SL55 - Audio/Nav upgrade - recommended installers

[cb1965]

In a car of so many highlights the Command/Bose Audio system in my 2005 SL55 is a massive let down. The audio system sound quality is no more than adequate (but then I have never really rated anything Bose have ever produced - style over substance IMO) and the Nav system is fiddly to use and that is its good point... so I am looking to change it for an Alpine all in one Nav/DVD/CD/DAB/iPod double din unit or similar.

Can anyone recommend an installer in NW England who could carry out an upgrade of this type to a top quality standard including having the steering wheel buttons still work?

 

[richard]

We're in the south, so not useful for you, but

a) Find an Alpine Excellent partner, that way you get 2 years warranty on the head unit
b) Alpine have just released a 7" DAB NAV, there 6.1" has been around for a while and is great - fits will into the look of the SL
c) You'll have to add an amp as the speakers are a funny impedance. You'll need 5 channel amp and will be pleasantly surprised how the BOSE speakers sound when driven by a decent class D amp. The head unit can then drive the remaining speakers,
d) We've just done a custom 8" sub in a SL which works very well and takes virtually no space from the car's interior. In slightly older SL's we can put in a certain pre-made sub but the newer ones are slightly different shape where we want to put it.
e) Steering wheel controls should be no issue, but you won't get the cluster display to work and the installer may need Star Diagnosis to reconfigure some stuff to make it work with the SWC interface.

Richard

 

[cb1965]

Thanks for your reply. Yes a pity you guys are so far away.

Yes I realise I will lose some of the cluster functionality, but I can live without that. Just need to get a NAV system I can use.

Is Alpine the only option or is there anything else I should consider?

 

[richard]

The Alpine (in my opinion) is best because (a) it's look and feel works in Mercedes (i.e not too flashy) - (b) 2 year warranty means they really stand by their product and basically know there will be no issues

Kenwood also super, a bit flashy I think but lots of functionality (such as iPhone mirroring, and Android mirroring with control) and at the high end slightly cheaper - 1 year warranty only though.

We have stocked other brands in the past and just not been as comfortable as we are with Alpine and Kenwood

Time for a nice trip down south ???

Cheers

Richard

 

[cb1965]

The Alpine (in my opinion) is best because (a) it's look and feel works in Mercedes (i.e not too flashy) - (b) 2 year warranty means they really stand by their product and basically know there will be no issues

Kenwood also super, a bit flashy I think but lots of functionality (such as iPhone mirroring, and Android mirroring with control) and at the high end slightly cheaper - 1 year warranty only though.

We have stocked other brands in the past and just not been as comfortable as we are with Alpine and Kenwood

Time for a nice trip down south ???

Cheers

Richard

Yeah I'm with you on the Alpine thing. They just look more 'grown up' than most other brands.... not so 'flashy'.

If I can't find anyone up here I may well look to travel south so will let you know.

Thanks for the replies, appreciated.

 

[cb1965]

OK found an installer in Wigan (K & M Acoustics) who talk a lot of sense and seem to have a great reputation.

Plan is to replace the Command unit with a 7" Alpine NAV/DAB/CD/Audio head unit and the Bose electronics with an Audison AV5.1K 5 channel amp and them mount tweeters in the A pillars, mids in the doors and a sub somewhere.

The latter may be tricky as need a cubic foot of space to make it work properly and do not want it to look anything but OEM.