Re the optical cables, I found how it should be done in this video. just after 15 min mark
Re Now the one question remains: how to use the car's gps signal by splitting it...
Or just go with the supplied GPS antenna...

 

@lli so optical part solved. Not sure if TV is any better than aux here - when you use Aux, the unit is clever enough to switch automatically to Android mode just when you select it from OE menu. I am not sure if this will be the same for TV mode - try both and see which one works best for you.

As for GPS - I don't see a reason to split it in the first place... are you going to use the old NAVI for anything? If it is not generating any beeping errors then why bother... I am using antenna provided with the unit, placed at the far end of the dashboard, just at the place where windshield meets the dashboard - no issues whatsoever. And it is not visible from behind the wheel, so why not (mine was JP specs, so can't split the GPS as it is different to begin with, but I ended up removing OE GPS antenna anyways, to avoid these idiotic hard turn alerts that were hardcoded there).

 

The optical part is solved, but also not solved. If I pry the small plug with the two optical cables from the larger Mercedes plug, and put this smaller plug going into in the new android plug , sound etc works. However the rear camera does not.
If i use the supplied optical splitter and tv box with the "most" plug, nothing works. I think the optical splitter does not work correctly. I can see red ligght coming out of one of the mercedes wires, but after I put the splitter on, this is not redirected to the next plug.

GSM and GPS work. However, my GSM connects to 3G network, not 4G. And 3G will be decommissioned end of this year in NL...

So any help on the rear view camera and the 4G network is appreciated.

I have learned form reading old posts that the TV-box has not worked for anyone. My hypothesis is that the optical splitter doe not work. But then my question remains: how did people get the stock rear view camera to work ?

On an earlier question from me, i got the impression that people had the rearv view camera working:

 

in the factory settings (settings -> factory -> enter code) you will have to select if you are using OEM or aftermarket reverse camera... depending on the model factory settings will be accessible using different access codes (check bimmer website for examples if your vendor did not give you the code). If you have OEM camera, setting this bit to OEM is the only thing you need to do - no need to connect anything - the unit will automatically recognize when the car is in reverse mode and switch back to OE view.

Neither the optical splitter nor the most is going to work with your setup - just leave it alone - you have already achieved the original intend - which is to have sound working ;-) Camera is a secondary thing. I can't comment on the 3G setup - I don't even use it myself - I don't even know if my unit had the modem built-in and whether it was 3G or something else - all I use is Android Auto/ Carplay mode, which totally depends on my phone, not on built-in GSM module of the unit. If you need something more fancy, just use USB-based 4G dongle instead of built-in one... Or use wifi sharing...

 

The internals are the same, provided you buy the same spec unit. They all use the same crappy audio processing. The difference comes in at higher volumes where you get noise if you don’t use a DAC (which is extensively documented in several spots). The sound is also much more vibrant if you use a good quality DAC that you can adjust properly.

If you’re wondering what the difference is between a 400$ unit and a 700$ unit, provided you don’t get a fake one, absolutely none. Maybe better support…maybe.

 

Thanks! The reverse camera works!

 

What would you need to make this grond loop isolator work? Could I use the ground of the lightbulb in the glove compartment?

 

I'm using this: . Not available right now but you can find other similar ones. The ground loop isolator goes on the 3.5mm audio line coming out the headunit. No need to splice any wires.

The DAC I'm using is this:

 

[img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image001.jpg[/img]



MekedeTech 10.25'' Android 10 8 Core 4+64G Car Radio Multimedia Player GPS Navigation for Mercedes Benz S W221 W216 CL 2005-2013 S-Class Head Unit (NTG 3.5)


[img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image002.jpg[/img]



16GB MicroSD included





My vehicle

2010 S65 AMG Euro version with Rear Seat Entertainment package.

Glove Box MMI (Mercedes Media Interface) port with ipod and 3.5 mm female and USB.

No RCA in glovebox

Harmon Kardon Logic 7





[img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image003.jpg[/img][img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image004.jpg[/img]

My active connections.



OE Fakra 4pin to LVDS box

Mic jack 3.5 to supplied mic

LVDS white connector to Android screen

White cable to supplied loudspeaker

Orange single pin to OE upper control panel connector (shows suspension raise and sport mode)

[img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image006.png[/img]

MOST Audio in to Audio out (from Android)

WiFi connected

GPS connected (3 way FAKRA splitter integrated to connect to OEM GPS and Android GPS)



Configurations tried

Removed orange fiberoptic OE harness and connected to MOST box via 3 way connector.

3 way connector connected to MOST box.

MOST box connected to Android harness.

OE harness (minus Orange Fiberoptic) connected to Android Female

Android Male connected to Comand

[img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image007.jpg[/img][img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image008.jpg[/img]



Programming























[img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image009.jpg[/img][img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image010.jpg[/img]

AUX position 1=2

AUX position 2=9

Note….AUX on my menu is position 9…the first position is AM/FM, not shown



[img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image011.jpg[/img]

[img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image012.jpg[/img][img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image013.jpg[/img]

[img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image014.jpg[/img][img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image015.jpg[/img]

[img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image016.jpg[/img]





[img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image017.jpg[/img][img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image018.jpg[/img]

AUX switch mode = Automatic

AUX auto Switching = Other



[img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image019.jpg[/img][img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image020.jpg[/img]





[img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image021.jpg[/img][img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image022.jpg[/img]

[img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image023.jpg[/img]



AUX Activate





[img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image024.jpg[/img]

Display NTG 3.5





[img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image025.jpg[/img]

CAN protocol 3.5





[img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image026.jpg[/img]

UI configuration UI_MBUX







[img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image027.jpg[/img]





[img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image028.jpg[/img]







[img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image030.png[/img]





I have no sound from the Android screen.



I have changed to configuration to eliminate the MOST box and eliminate the orange fiber optic 3 way by connecting fiber optic directly into the Android male plug comand with audio 3.5 out to audio 3.5 in.



I have tried audio out female to audio in 3.5 female in glovebox AMI



I have tried selecting AUX in comand

I have tried selecting Media interface in comand with AUX position 2 =6

I have tried using the 3.5 audio out.









Findings: I have Audio on the 3.5 female audio out from Android. This was tested with an external speaker. For this reason, I concluded that the MOST box and the accompanying fiberoptic could be eliminated, as that configuration did not produce any audio out.

Removed MOST box and fiber optic to simplify.



Points:

I know that this is a display unit with some apps that output via comand.

I think there is something in the configuration of the Euro with rear seat entertainment and the glovebox MMI (USB, ipod and 3.5 female audio) that somehow needs to be properly selected to direct the audio input.



[img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image031.jpg[/img]



The AUX option here is grayed out….I cannot access it. Any ideas? [img]file:////Users/markknight/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image032.jpg[/img]



My MEDIA INTERFACE options



I have tried all the combinations, outputs and options that I can think of. I still have no audio coming from comand. I have eliminated the MOST box and connected fiberoptic directly to aftermarket harness (male). Female connected to OEM male.

Audio out 3.5 connected to audio in 3.5.

Another option may be to connect it to the OEM MMI/AMI ipod/3.5 in the glovebox via the supplied 3.5 extension.



Things to investigate…is the MMI working? Could the adapter be defective?

Are my programming settings correct?

Is the unit properly wired?





Any ideas would be appreciated.


Thanks.

 

Your links do not work for me. I only see locations on your server.
What can you succesfully connect to the female 3.5 plug in de glove compartment? Did you get sound from that eg by plugging a mail 3.5 in your mobile phone, other 3.5 in the female jack?

 

No pics work.

 

Chris,
Check out the PDF...download and view. The pics wouldn't upload.

 

Ili,
Thanks for following up. I had the same thought. Looking for a Type C connector/adaptor for the media interface. Yes, I am that guy who went Samsung instead of Apple....lol

 

Chris,
Attached are the files in PDF.
Thanks,
MK

 

When you say you connected most audio to andriod, what do you mean?
You have: Glove Box MMI (Mercedes Media Interface) port with ipod and 3.5 mm female and USB.
Can that 3.5 jack be played over the Mercedes sound system?
Then you connect a DAC to the USB from the mekede device into the femaie 3.5. A cheap but decent dac is about 30 US.

You can leave the most black box out, it does not work:

 

Help guys please
Now I cant access the factory COMMAND interface. I mean no upper bar where you can control (audio, telephone,navigation, vehicle...etc .Only A/C ( lower bar) is shown.

 

This what I mean

 

Ili,
I know that my MMI works...I have a bluetooth adapter plugged there, and that relays audio from my Samsung.
I suspect the cable supplied by the vendor may be the issue...I have some thoughts on that and will be investigating further. Any recommendations on the DAC? The one that Megacrazy (not crazy by the way...lol...super smart guy) is expensive.
I will keep you posted.

 

Do you have access to Star?
If not, try disconnecting battery negative for 10 mins and then allow system reset. May help.

 

It sounds you may have the facelift car with NTG 3.5 or have specific AUX ports in the glove box. In that case the sound connection is made behind the glovebox. Make sure the 3.5mm is connected to the smaller harness and not the larger/main harness. You should have an extension for that smaller harness that should be able to reach the glove box.

Take the dash end cap off (on the glove box side) and check what your aux ports are connected to. Unplug that and plug it into the harness coming from the android unit. That should give you audio.

Edit: make sure you have OEM amplifier selected and see if that fixes it first.

 

I bought one with a ES9280C DAC, Just search on aliexpress an you'll find plenty.
Connect that to one of the USB from the Android screen, and to the female 3,5.
I had to put 3,5 to RCA adapter in between, but it should work.

One additional question: did you put the volume of the Android unit up! It is in Android settings, not the vehicle settings.

@Dhaif: did you tap the black region? That got me into the android screen. From there select the radio/disc button of the mercedes and you should get to the mercedes command screen.
Or did you try the on button?

Hope this helps.

 

It was the ON button

Thank you guys

 

It was the ON button

Thank you guys

 

 

Megacrazy, lli,
Followed your suggestions and here is what I have discovered. Mega, as usual, you were right...the TV box does not work. The Audio out is a female 3.5mm jack. I ran a male to male 3.5mm and connected to the media interface AUX in the glovebox. When the system is set to AUX in comand, there is some sort of hum when the media interface (ipod + Aux 3.5 jack) is plugged in. When the male jack tip touches the collar of the 3.5 female jack there is sound from the right side. There is distorted crackling from the left side and constant whine. When the male is fully plugged in, there is no sound except the hum.