Advice on Audio 10 CD changer........

[Alex Argent]

Hi All,

As some of you may be aware, I've recently acquired a W203 C320, registered 2004 (although manufactured September 2003). It's certainly the pre-facelift model.

It's fitted with the standard Audio 10 radio/single slot CD player. I wish to get hold of a 6 CD Changer however looking through the forum pages and on eBay, there seems to be a plethora of different changers available for different head units.

As they are not exactly cheap , I need to ensure I get the correct one :bannana: .

I'm fairly certain that what I need is the MC 3520, which I think can be either glove box mounted (usual spec) or in the boot.

Can anyone confirm if this is the correct model, and if it is possible to mount in the boot with a longer fibre optic cable? I can't see any problem doing this but may be wrong .

Any idea how much the cable is from an MB Stealer, and do they come up often on eBay........and are there different F/O cables? If fitted in the glovebox (choice 2 ), do I need a mounting kit?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Alex

 

[Nibbo]

Alex,

The CD changer you want for the Glovebox option is the MC 3010.
Mine is part number A203 820 92 89.

You will need a fibre optic cable A203 540 34 08 about £22 and another wiring loom for the DB 2 wake-up signal which is A203 540 08 09 (please check, I think this is it from my notes) for about £17 (all plus the lovely VAT of course!).

The CD changer itself is around £400 from the dealers so try asking here or dare I say it... e-bay usually have a couple.

As for the boot option I'm afraid I cant help there. Only to say that the MC 3198 will work in a 203 also (may be others too...) but not sure if cables / wiring / mounting brackets etc. are readily available or not.

Good luck.

 

[Alex Argent]

Nibbo

Thanks for all of that .

Excellent information. Yes, I jumped the gun a bit when I first thought it was the 3520 . It's definitely the MC 3010, as you suggest.

I'm currently looking at one on eBay .

Thanks again,

Alex

 

[Alex Argent]

Installing MC3010 CD changer to Audio 10 head unit

Hi Guys & Gals,

Thanks to the keen eye of a fellow forum member, I am now in possession of a MC3010 autochanger, fibre optic cable and glovebox mounting bracket.

Does anyone know if the power supply lead (which wasn't included) is pre-wired and lurks somewhere behind the glovebox? Or do I need to source one from a stealer? Obviously confused I would assume that the fibre optic plugs directly into the back of the Audio 10, but where does the power supply lead plug into (if not pre-installed)?

Finally, anyone know if the W203 glovebox has 'knock-out' cable entries for the 2 cables, or do I need to drill out?

Any information appreciated (I have done a search but amazingly cannot find any specific reference to this anywhere .

Thanks for your help.

Alex

 

[Nibbo]

Alex

You got that quick; well done. Anyway the fun is just about to start.

You need to remove the centre console to expose the radio (honest you do!).

See this Thread which has some useful advice and a link to a PDF with instructions and pics. It looks worse than it is but be gentle as some of the bits are fragile.

Once the console is removed unscrew the radio and pull it forward.
On the back there are three connections, the top one is the CD connection cable. If this is empty you obviously have not got pre-wire. The dealers can supply this harness easy enough for about £20/£30.

If you need to install this harness there are three connectors on it.

1. The largest is the 'C' connector which goes into the back of the radio.

2. There is a small triangular shaped one which will match one of the ones on the back of the CD changer.

3. This one is the DB2 wake up signal. This needs to be connected to a block of similar cables which, of all places is in the driver’s side door sill. Probably best to route this cable behind the instrument cluster but mine is just fed over the cover in the driver’s foot well. I.e. the bit you can hit with you knee when sat in the drivers seat.

Once this cable is in place you need to feed it into the glove-box. If you feel along the right hand side of the glove-box there is a rectangle of plastic about 2inches by 1 inch. You need to prize this out with a small sharp screwdriver or similar. Thinking about it; do this bit first, you may find the connections in there if it’s pre-wired; don’t know as mine was not.

You can then feed the CD wire and the fibre optic cable through these and correct them to the CD.

To complete the installation just push the right hand tab of the CD bracket into the slot at the top right hand side of the glove box and secure the other side of the bracket with a self tapping screw.

I think that covers it but feel free to ask for anything else if you get stuck.

Have fun!

 

[perdikoyla888]

Hi Guys & Gals,

Thanks to the keen eye of a fellow forum member, I am now in possession of a MC3010 autochanger, fibre optic cable and glovebox mounting bracket.

