Bromaguire

What are my options in regards to adding an iPhone connection to play music through the stereo? I have a 2005 SL600.

Thanks

diablo2112

2005 R230 is MOST-based fiber optic bus. Many folks (including myself) have upgraded the head unit to a modern nav system, which includes full iPhone connectivity. There's a MOST audio interface that allows you to continue to use the stock amp and speakers, and works great. Let us know if you'd like more details.

jeffreyy

I'd like more details, recently bought a 2008 SL55, due to arrive Friday!

fxrs1955

I have a 2005 SL500 and would like the details too, thanks in advance.

Bromaguire

Please let me know some more details about the products you mentioned. Thanks

Is there any way to keep the stock head unit in place and attain an iPhone connection?

diablo2112

The key to aftermarket upgrade for the R230, at least the 2005+ models with the MOST bus, is the box available, below. It takes the stereo output from an aftermarket head unit, and converts it to the appropriate MOST-based signal. The box has connections for the MOST fiber optic cables, and is truly plug and play.

The box handles all the MOST commands to turn on the amp, achieve volume control, etc. Well worth the price for an upgrade. As a bonus, as you retain the stock amp and speakers, you also retain the custom equalization provided by Bose, in both top-up and top-down modes. You can hear the amp switch equalization curves when you put the top down, for example.

Finally, I find the audio from an aftermarket head unit 110% better than the stock COMAND system. I was very surprised how good the stock amp and speakers are in the Bose system; it was the terrible COMAND head unit that was holding it all back.

There's also a pretty simple solution to retain your steering wheel controls over the audio, check out the other products available for the R230 on the site, below.

Here's a link to the MOST interface.

http://www.installer.com/item/displa...?it=most-hurmb

diablo2112

This writeup is indispensable in helping to upgrade audio in the R230. I can't take credit for this, it was provided to me on another forum. Everything you need to know to upgrade your audio. It's applicable to any MOST-based R230, years 2005-2008.

LGSONE

Dusting off an old thread but I wanted to say thank you to all. I just picked up a 2005 SL600 this last weekend and was not impressed with the audio. I moved up from an 03 CLK Cab and it had a great stereo upgrade I did in it so this was a welcome thread to find.

LGSONE

NEMES1S

I wish I would have just done my stereo when I did my sub. I do highly suggest looking into replacing the factory sub with the jl 13tw5. I even got the bracket, amp, and back up camera for the job and then just lost interest and ran out of time. You can get some killer decks these days for reasonable money and gain a good chunk of features over the factory set up. Depending on how long I keep mine I may just buy a grom box and live with the ok factory amp/speakers.