Hi,

I sincerely apologize in advance if this has been asked before, but I have spent a whole day looking through 10 Mercedes forums to get clear information on this.

I have a 2005 E240 equipped with Audio 20 stereo with factory 6-CD changer (not harmon kardon). I would like to replace the stereo with a double-DIN Pioneer DVD receiver (dont need navigation). I cannot go Mercedes COMAND way because it's too expensive to be justifiable for me.

Now I have seen that a few folks have done this, and I have seen pictures. I am aware that I will lose the steering wheel controls and phone functions, and I'm okay with that. What I can't figure out is what exactly do I need to tackle the fibre-optics problem, and if it is going to be a problem for me to begin with, since according to your website my car has the AGW built-in to my Audio 20 stereo. I'm very clueless here.

I know I'll be needing a dash frame (found one already), and from a company called Dietz, I have found a MOST to ISO converter (do i need this?) and a steering wheel adaptor to make volume control work, and a CAN-bus adaptor (which i dont know what it is)

What am I missing? What is the problem to begin with? Will this work? Or would I have to replace fibre optics with conventional wires?

Thank you so much in advance. I truly appreciate your advice and the good work here.

PS: The car is not US-spec. It's Gulf spec, which is almost identical to Euro-spec in terms of electronics I believe.

Why dont you install a COMAND NTG 2.5 with

- Navigation
- Voice control
- DVD stacker
- Bluetooth
- MP3 hard disk

Just think about how much money you spend on fuel, service and insurance and non of these things help you with driving.

Stop wasting your money on toys and get a Mercedes product that works.

__________________
www.benzmodz.com .... putting the Me into Mercedes.

Thank you for your response, but I do not see these toys, these are two different setups and I would like to research both before making an informed decision.

Further to your suggestion, I checked on comandonline.co.uk but the NTG2.5 isn't listed. How much does that go for? and would it fit a 2005 W211?

Thank you again for your time. I appreciate it.

Shopping list
-----------------

- Microphone extension cable
- Wiring adaptor
- Blue-tooth antenna
- Radio splitter cable
- COMAND unit
- GPS antenna

Bypass all existing phone and CD stacker (dont use the optical at all) as it is not needed.

For a complete install

- Steering column upgrade for voice control
- User manual

Coding and installation are simple for a professional. It fits directly into the existing position.

Most of these smaller pieces are similar in cost to the necessary parts you will need for the Pioneer conversion. The main difference is the total integration and 2010 technology. The only difference is the cost of the Navigation unit. I believe those cost about 1400 Pounds or less.

The premium you pay is for the high technology not the badge of the car. It works perfectly in your year model. But its your money.

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www.benzmodz.com .... putting the Me into Mercedes.

BenzModz, thanks a ton for your help. I really appreciate it. Your advice and my further research is pushing me towards NTG 2.5 more and more, plus there is plenty of information readily available on this forum for that upgrade. I think I will save a little more and go for the Comand.

For me, the only issue going that way is finding an independent with STAR system where I live, and I dont know if the dealership where I live has ever dealt with this kind of upgrades. If its a brand new Comand, do I still need to hook it up to STAR to make sure it knows I dont have Harmon Kardon? The only other thing the STAR is needed for is configuring the steering wheel controls, right?

Once again, thank you for your support.

There are three main steps.

a) Installation conversion - hooking up adaptor and microphone wire.

b) Installing the COMAND with map disc (rather simple). New COMAND units dont need to be coded for HK=OFF. It comes by default with no HK.

c) Code the cluster for Telephone = PRESENT and Navigation = PRESENT


If you want to specially code the COMAND unit and the indy does not know how to perform the function he can come to this forum and look at the past documents.

For a small fee one of us can help over the internet using TEAMVIEWER remote session software. We can code any car that is connected via internet from any location in the world. Just has to be organised.

Dont forget to save up for the voice control too. It really finishes the job.

__________________
www.benzmodz.com .... putting the Me into Mercedes.

Thanks again for the insight!

BenzModz I don't want to be a pain in the - with all my questions, I'm just trying to be get the full picture and be full prepared. Hopefully this set of questions will be the last:

1) Which past documents are you referring to? I've looked around but didn't succeed in finding any documents on the issue.

2) What do you mean "car connected to the internet"? Does that need Star diagnostics or something? Because that's my difficulty to begin with.

3) General questions: Right now my instrument cluster and audio cd stereo dont show track names when playing audio and mp3 cds. Only track number is shown. The new comand obviously is able to show mp3 tag names, but would they show in the instrument cluster as well?


Once again, I appreciate your advice and support. I cannot thank you enough.

Firstly I dont know which MP3 files offer which functions as the variable encoding standards for MP3 offer different embedded information. Some MP3 standards also offer lyrics and karaoke and some just offer track name.

Apparently it is also possible to know the track by listening to the music.

AS for coding and setup that depends on where you are and how good the technician is.

__________________
www.benzmodz.com .... putting the Me into Mercedes.