Haughian24
Member
Ive got a 2003 CLK55 with command 2.0 and Bose Sound System.
i decided i didnt want the old looking "Command 2.0" head unit anymore.
i looked into changing the head unit fro a double din nav unit but they still would of cost a few £££.
i looked at getting a facelift Mercedes unit but none caught my eye.
its all about personal choice, i liked the look of a Ipad mini as a head unit.
watching "Soundman" on YouTube definitely helped with my decision of starting the project.
As my original head unit used fiber optic to the Bose amplifier right there was the first hurdle.
originally i wanted to keep the original head unit and push it back more so i could run the Aux cable into it and keep the function of the steering wheel controls but i couldn't find enough room for the massive Command unit.
as there are no aux/RCA outs on the command unit, if i ever wanted to upgrade the speakers or change the amplifier etc.. i would have to break into a speaker wire and put in a small converter just to get a signal to an amp... way to much hassle.....
i decided to rip out the old Command 2.0, rip out the Cd changer, rip out the Tv tunner and rip out the bose amplifier and get rid of the mercedes optical signals.
to start.....
i removed the plastic "Just pulls out"
if you press this little button, you can move the shifter down with out power to the car
unhook these two tabs and pull the ashtray out
two torx screws hold the center in place "give it a wiggle"
4 torx hold the head unit in place and about 2.8 billion plugs on the back
........
......
went and bought an Ipad
wrapped it up..
then made a fiber glass mold.
i didnt get any pictures of the fabrication.... but i can tell you its very long and tedious..
cut out a rough shape on the center console to fit it Ipad.
then glued in the fiber glass shell.
added magnets to the top edge.
done lots of filler work making all the edges..
then added a slight curve to one side so the Ipad will slide out.
drilled two holes for the charging point and aux.
painted the whole thing
then wrapped it in carbon wrap....
this is nearly the finished product. only very few tweaks need doing.
i am using a Aux at the moment, that is glued in place and helps keep the Ipad from moving...
i have wrapped the other hole for the charging point at the moment until i need it,,, hopefully get a lightening digital converter with charging soon..
took it for a test drive doesn't move one bit...
i ran two RCA cables from the front to the boot. these are connected to the AUX from the Ipad also a power cable from the battery to the boot.
i am going to be running two "4 Channel" amps for all the speakers in the car. nothing special at the moment....
i chopped off the plug for the Bose amplifier. found out what each wire connects to...
I extended all the speaker wires so that the will connect to the amps when i put them in..
Tv Tuner.
thats it so far but Saturday night i will have got the Amp and wired them in.
....................................................
Todo list
ive got to get a Bluetooth adapter that will control the volume on the ipad form the steering wheel.....
get a lightening converter with charging
upgrade some of the speakers in the car and sub-woofer...
find a Remote signal for the amplifier " shouldn't be to hard"
its all personal preference.. i like the look of it, its a portable unit that i can store anything on and use for other things and no expensive unit will be kept in the car.
its cost about the same amount as a decent head unit would of because no matter what i would of changed the Amplifier.
i decided i didnt want the old looking "Command 2.0" head unit anymore.
i looked into changing the head unit fro a double din nav unit but they still would of cost a few £££.
i looked at getting a facelift Mercedes unit but none caught my eye.
its all about personal choice, i liked the look of a Ipad mini as a head unit.
watching "Soundman" on YouTube definitely helped with my decision of starting the project.
As my original head unit used fiber optic to the Bose amplifier right there was the first hurdle.
originally i wanted to keep the original head unit and push it back more so i could run the Aux cable into it and keep the function of the steering wheel controls but i couldn't find enough room for the massive Command unit.
as there are no aux/RCA outs on the command unit, if i ever wanted to upgrade the speakers or change the amplifier etc.. i would have to break into a speaker wire and put in a small converter just to get a signal to an amp... way to much hassle.....
i decided to rip out the old Command 2.0, rip out the Cd changer, rip out the Tv tunner and rip out the bose amplifier and get rid of the mercedes optical signals.
to start.....
i removed the plastic "Just pulls out"
if you press this little button, you can move the shifter down with out power to the car
unhook these two tabs and pull the ashtray out
two torx screws hold the center in place "give it a wiggle"
4 torx hold the head unit in place and about 2.8 billion plugs on the back
........
......
went and bought an Ipad
wrapped it up..
then made a fiber glass mold.
i didnt get any pictures of the fabrication.... but i can tell you its very long and tedious..
cut out a rough shape on the center console to fit it Ipad.
then glued in the fiber glass shell.
added magnets to the top edge.
done lots of filler work making all the edges..
then added a slight curve to one side so the Ipad will slide out.
drilled two holes for the charging point and aux.
painted the whole thing
then wrapped it in carbon wrap....
this is nearly the finished product. only very few tweaks need doing.
i am using a Aux at the moment, that is glued in place and helps keep the Ipad from moving...
i have wrapped the other hole for the charging point at the moment until i need it,,, hopefully get a lightening digital converter with charging soon..
took it for a test drive doesn't move one bit...
i ran two RCA cables from the front to the boot. these are connected to the AUX from the Ipad also a power cable from the battery to the boot.
i am going to be running two "4 Channel" amps for all the speakers in the car. nothing special at the moment....
i chopped off the plug for the Bose amplifier. found out what each wire connects to...
I extended all the speaker wires so that the will connect to the amps when i put them in..
Tv Tuner.
thats it so far but Saturday night i will have got the Amp and wired them in.
....................................................
Todo list
ive got to get a Bluetooth adapter that will control the volume on the ipad form the steering wheel.....
get a lightening converter with charging
upgrade some of the speakers in the car and sub-woofer...
find a Remote signal for the amplifier " shouldn't be to hard"
its all personal preference.. i like the look of it, its a portable unit that i can store anything on and use for other things and no expensive unit will be kept in the car.
its cost about the same amount as a decent head unit would of because no matter what i would of changed the Amplifier.