Does anyone know if the power supply lead (which wasn't included) is pre-wired and lurks somewhere behind the glovebox? Or do I need to source one from a stealer? Obviously confused I would assume that the fibre optic plugs directly into the back of the Audio 10, but where does the power supply lead plug into (if not pre-installed)?

Finally, anyone know if the W203 glovebox has 'knock-out' cable entries for the 2 cables, or do I need to drill out?

Any information appreciated (I have done a search but amazingly cannot find any specific reference to this anywhere .

Thanks for your help.

Alex

Yes it has 'knock-out' cable entries for the 2 cables, I hope this helps

 

[Alex Argent]

Nibbo to the rescue again :bannana: :bannana: :bannana:

Excellent response. I think you have more than covered everything I need to know.

I know I've said it before but I'll say it again...............

What a brilliant forum we have going here :bannana: :bannana: :bannana:

perdikoyla888.....thanks for your input as well, confirming what Nibbo says .

Thanks again guys, good information!

 

[Alex Argent]

Update.........

Just removed the glovebox 'knock-out', sadly no pre-wiring installed .

So back to plan B. Ordered the DB2 cable from MB Cambridge - should be in Wednesday am.

Looking at Nibbo's post, why does MB always seem to make life difficult for what should be such a simple exercise? You would have at least thought they would have placed the harness connection in the passenger, and not the drivers side sill . And I would have thought just removing the Audio 10 with a couple of removal tools would have gained access to the rear connections. It appears no such luck.......half the bl**ding dash needs to be removed .

Hey Ho, it's off to work I go (maybe another weekend job by the looks of it).

I'll try to get some pics of the procedure to post in due course.

Thanks again!

Alex

 

[fuzzer]

Update.........

Just removed the glovebox 'knock-out', sadly no pre-wiring installed .

So back to plan B. Ordered the DB2 cable from MB Cambridge - should be in Wednesday am.

Looking at Nibbo's post, why does MB always seem to make life difficult for what should be such a simple exercise? You would have at least thought they would have placed the harness connection in the passenger, and not the drivers side sill . And I would have thought just removing the Audio 10 with a couple of removal tools would have gained access to the rear connections. It appears no such luck.......half the bl**ding dash needs to be removed .

Hey Ho, it's off to work I go (maybe another weekend job by the looks of it).

I'll try to get some pics of the procedure to post in due course.

Thanks again!

Alex

the dash off isnt that difficult , the hardest part is removing the centre vents. the screws are a bugger to get to.

Take your time and don't stress it all seems more logical once its out.

get stuck post again

 

[Stratman]

At the risk of imposing further on Nibbo's already generous efforts, if I wanted to install a changer in my '04 W203, how would I remove the factory-installed CD storage drawers in the glovebox?

This lack of a Haynes (or similar) manual for the W203 is beginning to bug me

 

[Alex Argent]

Stratman

I done that earlier this afternoon :bannana: .

The only thing(s) holding it in position are two small plastic lugs on the underside of the holder. You should be able to 'feel' these with your fingers from underneath the shelf. If you push up on these, the CD holder should release and pull forward. Alternatively, you could just give the whole thing a tug towards you, however you run the risk of breaking the lugs off .

For information, with the MC 3010 changer mounted in its postion on the bracket, the CD holder can then be placed to the left side.....it's an exact fit and the bottom part of the shelf on this side also has similar locating slots to keep it in position nice and tight. Why they simply didn't mount the holder to the left in the first place intrigues me .

Hope this helps you . I'll submit a 'How-to' post later in the week once I have the DB2 lead and completed the job :bannana: .

Alex

 

[fuzzer]

At the risk of imposing further on Nibbo's already generous efforts, if I wanted to install a changer in my '04 W203, how would I remove the factory-installed CD storage drawers in the glovebox?

This lack of a Haynes (or similar) manual for the W203 is beginning to bug me

what you loose in haynes , you make up for with an MB club

 

[Gollom]

what you loose in haynes , you make up for with an MB club

Hmmmm - this is worthy of being the Club motto!

Mods!!!!!

 

[Alex Argent]

Calling Nibbo!

Nibbo (or any one else who may know),

I now have the cable harness to connect the changer. As Nibbo correctly stated, it is part # A203 540 08 09.

However, there are 4 connectors on this lead.

'Plug' 1 ('triangular' shaped) obviously fits the back of the changer.

'Plug' 2 looks like an ISO connector which one would assume plugs into the rear of the Audio 10 head unit.

