Thread: Dash/Steering Wheel/Comand Retrofit on 1997 W210

I've been researching high and low trying to find out information about when Mercedes introducted CAN networks to the W210 and in particular, what networks might be present in my 1997 E420. I've found only a few posts that loosely say 1996 and 1997 models have an engine CAN network but NOT a body/interior CAN network.

Could anyone say for sure if those posts are correct? They don't say much else other than the W210 didn't get an interior CAN network until 1998. Since they don't provide any other info I am just trying to verify the accuracy of the statement. My W210 was manufactured in January of 1997 in Stuttgart. Another post I found said that there was a major wiring change for cars built starting in March of 1997, but I don't know where they got that info or any other details that might be useful.

I am interested in performing the "facelift" instrument cluster and steering wheel retrofit I've read about in DIY threads, plus I'd like to install a COMAND unit or a stereo that can be controlled via the steering wheel upgrade. Is anyone familiar with these mods? It sounds as if the newer cluster with a larger information display and steering wheel with COMAND controls has been successfully performed a number of times on pre 2000 models but I am unable to determine if it has been done on a 1996 or 1997 model.

And even if the 1997 W210 does NOT have an interior CAN network, is it necessary for these upgrades or will the engine CAN network suffice? It seems as if my existing information display does have a lot of data and faults that would seem to be coming from a network -- and maybe it is more engine type CAN stuff since it deals with the health and operational systems of the vehicle. The steering wheel portion may be another story as it deals with the audio system, which may not be part of the same network. An alternative for retrofitting COMAND into the vehicle appears to be the CAN network simulator wiring harnesses sold on german eBay, I suppose, but it seems like that probably won't enable the steering wheel control upgrade.

Here is the DIY for the steering wheel and instrument cluster upgrade...
HOWTO: Retrofit facelift wheel/cluster to pre-facelift W210/W208 - MBClub UK

And here is one of the COMAND retrofit harnesses sold on german eBay for W210 vehicles without a CAN network...
KUFATEC GmbH & Co. KG - CAN Bus Adapter Mercedes Comand 2.0 W210 W163 W203 W202 33792

There is also this wiring adapter, which on the surface seems to be just that -- a wiring adapter that does not simulate a CAN network...
Comand Online Ltd :: Mercedes SatNav/COMAND :: COMAND Retrofit parts :: Comand wiring loom adapter for W208 CLK, W210 E, W203 C, W209 CLK, W463 G Class

Thanks in advance for any guidance you can provide!!

Normally I would gladly undertake to dismantle a car to the metal floor but when the job is more than the value of the car ..... maybe its just cheaper to buy a different car.

Yes, I have had that debate with myself as well, and have been considering buying an E55. But then last week I came across seats for sale from an E55 and decided to buy those and put them in. I also bought the carpet and a lot of the trim and I spent a day changing the interior. Now I am pretty excited about my car again and would like to make any simple upgrades I can to it and perhaps drive it for another year or two before upgrading. Even changing out the interior was not a hard job, it just took some time and effort. And it is a bit of fun to have this kind of project!

Then you will need a complete wiring harness for the floor and dashboard, plus also the AC system. Then electronics of the overhead panel, ignition, engine steering and doors all have to be changed.

Basically the only part you would be keeping are the chassis number and the engine.

Well, I'm going to take a wild guess at what you're hinting at here ever so subtly... that the steering wheel/dash cluster retrofit isn't possible with my existing electronic system, and that the 1997 E420 does not have CANBUS?

I've actually just decided today to get an aftermarket navigation/bluetooth system since the technology is pretty far advanced from that of the W210 Comand system.

But I do have an updated AMG steering wheel coming in the mail that I'd like to try to use independently. That would only require the wiring of the horn and airbag. Is that simple enough?

Also, would the cluster retrofit work without having the steering wheel try to control the radio? Some of what I've read has said that the cluster/steering only uses CAN to talk to the Comand unit. If going one step further to install the updated cluster ALONE (not hooking it into CAN, and assuming it could be installed to have basic function without CAN) I would like to MAYBE do that as well.

MBENZNL installed plenty of W202 with W210 CANBUS parts. so it has been done.

OK now I am confused. I thought you were saying that these mods were not possible in this car without stripping it down to the floor? MBENZNL mods are certainly not of that type.

I am sure that it is possible to put comand into a 1997 E420, as you can in other canbus and non-canbus cars (using canbus adapter if car does not have canbus, or by using a non-canbus model).

Do you have specific knowledge about if cluster mod as described in the DIY link will work or not work in my W210 E420? If so, can you provide some specific details as to why it won't work? I asked Steve at MBENZNL about it and he thought he had tried it in an E420 but he didn't think that it worked. He wasn't sure though.

Originally Posted by CA_Tallguy

OK now I am confused. I thought you were saying that these mods were not possible in this car without stripping it down to the floor? MBENZNL mods are certainly not of that type.

I am sure that it is possible to put comand into a 1997 E420, as you can in other canbus and non-canbus cars (using canbus adapter if car does not have canbus, or by using a non-canbus model).

Do you have specific knowledge about if cluster mod as described in the DIY link will work or not work in my W210 E420? If so, can you provide some specific details as to why it won't work? I asked Steve at MBENZNL about it and he thought he had tried it in an E420 but he didn't think that it worked. He wasn't sure though.

- cluster
- steering wheel
- COMAND

Yes, those are the three mods I am asking about. Do you have some insight to share about them? On one hand, you seem to say that the car would have to be stripped to the bones, but then you acknowledge that MBENZNL has done these types of mods (and I know they don't strip the car down to the metal) so they are possible. I'm very confused.

Originally Posted by CA_Tallguy

Yes, those are the three mods I am asking about. Do you have some insight to share about them? On one hand, you seem to say that the car would have to be stripped to the bones, but then you acknowledge that MBENZNL has done these types of mods (and I know they don't strip the car down to the metal) so they are possible. I'm very confused.

To upgrade the whole entire car to canbus ... yes it needs a total overhaul. To make some radio controls and some basic volume controls it can be done as if your car is the same as a W202.

You need to be very specific about which functions you want to upgrade. If it is just the COMAND, steering wheel and cluster then it might work. You need to take into consideration that the wires are missing between the steering wheel and the COMAND which are CANBUS-B and also the K-lines are missing which are for diagnostic configuration of the cluster and COMAND.

You also have some problems with wakeup signals and deciding which COMAND to install.

You need to ask MBENZNL which COMAND / Steering combination can be fitted from 2000 year model which would work in your car 1997 because you want the later functions of the newer steering wheel.

He will probably tell you the same thing I told you. All kinds of wires are missing. But for this experiment we can assume that your car is very similar to the W202.