I'm new to MB ownership having bought a 2005 SL last September. There were a few things that needed fixing which I've worked my way through but about 2 months ago the COMAND system died when I ejected the sat nav DVD to check the version number. I'm left with no sat nav, no radio, no CDs, etc. I can't even set my clock! I took it to the MB dealership, here in South Australia, expecting to pay a horrendous amount for the replacement, but no! There is no replacement. They have stopped making them and obviously there are none in stock. So I asked about getting a used one as a replacement.

"Can't be done", I was told by the MB service representative (not a mechanic). He said that they are coded and to each car and can't be swapped. They didn't charge me for their efforts and I didn't get a written report but the rep said that there was also another problem with the system, possibly the Navigation DVD. Anyway, I'm starting to smell BS as there are plenty online for sale. I can not believe that MB have designed a system so secure that it cannot be replaced. I am more inclined to believe that this dealership doesn't know how to do it. I can accept that there is a security protocol but surely a dealership would have the tools (possibly Star Diagnostic) to fit a replacement.

This leaves me with two options:
1. To purchase a second hand one from the internet. There seem to be quite a few compatible units available but the dealer's rep said that I wouldn't be able to fit it because they are coded to each individual car. It might be possible using a Star Diagnostic tool. Unfortunately, in Australia, the tool costs about $1,000. Expensive, but I'm sure I'll get use out of it in future. Has anyone done this?

2. The other option, which I'm leaning towards, is an aftermarket unit. Sadly, the local car audio shops want to "remodel" my centre console to make their units fit. I'm not keen on this. I have found what appears to be a direct modern replacement made by Seicane which appears to provide all the functionality of the COMAND unit apart from connecting to the 6 CD changer.

What does everyone think? Does anyone have experience replacing a COMAND head unit?

 

I myself did not replace the Comand.
The Seicane unit fits R230's up to model year 2004. If your Comand has a bezel around it (wood or whatever) the physical fit is okay. If the Comand itself fills up the dash space you have a model 2005 (production year and year of registration aren't necessarily the same). See pictures (one is a Seicane unit). The design of the sound system throughout the car is very different, between the 'old' and the 'new' system. Either way, you're dealing with optical communication between components. Although the design is quite elaborate, the sound isn't that spectacular. The same goes for the simple screen. Folks often complain about the radio reception of the Seicane units, it seems to need a dedicated reception signal booster that sometimes is missing in the package.
You might want to look into kissing your Comand back to life. Detach the rear battery for some time, for a reset, or try pushing the on/off button for a while.
As for the nav dvd, MB states that discs after 2015 will not work in an SL. I put in a 2019 (W Europe) and it works without further ado, although it very occasionally asks for a hard reset.

 

Thanks for the suggestion Frederick. My 2005 SL has a slightly different console to yours. It is like the one below so it fits nicely into the space but unfortunately the bigger screen mean that I'd lose the cup holders.


Exerpt from the Seicane ad.

I had a B service on Tuesday and the Service Rep said that the car has the original systems battery from new. That's 17 years! No wonder it's starting to fail. He said that as it gets worse the car will gradually shut down non-essential functions like the cigarette lighter and radio and this could be what's happening as a message similar to "Electric consumers offline!" is frequently displayed after I don't drive it for a day or two. This might also explain why various systems, like ESP steering wheel adjustment, parking sensors, etc., often don't work immediately after startup but come back online after 10 minutes of driving.

 

The head units are NOT security coded, and a used replacement of the correct type will work assuming you have no other issues.

It is unusual for the navi processor in the boot (presuming this is the system you have) to mess up the main head-unit, as there is no direct connection, only fiber optics (D2B or MOST depending on which head unit you have), and even with that not working the head unit will still function, but no sound.

Frederick has concisely distinguished between the two systems, so you need to know which one you have.

Both systems can be replaced, but less options for the older one with wood surround.
For this it is either a China unit like Sicane, or a branded head unit using an adapter fascia, but you need to chop away the top bit of wood. Either use a D2B adapter to connect to the amplifier, or rip whole system out and fit new amplifier/speakers depending on how big your budget is.

The newer (MOST) system is a bit easier and either a china head-unit with 10" screen will fit straight in, or an adapter fascia for branded head-unit.
Again what you do for amplification will depend on how deep your pockets are, but easiest is a MOST converter and connect to existing amplifier.

All options also enable the use of steering wheel controls.

What you do will depend on what you want to end up with, and how much you want to spend.

