Thread: W203 - Upgrade Audio-20 to Comand

Hello - my first post here. I must say this is a very civilised board, and extremely useful. Sincere thanks to the gurus who make it possible.

I have a W203 C180K delivered in Australia in 2006. It has Audio20, Ipod and UHI (with a Viseeo Bluetooth cradle). I'd like to upgrade to Comand - preferably the NTG2.5 hard disk based version from the CLC. My questions:

• I understand the Comand APS NTG2 is pretty much a straight swap. What complications are there in NTG2.5?
• With Comand APS, the Ipod and UHI phone connection just plug in - right?
• The NTG2.5 has built-in Bluetooth. Does the UHI circuit just become redundant?
• Does NTG2.5 support the existing Ipod, or do I need a different adapter?
• Is there a reputable source of used Comand systems in Australia?
• If I buy a used system on Ebay, what potential problems would there be running it in Australia? Most of the used units seem to come from Lithuania - are these kosher?
• I assume I will need my Benz dealer to configure the unit with the Star diagnostics?
• My mechanical skills are pretty rudimentary, made worse by arthritic fingers. Is this a swap I could do myself? If cutting and soldering are involved I'd rather send it to an expert.
• Finally, is there a recommended installer here in Perth?

Sorry for so many questions on my first post. I know that some of these have been asked before, but it would be a great help to get the answers all in one place.

You will end up losing the phone UHI kit and also the ipod kit. You then have to rewire the UHI microphones to the new COMAND. Apart from that it is a straight swap. You are a better off with a new one for a whole range of reasons. There are a number of issues with used ones which normal people can not deal with. The dealer might not be able to configure a used one.

My company services Australia but it would cost a bit for me to fly over.

If all you want is the 3D map and the bluetooth you are better off with the NTG2.0 because I think in my experience the NTG 2.5 Australian map had illogical methods of choosing a path. I still prefer the NTG 2.0 for ease of use and simplicity.

Thanks Miro. Could you clarify for me...

You will end up losing the phone UHI kit and also the ipod kit.

Does this apply to both NTG 2.0 and 2.5? What are the options for retaining Ipod functionality? Especially on the 2.0 which doesn't have a harddrive.

You then have to rewire the UHI microphones to the new COMAND.

The microphones are in the mirror aren't they? What's involved in rewiring them?

My company services Australia but it would cost a bit for me to fly over.

Yeah, it's a long way to come for one car. Do you have any associates here in WA?

Supplementary question - do either of these units support a reversing camera? If so, what's involved?

UHI and iPod will be retained on NTG2.0
UHI will be disconnected, but microphones used for NTG2.5
The iPod kit can be re-pinned to work in NTG2.5, but I have yet to test that works - general advice is put new iPod kit it for the NTG2.5 or better still, fit Media Interface which fully integrates into the NTG2.5 giving proper control from the NTG2.5 display. There is also a 'iPod video' kit !

Phone microphone wiring goes from the mirror to control unit in the boot, there is a special cable to re-wire it.

Benzmodz will have to answer the question about WA, I don't think he has.

NTG2.5 has reversing camera support on some models, but i don't know for sure if it can be enabled on the W203 variant. I suspect it can, but if you do have it you can't use the video functions of the iPod solutions.

Richard

Thanks for your help Richard. Let me see if I now have this straight:

NTG2.0 requires the new head unit and GPS antenna, but is otherwise a straight swapover. The UHI phone and Ipod just plug in and work as before. No reverse camera on NTG2.0

NTG2.5 requires the headunit and GPS antenna. In addition I need a cable to run from the mirror to the boot for the microphones. The UHI becomes redundant. The Ipod won't work unless it is modified, but the better solution is to install the multimedia interface. Reverse camera may work, but not guaranteed.

Anything I've missed? It does sound like NTG2.0 is the easier way to go, but NTG2.5 gives some extra functionality. I note Miro's suggestion that 2.0 has a simpler interface and apparently better navigation function.

Again, thanks for your help.

Originally Posted by Poisson

NTG2.0 requires the new head unit and GPS antenna, but is otherwise a straight swapover. The UHI phone and Ipod just plug in and work as before. No reverse camera on NTG2.0

Yes, the new head unit may need coding by someone with Star diagnosis, and the cluster will need to be told it has Navigation present to get the Navigation menu (again with Star diagnosis).

NTG2.5 requires the headunit and GPS antenna. In addition I need a cable to run from the mirror to the boot for the microphones. The UHI becomes redundant. The Ipod won't work unless it is modified, but the better solution is to install the multimedia interface. Reverse camera may work, but not guaranteed.

Actually the wire is run from the COMAND NTG2.5 to the microphones.
- some other wiring tweaks are also needed, and you need a bluetooth antenna also. See this kit: Comand Online Ltd :: COMAND Retrofit parts :: W203 last C Class & CLC, W209 CLK, W463 G :: A/B/CLC/ML/GL/R COMAND NTG2.5 (Hard Disk) retrofit kit - cars with phone.

Cheers

Richard