Multi-function steering wheel question

[Jukie]

Ok, I've got one (and I think it's great!) and, amongst other things, it changes the volume and station, etc on my Audio 10 head unit.

Will the same audio control features be available with an after-market head unit, specifically a new Alpine?

TIA, David.

 

[Big Ed]

Can I jump on this bandwagon as well, please?

I'm trying to sort out a replacement head unit for my Dad's W210 E240, but he doesn't want to lose his steering wheel controls - I've had a nose around and it seems that many of the Alpine headunits are "Steering Wheel Remote" compatible, for which it appears you need to buy an interface unit for your make and model of car (E Class one is supposed to be about £90), which will then let it be operated by the steering wheel buttons (although I assume the LCD display won't work in the instrument panel).

Bit where I have a question is I THINK that you need to remove the instrument binnacle to fit the adapter - does anyone know if this is actually the case, or is there an alternative option that avoids this step? If not, how difficult is is to remove (and reassemble) - I've normally tried to avoid disecting Merc's before now!!

TIA

 

[mrfiepro]

Hi Ed,

I have installed a cluster and a command unit in a W210 so assuming the interface is the same the only connection between IC and comand I can see is a brown wire from IC-M1 connector to comand C2 pin 8 and a red/brown wire from IC M2 connector to comand C2 pin 9.

This canbus connection between SW/IC and comand must be the route for the data so I would assume that any interface for the Alpine unit could be connected at the stereo end with no need to remove the cluster.

 

[Big Ed]

Thanks mate - most helpful of you!

Think I'll get the kit ordered and have a bash....

Cheers.

 

[miro]

Thanks mate - most helpful of you!

Think I'll get the kit ordered and have a bash....

Cheers.

Im kind of surprised that COMAND isnt on your shopping list or at the very least ... one of the contenders.

Now that my comand is installed I will affirm that the sound is much better than from standard radio units (APS 10 in my case).

I can see however that Alpine has iPod integration and once the Apline is in CD mode ...... I presume it can scroll all the tracks in the player.

One of my friends has started working on a CD-stacker emulation for the iPod ..... which means that you can iPod the car and it will behave like one massiv CD with 7000 (example) tracks, working with canbus as you go.

Now that would be cool.

 

[Big Ed]

Im kind of surprised that COMAND isnt on your shopping list or at the very least ... one of the contenders.

I agree - I've suggested that he gets COMAND, but my Dad reckons he doesn't do that many miles, and spending ~£1k on COMAND as opposed to ~£300 on the Alpine isn't worth it for him (he only wants to change the headunit because it's not EON, and he never gets the Traffic Announcements whilst he listens to Classic FM!!)

I swear by SatNav, so know what I'd do....

 

[craigyb]

Can you let me know if it works, I would love to have the steering wheel control functions back. I can move the panny head unit over to my girls car and get a new alpine when some more pennies role into my account.

Craig

 

[craigyb]

I was about to get the whole Alpine shooting match, CD receiver, steering wheel controls and Vnet aux input adaptor, then this line on their blurb caught my eye....

"This interface will not work in combination with Speed-Control."

Now I have cruise control, is this what they mean? it wont work with it?

Craig

 

[fuzzer]

I was about to get the whole Alpine shooting match, CD receiver, steering wheel controls and Vnet aux input adaptor, then this line on their blurb caught my eye....

"This interface will not work in combination with Speed-Control."

Now I have cruise control, is this what they mean? it wont work with it?

Craig

Isnt that the auto volume up/down function ?

 

[miro]

Isnt that the auto volume up/down function ?

Automatic volume compensation for higher background dB associated with higher speeds.

 

[craigyb]

No it's not, it receives can bus commands in sends them to the head unit so you can control volume etc like you can on the factory fitted head unit.

Craig

 

[fuzzer]

Automatic volume compensation for higher background dB associated with higher speeds.

thats what i said

 

[craigyb]

Speed control being something different to cruise control.

So it would be compatible with a car fitted with cruise control?

Speed control is another option that changes volume depending on speed/noise etc.....

Craig

 

[craigyb]

On another note, I may do away with a head unit all together and just mount my touch screen display in the double din slot ala command.

next I need to get the steering wheel functions integrated using the system Dave Burke developed...

Then I just need this wonderful skin....

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=23106

Craig

 

[Big Ed]

For anyone who is interested, my Dad had an Alpine CD headunit + steering wheel interface fitted in his W210 E240 today - currently seems that the steering wheel buttons only operate the volume control, not the up/down preset buttons (I haven't had chance to take a look yet to know if that is just a tuner issue, or if it won't change CD tracks either).

He's happy anyway - he can finally get traffic announcments!!!