SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Grom Audio usb/ipod/bluetooth/3.5mm audio unit review
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Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Atlanta Metro
Current: C217 V12TT AMG Previously: C55 AMG, SL65 AMG
Grom Audio usb/ipod/bluetooth/3.5mm audio unit review
I recently purchased the Grom Audio unit for my '08 SL, since I was looking for a way to listen to my iPod or cell phone through the factory Comand system. I really didn't need anything fancy, just a simple 3.5mm jack would do. It's what I did in my W203 since MB offered a $40 cable to connect to a factory connector in the passenger side kickpanel. And one of those radio frequency poor sound quality things was not an option.
I was not too thrilled to hear that any iPod-ish option was not included in the (MOST fiber optic) 05-08 R230 SL's. And that my only solutions were some units in the $450-600-800 range.
I did find the Grom Audio unit, which comes with three inputs - USB, and a couple of ports that you can (buy from them) additional cables to use bluetooth, or your iPod, or a 3.5mm jack.
$300 bucks later for their box plus another $10 for the 3.5mm cable, it's in my car.
It's a surprisingly small box. Install is relatively straight forward - they've designed the connectors and plugs to be identical to factory. The problem is that the CD Changer in my car had a different shaped connector than what came with the unit. Funny that the silver box (I'm assuming it was the car's amp, or something similar to it) next to the CDC has the right connector.
You will need to remove the panel behind the drivers side seat (where the triangle window is), which also means removing the door step and rubber, and the panel under the rear cubby, and all the screws associated with those. Overall, disassembly is more work than the actual unit itself.
Since the connectors aren't the same (damn CDC) you will need to remove the pins from your factory connector and realign them into the Grom's connector. But no splicing is required - all the pins fit perfectly. And I don't know why Mercedes puts two +12v wires into the connector and one Ground wire, so I hope/think I chose the right 12v.
Removing the CDC is pretty difficult, so I just loosened everything and stuck my hand underneath (BARELY) to remove both the power connector and fiber optic connector. Left CDC in place. If you have big bear claw man hands, you will need to recruit your children or wife to help you.
I mainly use the USB mode (with included free 2GB USB stick) to listen to music. Quality is surprisingly crystal clear. I also routed the 3.5mm mini-jack cable through the armrest, which will require you to remove the rear center cover, and do some disassembly of the center armrest (with the smallest torx bits you've ever seen). But you can make the install pretty clean if you're inventive. It will take you some time though if you want to do it cleanly. But comes out pretty good. I also found why my armrest doesn't stay up - the little gas strut tube is done for. Getting that on order tomorrow...
Overall, the install came out VERY clean, even though it took MUCH longer time than it should have due to the complexity of the R230. But the Grom unit itself is pretty simple.
Overall, USB and 3.5mm audio quality is great. On USB mode, the unit uses the CDC menu as 6 discs, in which disc 6 is the Grom firmware menu, so you really only have 5 "folder" options. Within that, the Comand system only recognizes the first 99 songs (files) of every disc. So you technically only have room for 495 songs on USB. Might be a problem for some of you with massive libraries.
Also, you can tell that while the fiber optic system sends information VERY rapidly, one of the processors (either Comand or Grom) cannot process the information as quickly. You notice this when trying to quickly skip songs, something gets hung up and you get a delay. And/or it jumps back to where it started. Or the music blips a little bit for about 20 seconds. It's not as smooth as it should be in today's ultrafast world. Also, long song titles don't scroll - you get X amount of characters and that's it. Lastly, something didn't initialize correctly last night when I started up and drove home - the unit would not recognize USB for about five minutes. It eventually came back (I guess it reset itself), but it was an odd situation.
Overall, I'd say the unit isn't perfect. But for the fact that someone made an "integrated aftermarket" solution, they did a good job. It plays my music, cleanly. And for $310 bucks, I'm satisfied. I'd be dissatisfied if I had paid double for it. And I like to listen to my iPod/etc when the radio is playing terrible music or every station in the city has decided to conspire and play commercials at the same exact time.
'65
I was not too thrilled to hear that any iPod-ish option was not included in the (MOST fiber optic) 05-08 R230 SL's. And that my only solutions were some units in the $450-600-800 range.
I did find the Grom Audio unit, which comes with three inputs - USB, and a couple of ports that you can (buy from them) additional cables to use bluetooth, or your iPod, or a 3.5mm jack.
$300 bucks later for their box plus another $10 for the 3.5mm cable, it's in my car.
It's a surprisingly small box. Install is relatively straight forward - they've designed the connectors and plugs to be identical to factory. The problem is that the CD Changer in my car had a different shaped connector than what came with the unit. Funny that the silver box (I'm assuming it was the car's amp, or something similar to it) next to the CDC has the right connector.
You will need to remove the panel behind the drivers side seat (where the triangle window is), which also means removing the door step and rubber, and the panel under the rear cubby, and all the screws associated with those. Overall, disassembly is more work than the actual unit itself.
Since the connectors aren't the same (damn CDC) you will need to remove the pins from your factory connector and realign them into the Grom's connector. But no splicing is required - all the pins fit perfectly. And I don't know why Mercedes puts two +12v wires into the connector and one Ground wire, so I hope/think I chose the right 12v.
Removing the CDC is pretty difficult, so I just loosened everything and stuck my hand underneath (BARELY) to remove both the power connector and fiber optic connector. Left CDC in place. If you have big bear claw man hands, you will need to recruit your children or wife to help you.
I mainly use the USB mode (with included free 2GB USB stick) to listen to music. Quality is surprisingly crystal clear. I also routed the 3.5mm mini-jack cable through the armrest, which will require you to remove the rear center cover, and do some disassembly of the center armrest (with the smallest torx bits you've ever seen). But you can make the install pretty clean if you're inventive. It will take you some time though if you want to do it cleanly. But comes out pretty good. I also found why my armrest doesn't stay up - the little gas strut tube is done for. Getting that on order tomorrow...
Overall, the install came out VERY clean, even though it took MUCH longer time than it should have due to the complexity of the R230. But the Grom unit itself is pretty simple.
Overall, USB and 3.5mm audio quality is great. On USB mode, the unit uses the CDC menu as 6 discs, in which disc 6 is the Grom firmware menu, so you really only have 5 "folder" options. Within that, the Comand system only recognizes the first 99 songs (files) of every disc. So you technically only have room for 495 songs on USB. Might be a problem for some of you with massive libraries.
Also, you can tell that while the fiber optic system sends information VERY rapidly, one of the processors (either Comand or Grom) cannot process the information as quickly. You notice this when trying to quickly skip songs, something gets hung up and you get a delay. And/or it jumps back to where it started. Or the music blips a little bit for about 20 seconds. It's not as smooth as it should be in today's ultrafast world. Also, long song titles don't scroll - you get X amount of characters and that's it. Lastly, something didn't initialize correctly last night when I started up and drove home - the unit would not recognize USB for about five minutes. It eventually came back (I guess it reset itself), but it was an odd situation.
Overall, I'd say the unit isn't perfect. But for the fact that someone made an "integrated aftermarket" solution, they did a good job. It plays my music, cleanly. And for $310 bucks, I'm satisfied. I'd be dissatisfied if I had paid double for it. And I like to listen to my iPod/etc when the radio is playing terrible music or every station in the city has decided to conspire and play commercials at the same exact time.
'65
