Pinoy2145

does the 2001 SLKs come with an aux input to use an IPOD? if so, where is it...and if not, is there a way that it can be retrofitted? thanks

CopperDesigno

I use a RF modulator (iRock), it was like $30 at Radio Shack. It plugs into the headphone jack on the mp3 player and you set your radio to a station in the 88fm range. It works great for me. Plus you can bring it from car to car to boat to house.

Pinoy2145

nice! thanks for the info...how clear does it come in?

CopperDesigno

Depends on interferance form stations actually broadcasting on a 88fm station. It has four 88 stations that it can use and i programed my "0" button for one of them.
I found that it is crystal clear most of the time.
In my SLK I have it wrapped around my automatic shifter in a particular way to keep it close by. I found that if I keep the MP3 player and RF unit on the passenger seat, they tend to go flying as I drive.

DickB

I found the iRock unsatisfactory. It is subject to frequent interference and the sound quality is not stellar.

I've been experimenting with a direct connection to the Bose amp. I have a prototype adapter that works well and gives excellent sound quality. It is plug-and-play and plugs in line at the back of the head unit. In operation it bypasses the head unit; in fact the head unit is turned off when playing the MP3.

I am working on one small issue - an annoyance really. There is a short click during power transients (e.g., when the unit is first turned on or when I switch from MP3 to the head unit). This can be muted by temporarily disabling the 'on' signal to the Bose amp. I'm working on a circuit to do this automatically.

Pinoy2145

hmm...

does the car come with the proper tools to remove the head unit? I have an aftermarket head unit in my BMW...I assume the same tools to remove that could be used for the removal of the factory MB unit? Have you considered wiring an aux input in the glovebox similar to that in the new E class? Might be an interesting alternative.

Thanks for providing more information!

DickB

I use a small Swiss Army knife (nail file) to remove the head unit as described here http://www.slk32.com/pages/cdinstall/cdinstall.html

Works well.

I plan to route the aux in cable to the center console storage box actually.

Pinoy2145

cool! would you mind posting instructions on the install when you're done?

DickB

OK Pinoy2145. Visit bipesauto.com or go directly to http://frontiernet.net/~dbipes/SLK/m...er/default.htm .

sandrogrima

I installed an aftermarket CD player in my 2002 SLK and had the same problem with the "short click during power transients" you mentioned. What I figured out is that it only happended when I connected the Line Level outputs from my H/U...not so when I use the speakers outputs to drive the Bose amp. Not sure if it is the same thing but maybe using the headphone jack instead of the line out my help?????

DickB

My application is dfferent from yours. I'm using the stock head unit and adding an MP3 port with its own preamplifier. Either the preamp or the head unit is switched into the Bose input. If this switching is done with live circuits then there is a transient noise.

I solved the problam by dropping the 'amp on' signal momentarily before switching. This mutes the output and eliminates the click/pop.

The stock head unit does something similar. It delays a second or so after it is turned on before it activates the 'on' signal to the Bose. It sounds like your head unit turns on the Bose amp immediately.

Pinoy2145

kind of off the whole IPOD thing, but do you know how much that vario roof controller on that site costs?

cvayala

$395 for the remote roof controller. Installation was easy enough and it works great.

Remote roof controller