 

Is it not better to go for a aftermarked unit? Then you can have DAB plus radio, back up camera and not to forget a touch screen
But i think Seicane have both the type that fit 2002-04 SL, R230 and also the type that fit the 2005 and newer SL, R230

How the quality is i have no idea

Link to the Seicane units below:
https://www.seicane.com/android-car-...class,sl-class


Almost forgot to post this link here on the forum:
https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...500-radio.html

 

Thanks for your replies. I wrote a lengthy reply yesterday but it seems to have gone into the void. In case it appears sometime I'll keep this one shorter.
I've had a B service earlier this week and was told that the Systems Battery is the original one so no wonder it's starting to fail after 17 years. I've noticed that several systems do not function immediately after I haven't started the car for a couple of days (parking sensors, ESP, steering wheel adjustment, etc.) While talking about the Systems Battery the MB service rep said that as this battery gets weaker the system will cut out unnecessary systems such as cigarette lighter, radio, etc. to maintain power to essential systems. I'm going to replace this battery. The Starter Battery was replaced at the service.

Frederick NL, Seicane do a model for the 2005 SL Seicane OEM Android for 2004-2011 SL which looks like a good fit but I'd lose my cup holders.


g0rsq, thanks for confirming that the head unit is not security encoded. My 2005 SL doesn't have the wood surround. If I get the Seicane head unit it appears that all controls, including the steering wheel buttons function but I might lose the CD stacker. There is support for the Original car's Optical Fiber Amplifier so maybe not.

TheSaint, you make some good points about the additional functionality of the Seicane unit and I am drawn toward the upgrade.

Tavarish installed one

in his SL55 and was impressed so the quality should be acceptable. Infinitely better than what I've got now - nothing! Thank for the mbworld.org link, it's got some useful stuff even though it mainly talks about the 2003 MY.

This is my plan: since I need a new Systems Battery, I'll get one and see if a new battery changes my COMAND system functionality. If the COMAND system returns to normal then I'll probably get a new screen and fit it myself. If it remains nonfunctional then I'll get the Seicane head unit.

 

PeterSh. The comand/radio on the right on the picture you posted does not look to be an Seicane unit. It for sure does not look like it since it is more a Kenwood, Pioneer style

On the picture below is the Seicane unit for 2005 and newer Mercedes SL, R230. But as i said i do not know the quality of the Seicane products.
But do not the Seicane use all of the original connectors so it is mostly plug and play work installing a Seicane unit

I am pretty sure that you will keep your cup holders using the Seicane unit

Link to the Seicane product in the link below:
https://www.seicane.com/oem-android-...port-dsp-h2833




Seicane unit for 2005 and newer Mercedes SL, R230

 

The unit in TheSaint's post is one of many guises of the same unit available from China, and comes at many price points depending on memory and options. I looked at one for my car, but was really very expensive for a "cheap Chinese" head unit.

You WILL loose cup holders with it, and you WILL loose CD/DVD completely including existing multiplayer (Big one for me as I watch DVD (no not when driving but when I am waiting to pick my wife up from work))...

You will still need a MOST converter, unless you remove/replace existing amplifiers, and speakers (SL speakers are 2 ohm), though you can get away using them.

There is another option which is to get an adapter faceplate for double DIN head unit, and install that. Much better quality, but still need MOST converter if keeping existing speakers/amplifier, and also a steering wheel CAN adapter.

For a Modest Pioneer head unit it can work out cheaper than the Chinese head unit!, and you keep your cup holders...

 

I must say that i agree. I would rather have a well known brand like Pioneer, Alpine and something like those
Below is a picture of the 2 DIN fascia/plate from aliexpress.com









2 DIN fascia/panel for 2005 and newer Mercedes SL, R230

 

I believe you can use the same fascia adapter for double DIN head unit in pre 2005 cars also....BUT....you need to cut off the trim above the cup holders and possibly devise a fixing method for it.

This is only way to fit branded double DIN to pre 2005 cars.

 

Just a reminder that there's D2B versus MOST protocol between those two 'generations' of cars. So the physical fit isn't everything the OP should reckon with.

 

Starting with a Double-DIN insert for your 2005 SL is the way to go. You then have the choice of dozens of head units. I delayed buying the car last year until I could confirm I could get Apple CarPlay working on it via a new head unit.
This is my thread on installing it on a 2004 SL; As g0rsq above mentions, it was a bit harder on my 2004; it is easier on a 2005.

https://mbworld.org/forums/sl55-amg-...004-sl600.html

IIRC, the 2003 and 2004 need a D2B adapter, the 2005+ use the more common MOST adapter.

