Head unit identification

[speedyyellow]

I'm looking at a couple of W211 E classes in the next few days, both ads state they have 6 disc CD changers but the stereos look different. Could anyone identify these and let me know what features are included and how easy an upgrade to COMAND might be?

The first is this one:

...and here is the second:

Thanks!

 

[npuk]

If you plan to upgrade then upgrading to the latest Comand NTG2.5 unit would be the best option. To make this easy and less costly buy a car with Audio 20 CD and without Harmon Kardon.

2nd one is radio / cassette with external cd changer.

 

[h17n dj]

If im not wrong, picture one has a basic navigation and colour screen already built into it?

 

[speedyyellow]

Just to be clear then, there are the following options:

1. Radio/cassette with external CD changer (2nd pic)
2. Audio 20 - In dash CD changer/cassette, TFT screen & nav in the dials(1st pic)
3. Audio 50 - ?
4. COMAND - Big screen with all the toys.

Is that right?

 

[h17n dj]

i believe so! im not sure the Audio 20 has a cassete though....
COMMAND is defo the daddy of the all i just googled audio 50 and its the same one as the 1st pic! audio 20 is pic 2!

 

[npuk]

Options are:
Audio-50-APS - 1st picture
Audio-20-Casette - 2nd picture - you said it has cd changer so it will be an external cd changer
Audio-20-CD
Comand NTG1

All the systems above apart from Audio 20 CD have seperate AGW tuners in the boot of the car. If you plan to upgrade to the Comand NTG2.5 then ideally you want a car with Audio 20 cd, as there is no tuner in the boot so all the connections are at the headunit end, which makes fitting the Comand NTG2.5 easier and cheaper (about £50 difference) as you dont need the extra looms to run from the boot to the front of the car. If you get a car with Harmon Kardon then it will be expensive to upgrade to Comand NTG2.5 as you will need to replace both HK amps which will cost over £1k alone.

If you want to upgrade to the older Comand NTG1 then the car with Audio-50-APS - 1st picture has the correct dual AGW tuner the NTG1 needs. The car with Audio-20-Casette will only have a single AGW tuner which will need changing.

 

[aka$h]

I the car is pre 06/03 it will have a Audio gateway regardless of what headunit is fitted. Unless you decide to fit the latest Nav system, its fitting the audio gateway that is difficult.

If you go for the first car, to upgrade to comand is very simple.

 

[speedyyellow]

Thanks for the clarification there
Final question; if I were to ignore COMAND, is it possible to upgrade from the Audio-20-Casette to an Audio-50-APS?

 

[npuk]

The Audio 50 uses a dual AGW tuner in the boot where as the Audio 20 Casette uses a single tuner AGW in the boot. Audio 20 CD has no AGW in the boot.

Unlike Comand NTG1 Audio 50 APS doesnt require a navigation processor in the boot so the install is simpler. But Audio 50 APS units dont come up for sale second hand as often as NTG1.

 

[Alfie]

Pic 1 is audio 50 (monchrome directional navigation) no maps!
Pic 2 is audio-Casette. (No navigation at all)

Both cars will already have an AGW fitted.

Retrofitting comand NTG1 in either is quite straight forward. Slightly easier in the one with Audio50 as the cluster will already be enabled.

NTG 2.5 in either is possible.

Yes you can go to audio50 from Audio20 casette quite easily.

 

[logitech1474]

ntg2.5

Pic 1 is audio 50 (monchrome directional navigation) no maps!
Pic 2 is audio-Casette. (No navigation at all)

Both cars will already have an AGW fitted.

Retrofitting comand NTG1 in either is quite straight forward. Slightly easier in the one with Audio50 as the cluster will already be enabled.

NTG 2.5 in either is possible.

Yes you can go to audio50 from Audio20 casette quite easily.

HALLO !!!
Can i upgrade from audio20 casette with 6cd charger to NTG2.5???

 

[npuk]

HALLO !!!
Can i upgrade from audio20 casette with 6cd charger to NTG2.5???

Plenty of threads on this already. e.g. http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/electronics/94647-comand-upgrade-ntg1-ntg-2-5-w211.html

 

[logitech1474]

Plenty of threads on this already. e.g. http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/electronics/94647-comand-upgrade-ntg1-ntg-2-5-w211.html

but i am still confuse (sorry for my english i am from norway) its so many diference of price ther the sell the cable i need for 299p and i find some other in ebbbbay and i dont really know wich one to buy ....

 

[npuk]

You need Comand NTG1 to NTG2.5 conversion set. Comand Online (UK) sell it or Kabel Daviko (Germany). Kabel Daviko

 

[logitech1474]

You need Comand NTG1 to NTG2.5 conversion set. Comand Online (UK) sell it or Kabel Daviko (Germany). Kabel Daviko

thank a lot. one more thing i order all the cable i need and i wonder if is going to be just a "plug and play" or i have to use the Audiogateway???

 

[npuk]

Did you read the other thread? The audio gateway is removed it is not needed for the Comand NTG2.5.