HOWTO: COMAND in a CLK - W208

[Flyer]

A couple of weeks ago, I installed a comand in my 208 CLK (pre-facelift). I bought the comand, canbus adapter and fitting clips from steve_bcs (thanks again Steve). Thanks also to Steve (MBenzNL) and Paul Grainger for advice.

Here's the comand unit:

Close-up of the A, B, C1 and C2 connectors:

The canbus adapter:

This is what I had installed prior to comand, a Blaupunkt Paris, with CD changer in the boot. Great unit, only had one problem. The front flips down to allow you to remove the keycard. I can verify that it isn't strong enough to support a laptop carelessly thrown across to the passenger seat

The HU, cage and storage box removed:

You have to cut the bar in the middle out - carefully! Leaves you with this:

Next job was to remove the glox box - really easy, but you need a chubby screwdriver and watch for the two plastic screws at either side of the box - they break really easily . Leaves you with this:

[follows on in the next message]

 

[Flyer]

[follows on]

This is the GPS antenna:

I ordered the wrong one - 203 820 09 75, instead of 230 820 08 75. I therefore had to also buy an extension cable (203 540 70 06), as the connectors are different:

I stuck the antenna on the underside of the dash - this is towards the center of the dash. It's a bit of a squeeze, but you can get it up there. Gets seven satellites regularly. The cable was fed out through the hole in the dash where comand is to go.

Whilst the glove box was out, I fitted the Aux-in connector:

I wanted the Aux-in connector on the right-hand side. I wanted it that much that I spent an hour carefully cutting it and filing it and making it look nearly as good as ...

... the one on the left where MB have thoughtfully provided a cut-out that can simply be pushed out . I'm thinking of installing a Dension DMP3 MP3 player if I can't locate a MB cd-changer at a reasonable cost.

Now onto the soldering. Only three wires as the canbus interface provides C1 and C2 conectors. The A and B plugs were already there as they plugged into the existing h/u.

1. Blue/Green - soldered onto Pin 1 of plug A (provides the speed signal).
2. Blue - soldered onto Pin 6 of plug A (provides the lights signal).
3. Black - soldered onto Pin 7 of plug A (provides +12v ignition)

All joins were soldered and taped with electrical tape. I tried heatshrink but wasn't satisfied with the result. I used a pack of these but could really have done with two, just in case. They are really small and easy to lose:

Unfortunately, my CD-changer won't work with comand so I haven't wired one in. I am on the lookout for a MB fibre-optic one though, so let me know if you have one (cheapish!).

And that's it! Very easy. I attached the fitting clips and bought (well, was given by my dealer!), some removal tools:

The unit fits very snugly and securely and I'm made up with it. Sound quality is better that the bluespot and nav is great. Knowing what street you are on really is a boon.

Here's some pics (bad quality, but I've just taken them in bright sunlight):

I'll quite happily answer any questions, if I can.

Cheers

Andrew

[edited because I left a pic out]

 

[sym]

The original thread (which you can reply to) is here: