Fitting After Market Stereo

[Hawkwind]

If I buy an after market stereo with steering wheel control facility for my W208, will it work with the steering wheel controls on my car?

I need to buy a new stereo and if possible I'd like to be able to use the steering wheel controls.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[bob6600]

Are you saying the head unit has it built in? I believe you need an adapter, there are some on ebay but aren't cheap. I'm guessing the W208 is a facelift

 

[Hawkwind]

Thanks for the reply Bob.

I haven't bought a replacement yet, the non-original unit that was in the car when I bought it has started draining my battery, so I've removed it and have no music at all right now

I just wondered if anyone knew if it was possible to retain the steering wheel controls without it being too much expense/hassle?

Also if I buy a replacement unit, is it just 'plug and play', with one of the DIN plugs I see advertised on the Halfords web-site?

Thanks for any help guys.

 

[richard]

Hi
You need the following parts

a) A stereo that is steering wheel control capable.
b) A steering wheel control adapter
c) A little cable that goes from that to the stereo

The manufacturer of (b) will make (c), and (c) will differ for each make of stereo (i.e Alpine, Pioneer, etc) because each make of stereo is controlled slightly differently.

Your car has ISO connectors, and decent stereos come with an ISO connection lead. However, you may have to take an ignition feed from the cigarette lighter - depending on whether there is one on the ISO feed or not.

I can't remember what the antenna connector is in a W208, you may need a little adapter for that too. - but you can take a photo of that wire and all is good.

Please support your local car audio shop, rather than Halfords. You'll get nice advice like the above, and in anycase Halfords are unlikely to have the steering wheel controls !

Note also, that if you chose Alpine, then there are "Alpine Excellent Partners" (like Mercedes Retrofit Specialist - Comand.co.uk ) who if they supply and fit will give you a 2 year warranty, so worth the few £ extra over internet prices for peace of mind.

Richard

 

[Hawkwind]

Thanks for the post Richard, don't worry, I was just using Halfords as an example of where I've seen the connectors.

There is a place near to me, that I may just ask them to supply and fit the equipment, depending on what sort of price they quote.