Linguatronic Retrofit

[richard]

My 2000 CL500 has the VCS (Linguatronic) module positioned next to the Phone Controller module under the rear seat but no voice control. Anyone have any idea how much to finish the job MB left half done?

It seems to be a common working practice, my car also has the wiring and amplifiers/aerial etc. for TV, just no tuner. Go figure...

Hi amwebby

Your car has the TV pre-wire option - it happened because I dont think the TV tuners were quite ready in time, and retrofitting the loom and aerial amps is expensive. You probably only need TV tuner, bracket and screws to add it - look out on Ebay


Its strange that you have the VCS module, and it doesnt work. Does it have a fibre optic connection into it (pair of orange fibres in black connector) ?
VCS consists of module, wiring and switch, on S class on the steering wheel.
- the old COMAND normally just recognisies stuff on its fibre bus, or if its broken then nothing is recognised (but you have phone, and presumably it works)

Richard

 

[miro]

If it isn't wired for VCS, what is the module doing sat under the rear seat with connectors going into it? You're correct about the steering wheel/controller stalk, that isn't there.

I would like to see a photo.

 

[amwebby]

There are two modules, besides the Phone controller, under the rear seat. One, numbered 215 820 17 26, has two large multi-connectors going into it, one with large Brown, Blue, Orange, White and Black cables.

The other, numbered 215 820 13 26, has a small connector going into it with Orange, Brown and White wires.

 

[television]

Forums are always are great place to ledt off steam, slag off a certain dealership, purchase, repair etc. Occassionally we are treated to someone that actually dares to volunteer good information.

When Clarkson demonstrated his own Linguatronic system on the SL, he simply stated, CD1 Track 5 (or 4 ) and hey presto. No fuss, no shouting, just instant music.

I have always raved about the noise of the modern 55AMG, so without further ado, I give to you: 2:53 sec

Yes the radio and CD functions are good, I still have not learnt to say phone rather than telephone as she turns the TV on. on the telephone side you just call out the name, or a new number 3 figures at a time.

On the Nav part it works well too

 

[mr. shr]

VCS consists of module, wiring and switch, on S class on the steering wheel.

Richard

I'm thinking of having a go at this install on my 220.

How can I tell if my car needs to have the stalk mounted switch or uses the MF steering wheel button?

My copy of WIS is a little missleading. It seems to suggest that for my age car, the stalk switch is NOT required and you use the steering wheel. But my wheel doesn't have a designated VCS button. Looking at the pics on WIS, it suggests the VCS button is the lower left button and the symbol on the botton looks like a microphone.
But on my wheel, the lower left button is for scrolling (backwards) through the cluster menus. Would this also act as the VCS button once coded up on STAR?

Also, what sort of prices are the VCS module, wiring loom, optic cable and optic module?

Thanks.
shr

 

[richard]

PM me your chassis number and i'll look on EPCnet.

Expect to spend about £700 in parts in UK - (well, thats about the UK parts cost on a MOST based new ML, not costed an D2B car for a while). on the new ML you have to change the button packs on the steering wheel, and that is a large part of the cost ...

Richard

 

[richard]

There are two modules, besides the Phone controller, under the rear seat. One, numbered 215 820 17 26, has two large multi-connectors going into it, one with large Brown, Blue, Orange, White and Black cables.

The other, numbered 215 820 13 26, has a small connector going into it with Orange, Brown and White wires.

17 26 is the control unit for rear head restraints, power window, rear side window and ashtray lighting

13 26 is part of the alarm system (the towing protection bit)

R

 

[mr. shr]

PM me your chassis number and i'll look on EPCnet.

Expect to spend about £700 in parts in UK - (well, thats about the UK parts cost on a MOST based new ML, not costed an D2B car for a while). on the new ML you have to change the button packs on the steering wheel, and that is a large part of the cost ...

Richard

PM sent!!

