Ml350 dvd

[leew]

Hi All,

I've just purchased an ML350CDI Sport with COMAND, I wanted rear entertainment but couldn’t find a stock car with it and couldn’t wait 16 weeks. Does anyone know how difficult it will be to add screens in the rear headrests and a company that can do it for me?

Lee

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Welcome to the forum.

Not difficult at all for an audio/visual specialist.

MB dealers even do retrofit DVD screens in the official MB accessory catalogue, but likely to be more expensive than non-MB equipment fitted by a specialist.

 

[Mactech]

The guys at comandonline post on here and seem very knowledgeable.

Comand Online Ltd

 

[Chattonmill]

If it is anything like my S211 it is not simple!
The Comand unit more than likely does not have a video output, so you will need a seperate dvd unit.
I have two headrest screens that I sourced from the states built into OEM Merc headrests. these are run by a PS2 as this does DVD playback as well. that gives extra use as games can be played as well! you can pick these up on Ebay with 10+ games for £30 odd.
I also have an MP4 input so I can use my phone or an MP4 player.
To do the above you would need a TV tuner to be installed, you may already have that.
I can certainly help. My screens were less than a third of the price of the MB dealer prices!

 

[richard]

As may not suprise people, I did this to my ML500 I wanted it fitted as if it was from the factory, and was told it was impossible ..

It was a big job ..
front seats out
rear seat bases out
centre console out
carpet out
right hand lower boot trims out
(Now you have access to all the relevant wiring ducts)
disassemble top of both seats and unhook leather from top to install brackets for monitors, and cut holes in leather for monitor supports
install cabling in seats for monitors (two cables)
rebuild seat and replace headrests with new ones (different shape)
install monitors on seats
install main wiring loom
re-install carpet
install RSE controller (involves cutting hole in carpet)
re-assemble everything else
code using Star Diagnosis

I also installed reversing camera and TV tuner at the same time, additional work: -
left boot trim out (upper & lower)
right hand upper boot trim out
drop headlining at rear by 10cm to access wiring
install wiring loom for TV tuner, reversing camera and TV-Tuner->RSE controller
rear door panel off
replace left hand wiring loom in rear door for one with TV & Camera wiring
install 3 TV antenna amps (tailgate window & two side rear windows)
install camera in rear door handle
put door back together (MUST use new door panel clips, 14 of them)

code using Star diagnosis

About 2 days work, with the seat trim being done by a professional seat person. BUT , the big thing was the cost of the parts. The two monitors, the TV tuner and the RSE controller are serious money. And the antenna amps were well north of £100 each.

So, if you don't care whether its actually factory original parts i'd go with an after market option. Possibly even the Mercedes one with a centre screen.

Cheers

Richard

 

[richard]

PPS. The ML's have activ head restraints, so you shouldn't build stuff into the headrests mechanisms, which is why the monitors sit behind them on their own mountings

R

 

[leew]

Cheers Richard / all,

I'm not feeling like I can handle the hassle of doing all that so am leaning towards an aftermarket solution.

Am going to check with Merc on the official one and look at third party solutions.

Lee

 

[leew]

Has anyone already got the retrofit DVD that sits at the rear of the centre console on the ML? is it any good? what are the Pro's / Con's

Lee