: 2
check around the site. Look for articles by skylaw, he has some really good stuff. Not an easy task on a s500 2001. The original phone is years away from when it worked. If the equipment is gone, it will take a whole new system and it is very pricey.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Florida
01 S500
Great. Thats what I figured. I checked out CarTronics on here and they seem to have a system for about $600 but if I go that route, I might as well replace the entire COMAND unit for $1,000 and have everything I want, Ipod, Bluetooth, Nav, Rear Camera, DVD, etc.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,063
Likes: 27
From: Tampa, FL
2005 S500 4-Matic, 1978 450SL
The most recently edited and easiest-to-read How-To Guide on OE cell phone installations is at http://www.mbca.org/forum/how-guide-...tooth-and-plug - you may need to log on as a guest in order to download the pdf. Otherwise, see https://mbworld.org/forums/audio-ele...ml#post2788377. Your car does NOT have a CP-211 or MHI phone system, so posts 1,3 and 6 apply to your car. If you do not need a Universal PSE, the upgrade can be affordable.
Before deciding to replace your COMAND, be aware that you are also likely to be into having to replace your amp, adding a good sound processor, and possibly replacing your speakers. See http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w220...nd-system.html - disregard the heartburn some of the contributors had - the task has been done by many folks, but it is not particularly simple.
I am not steering you away from Cartronics. They have some very good equipment (be sure you are looking at options for D2B; the MOST equipment is not compatible with your fiber optics bus).
Before deciding to replace your COMAND, be aware that you are also likely to be into having to replace your amp, adding a good sound processor, and possibly replacing your speakers. See http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w220...nd-system.html - disregard the heartburn some of the contributors had - the task has been done by many folks, but it is not particularly simple.
I am not steering you away from Cartronics. They have some very good equipment (be sure you are looking at options for D2B; the MOST equipment is not compatible with your fiber optics bus).
Last edited by Skylaw; Jan 5, 2012 at 11:53 AM.
