HOW TO: w211 Upgrade from Audio 20 to APS 50

[aka$h]

Bought a APS50 on ebay and spend an hour fitting it today.
I took photo's along the way to help with the guide.
My car is a 2003 which already had a audio gateway.

Before:

Remove the trim around the gear selector first, by pulling the front of it upward. Once the up move forward and lift up completely.

You will need to twist the bottom of the gear selector to release and then pull off, dont forget to disconnect the wire for the W\S switch.

Next remove the ashtray, just pull the bottom upwards and you should be able to remove it, it helps if its open too. Remove the cigar lighter connector too.

Behine you should find 3 wires going into the bottom of the cd changer, disconnect all 3, be very careful not to bend of damage the fibre optic lead.

These 3 leads

At the back, under the cd changer you will see 2 torx screws, remove them.

The changer unit should now slide out, remove it and you will find 2 torx screws under your headunit, you have to turn these a lot more than you think so dont be alarmed if it the unit doesnt budge, just keep undoing the screws.

You can then pull the unit out, you will then find a connector at the back of the unit.

The installation of the gps unit Ive not documented as I cheated and installed a normal unit at the top left of the dash, just ran the cable under the glovebox and up the side.

Here is a photo of the completed job:

Drop me a pm if you need anymore info.

 

[Ferrycraigs]

What brilliant timing! I currently have a 2003 W211 saloon, that has Audio 50 and telephone. I am about to change it to a E Class Estate; either a 53 plate with COMAND but no tel, or a 04 plate with Audio 20 but with tel. I have been looking at fitting a CK 3100 to the COMAND vehicle to get bluetooth, but am told because of the fibreoptic from the back of the COMAND, this is not possible, at least not through the car speakers. The other option was to replace the Audio 20 in the newer car. I have been told that a COMAND retrofit is a job from hell, involving lots of wiring to the boot etc. However, my current Audio 50 is brilliant, and would do fine in the new car. Your final picture, and the very helpful fitting pictures have persuaded me this might be the way forward.

You said your car already had an Audio Gateway, which I presume makes it easier?? How would I check if the new car had an Audio Gateway, and if it doesn't is it a big job?

You also mentioned the GPS unit. Would I need to get one of these as well (ie it sounds like it is not included in the head unit). when you say you cheated, what exactly do you mean?

The rest is REALLY helpful. A brilliant bit of help.

Grateful for any help you might be able to give.

Regards

Iain

 

[aka$h]

As you mention fitting COMAND is a far more complex job, mainly due to the navi unit being in the boot and the audio gateway that is required.

I believe pre-2004 cars had the audio gateway as standard, but if the vehicle is post 04 you may have issues. If you do not have an audio gateway the job will be a lot harder.

With regards to GPS unit, this is the aeriel and would be required, you can get unit that fit under the das next to the airbag, or do as i have and fit a normal one under where my road tax sits.

 

[Halfpenny]

So just hijacking this thread a little......to upgrade from APS50 with telephone to Command on an early 2003 W211 is a huge job or and easy job ?

 

[miro]

So just hijacking this thread a little......to upgrade from APS50 with telephone to Command on an early 2003 W211 is a huge job or and easy job ?

All the speaker wiring moves to the left rear trunk hinge area. That is the only "big deal".

MBENZNL has an adapter harness made for that purpose.

It is a job for someone who is nice to the trim panels and can work without breaking the tabs.

 

[aka$h]

It is a job for someone who is nice to the trim panels and can work without breaking the tabs.

Not me then, it seems everytime I take panel off, i need to go to MB to get some clips before re-fitting, might be worth doing this in advance.

 

[Halfpenny]

Thanks Guys for your replies.

Does the DVD slot in the top of the Command unit not play the Nav DVD's (as the CD slot does in the top of the APS50) instead of having to run a cable back to the boot, as I already have the multi-changer fitted behind the hazzard switch.

 

[aka$h]

Thanks Guys for your replies.

Does the DVD slot in the top of the Command unit not play the Nav DVD's (as the CD slot does in the top of the APS50) instead of having to run a cable back to the boot, as I already have the multi-changer fitted behind the hazzard switch.

No, the NAV unit in the boot is required.

 

[haydar]

If you upgrade to the APS50 but don't connect the GPS stuff, does it still work (all be it without the SatNav)? When you say you connected a standard GPS to the top left of the dash, what do you actually mean. Can one use any old GPS transmitter??? Please show pictures?? THANKS

 

[DoNi]

i just purchased an MERCEDES BENZ W211 E CLASS NAVIGATION 6061 Comand TV MB of ebay, im not sure if this includes the nav module in the boot, however, will the navigation still work if i use the navigation dvd from the head nuits player ???

 

[richard]

If you upgrade to the APS50 but don't connect the GPS stuff, does it still work (all be it without the SatNav)? When you say you connected a standard GPS to the top left of the dash, what do you actually mean. Can one use any old GPS transmitter??? Please show pictures?? THANKS

I think what he is talking about is the GPS aerial, that plugs into the back of the GPS recevier, which in the Audio-50-APS is in the head unit.

[edit]
And with COMAND is in the DVD navigation unit that goes in the boot/trunk.
[/edit]

 

[richard]

i just purchased an MERCEDES BENZ W211 E CLASS NAVIGATION 6061 Comand TV MB of ebay, im not sure if this includes the nav module in the boot, however, will the navigation still work if i use the navigation dvd from the head nuits player ???

On the E class, (and CLS, SLK, SL, old-S, old-CL) there is a head unit, (the display) which many can play DVDs or connect TVs (many, but not all, for instance US units don't have the video input). There is the Navigation unit, which is in the trunk, which is where the navigation map DVD goes, and there is an Audio-Gateway which controls the fibre optics, has the radio tuner(s) in it, and I think the amplifier as-well.

The navigation DVD can not work in the head-unit slot as the navigation processor is not in there,

Theres some info about this in my comand-aps faq at www.mercupgrades.com

 

[BAABU]

I can say that (from aka$h's instructions, thanks aka$h) I have just upgraded my 2003 E220 CDi from an audio 20 to the APS50 (which plays DVD's etc) BUT does not have the SAT/NAV capability as I don't have the extra loader in the boot. Fortunately, I already had Audio Gateway built into my car (not sure where it is though).

Also managed to get the Engineer codes from EBay so that it can play all region DVD's, MP3's and movies whilst the vehicle is in motion.

Must say the whole process took less than an hour.

 

[beaker218]

Don' know how you are able to play DVD's etc on your APS50. I did the same as Aka$h on my late 2002 E240 and it certainly wont play DVD's or MP3's although I think the later APS 50 does play MP3. To get sat nav you need to insert a CD in the Head Unit rather than a DVD in a unit in the boot. Are you sure that it isn't Command that you have installed?

The audio gateway is tucked away above the rear nearside wheel arch by the way.

 

[shoaib mahmood]

Hello mate I can't see the pictures as it says click on image shack which it won't let me could you email me the instructions please samahmood1@hotmail.co.uk