APS30 or alternatives???

[mr. shr]

Have recently been talking (on this forum) of installing an APS30 unit in my W208. I've since been thinking that perhaps there are other units out there that might be better.

Specifically, I want to maintain steering wheel controls and instrument cluster display facillities. Is this possible or do I have to stick with the APS30?

This CLK has recently cost me significant amounts in maintenance and services costs (don't ask how much I've spent on the car this year!!)

So now I want to put some money into the car that will actually give ME some personal satisfaction and reward as I drive (as oppose to lining the dealership's pocket!!).

The essential feature that I'm after is that I want to keep the steering wheel control and instrument cluster display facility. What's out there that can do the job?

Any help is useful.

Cheers

shr

 

[miro]

Have recently been talking (on this forum) of installing an APS30 unit in my W208. I've since been thinking that perhaps there are other units out there that might be better.

The essential feature that I'm after is that I want to keep the steering wheel control and instrument cluster display facility. What's out there that can do the job?

shr

The only way to do it is with original equipment. Perhaps you can also go for a CD changer at the same time. Since it wont take much more effort.

 

[Tan]

Looks like oe is the only way, either with Command or APS30, you would get more satisfaction from command as you can add other fun things such as DVD Players, TV Tuners and Phones.

 

[mr. shr]

I'm gonna go ahead and get an APS30. Just spoke to someone who has one for me. It's a Becker unit that looks identical to the APS30 but hasn't got the MERCEDES BENZ logo stamped accros the top? I'm assuming that does not make any technical difference? I believe it's made for the Daimler Chrysler Group?

Will the dealership still code this unit the same as they would a unit made specifically for MB? I've been told that the electronics within these units are indentical to those with the MB logo but I can just see a dealer saying something like, "sorry sir, as the unit you've installed is not a genuine Mercedes part, we are unable to configure it."

Which is probably their way of saying, "If you're clever enough to fit the unit yourself, why don't you go and code it yourself!!!???"

(I don't have a very strong opinion of Dealerships, and yes, I've been to several different ones!!!!)

So does anyone know anything about these head units that don't have the MB logo stamped on the front?

cheers

shr

 

[mapleleaf]

does the unit have the fibre optic connector at the rear?

 

[mr. shr]

Yes, it's connected to my 6 disc changer that sits in the boot

 

[mr. shr]

sorry, the APS30 unit I'm thinking of connecting up to my car does have a fibre optic connection at the rear.

 

[mapleleaf]

Ahh so you already have the Becker APS 30 (ie non MB branded) .

So does it work with the steering wheel controls ? if so it should be able to be coded by MB dealer , but the map discs may be different - becker OEM as opposed to MB oem.

I think mercmanuk had problems getting his MB APS 30 to display in the dash cluster of his C class 203 - something to do with a password that the dealer couldnt sort out. My point is that there can be probs even with Mb branded units so i wouldnt be too worried about your becker unit talking or not talking to the MB diagnostics computer

 

[mercmanuk]

steves right,my aps 30 unit works a treat except i cant get it programmed to work on the cluster ,keep getting told its password protected.if this is right why cant the main dealers get the password??.

 

[mr. shr]

I don't have the APS30 unit with me at the moment. The guy that's selling it to me popped over to my house with it a few weeks back. We hooked it all up but the sat nav didn't work. The unit always thought the car was outside my house, even if I drove miles away from my road. It appears that it didn't work because the speed pulse signal is not wired into the unit and therefore, it never realised that the car had moved from my driveway. At the time of testing this unit, I was unaware of this speed pule issue, (nor was the guy selling it to me) and so he took it away with him. When he got home, he tried it on his SLK and it worked fine, confirming it's a wiring issue with my car.


However, whilst it was connected in my car I tested other features. The radio unit worked fine and so did the CD changer. I was able to control them as I can the existing Audio10 by using the steering wheel buttons. I could control Radio and CD Volume. I could scroll through preset radio stations and index forward and backwards individual tracks on CD. Preset radio station names came up on the instrument cluster display as well as details of the currently selected CD and track number. Basically, the steering wheel and cluster display worked the same as my existing Audio 10CC

 

[mr. shr]

mercmanuk,
Do you not get anything come up on your cluster display? What about radio station name/frequency etc?