So just picked up a 2004 S55. Not impressed with the COMAND. I would like to replace the headunit only.

Is that possible? I know there are dash kits out there. What do I need for the wiring? I am ok if the steering wheels controls don't work. What other functions am I going to loose?

What control Boxes will I need to make it so I don't have to hack up the wires? Thanks

 

GTA...welcome and congrats on your car. I have an '05 S55 and thought that as well when I bought mine back in 2008. I decided to keep mine as I prefer the stock look. I would suggest if you haven't done so already, to check in the 'Sticky' threads, as Skylaw put together a very good starting point. Most of your questions will be answered there, or by utilizing the search function. This has been discussed through numerous threads with different answers that you may choose from to fit you needs, wants.

 

You can try one of those eBay replacement head units, it looks like the current command but it runs android, and can be customized heavily.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Android-4-0-Stereo-for-Mercedes-Benz-S-Class-W220-GPS-Navigation-Nav-Auto-Radio-/281460318406?hash=item418857a0c6&vxp=mtr

 

That looks very interesting.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybertronicify

You can try one of those eBay replacement head units, it looks like the current command but it runs android, and can be customized heavily.

Android 4 0 Stereo for Mercedes Benz s Class W220 GPS Navigation Nav Auto Radio | eBay

* This item is a direct plug-and-play replacement for the vehicle does not have a Fiber Optic amplifier or audio upgrade installed from Mercedes-Benz (such as Harman Kardon or BOSE, or factory navigation unit).
If your car with fiber optic amplifier, you need to use the extension kit (US$40) to make modification during installation, this stereo is already with built in amplifier, it will work with your car speaker directly, your factory fiber optic amplifier WON'T work again. But after use extension kit, the steering wheel control function maybe cannot work, but other functions will work without problem, if you do not mind this you can buy this item, if you do mind please don't buy this item.

 

Please, just keep the stock system. I bought my 2003 S600 with a custom pioneer system in place of the COMAND, and thought it was cool, until I found out it was the reason for all my electrical systems going haywire.....

And I can't even install the original COMAND back. The original wiring has been tampered with so much that it's ruined forever. I literally removed the fuse for the COMAND system to prevent any further damage, so now I'm using my car with absolutely no radio/navigation at all. Please, from a guy that has a custom system, please just keep it stock.....

 

Has anyone tried one of these units? It says they come with the CAN Bus box so it all works like factory. Seriously thinking about plunking down for one of those. The factory COMAND system just plain sucks. You know it, I know it, just need to find the solution..

Mercedes COMAND DVD player

 

I have one of those Chinese clone units installed for over 3 years now and am very happy. BUT I have an analog to fiber optic converter installed and then it was plug and play without compromising the Bose system. Also I could go back to stock COMAND if I wanted to.

 

Pictures?

 

Where could one get this analog to fiber optic converter?

 

My original unit was called OPTI-1.
I found a similar unit available here:

 

That is pretty expensive. Regardless wish they had something like that for people with the older D2B fiber optics, would have to use that really long Chinese cable to bypass the amplifier.

 

Yes, you would have to use that long cable to splice into the speaker wires. In either case you still have to route the antenna wire and if desired an optional rear camera cable to the trunk.
After installation I also determined that the CAN bus was not dropped when the car was shut down resulting in a constant 3 Amp battery drain. So I had to install a relay to disconnect the CAN bus when the radio shuts off. The CAN bus is used to communicate the steering controls.
After installing this COMAND replacement unit, the CD changer and NAV player are obsolete. But so far I left them in place in order not to disturb the MOST fiber optic ring.
My new unit itself runs Windows CE as an operating system and as an App I run iGo Primo for navigation. That is the best navi program for this.

 

awhile ago I looked at the windows ce units but decided to wait on a newer version of the units and recently china released the android 4.4 units with a pretty good resolution. Wish there was a way to convert the d2b signal to analog but will probably have to use that long cable and and wire the speakers to a 6 channel jl audio amp. Don't have time to take up that task yet. The unit does include an antenna adapter cable, stock antenna may work.




link to the newest unit: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ES9509MO-Android-4-4-2-HD-Car-DVD-GPS-WiFi-3G-Mercedes-Benz-S-CL-Class-W220-W215-/231519917756?hash=item35e7a996bc&vxp=mtr

 

Yeah I am just looking to install a double din from pioneer or something like that. Not a cheep Chinese unit. There has to be a wiring kit or a convertor out there that works....

 

What you do is run new speaker wires directly from the pioneer radio to the speakers , bypassing the Mercedes amp and so you don't need to connect to anything

Should cost no more than $60 at a stereo shop to run new speaker wires directly from the head unit to the speakers

that way you won't be using the mercedes amp and you can even sell it for a couple hundred bucks on eBay

 

So you guys are telling me theres not an off the shelf wiring kit for these cars?

 

Which year is your car and how is your steering wheel control wired?
I installed pioneer unit myself in 04 s500 with opti-1 and so far no battery drain (touchwood). Only issue I'm facing is how to tap into can bus high and low for steering wheel remote (I'm using control pro 5).

 

No

Mercedes used optical wiring from the head unit to amp so no aftermarket radio will work without the $600 adapter . Either you buy the $600 adapter and use the factory amp or you bypass the factory amp and run new speaker wire directly from the aftermarket head unit (or your aftermarket amp) directly to the speakers

 

So like this you can keep the steering wheel controls? Telephone as well?

 

That is actually a nice looking replacement...I wonder how well it performs....

 

Ive been looking at these systems, but I hear mix reviews on the forums about them :/

I love the way the OEM COMMAND unit looks on these cars but it will cost me so much to update the maps, add bluetooth ect ect that it make sense to buy one of these units or a double, personally if i can stay away from a double din I will but the price points to what I have to spend to get my system up to date will cost just if not less then spending on a double din or one of these units, any of you with the china COMMANDs have a demo or youtube video of how they work connect to phones using the 3G? (android)

 

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what difference for this unit:
http://www.seicane.com/seicane-s1275...screen-s127509

 

chinese units are apain, stay away from them, i can help you update the command from 2003 to put in your 2000-2003 to newer command, to install a new unit altogether, you can do it but it will involve rewiring the whole car and new amp. with steering wheel controls, if you need help email me at corkshoppe@gmail.com