S-Class (W220) 1999-2006: S 320 CDI, S 320, S430, S 500, S 600

S Class (w220) 2003 Double Din Head Unit

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Old Nov 29, 2020 | 09:58 AM
  #1  
Shekhar Patel's Avatar
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S350 W220 (Limousine)
S Class (w220) 2003 Double Din Head Unit

Hi MB Users,

I have recently bought a 2003 Mercedes S Class (w220) limousine version and want to replace the current head unit with an aftermarket Sony XAV-AX3005DB I just purchased. The current stereo wires don't go into my aftermarket head unit. The adapter that came with the Sony head unit is not compatible with the Mercedes wires.

Would anyone know what adapter I need to connect the two together. This is not for a subwoofer.

Any advice would be great!

Many thanks in advance MB Fam!

Shekhar
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Old Nov 30, 2020 | 02:46 PM
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From: Ball Ground, GA (N of Atlanta)
2003 S500 2007 GL450
The factory unit uses partial fiber optics rather than standard electrical wiring. Installing this aftermarket unit might not be either easy or cheap. There are conversion adapters, but my impression is that they are not rated very highly by most folks.

The more popular replacement system for W220 owners seems to be one of the latest Android head units made to fit the W220.
https://www.benzworld.org/threads/w2...stall.3023252/

Last edited by wallyp; Nov 30, 2020 at 02:50 PM.
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Old Nov 30, 2020 | 07:10 PM
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Mercedes
You can’t just put in that Sony in and plug it into the wiring harness

unless you run speaker wires directly from the sony speaker outputs to each of the speakers it won’t work .

The existing speakers are connected to a factory amp , and the factory amp is connected by fiber optics to the factory radio . so it won’t work unless you run new wires directly from the Sony directly to each speaker , bypassing the factory amp
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Old Dec 22, 2020 | 05:54 PM
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2004 S500
Find a good Car Audio shop that specializes in retrofits and upgrades. There are adapters that use the pre amps from newer head units like the Kenwood DNX576S that connect directly to the Mercedes "MOST" Fiber Optic system. The "Professional" Audio people can do this.
I put this Kenwood with front and rear cameras in my Double DIN '94 Corvette Convertible and asked if we could do the sme upgrade to my 2004 S500 and was told that it could easily be done.
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