Thread: retrofit audio APS 50 to Comand DVD W 169

Hi, My name is Tomas, and i m from Poland, so at first sorry for my english.

I m a owner of Mercedes W 169 ( A 170). My car was built in march 2007, and it is equiped with APS 50 CD navi unit ( only arrows) - without CD changr, and without telephone.

I d like to upgrade to a comand APS DVD ( of course comand 2.5 HDD is better, but seems to be much more complicated, and expensive operation than comand DVD, so i prefer last one)

My question is:
What i need ( beside new unit of course), and what should i do step by step to make it correct????
When reading about this subject, i found this link COMAND APS Retrofit
, and i m not sure that with APS 50 is the same work????

VIN of my car: WDD1690321j458355 - it was made on italy market.
number of my unit APS 50 ( according ????????-??????? ????????????? DETALI.RU - ???????? ??? ????? ????????.) is: A 169 820 98 89, but i ll be 100% sure when i down my unit and read number with label.


BEST REGARDS and Happy New Year 2010 for everyboby !!!
Tomas

Hi Tomas

Happy New Year.

You will only need the COMAND map DVD as the Audio-50 one is not compatible. The unit may need to be coded once you have installed it.
It will need to be coded if
a) it displays the Mercedes Star and then turns off
or
b) It does not see the phone / cd changer if installed in your car
- this is because it needs to know whether there is fibre optics or not in the car.

Yes. follow the instructions on Mercedes Electronics upgrades, installation and retrofits how to dismantle. Be careful not to damage the expensive metal trim to the side of the lower switch panel, or to damage the panel (not that expensive) when you're getting it out.

Cheers

Richard

Thanks a lot for very fast answer !!!!

It is very good forum.

And one more question : If i decide to upgrade in my car 2.5 HDD unit, is this much more complicated instalation than Comand dvd??????
What you suggest as a specialist ???????

Ps.

Durning my investigation in net i found an interesst link:

Wyniki Szukania w Grafice Google dla http://www.mb-info.ru/audio/img/ngt/audio50/audio50aps_1.jpg

this is part of: MB-Info:âñå îá àâòîìîáèëÿõ Mercedes Benz

unfortunetly only in russian language.

cheers !!!

Hi

Thanks, the change to NTG2.5 is easy also, but you need an adapter set

If your car has phone: Comand Online Ltd :: COMAND Retrofit parts :: Current W169 A, W245 B, Sprinter, Vito, Viano :: A/B/CLC/ML/GL/R COMAND NTG2.5 (Hard Disk) retrofit kit - cars with phone.

If no phone: Comand Online Ltd :: COMAND Retrofit parts :: Current W169 A, W245 B, Sprinter, Vito, Viano :: A/B/CLC/ML/GL/R COMAND NTG2.5 (Hard Disk) retrofit kit - cars without phone.

If your car has phone, wiring in the microphones is a bit of a pain.

Cheers

Richard

BTW, if you follow the russian link, its slightly wrong since W204 COMAND-APS is NTG4 not NTG3

Hi Richard !!!

I ve already receive my new ( but used) COMAND APS unit for my a klasse, everything i made follow your instruction ( and demage nothing ), but i have a small ( i hope ) problem:

When i switch on my command it displays MB Star and then turns off.

As you wrote , i immidiatelly go to MB service to STAR DIAGNOSIS to code the unit, but guy in MB dealer is in my opinion not so smart - he told me, that he never do this operation ( code unit) in his life, anyway as he told me that unit will never work without fibre optics.

I have no GSM, and CD changer in my car, and my old APS AUDIO 50 work very well without fibre optics.....

My question is:

1. Should i install fibre optics to my new unit, even i have no GSM and CD to run my comand succesfully or i need search another ( more smarter) MB service to decode my unit????

2. could you explain step by step what options necessary to choose in Star Diagnostic unit to coded my command successfully

Thanks , and i wait for answer.

Hi

I can not remember exact steps in Star and as your dealer is not smart, I suggest that you just buy a fibre piece and create a loop and put that in the multiway connector so that the COMAND sees a loop and is happy.

Part number A211 540 31 32 - that has all the connectors you need to make the loop.

Richard