Changing radio in 2012 E350

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Mogggy

New Member
Joined
May 8, 2021
Messages
5
Location
Wigan
Car
E350 2012
Hello everybody,

first time on here and I’m looking for some advice I do apologise in advance

I’ve just bought a 2012 E350 which incidentally I absolutely love. But the stereo is shocking it only has fm and a CD player non sat nav version, I can connect my phone for handsfree but not stream my music via my phone from Bluetooth.

I have purchased a slightly better radio via eBay which is the sat nav version which I am reliably informed has the capability to stream my music from my phone via Bluetooth, is this true and if so can I add any Mercedes dab module to this radio to make it dab?

second of all does this radio need a code when fitting? will it need professionally programming when fitted or in other words can I do this myself or do I need a technician to do the entire thing?

thanks Moggy
 
Hello everybody,

first time on here and I’m looking for some advice I do apologise in advance

I’ve just bought a 2012 E350 which incidentally I absolutely love. But the stereo is shocking it only has fm and a CD player non sat nav version, I can connect my phone for handsfree but not stream my music via my phone from Bluetooth.

I have purchased a slightly better radio via eBay which is the sat nav version which I am reliably informed has the capability to stream my music from my phone via Bluetooth, is this true and if so can I add any Mercedes dab module to this radio to make it dab?

second of all does this radio need a code when fitting? will it need professionally programming when fitted or in other words can I do this myself or do I need a technician to do the entire thing?

thanks Moggy
I’m in the same boat. Doesn’t even have the media interface cable or a USB socket. Woeful on a 2012 car! Tried a Bluetooth adapter in the aux socket, but the volume was woeful. Definitely don’t want one of those FM transmitters that plug into the cigar lighter.
From the research I’ve done, I don’t think it’s as simple as just swapping head units, but would love to be proved wrong.
 
What is a radio ?

Is it like a built-in real-time podcast thing, but without the ability to pause? Or is it like Spotify without the ability to choose your playlists?

More seriously..... there is no simple answer to this. It depends on exactly which car and unit. Your local specialist fitter is the best person to advise and fit, even a unit that you've already purchased. (They will, if you find the right one)

There are lots of units that can be plumbed into your E class, but which one depends on what you're trying to achieve. (steering wheels controls, amplification, bluetooth, voice activation / microphone etc.

The days of popping in a standard DIN unit have long gone, even before the arrival of streaming services, voice activation, podcasting and live streaming. The boys on here can pass on their wisdom, but you're still going to face complexities in fitting and mating.
 
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Have a look at the Android screens on ebay....... I have one in my car and I also connected it to a WiFi dongle so you can have anything you want on it. I use YouTube on mine and Google maps and it's no different from your mobile phone so you can pick and choose what you want. Not bad to fit as I did my own but I would suggest you watch a YouTube video before you start as there are a few hidden clips to get the dash apart.
 
Thankyou all for your help

i would if possible like to keep it as standard as possible by which I mean no wires or add on on the dash and I’m not sure I could work an android stereo, can anybody recommend a good fitter in the northwest ? Everybody I speak to just puffs and blows.......
 
Have a look at the Android screens on ebay....... I have one in my car and I also connected it to a WiFi dongle so you can have anything you want on it. I use YouTube on mine and Google maps and it's no different from your mobile phone so you can pick and choose what you want. Not bad to fit as I did my own but I would suggest you watch a YouTube video before you start as there are a few hidden clips to get the dash apart.
Any glitches post-install, and have you got any pics of it installed? I’m toying with this myself as I have just the basic Audio20 with no media interface - just an aux! Have seen the YouTube videos, and have swapped head units/removed trim etc in previous cases, so not (too) daunted by that.
 
Mine has been in the car for about a year now and no issues.......... fitting is straight forward but you need to make a bit of space for the extra wiring harness. I don't have a picture of it fitted to hand but you won't be disappointed as the quality is good and a nice fit to the dash. I like the fact that I can basically have anything I want on it with a simple download and if you go ahead buying one make sure you buy a WiFi dongle so you can have internet on the go.
 
Hello everybody,

first time on here and I’m looking for some advice I do apologise in advance

I’ve just bought a 2012 E350 which incidentally I absolutely love. But the stereo is shocking it only has fm and a CD player non sat nav version, I can connect my phone for handsfree but not stream my music via my phone from Bluetooth.

