Head Unit advice for e55
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Viper SRT-10, 68 Camaro
Head Unit advice for e55
I'm installing a sound system into my e55 and just trying to debate on what head unit to use?
I absolutely love the DNX9140 (I have installed that in my other cars) but think it might look a bit out of place in the mercedes though. I have been reading about the dynavin mbe but dont know what the quality would be like on the unit and the preamps. I was also thinking about using the stock COMAND unit. Does anyone have any advice they could possibly give me?
I will be running the head unit with this setup:
Focal KRX3 up front
Focal KRX2 in the rear
JL audio 13TW5 on the rear bench with custom made box on trunk roof
JL audio 750/1 driving the 13TW5
JL audio 600/4 driving the KRX3 to allow individual control of 6&1/2 and 3"/1"
JL audio 600/4 driving the KRX2 in the rear
Any advice would be appreciated, thank you
I absolutely love the DNX9140 (I have installed that in my other cars) but think it might look a bit out of place in the mercedes though. I have been reading about the dynavin mbe but dont know what the quality would be like on the unit and the preamps. I was also thinking about using the stock COMAND unit. Does anyone have any advice they could possibly give me?
I will be running the head unit with this setup:
Focal KRX3 up front
Focal KRX2 in the rear
JL audio 13TW5 on the rear bench with custom made box on trunk roof
JL audio 750/1 driving the 13TW5
JL audio 600/4 driving the KRX3 to allow individual control of 6&1/2 and 3"/1"
JL audio 600/4 driving the KRX2 in the rear
Any advice would be appreciated, thank you
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Joined: Jan 2011
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From: NW Suburbs, IL
2006 E55, 2007 GL450
The Comand unit looks best for the car, of course.. but I still hate the fact that you cant put a house number on the street address using the OEM Comand Navigation.
I ran across this one .. http://www.incartronics.com/MBMost.h...ss=G/GLK&VIM=1
Scroll down to OEM REPLACEMENT NAV / AUDIO / BLUETOOTH / VIDEO
Has anyone heard of or tried this?
I ran across this one .. http://www.incartronics.com/MBMost.h...ss=G/GLK&VIM=1
Scroll down to OEM REPLACEMENT NAV / AUDIO / BLUETOOTH / VIDEO
Has anyone heard of or tried this?
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Viper SRT-10, 68 Camaro
That's the dynavin unit I was talking about. It looks amazing and is touchscreen too.
http://www.dynavin.com/products/product_dnv_mbe.php
http://www.dynavin.com/products/product_dnv_mbe.php
Last edited by abrim; Feb 2, 2011 at 01:29 PM.
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From: Treasure Island, FL
GLE 63S
Unless they've updated the specs it's not CANBUS compatible and therefore you'll loose the ability to control the unit via the steering wheel controls. I had heard they were working on a CANBUS compatible unit.
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From: Orange County, CA
2006 CLS55, 2005 Boxster-S
Cartronics selling for $2,299! I thought these Dynavin were going for $799 WTF?
Based on some previous posts you actually do not lose the use of volume and track control but if you replace the stock Comand unit say good bye to, MOST connection, parking sensor audio, service reminder, and instrument cluster info. The Cartronics one states that this is not the case so I'm wondering if it's been updated. Let us know what you find.
Based on some previous posts you actually do not lose the use of volume and track control but if you replace the stock Comand unit say good bye to, MOST connection, parking sensor audio, service reminder, and instrument cluster info. The Cartronics one states that this is not the case so I'm wondering if it's been updated. Let us know what you find.
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From: Atlanta
'12 E63, E55(sold), C32 (sold), '65 Skylark GS 445 convertible, '12 ML350
Not a keypad - those 6 buttons would be for preset and magazine selection.
It's a touch screen so when you need the keypad...viola...you have these magical buttons that appear on a screen and when you touch them, somehow it works!
It's a touch screen so when you need the keypad...viola...you have these magical buttons that appear on a screen and when you touch them, somehow it works!
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From: NW Suburbs, IL
2006 E55, 2007 GL450
Heres a youtube of one installed.... The Steering wheel controls do seem to work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynYf0NmAkf8
Looks very promising! With it being Windows CE based, lots of other things you can do to it too...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynYf0NmAkf8
Looks very promising! With it being Windows CE based, lots of other things you can do to it too...
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2017 991.2 Turbo PDK 2017 C63S Coupe Ceramic Brakes 2015 CLS63S AMG Full House
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From: Treasure Island, FL
GLE 63S
Heres a youtube of one installed.... The Steering wheel controls do seem to work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynYf0NmAkf8
Looks very promising! With it being Windows CE based, lots of other things you can do to it too...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynYf0NmAkf8
Looks very promising! With it being Windows CE based, lots of other things you can do to it too...
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E55 AMG, 72' Toyota Carina, 63' Ford F100, 72' Mercedes 250c, 15' Harley Davidson Softail
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Viper SRT-10, 68 Camaro
Damn that looks amazing! Is that piano black trim available to buy from Mercedes? I love it! Also do you have a link to your build thread? I would love to check it out! How is the headunit treating you in the car? Any problems?
Thanks!
Thanks!
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From: Tampa, Florida
06 SL65 / 97 993tt /11 Suburban/ 2012 GTR (AMG è la mia Famiglia la Bestia è la mia protezione)
The install was pretty straight forward...the main issue was getting the faceplate fit properly. Luckily my install guy is great with a wood, fiberglass, and ABS. Once I switched the interior to piano black lacquer finish (clear coated), the look was spot on. The OEM wood was harder to match but it was pretty darn close.