 

"It might be possible using a Star Diagnostic tool. Unfortunately, in Australia, the tool costs about $1,000. Expensive, but I'm sure I'll get use out of it in future. Has anyone done this?"

You might want to contact BenzNinja here. Peter can help you out when ready.

 

Just a note about the Seicane unit that many says is some China made and not a so good unit.
These days i guess the Pioneer, Alpine and these units are made in China as well. Just wanted to say that
So the Seicane unit might be just as good

Any here that have installed the Seicane unit and had it in the car for a while? And are you pleased with the Seicane unit?

 

Yes, thanks for highlighting that.

An update on my situation is that after buying a new system battery the problem remains. However I've just found somebody in Sydney who deals in luxury car entertainment units. I've just replied to his email saying that he can help but I don't know what his solution(s) will be. If he can repair my unit it might be a cheap stop-gap solution and he also has some NTG2.5 units which if he has one for an SL, AND it's an easy plug and play, AND the price is right, then I'll probably go for that as I think this is the model in the 2009-2011 SLs that has more up-to-date maps and a modern screen. But, if those criteria aren't satisfied then I'm leaning toward the Seicane even though I've found a few other Chinese brands at about half the price.

 

Any updates on your situation? I am looking to upgrade my 2003 SL and was wondering if you went the Seicane route?

 

I decided to try to keep it original if possible. I found a guy in Sydney who had the parts I needed so I took out the centre console head unit and shipped it to him for a screen replacement. He returned the head unit and an audio gateway and navigation DVD unit. Refitting the head unit and audio gateway was easy enough but I didn't have the equipment to take out the trunk lining and replace the navigation DVD. You have to unfold the trunk lid mechanism and support it on a pole-like device while taking out the lining, etc. Particularly difficult as I don't have a garage to work in. I ended up giving the car to the MB dealer here in Adelaide who said they would fit the unit and register the new components to the car. That was 6-7 weeks ago and they still have it. I haven't spoken to the mechanic but their service representative said that when they connected all three components one of them was overheating and they wanted to replace it with one from another car, I assume as you can't buy them new anymore, to perform some tests. In the meantime they have given me a brand new Merc to drive so I'm happy enough.

If I had to do it again, given the difficulty in finding these components, I'd seriously consider the Seicane route. Maybe the components are easier to source in the US. The local car radio places here don't have replacements as good (aesthetically) as the Seicane and fitting a Pioneer or similar would require them to hack up the center console, which is a major reason I didn't go with them in the first place. The Seicane unit appears to be a direct replacement for both types of center console (2003 & 2005). I did some further reading after I gave my car to MB and apparently all the steering wheel buttons work with it but not the multi CD changer so it seems like a reasonably good choice. The one thing that I didn't check was the fiber optic connections throughout the system and whether you need them to the audio gateway. They are obviously not needed to the navigation DVD but that's also where the phone module is. I think the Seicane has electronics to replace the phone module.

One other thing that I forgot to mention is that if you install the Seicane you will lose your cupholders.

So that's the story so far. Hope it helps with your decision. I'll post again when I get my car back.

 

I finally got my car back last week. The only thing that has changed is my bank balance! I spoke to the head mechanic and the mechanic who actually worked on my car for about 20 minutes. They've given me a full page of things they have tested in an effort to get it working. In summary, each component checks out OK and the fiber optic connectors are OK but put them together and it doesn't work as a system. In the end they advised me to get an aftermarket unit, which I'm going to do. With the money I've spent so far I could have installed a top of the range Alpine or Kenwood, etc.

The question is, which aftermarket unit? MB showed me a customer's SL63 with a Kenwood installed but it looked too aftermarket. I mean that the replacement surround fitted the console space perfectly but the Kenwood unit looked small with acres of black nothingness surrounding the unit. It just didn't look like it was meant to be there. All the brand name units, Pioneer, JVC, Alpine, Kenwood, etc are the same size, so would have the same aesthetic problem. The better Chinese manufacturers such as Teyes, Joying, Dasaita and Atoto don't seem to have a unit to fit my 2005 model with its NTG1 COMAND unit so I'll keep looking.

 

The bose amplifier just malfunctioned in my r230 causing a huge amperage draw. Long story short I'm removing the whole system, rewiring , & going with an aftermarket double din/ 6.5 components/ amp / sub

 

Great Info.