Thread: R171 Audio 20 - URGH

Apologies in advance if this has been asked and answered but i'm not an electrics/audio person so i'm completely lost.

I have a 2005 200SLK R171 with the appalling Audio 20 but no command. I want to use my ipod in my car. In my previous 1998 slk I simply bought a new stereo system from Halfords which worked a treat. This thing looks like the starship enterprise but without the capabilties.

Is there anyone who knows how to enable me to do this without me trotting off to the Merc dealership and getting my backside well and truly smacked?

I'm willing to pay a reasonable amount to get it done but every audio place I've tried have told me it isn't possible?

Any ideas?

The R171 uses the same radio as the W211 and as such it doesnt have the same capabilities as a normal Audio 20.

What people have done in the past is remove the back half of the Audio 20 and replace it with one from a W164 or similar. Some did a complete rebuild including the matrix screen. Just to keep all the internal components from the same radio.

This then gave the option of AUX input. Which is only a few dollars more to connect an ipod to. It also gives access to the slightly more advanced iPOD kit which could be operated from the steering wheel.

If you dont like this idea then I can highly recommend a COMAND GPS unit such as the 2009 series have. Includes bluetooth and hard disk.

There is also now this new product

Comand Online Ltd :: Mercedes Phone/Bluetooth :: Phone System Retrofit Kits :: Phone and Digital iPod interface for Mercedes NTG1/NTG2 vehicles

It goes in the fibre optic bus and gives you

a) Fully digital iPod system (pretends to be CD changer)
b) Proper integrated Bluetooth phone system

The Audio-20 does not support CD TEXT, so you can not see the track names, but you can select playlists (by number), etc etc

Talk to sales@comandeurope.com - they can install that easily enough for you.

Cheers

Richard