And now I believe their is a module that will allow some functionality with the steering wheel controls...at the time of the install (about 3 years now) there wasn't one. I still may add it now but I really don't mind using the HU controls.
PS Here is the interior with the new steering wheel to match the interior.
And now I believe their is a module that will allow some functionality with the steering wheel controls...at the time of the install (about 3 years now) there wasn't one. I still may add it now but I really don't mind using the HU controls.
PS Here is the interior with the new steering wheel to match the interior.
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From: Tampa, Florida
06 SL65 / 97 993tt /11 Suburban/ 2012 GTR (AMG è la mia Famiglia la Bestia è la mia protezione)
The Kenwood 8120 in the E55 has been fantastic...no problems and no electronic glitches. Garmin nav is simple stupid to use. The EQ, crossover, and spatial adjustments on the HU makes it very flexible and allows a lot of tuning options from 1 unit. I have the 8120 in the SL65 and the 9960 in the Suburban...all great head units.
https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...-lot-pics.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...o-surgery.html
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Viper SRT-10, 68 Camaro
I believe piano black is a special order (Designo?)...but it is just easier and less expensive to have all the trim pieces painted. It really isn't that expensive relative to getting all new pieces from Mercedes.
The Kenwood 8120 in the E55 has been fantastic...no problems and no electronic glitches. Garmin nav is simple stupid to use. The EQ, crossover, and spatial adjustments on the HU makes it very flexible and allows a lot of tuning options from 1 unit. I have the 8120 in the SL65 and the 9960 in the Suburban...all great head units.
https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...-lot-pics.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...o-surgery.html
The Kenwood 8120 in the E55 has been fantastic...no problems and no electronic glitches. Garmin nav is simple stupid to use. The EQ, crossover, and spatial adjustments on the HU makes it very flexible and allows a lot of tuning options from 1 unit. I have the 8120 in the SL65 and the 9960 in the Suburban...all great head units.
https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...-lot-pics.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...o-surgery.html
I absolutely love the Kenwood units, and would ideally like to use them in the merc. I think that is the route I am going to go down after seeing your build! I bet it sounds phenomenal! How hard was the headliner to do black? I was going to do that as soon as I got the car, but then realized I would have to do all the pano sliding pieces, both sets of 2 visors, the rear view mirror and all the handles and everything black for it to look any good. Did you do all of those pieces too?
I think I am going to do the piano black also, I just love the insanely clean look of it. Its understated yet bold!
Thanks again for your help
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From: Tampa, Florida
06 SL65 / 97 993tt /11 Suburban/ 2012 GTR (AMG è la mia Famiglia la Bestia è la mia protezione)
Thanks for such a quick response, I really appreciate it!
I absolutely love the Kenwood units, and would ideally like to use them in the merc. I think that is the route I am going to go down after seeing your build! I bet it sounds phenomenal! How hard was the headliner to do black? I was going to do that as soon as I got the car, but then realized I would have to do all the pano sliding pieces, both sets of 2 visors, the rear view mirror and all the handles and everything black for it to look any good. Did you do all of those pieces too?
I think I am going to do the piano black also, I just love the insanely clean look of it. Its understated yet bold!
Thanks again for your help
I absolutely love the Kenwood units, and would ideally like to use them in the merc. I think that is the route I am going to go down after seeing your build! I bet it sounds phenomenal! How hard was the headliner to do black? I was going to do that as soon as I got the car, but then realized I would have to do all the pano sliding pieces, both sets of 2 visors, the rear view mirror and all the handles and everything black for it to look any good. Did you do all of those pieces too?
I think I am going to do the piano black also, I just love the insanely clean look of it. Its understated yet bold!
Thanks again for your help
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Viper SRT-10, 68 Camaro
How did you dye all the grey ceiling pieces? I don't know what kind of dye would adhere to plastic like that and not look flakey. It looks absolutely perfect in your car, and i love the french stitching on the "holy **** handles".
Do you possible have any close-ups of the headunit installed, I want something to be able to show my builder and those ones are a little zoomed out. No worries if you don't, just wanted to check it out!
Thanks again
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From: Tampa, Florida
06 SL65 / 97 993tt /11 Suburban/ 2012 GTR (AMG è la mia Famiglia la Bestia è la mia protezione)
Abrim...the only real closeups I have are from the first build thread I posted above. I really don't have any closeups of the head unit without the faceplate.
Jon
Jon
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Viper SRT-10, 68 Camaro
Sorry again about that! Thank you
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Viper SRT-10, 68 Camaro
The install was pretty straight forward...the main issue was getting the faceplate fit properly. Luckily my install guy is great with a wood, fiberglass, and ABS. Once I switched the interior to piano black lacquer finish (clear coated), the look was spot on. The OEM wood was harder to match but it was pretty darn close.
And now I believe their is a module that will allow some functionality with the steering wheel controls...at the time of the install (about 3 years now) there wasn't one. I still may add it now but I really don't mind using the HU controls.
PS Here is the interior with the new steering wheel to match the interior.
And now I believe their is a module that will allow some functionality with the steering wheel controls...at the time of the install (about 3 years now) there wasn't one. I still may add it now but I really don't mind using the HU controls.
PS Here is the interior with the new steering wheel to match the interior.
Thanks again
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,929
Likes: 5
From: Tampa, Florida
06 SL65 / 97 993tt /11 Suburban/ 2012 GTR (AMG è la mia Famiglia la Bestia è la mia protezione)
The steering wheel was made by DCT Motorsports (sponsor here). They do great work...the air bag is retained only the outside core is worked on and it takes about 10-15min to replace.
Jon
Jon