I have purchased a slightly better radio via eBay which is the sat nav version which I am reliably informed has the capability to stream my music from my phone via Bluetooth, is this true and if so can I add any Mercedes dab module to this radio to make it dab?

second of all does this radio need a code when fitting? will it need professionally programming when fitted or in other words can I do this myself or do I need a technician to do the entire thing?

thanks Moggy
Do you have a pic of the Radio? seems odd an E350 which is far from a basic E class would have a bottom of the range Stereo
 
Thanks all,
Mine has been in the car for about a year now and no issues.......... fitting is straight forward but you need to make a bit of space for the extra wiring harness. I don't have a picture of it fitted to hand but you won't be disappointed as the quality is good and a nice fit to the dash. I like the fact that I can basically have anything I want on it with a simple download and if you go ahead buying one make sure you buy a WiFi dongle so you can have internet on the go.
So you hade an android fitted jc651?

i wouldnt mind seeing a photo of i

can you tell me which one and is the top screen still in use or is the screen where the radio fits and can you use the centre control on the armrest?

this radio is ruining what is a fantastic car, its terrible, i cant seem to send a photo as it just says file is too large

thanks
 
The Android units can be very hit and miss, mainly miss in my experience. They are cheap for a reason. They are cheaply made and often dont deliver what they promise. With a £350 Android unit, after you remove the VAT, the profit for the seller, the profit for manufacturer, the import charges from China you are left with a chunk of parts that have a value of about £30 or less.

You can change the Mercedes unit in your car for the navigation version. This will give you far better sound reproduction over any of the Android units. DAB and media interface can be added too. Its not cheap but it does preserve the correct look, feel and integration as per factory plus it doesnt diminish the resale value of the car.

As a company we have lost count of the number of people who have come to us asking us to take an Android unit out. So much so that we do not offer any installation services on these things. Its simply a disappointment experience for the customer which we do not wish to be a part of.
 
Thanks guys this is good info

does anynody know who can fit and this, ive rang umpteen and i cant find anybody to touch it

i’m in the northwest btw
 
Do you have a pic of the Radio? seems odd an E350 which is far from a basic E class would have a bottom of the range Stereo
Mine does. I guess the original buyer 9 years ago only needed a radio & single CD player 🤷🏻‍♂️

DB7EB5CB-6D7A-4CF9-BA98-14DC20500DB1.jpeg
 
loads on ebay
 
There are. I’m not fussed about Nav (Waze works for me), just want to be able to stream music - or even plug it into a USB so I can control it from the head unit, rather than my phone. It shouldn’t be this difficult…
 
I had a quote from Comandonline to upgrade it…£1600 😬

Sounds about right for genuine Mercedes-Benz COMAND retrofit. The obvious issue is that you'll never get this back when selling the car, so it only makes sense if you intend on keeping the car for a number of years. I had this done for my W203 which I sold 6 years later, and for my current W204 which I had for 4 years now. So as long as you keep the car long enough to actually enjoy the unit, it's well worth it.
 
There are. I’m not fussed about Nav (Waze works for me), just want to be able to stream music - or even plug it into a USB so I can control it from the head unit, rather than my phone. It shouldn’t be this difficult…

The issue is that in order to be able to "control it from the head unit", you'll need a new head unit. Hence the cost.
 
The issue is that in order to be able to "control it from the head unit", you'll need a new head unit. Hence the cost.
Do you have the bluetooth connection in the armrest? if you do I believe that may do what you want it to do, tbh mine has bluetooth streaming but its quite poor and loses control connection regularly, you will need an extra to plug into the port and am sure someone will advise if this is possible, I have the connection but dont use it as I also have an ipod connection and 20gb of songs on an ipod
 
Do you have the bluetooth connection in the armrest? if you do I believe that may do what you want it to do, tbh mine has bluetooth streaming but its quite poor and loses control connection regularly, you will need an extra to plug into the port and am sure someone will advise if this is possible, I have the connection but dont use it as I also have an ipod connection and 20gb of songs on an ipod
Nope, only an aux. Had the head unit out yesterday in the hope of finding a vacant connector…alas, ‘twas not to be
 

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