Thread: Non CAN-bus Comand 2.0 into a CAN-bus W210

Hello, I'm a newbie so please be gentle.

I recently purchased a 2001 E430 Estate (W210) which came with a Comand 2.0 (DX) unit that the previous owner had purchased but never got around to fitting. I have done as much research as I can here and on the mercupgrades.com site so I think I almost understand what I need to do.

The car is a facelift model W210 with the fuel computer etc display in the instrument panel and steering wheel controls for function, volume etc. Therefore it's a CAN-bus equipped car.
It has the basic Audio 10 single CD unit and no CD changer is fitted.
The Comand unit is from a 2003 ML, part code 163 820 36 89. Therefore it a non CAN-bus unit.

It seems silly not to fit the Comand unit which apart from giving me built in navigation would also facilitate connectivity to my iPod which seems impossible via the Audio 10.

I understand that I won't be able to control this ML specific Comand unit from the steering wheel nor get navigation instructions in the instrument display but that's OK if everything else works.

The Comand unit has the short extension loom with C1 and C2 connectors attached to it, and I have a copy the all the connector pin outs for the Comand and Audio 10 devices courtesy of mercupgrades.

I have ordered the double din frame from my local dealer and know that I need a new fascia panel to accommodate the Comand unit but this is silly money so will have to wait until I track down a "previously enjoyed" one.

I had a test look/fit at the weekend and got most things working but I'm a bit confused/wary regarding wiring for wake-up and illumination.

I purchased some extra connector pins, from Maplin (£0.89) and connected the AUX L&R wires to pins 4,5,13,14 of the C2 connector to a 3.5mm plug equipped iPod cable ($3.43 at DealExtreme) with a separate power supply via a cigarette lighter to USB adapter ($1.99 at Deal Extreme). AUX, in the form of my iPod, worked fine if a little low (quiet) in level
I moved the vehicle speed wire from connector A pin 1 to C2 pin 6 and navigation worked fine
I connected the CAN-Bus High (brown/red) and CAN-Bus low (brown) wires to pins 9 and 8 of C2 respectively.

So to the things that don't work...

1) The Comand doesn't turn itself on or off with the ignition key. There is no "Wake-Up" wire on pin 4 of the "old" C connector, is this what I need? if so where do I find this signal?

2) Illumination, the Comand button lights don't work at all. "Lighting" is shown as pin 6 on connector A of both the Comand and Audio 10 but it doesn't work. I suspect this is related to the "Wake-up" issue and also related to a CAN-Bus signal

Clearly it's down to fitting a non CAN-Bus unit in a CAN-Bus car, most people put the non CAN-Bus unit in a non CAN-Bus car. Are these issues solveable or am I better off selling the ML unit (A163 820 xx 89) and buying a W210 one (A210 820 5x 89)?

Anyone with the opposite problem want to swap?

Cheers

Mark

You basically understand the problem. The COMAND unit is the wrong type.

Yes. as Benzmodz says, sell the W163 unit and get a W210 unit.

The problem you don't mention is that the mounting brackets are different on W163 and W210 and there is an extra little plastic frame on the W210 unit (between the front and the body of the COMAND) compared with the W163 unit

W163 units tend to be more "valuable" than W210 units, so you may actually do well selling W163 unit and buying W210 one !! This is because W163 units can go in lots of vehicles...

R

Originally Posted by richard

This is because W163 units can go in lots of vehicles...

R

Unless it is a W208 or W210 with steering wheel buttons.

Very True!