'Plug' 3 is another small lead with just two cables attached (1 x brown, 1 x brown/red) that I assume is the DB2 signal lead Nibbo refers to above. However this looks hardly long enough to feed the glove box area from the drivers side sill bearing in mind the routing through the footwell .

'Plug' 4 is another large rectangular connector also with just two cables attached (2 x blue/black). There are 5 round female pin receptors in a straight line, and the plug has a plastic spring type retainer. ------Anyone have any ideas what this is and where it goes?

(See pics below which hopefully show the connectors clearly)

Also, I asked the guy in the MB parts department if the radio could be removed with removal tools (80p each!) instead of stripping out the dash, and he categorically said yes! I'd prefer to take heed of the advice above, however would I still need the removal tools once I've managed to get at the head unit, or is it simply screwed in?

Any further advice greatly appreciated .

Alex

 

[richard]

The cable with the brown pair plugs into the CANbus distributor in one of the footwells (it has lots of the same plugs plugged in - theres a way to release it to put that in) - its used for the audio to display info on the cluster, and for lights on/of signals etc (CANbus is a network)

The blue/black wire and connector is the 'D2B Wakeup distributor' connector - you only need to worry about that if you add extra things on the fibre optic bus (phone, bose, voice recognition)

Ideally the D2B wakeup distributor ends up in the sill wiring duct (or somewhere there) so others can find it - but i'm not sure you need to worry too much.

Whats plugged into the C connector on your existing Audio 10 ?

R

 

[Alex Argent]

The cable with the brown pair plugs into the CANbus distributor in one of the footwells (it has lots of the same plugs plugged in - theres a way to release it to put that in) - its used for the audio to display info on the cluster, and for lights on/of signals etc (CANbus is a network)

The blue/black wire and connector is the 'D2B Wakeup distributor' connector - you only need to worry about that if you add extra things on the fibre optic bus (phone, bose, voice recognition)

Ideally the D2B wakeup distributor ends up in the sill wiring duct (or somewhere there) so others can find it - but i'm not sure you need to worry too much.

Whats plugged into the C connector on your existing Audio 10 ?

R

Thanks for all of that.

That at least solves the problem of the fourth connector (CanBus) .

I don't have phone, bose, voice recognition, etc ( ) therefore probably won't bother to connect the D2B.

Lastly, I don't have a clue what's in the 'C' connector at present - I haven't got around to removing the Audio 10 yet!

FYI, I've just had a look on a US owners club site, and there's a 'How-to' on removing the head unit. In that, it also categorically states that the dashboard trim, vents etc have to be removed to get access to the 2 x radio retaining screws............another stealer giving incorrect info (poor guys, I do feel sorry for them at times ).

Thanks again for this.

Alex

 

[fuzzer]

yes , dashboard must come out. No questions about that.

The storage bin and stereo come out together. On either side of the stereo are the retaining screws they are hidden behind the trim.

It doesnt take much to remove the dash. The fiddliest part as ive said is the air vents rest of it is a doddle

 

[Alex Argent]

The cable with the brown pair plugs into the CANbus distributor in one of the footwells (it has lots of the same plugs plugged in - theres a way to release it to put that in) - its used for the audio to display info on the cluster, and for lights on/of signals etc (CANbus is a network)...............R

Richard,

Are you saying there is a CanBus distributor in each footwell (if so, it would be a lot easier to use the passenger side ). Or is it a case of either or? .

Thanks again,

Alex

 

[richard]

Different models are different (and there's body canbus and engine canbus, but wires in engine canbus one are different)

On my A class its on the passenger side (there may be one on drivers side, but I didnt find it), so you may well be lucky

I have a suspcion that you will remove your radio, find the C plug there, and if it hasnt got CD wires in, then you can trace them back to find the canbus distributor and remove the old C plug and its wiring

Let us know !

R

 

[Alex Argent]

Thanks for that Richard .

I think I have all the information needed now.

I'll endeavour to have a go on Saturday morning. Only caveat is that I'm on holiday Monday morning for 4 weeks bannana: :bannana: :bannana: ) and need the car to get to Heathrow (cases and bags and sacks of shoes, dresses, make-up, bikinis, handbags...............and that's without the missus's gear ).

Murphys Law says somethings liable to go wrong big time, and I'll then have to reinsure the old C240 and use that (bit of a come down now ).

Anyway, I'll keep posting on here with some piccies.

Thanks to you and everyone for their help on this .