SL/R230: Grom Audio usb/ipod/bluetooth/3.5mm audio unit review
Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 168
Likes: 3
2005 SL65
Learned more today. I know if you just unplug the power from the CDC, the rest of the components will not sleep and will drain your battery. Plug the power back into the CDC and everything goes to sleep nicely.
Also solved the mystery of the two power wires on the CDC. One is continuous power and the other is the wake up power. My test was flawed as it was not connected to the CDC so everything stayed awake.
When connecting to the Grom we should use pin 1 (pos 12v constant) and pin 2 (ground) Pin 3 (blue) is the wake up power and not used on the Grom.
Viper, did you used the blue wire for your power? If so that may explain the re booting.
I should receive my unit tomorrow. Time permitting I will give it a go
Also solved the mystery of the two power wires on the CDC. One is continuous power and the other is the wake up power. My test was flawed as it was not connected to the CDC so everything stayed awake.
When connecting to the Grom we should use pin 1 (pos 12v constant) and pin 2 (ground) Pin 3 (blue) is the wake up power and not used on the Grom.
Viper, did you used the blue wire for your power? If so that may explain the re booting.
I should receive my unit tomorrow. Time permitting I will give it a go
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,040
Likes: 125
From: Atlanta Metro
Current: C217 V12TT AMG Previously: C55 AMG, SL65 AMG
Very interesting find. Diagram is very valuable. I don't remember which one I chose. Looks like I'll have to tear everything down again to find out, unless I can stick a mirror in through the front access door. Now it makes sense about the 12v not turning off, it wasn't plugged in for sleep mode.
Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 168
Likes: 3
2005 SL65
Installed the unit yesterday. Everything works well, impressive actually.
Nice clean sound quality with USB or AUX. Bluetooth a little less quality but that is to be expected. I didnt need the grom software. I can stream from spotify, pandora or my phone sd card via n7 player. Hand free phone works great too.
No issues at all. Get in the car after sitting and the music starts instantly where it was left off. I waited til today to report so I could confirm no battery drain problems. It all goes to sleep as it should.
Overall very pleased with this product and can enthusiastically recommend it.
Nice clean sound quality with USB or AUX. Bluetooth a little less quality but that is to be expected. I didnt need the grom software. I can stream from spotify, pandora or my phone sd card via n7 player. Hand free phone works great too.
No issues at all. Get in the car after sitting and the music starts instantly where it was left off. I waited til today to report so I could confirm no battery drain problems. It all goes to sleep as it should.
Overall very pleased with this product and can enthusiastically recommend it.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 57
Likes: 10
From: Michigan
Two 2005 E320 CDI, 2004 E500 Wagon, 2007 ML63 4MATIC
This is a old thread but I would like to hear from users that installed the GROM with the Bluetooth option. How well does the phone functions integrate with the MB headunit controls? Does the numeric keypad work? Do your contacts show up in the headunit? I have a 05 E320 CDI with Harmon Kardon, NAV and CD changer. No bluetooth or vehicle prewire. I would like to keep the original headunit since it offers full control of the audio.
There are may threads discussing the Android radios. The headunits are similar to phone and allow the installation of apps. Features such as back camera and active tire pressure monitoring can be added. The main drawback I see is a limited interface to the vehicles audio hardware. The front/rear fade and auto modes are no longer accessible.
For and E-class the third option would be upgrading to to a NTG2.5 hardware. This requires vehicle level coding and all audio modules/headunit are replaced. Additionally new wiring and fiber cable is required. Also the most expensive.
There are may threads discussing the Android radios. The headunits are similar to phone and allow the installation of apps. Features such as back camera and active tire pressure monitoring can be added. The main drawback I see is a limited interface to the vehicles audio hardware. The front/rear fade and auto modes are no longer accessible.
For and E-class the third option would be upgrading to to a NTG2.5 hardware. This requires vehicle level coding and all audio modules/headunit are replaced. Additionally new wiring and fiber cable is required. Also the most expensive.
Member
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 171
Likes: 34
From: USA Tennessee
2008 SL550 R230, 2004 E320 W211
@rocky472 I have also been looking for Bluetooth alternatives. I have a puck in my 2008 R230, and it works fine for phone calls, but no streaming music. I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I have also been looking at the LA Power (also called Mr. 12 Volt) device for a 2004 W211 and possibly my 2008 R230 (for phone and streaming music). According to the W211 forum, the LA Power device works well with stock COMAND if you have the CD changer (CDC) which you would lose by installing the LA Power device. See link below:
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...b-adapter.html
Has anyone put this LA Power device in an R230?
Lee
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...b-adapter.html
Has anyone put this LA Power device in an R230?
Lee
Member
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 172
Likes: 17
--sold Sl55--
@rocky472 I have also been looking for Bluetooth alternatives. I have a puck in my 2008 R230, and it works fine for phone calls, but no streaming music. I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I have also been looking at the LA Power (also called Mr. 12 Volt) device for a 2004 W211 and possibly my 2008 R230 (for phone and streaming music). According to the W211 forum, the LA Power device works well with stock COMAND if you have the CD changer (CDC) which you would lose by installing the LA Power device. See link below:
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...b-adapter.html
Has anyone put this LA Power device in an R230?
Lee
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...b-adapter.html
Has anyone put this LA Power device in an R230?
Lee
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 260
From: Netherlands
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
Only while playing cd’s does the NTG1 offer the surround option, which does make a bit of difference. Does swapping cd’s for bluetooth (which will probably be a bit lower in quality?) wipe this option?
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Member
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 172
Likes: 17
--sold Sl55--
@850csi Let us know how it goes. From the W211 forum, it looks like a good option.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...b-adapter.html
