So I finally did it and replaced the factory head unit. All went well fairly well with the install but I did have a couple of problems after.

I'd bought the backup camera with wireless modules but the rear unit didn't fit in my tail light space so the installer put everything together in the front and was going to install the rear part later when I figured out the best way to go. This had an unintended consequence. The front backup camera wireless module interfered with the esp and I had an esp warning. After my Indy went through step by step they finally found the culprit. I don't know if it was just that it wasn't paired with the rear that caused the problem or not but I can try it again when I have the camera or just run a new wire from front to back to connect them.

Now I have BT music, BT telephone, a good nav and more music than I could ever listen to. I decided not to add an amp at this time and went with the built in one. It seems to be doing good at the moment but I'm a little tone deaf anyway...

The one question I have for the guys with star experience is where in star programming do you turn off the setting where it tells the car that it no longer has a factory head unit? I'd like the ability to set the digital clock from the steering wheel controls.

Anyway, here are a few pictures for those that are interested.

 

Looks great! More info?

 

I'm happy to provide it. What do you want to know?

 

I'm curious, what head unit are you using?

 

It's the Chinese one you see on ebay. Direct replacement and you still get to use the steering wheel controls. My biggest concern initially was the quality of the sound. It's not anymore.

As you can see from the radio, it looks very similar to the modern Mercedes. It's all touch screen which is nice. It takes some getting used to since there are settings to choose genre of music or news, etc but I'm too lazy to go through the instruction manual and I'm pretty stuck in my ways with the types of thing I listen to.

I'll add one more pic to show you the fitment into the center console. Not a good pic but you can see, it's a perfect fit.

 

I would like to change mine, I'll have to think about that one. Thanks for your answer.

 

I use a 32G SD and download videos from youtube then convert it to MP4(720HD)
it's awesome!

 

Nice upgrade!

This thread has the info you need for enabling clock adjustment through wheel/cluster;
https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...-solution.html

 

Cheers mate!

 

What year is your 55?


Thanks

 

Mines a 2003

 

I looked and I don't think they make a replacement for an 07.

 

AFAIK they do and it's much easier to install. They supply a cable that plugs directly into the factory amp from the head unit.

 

Link???

 

Looks great! My screen has damage on it and I've been thinking about this for a while but was concerned about the sound quality using the new head units amp. Out of a scale from 1-10 how would you rate the sound compared to stock. Stock being 10.

 

If you could post a link that would be great. I would love to have BT and touch screen.

 

Here's the link. The guys name is Tony and he's very helpful.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Car-D...928518336.html

 

I'll try to take a sound clip over the weekend and let you decide. Like I said, I'm a bit tone deaf but to me it's an 8 out of 10 and I'm only using the built in amp.

 

We'll see what he has to say about an 07.

 

Does that include fiber optic?

 

The 2003 had the fiber optic DB2 and it's not compatible plug and play but you can still install. The original contact with the seller said the harness would mate up so I'm not sure if they were confused or sent the wrong one but either way, not a significant deal.

First, you solder the new harness into the factory harness from the other side of the amp. The new unit has 4 input jacks so a couple of speakers need to be wired together. You have to run a new antenna and GPS antenna. You also have to run the lines for the ipod and usb connections. I put mine in the center armrest compartment. If I'd have been thinking, I'd have run an additional power supply in there at the same time.

The second option you have is to add a new compatible amp. Pretty sure the same procedures apply. I've been on the fence with this. I have not done it up till now and I'm really not sure if I need to.

You also need to make sure that whoever installs it sets the supplied canbus properly. That's one thing I still need to do. There are six presets and one of them is good for the SL. This gives you steering wheel controls but if you have the wrong setting like I currently do, when you scroll through the in-dash programming it changes the radio station like a seek button would do as well as scrolling through the menu.

One other thing to note, I originally bought a wireless connector for a backup camera. I was hoping the camera I purchased would fit in the license plate light area but it didn't so the rear wireless module was not connected. I got ESP errors because of it and a long list of attempts didn't fix the ESP problem. In the end, the indy cut power to the wireless module and all errors went away. I'm going to be running the wire from back to front now to install. My original installer was a Maserati guy so he had little to no experience with a Merc.

All in all, I'm still very happy and I'm hoping to get the remaining issues taken care of in the next couple of weeks. I'll update after that.

 

My first post! After much review and research this seems to be about the most cost effective option. I looked at an Alpine unit, but the cost was around $2000. Apparently a custom bezel had to be made? Would this unit be a DIY project? You said the installer had no Mercedes experience. Wiring into the CAN system and factory amp seems a bit of a challenge but I would like to save money if I can.

 

If you're technically inclined I don't see why you couldn't. It's pretty straight forward I think. That said, it only cost me a couple hundred to have it installed.

Welcome to the forum.

 

concealpro,

Like you, I think this head unit that RoundtheBenz has put in his car looks like an excellent upgrade and at an attractive price. I have put it 'on the list', and may do it late this coming winter. I 'want' to install it myself as well, so if you decide to do it, please make lots of notes and pictures. If you'll then post them on this site, you'll benefit a lot of other owners.

Good luck, and please keep us updated on your decision and progress.

 

Do you think it can be adapted to work satellite radio?