 

[amwebby]

17 26 is the control unit for rear head restraints, power window, rear side window and ashtray lighting

13 26 is part of the alarm system (the towing protection bit)

R

Thanks Richard. Looks like Linguatronic will cost me about £800 then. Sounds cool though!

 

[richard]

Ok, heres some parts - now i've looked it will be less than 800, but feel free to go price it up at www.mercedes-benz-parts.co.uk (approx prices below)

Steeering column jacket (grey) A000 462 16 33 7D43 (£10)
New cruise control/vcs switch A007 545 77 24 (£90)
vcs lever A000 545 05 44 (£15)
wiring loom (phone+vcs) A220 540 60 09 (£90)
contol module A203 820 03 85 (£385)
and you'll need a short bit of fibre optic and a D2B joiner (see my D2B document at www.mercupgrades.com for part numbers) to put the VCS into the fibre loop (insert before phone controller), and a couple of screws to hold VCS module in place.

Now, while you've got it apart, you could replace the existing phone system with UHI .. (different wiring loom needed, but similar price, new phone controller, and a couple of other small bits)

R

 

[amwebby]

Hmmm, I was going to upgrade the phone system to the old Nokia type, and get a ViseeO. The only part number I can't find for that is the antenna extension (female both ends).

At this price it wouldn't be a big step to include Linguatronic at the same time...

 

[television]

The only problem with Linguartronic is that she does not always get it right, though she is always polite, no matter what you call her.

 

[glojo]

The only problem with Linguartronic is that she does not always get it right, though she is always polite, no matter what you call her.

Still an option we wanted and one I'm annoyed about not getting.

John

 

[MBManInKen]

Still an option we wanted and one I'm annoyed about not getting.

I love my linguatronic . So, sounds like you should get one retrofitted, John .

 

[glojo]

I love my linguatronic . So, sounds like you should get one retrofitted, John .

I wish we could.

Regards
John

 

[amwebby]

Anyone got a sound file of this vixen they can upload?

 

[MBManInKen]

I wish we could.

I take that to mean that you did enquire about it .

I didn't realise it wasn't possible, but you could always buy another car of course .

 

[mr. shr]

Ok, heres some parts - now i've looked it will be less than 800, but feel free to go price it up at www.mercedes-benz-parts.co.uk (approx prices below)

Steeering column jacket (grey) A000 462 16 33 7D43 (£10)
New cruise control/vcs switch A007 545 77 24 (£90)
vcs lever A000 545 05 44 (£15)
wiring loom (phone+vcs) A220 540 60 09 (£90)
contol module A203 820 03 85 (£385)
and you'll need a short bit of fibre optic and a D2B joiner (see my D2B document at www.mercupgrades.com for part numbers) to put the VCS into the fibre loop (insert before phone controller), and a couple of screws to hold VCS module in place.

Now, while you've got it apart, you could replace the existing phone system with UHI .. (different wiring loom needed, but similar price, new phone controller, and a couple of other small bits)

R

Thanks for this Richard.
So will be about 700 pounds all in.
Are you able to confirm if my car will need the stalk switch? (above you listed a switch AND a lever. Isn't the switch on the end of the lever? i.e. all one part?)

 

[television]

Thanks for this Richard.
So will be about 700 pounds all in.
Are you able to confirm if my car will need the stalk switch? (above you listed a switch AND a lever. Isn't the switch on the end of the lever? i.e. all one part?)

The switch is a separate one for lingure only

 

[mr. shr]

Ages ago I posted all the commands for the 211 Linguatronic.

Anyone got a list of instructions for the W220?

I've just spoken to Neil at Braybrook (nice bloke who really knows his stuff)
and he says VCS on the old shape S Class is quite limited.
Apparently you cannot set navigation routes with it. All you can do is say, "navigation" and it will bring up the nav screen, but that's it. You need to enter addresses manually.

He says phone and radio/CD instructions are quite good, but nav doesn't do anything more than bring up the nav screen (on a W220).

I could do with seeing a complete list of actual instructions before I commit to this mod.