OEM Comand system
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 33
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From: So Cal
2000 E55 Designo Silver; 2007 BMW 335 hardtop convertible and 2016 Audi SQ5
OEM Comand system
Has anyone changed out the Comand system with an after market am/fm/mp3/navi system? My 2000 E55 has horrible to no AM reception and real weak FM reception. Window tint is not the culprit. MB dealership replaced the entire fiber-optic harness and the antenna amp in the c pillar. Their top electronic mech told me that the set up was the best they could do.
I live in a large metro area where we have stations with serious power output, so I can't and no one else so far can understand why the weak reception. One MB service manager told me that the Comand units that first came out in model year 2000 all suffered reception problems.
If you have had this mod done on your 2000 to 2002 E55, what unit did you have installed and who did the installation work? I don't want the console cut up in case I ever want to have the OEM system placed back to restore to original.
I live in a large metro area where we have stations with serious power output, so I can't and no one else so far can understand why the weak reception. One MB service manager told me that the Comand units that first came out in model year 2000 all suffered reception problems.
If you have had this mod done on your 2000 to 2002 E55, what unit did you have installed and who did the installation work? I don't want the console cut up in case I ever want to have the OEM system placed back to restore to original.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,560
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210 55
Holy cow! is an Expesso designo? never seen this color combo Seats/woods
Hope you find a solution here! i think you can install some 2din (pioneer, kenwood exelon or alpine) with nav system, pretty comon to substitute the OEM command. Also you can buy some seering control interface to conserve yours with an aftermark HU!
(Some Alpine models comes with direct steering control interface)
Fabio Daniel
Hope you find a solution here! i think you can install some 2din (pioneer, kenwood exelon or alpine) with nav system, pretty comon to substitute the OEM command. Also you can buy some seering control interface to conserve yours with an aftermark HU!
(Some Alpine models comes with direct steering control interface)Fabio Daniel
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: So Cal
2000 E55 Designo Silver; 2007 BMW 335 hardtop convertible and 2016 Audi SQ5
Thanks for the response Fabio. I hope for a solution as well. I look at least monthly at all the 2000 E55 for sale on Autotrader and some have modified audio systems, but none seen so far had the Comand system. I add that in all my research during the past 6 years I have yet to find another 2000 E55 with the Designo Silver package. Maybe another member knows of one. If so I sure would like to make contact with the owner.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,803
Likes: 12
From: Charleston, SC
GL450
You can fit any double DIN system. There will be a small gap, as the COMAND is larger than double DIN, so you'll need a plastic plate to go behind the wood trim. If you want steering wheel integration, you'll need a PAC Audio kit, or a head unit with an adapter for CAN BUS. You can use a VW Metro wiring harness adapter. The Pioneer AVIC is a popular unit to retrofit. You can find more info if you search the W210 or W208 or W203 boards here.
