Hello,

I have a 2009 Canadian-spec B200T with the standard (non Harmon/Kardon) audio system with media interface option. I am not sure what head unit is formally known as. Audio 5 or 20 I suspect. Nav was an option pre-2009 Bs, but as of 2009 model has not even been an option in Canadian cars (much like many options that are offered in Europe but not N. America).

Is there a way to upgrade to Nav (and/or satellite radio, which MB says car is not wired for as it was bundled with Harmon/Kardon in MY09 but is independently avail in MY10) with OEM equipment, and do one of the standard upgrade templates apply?

Aftermarket folks (who have not dug into the car) believe they can upgrade it to a JVC or similar system for less than US$2000, but can't quite predict how things like bluetooth and steering wheel audio controls will be affected. Say it will be easier if the car doesn't have a standalone amplifier, which I'm not quite sure about, but it's not a deal-breaker.

I have access to either Canadian or US MB dealerships and parts, but Canadian dealers are extremely resistant to even discuss this as NAV was never an option and MB dealers are so rigid and rule-bound. US dealers don't even know what a W245 is, but if the Nav unit is common to other models, they probably stock parts.

Thank You

Adam

Hi
Since we're in Europe, and the US system is different, i'm afraid we don't know much.

The only useful piece of advice I can give you, is that the units in a B class are the same as the units in an A class, and they do have A class in USA. Also, they are pretty much the same as the Viano/Vito/Sprinter - I don't know which of those are available in USA - but any upgrade for those should work in the B class also. (The Viano unit for instance is same as A/B class but has support for rear video sceens)

Note also that the bluetooth is part of the head unit , so changing it means you'll lose that. I'd ask a US dealer what they do in the A class, and the same should apply to the B class.

Richard

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Thanks for the feedback Richard.

Unfortunately, MB sells no A class anywhere in N. America. The smallest car the USA gets is the C, and Canada gets the B as well. We're orphans over here, so I suspect I will need to be content to stick with what I've got and learn to like it as there are so few B's in N. America that any sort of retrofitting is a rare act into uncharted territory.

Oh, I was sure they did A class in USA must have been confused with B class in Canada possibly going to USA - maybee soon :-)

I've now looked on EPCnet, and I think you may have to replace the head unit with 'COMAND PLUS USA" A169 870 71 94 - but i'd be worried whether there is a map disk. That part is only used in B class in cars with option code 494 (known as "US Version") - EPCnet seems to call North America "USA" ..
If you could find a B class with navigation system then having the chassis number should help the dealer find the correct part (or we possibly look it up, but our European parts catalog doesnt necessarilly show non european vehicle data)

You could get 'COMAND without Navigation" before MY2009, and then add the navigation processor (which was same as W164 ML) but it looks like it may not be seperate any more.

As I said before, we're in Europe and North American cars get a different systems to here :-( So sorry no definitive answer

Thanks

Richard

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Of course i'll take it apart.

www.mercupgrades.com
www.comandonline.co.uk

The only way to do this job is to look at both the canadian data and also the Japanese data.

There is indeed an upgrade harness with Satellite radio / HK / TV and so on.

Then also there is a model of head unit for North America with a different AM stepping and somewhat different appearance. This applies to older cars.

In the current NTG 2.5 (most recent navigation) the problem is solved with correct programming and the correct map. These newer model navigations solve a lot of problems if coded correctly.

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