W209 CLK350 and Alpine CarPlay head unit

[gambcl]

Hi folks, I decided I couldn't stand the Audio20 in my CLK and swapped it for an Alpine ILX-700 CarPlay unit at the weekend. I wanted to try installing it myself ready for a few hours driving the following day.

I used the Connects2 installation kit for the W209 and the install seemed to go fairly smoothly. The Alpine is a fairly minimal looking display, doesn't have loads of garish-looking knobs, dials and buttons, so it blends in fairly well I think. I'll post a pic when I get a chance.

I routed the supplied mic under the dash, up inside the A-pillar trim and clipped it onto the sun visor. The USB and aux cables were routed under the trim, past the gear lever and into the armrest compartment.

I now have working iPhone music, telephone, maps, Siri, etc plus an aux input. The steering wheel controls work for controlling the volume and next/previous track.

I'm just wondering if anyone had any experience installing these or similar head units. It is supposed to be able to display data from the parking sensors and climate control systems, but I can't see any of that on mine. I know that there was a white CAN plug on one of the Alpine cables, but I didn't know what/where to plug it into. Is this the likely culprit and if so does anyone know where I need to plug it in? It was quite a short cable so if it needs to go any further than just behind the head unit I'll need an extension of some kind.

I don't get any track info on the dash display, not a big deal since it's on the Alpine screen anyway but again just curious if I missed something.

Finally, my car does not appear to be fitted out for telephone use, but I was hoping that the telephone buttons on the steering wheel might work with the Alpine. When I press the telephone buttons on the steering wheel I just get a "Not supported" message on the dash display. Would it be a big job to get them working or is it just not possible?

Thanks for any suggestions,

Charlie

 

[Alfie]

Hi folks, I decided I couldn't stand the Audio20 in my CLK and swapped it for an Alpine ILX-700 CarPlay unit at the weekend. I wanted to try installing it myself ready for a few hours driving the following day.

I used the Connects2 installation kit for the W209 and the install seemed to go fairly smoothly. The Alpine is a fairly minimal looking display, doesn't have loads of garish-looking knobs, dials and buttons, so it blends in fairly well I think. I'll post a pic when I get a chance.

I routed the supplied mic under the dash, up inside the A-pillar trim and clipped it onto the sun visor. The USB and aux cables were routed under the trim, past the gear lever and into the armrest compartment.

I now have working iPhone music, telephone, maps, Siri, etc plus an aux input. The steering wheel controls work for controlling the volume and next/previous track.

I'm just wondering if anyone had any experience installing these or similar head units. It is supposed to be able to display data from the parking sensors and climate control systems, but I can't see any of that on mine. I know that there was a white CAN plug on one of the Alpine cables, but I didn't know what/where to plug it into. Is this the likely culprit and if so does anyone know where I need to plug it in? It was quite a short cable so if it needs to go any further than just behind the head unit I'll need an extension of some kind.

I don't get any track info on the dash display, not a big deal since it's on the Alpine screen anyway but again just curious if I missed something.

Finally, my car does not appear to be fitted out for telephone use, but I was hoping that the telephone buttons on the steering wheel might work with the Alpine. When I press the telephone buttons on the steering wheel I just get a "Not supported" message on the dash display. Would it be a big job to get them working or is it just not possible?

Thanks for any suggestions,

Charlie

We have installed a number of these.

Firstly you wont get any track/artists/station information in the cluster. Only the Mercedes units offer this.

Your steering wheel control you have is about the best you will get. If your car wasnt pre-wired for phone then the phone buttons wont be enabled. These can be turned on whereupon you should then be able to answer calls with them.

 

[gambcl]

Thanks Alfie, is it easy to get the buttons enabled? Is it just a setting change in the car's computer or does the CAN connection to the Alpine need to be plugged in as well? Is it something you guys can do?

Also, have you ever seen the parking sensors screen working on this Alpine unit with a W209 or similar?