Is adding Bluetooth to Audio 20 really this simple?

[ckerrecoe]

So I'm trying to figure out the best solution for getting my iPhone to send telephony and audio to the Audio 20 unit in my 2005 CL203 and have seen this in one of my hundreds of searches...

Bluetooth Adapter Aux Cable For Merce.des Benz Audio 20 30 50 W169 W245 W203 W209 W164 - AliExpress 34

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

Am I right in thinking this plugs in to the back of the unit and adds Bluetooth functionality? Would it add audio from my phone? Just telephony? I'm quite prepared to accept that I'm being dim on this occasion as I have zero experience upgrading car audio. I know what it says in the advert text but I'm wondering if there's something I'm missing? My car doesn't have any aux or usb so will I need to upgrade something else? I've considered buying a new touchscreen to replace the OEM system but as the car is so old I'd rather not spend a massive wedge of cash on it if I can help it. The CL203 has zero connection currently (just the most basic Audio 20 unit) and it's an absolute pain in the 4rse.

 

[E55BOF]

If it works, yes it is that simple. You certainly will not be able to stream music from your phone, though, only answer calls, and you may find the volume you get is rather poor. You'll need to fit a microphone, too.

If you have no suitable Aux connector on the rear of your audio unit, it can't work. It's a Shenzhen Special, so it may not work anyway; I tried three separate Shenzhen Special seat cushion emulators to clear the SRS warning light on my R171 before I gave up, threw them away, and got Terry Gates to code it out.

If it doesn't work, you're only a few pounds down; worth a try?

 

[ckerrecoe]

If it works, yes it is that simple. You certainly will not be able to stream music from your phone, though, only answer calls, and you may find the volume you get is rather poor. You'll need to fit a microphone, too.

If you have no suitable Aux connector on the rear of your audio unit, it can't work. It's a Shenzhen Special, so it may not work anyway; I tried three separate Shenzhen Special seat cushion emulators to clear the SRS warning light on my R171 before I gave up, threw them away, and got Terry Gates to code it out.

If it doesn't work, you're only a few pounds down; worth a try?

Yes it is certainly cheap enough to not worry too much. But I'm much more interested in getting music to play from my iPhone through my car speakers rather than telephone calls, so I guess the least expensive option is to get an FM transmitter.

 

[DSM10000]

Yes it is certainly cheap enough to not worry too much. But I'm much more interested in getting music to play from my iPhone through my car speakers rather than telephone calls, so I guess the least expensive option is to get an FM transmitter.

FM transmitters for music streaming are awful. Compresses and lossy music and generally lots of interference.

 

[E55BOF]

Try the FM transmitter; that too is likely to be a Shenzhen Special, but will also be cheap. You never know; you might happen on one that is adequate, though I doubt it, and if not, well, it was at least cheap if not cheerful. It rather depends on your taste in music; if it's all Heavy Metal and making the whole car vibrate, it's pretty low-fi already anyway...

The Audio 20 technology on an old car like that predates Bluetooth music streaming, so it cannot do it. Unless you can find a decent Bluetooth receiver to feed an online signal into it (if such a thing exists; it may, but I've never looked for one) your only solution is a replacement head unit, I'm afraid.

 

[richard]

That device is a bluetooth audio streaming -> AUX adapter. It doesn't support telephone. You select AUX on the Audio-20 (hold down CDC button for a few seconds), and then music comes in over bluetooth (after pairing your phone).

AUX is slightly quiet on Mercedes vehicles, so may be a bit quiet.

If budget its much higher >£500), there are devices that sit on fibre optic network and will provide telephony and streaming (pretending to be the CD changer to provide streaming) - but to be honest I'd replace the stereo with something newer, touchscreen and Apple CarPlay / Android Auto if you were going to spend that much

Richard

 

[ckerrecoe]

FM transmitters for music streaming are awful. Compresses and lossy music and generally lots of interference.

Yes, I have some experience and they aren't a perfect solution or anything but they are at least cheap and don't require me to dismantle most of the dash and spend hundreds and hundreds of pounds. It may suffice for the time being.

 

[ckerrecoe]

That device is a bluetooth audio streaming -> AUX adapter. It doesn't support telephone. You select AUX on the Audio-20 (hold down CDC button for a few seconds), and then music comes in over bluetooth (after pairing your phone).

AUX is slightly quiet on Mercedes vehicles, so may be a bit quiet.

If budget its much higher >£500), there are devices that sit on fibre optic network and will provide telephony and streaming (pretending to be the CD changer to provide streaming) - but to be honest I'd replace the stereo with something newer, touchscreen and Apple CarPlay / Android Auto if you were going to spend that much

Richard

If we were intending to keep the car for a long period of time I would commit to getting a new touchscreen with CarPlay on it. I bought the car as a temporary measure so that my American husband could continue driving on learner plates (while learning manual for the UK test now that his 12 months grace period is up) and then once he passes (if he can ever get a test booking) we can buy something with a bit more grunt. Hence my reluctance to spend lots of money on it. We've already paid for a B service and learned that most of the (Evolution special) suspension components are knackered so I can't justify spending £500 on a new head-unit too.

