I thought BMW were bad for added extra's :(

[marko_eire]

Hi All i'm yet another newbie to the MB ! i recently bought an 04 C270cdi which was a big change from my 03 BMW 318. but it seems the little thiings i liked are not installed/pre wired?? for instance integrated phone 6 disc changer etc. this is not helped by the fact the cd player (front loader) does not work !!! which is a common problem from what i read. Am i correct in assuming that you can have the option on the steering wheel/radio for phone but not have the wiring?? i've also seen some nice interiors that have the colour screen NTG 2.5? is it worth the hassle of upgrading considering my cd player doesn't work nor do i seem to have integrated phone any advice is appreciated

 

[GP801]

As far as I am aware yes you can upgrade to the NTG set up as long as yours is the facelift model. This will also give you bluetooth. Talk to Alfie or Richard at comandonline. They are the real experts.

 

[npuk]

OP has audio 10 so pre-facelift. You would need to the change centre console to a post facelift to fit Comand NTG2 which would have been fitted to post facelift W203.

Comand NTG2.5 wont work with a pre facelift cluster and steering wheel controls AFAIK.

You need phone pre-wire for phone. For more info see: http://www.mercupgrades.com/Choosing+Bluetooth+Cradle+for+European+Mercedes+Vehicles-article-41.html

 

[marko_eire]

Thanks guys bear in mind i'm new to the MB class and don't know the difference between pre/post facelift models im assuming mine is a W203 prefacelift as it an '04 reg with auido 10 not 20 as i had thought it was?

Do you not think it's a bit of a sham to have all the controls for phone etc but have no pre wiring done? it's like giving you a bottle of beer for 1 euro then charging you 20 for the bottle opener basically i'm screwed as there are alot of changes that will need to be done in order to upgrade am i better off just trying to repair what i have?

NPUK thanks for the link i'm starting to make some sense now of DB2 connectors a SAP LOL !!

 

[marko_eire]

guys i've done some more researching and it seem i do in fact have an audio 20 system pic below should i of had the pre wiring done with this radio for phone etc as it has the buttons on both the steering wheel and radio?? it's confusing me why they are there but may not be supported

 

[npuk]

You have a post facelift with Audio 20. The buttons dont mean anything all cars have the buttons. If you have no UHI connector then it doesnt have pre-wire, it was a factory option.

If you dont have phone pre-wire it can be retrofitted but it isnt cheap. The official retrofit will still require a cradle. http://www.comandonline.co.uk/Mercedes-Phone-retrofit-kit-MOST-based-cars.html

Or there is an aftermarket option the Fiscon Pro kit which works out cheaper and works exactly the same as MB phone pre-wire but wont require a cradle. http://www.comandonline.co.uk/Fiscon-Pro-Mercedes.html

Other option is upgrade to later MY09> Audio 20 NTG2.5 unit or Comand NTG2.5, both of which have full bluetooth connectivity built in so no pre-wire or cradle needed.

Or fit an aftermarket bluetooth solution to the current stereo like Parott.

 

[shorty]

The nicest option would be to fit Comand NGT2.5 , though this would be expensive .
Its also pasable to fit a double din unit using an after market facisa panel . Or the most cost efictive solution would be to relace the Audio 20 unit with a second hand unit and fit a Parott blue tooth kit . I have on in my E and there fanstatic

 

[Privatedoc]

Have you checked for the UHI connector in the top armrest (under a plastic cover)....?

just stating the obvious , sorry if you have.

 

[rf065]

Why not buy a Bury CC9060? A lot cheaper and better than a Parrot or any of the others. Full voice control too, no need to press buttons on the steering wheel and it does all this without having to train it to your voice, very clever.

Products

Russ

 

[marko_eire]

Thanks for the response guys. i'd agree with shorty though the 2.5 is much better to look at and it avoids having those horrible cradles !! can't stand them !! but then there is the cost i suppose i'm best to talk to command online ? anyone konw a place in ireland that can do this? i don't want to buy something in from the UK and not be able to install it. The integrated phone is a big thing for me as i use the mobile quite a bit for work. thoughts ?

 

[englishdas]

Hi All i'm yet another newbie to the MB ! i recently bought an 04 C270cdi which was a big change from my 03 BMW 318. but it seems the little thiings i liked are not installed/pre wired?? for instance integrated phone 6 disc changer etc. this is not helped by the fact the cd player (front loader) does not work !!! which is a common problem from what i read. Am i correct in assuming that you can have the option on the steering wheel/radio for phone but not have the wiring?? i've also seen some nice interiors that have the colour screen NTG 2.5? is it worth the hassle of upgrading considering my cd player doesn't work nor do i seem to have integrated phone any advice is appreciated

In this month's Mercedes Enthusiast magazine, if you think the options are bad/expensive now, back in 1989 the 560SEC came with an AM radio as standard. To fill it with an FM Radio/Cassette head unit, it cost 1275 quid to tick the box. The CD head unit was over 2.5K.

I guess things haven't changed much if you have to buy wires to connect all your bits together.

 

[marko_eire]

Jesus !! some things never change.... I was looking at an audio 20 NTG 2.5 that was in the region on 1200 euro just for the head unit !! if my misses found out i'd spent that much on a radio i think i could wave goodbye to my manhood !!! guess i'll have to stick with what i have and hopefully come accross a second hand audio 20 headunit on the cheap i think the parrot option is the cheapest also. i had one in the bimmer which done the job just hated the cosmetics of having something stuck to your dash.... ah well as the saying goes beggers can't be choosers !!

 

[shorty]

This could be a less expensive option over Comand 2.5

http://cgi.ebay.ie/COMAND-NTG-2-5-Style-Sat-Nav-Mercedes-W203-C-Class-
/260738623709?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_GPSSystems_GPSSystems&hash=item3cb53ba8dd

Dont know what there like though .

 

[JOB-BLACK-RAT]

Pah!

Ignore the above and come back to BMW, we forgive you