SL/R230: Replace COMAND w/3rd party unit?
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Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Torrance (Southbay), CA - USA
'04 SL 500
Replace COMAND w/3rd party unit?
The COMAND unit in my '04 SL500 is nice, but I'd like to have a better in-dash navigation system, and add satellite radio at the same time. I came across a good price on this Pioneer AVIC-D3 unit, and it seems to have all the features and options I want. Calling Pioneer directly to see if they knew what vehicles were compatible was no help. They just say to contact your dealer for vehicle compatibility.
So would it be possible to have the OEM COMAND replaced with something like this? I think the main limiting factor might be the vehicle's wiring not being compatible, but I'm not sure.
So would it be possible to have the OEM COMAND replaced with something like this? I think the main limiting factor might be the vehicle's wiring not being compatible, but I'm not sure.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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I've had similar difficulties getting answers, like you would think the people that make something would be interested in selling as many as possible, and to that end to know what their product fits into. I have asked myself "what way to run a business is this?!"
Then i thought "Is it this way, this frustrating in other countries that sell these things?"
Now i hope someone from another country reads this and tells me if this is
mainly an American phenomenon.
Then i thought "Is it this way, this frustrating in other countries that sell these things?"
Now i hope someone from another country reads this and tells me if this is
mainly an American phenomenon.
Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 229
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From: So Cal
'09 E93 335i
I saw an Alpine unit a couple weeks ago at Al & Ed's (There was a picture of an SL R230 with it installed). However, I don't know if the COMAND functions are present with the Alpine unit. So I'm not sure how one would change any of the vehicle settings that the factory COMAND unit controls (tire size, etc.) - maybe the dealer would have to change any of those settings by connecting the vehicle to Star Diag.
Other than that, it can definitely be done, but the rest of the system components probably have to be changed as well (amp, speakers, cd changer, etc.).
Other than that, it can definitely be done, but the rest of the system components probably have to be changed as well (amp, speakers, cd changer, etc.).