 

[ckerrecoe]

I've ordered a snazzy looking FM Transmitter for £15 to see if we can live with such a simple solution. Although I know the quality from those things can be patchy, I do think I'd rather keep the car as original as possible. It's a low mileage, original car in fantastic condition with an extraordinary history, with every receipt for every penny the previous owner spent on it. She had the car from when it was less than a year old to the day (a month or so ago) that she sold it to me. As I alluded before, I've still got some money to spend on the suspension components and have already dropped the best part of £500 on a B service so I think I'll have to prioritise getting the car properly sorted and let go of my 'need' for connectivity.

 

[DSM10000]

I've ordered a snazzy looking FM Transmitter for £15 to see if we can live with such a simple solution. Although I know the quality from those things can be patchy, I do think I'd rather keep the car as original as possible. It's a low mileage, original car in fantastic condition with an extraordinary history, with every receipt for every penny the previous owner spent on it. She had the car from when it was less than a year old to the day (a month or so ago) that she sold it to me. As I alluded before, I've still got some money to spend on the suspension components and have already dropped the best part of £500 on a B service so I think I'll have to prioritise getting the car properly sorted and let go of my 'need' for connectivity.

Hmmm.

To me a car in fantastic condition with an extraordinary history doesn't fit with having to spend around £500 on a service plus several hundred pounds more on suspension components.

 

[ckerrecoe]

Hmmm.

To me a car in fantastic condition with an extraordinary history doesn't fit with having to spend around £500 on a service plus several hundred pounds more on suspension components.

Doesn't fit? What an interesting comment. What do you think a B service should cost then? And it's a 17 year old car- suspension components corrode or wear over time. I think that's fairly normal and to be expected. I'm amazed that it only needs some suspension replacement items to be honest. Thrust arm bushes are splitting and need replacing. The suspension on CL203's is notoriously fragile anyway. The condition of the car is amazing, the interior, the bodywork, and mechanically very very good indeed.

 

[DSM10000]

Doesn't fit? What an interesting comment. What do you think a B service should cost then? And it's a 17 year old car- suspension components corrode or wear over time. I think that's fairly normal and to be expected. I'm amazed that it only needs some suspension replacement items to be honest. Thrust arm bushes are splitting and need replacing. The suspension on CL203's is notoriously fragile anyway. The condition of the car is amazing, the interior, the bodywork, and mechanically very very good indeed.

It is your car, as long as you are happy. Although you did say that you didn't intend to keep it for long in one of your earlier posts.

Hopefully you will not have other much larger invoices to deal with but that is the risk with older complex vehicles.

 

[ckerrecoe]

It is your car, as long as you are happy.

Hopefully you will not have other much larger invoices to deal with but that is the risk with older complex vehicles.

Of course that's the risk. That's why we research, check, inspect, before we buy. I bought the car (very well) specifically knowing that there would inevitably be some work to do and we use a local MB specialist whose experience and opinion I trust. He is a bit more expensive than some alternatives of course. Obviously I'll have to take a view if something more major than some thrust arm bushes crops up, but, like I said, I bought it well

 

[DSM10000]

Of course that's the risk. That's why we research, check, inspect, before we buy. I bought the car (very well) specifically knowing that there would inevitably be some work to do and we use a local MB specialist whose experience and opinion I trust. He is a bit more expensive than some alternatives of course. Obviously I'll have to take a view if something more major than some thrust arm bushes crops up, but, like I said, I bought it well

I wasn't criticising your choice at all.

Some people buy such cars because "they are a bargain"

As you know, a car that cost North of £80,000 when new will still have repair costs associated with an £80,000 car at times.

A good independent is the best investment in terms of keeping such vehicles on the road to enjoy whilst keeping spending at sensible levels

 

[ckerrecoe]

I wasn't criticising your choice at all.

Some people buy such cars because "they are a bargain"

As you know, a car that cost North of £80,000 when new will still have repair costs associated with an £80,000 car at times.

A good independent is the best investment in terms of keeping such vehicles on the road to enjoy whilst keeping spending at sensible levels

I didn't take it as criticism- all good. I was certainly intrigued by your comment that seemed to imply that a car in fantastic condition wouldn't need ongoing maintenance, that's all. It's not an £80,000 car btw- a CL203, not a CL. That's why you mentioned complexity previously?

 

[DSM10000]

Ah. My error. I read it as a CL!

Either way, to find a car of that age that has been looked after so well and owned by one person for so long is a rare find

 

[merc07]

I just fitted one of the above mentioned Bluetooth adapters to my 07 w203.
I swapped out the head unit for a pioneer screen some 15 years back, but bluetooth was only for calls - same as the original MB unit.

It had an iPod connected with the same music loaded from 2015 which I have now removed !

Now you have calls on the original Bluetooth and audio on another simultaneously. You can listen to Spotify, internet radio or what ever..

Simple to fit, and the sound quality is brilliant, mine plugged into the pioneer ip-bus and power was taken from the acc line in the original loom adapter.

The Mercedes version just plugs into the auxiliary port and then just requires acc power..

Cost is about £12 from eBay..