W211 Audio 50 APS to Command Upgrade?

[SL300-24]

Does anyone know how easy this is to do, and what costs are involved?

 

[Alfie]

Does anyone know how easy this is to do, and what costs are involved?

This all depends on if you have the audio gateway already installed in the boot of your car. If you do, then its a fairly easy upgrade involving a head unit swap.

There are others on this forum like Miro who can give you a definitive answer.

 

[SL300-24]

Thanks Alfie,
What does the audio gateway look like? And where in the boot will I find it?

 

[Alfie]

Thanks Alfie,
What does the audio gateway look like? And where in the boot will I find it?

Its a smallish box found mounted in the left side of the boot. If you dont have it there should be a mounting bracket empty where it should go.

 

[03E500]

APS 50 to Command

So, does this mean we can simply replace an APS50 with a command unit ?

Heard a lot of conflicting opinions, most think it is too much work to change APS 50 to a Command, but there are so many selling on ebay, I thought it is simply a swap over ? The DVD Rom simply goes into that slot on top of the screen?

Somone can set this straight once and for all I am sure.

 

[richard]

So, does this mean we can simply replace an APS50 with a command unit ?

Heard a lot of conflicting opinions, most think it is too much work to change APS 50 to a Command, but there are so many selling on ebay, I thought it is simply a swap over ? The DVD Rom simply goes into that slot on top of the screen?

Somone can set this straight once and for all I am sure.

I cant set you completely straight, but this may help

The AGW is tucked up between the inner and outer wings on the left hand side of the boot, it needs a mirror to see it well .. YOu can tell its there by feeling and looking for the fibre optics going to it.

The E class COMAND system requires a head unit, and AGW and the boot mounted navigation unit. The E/CLS/old-S/old-CL/SLK/SL have seperate boot mounted navigation units and in Europe certainly can play DVD in the head unit. The A/B/C/CLK/ML/GL have all-in-one units in the dash (but can not play DVDs in the head unit) - which is what causes a lot of confusion

The following items I have not got full knowledge of: -

1) You need a wiring loom (fibre and copper) for the DVD nav processor in the trunk - although I don't know how difficult that is to install, i.e where it connects, whether it needs to go all the way to the front of the car etc

2) You also need brackets for mounting, possibly some new trim etc - I dont know exactly when you need trim or not. I beleive the bracket is in place if you have parktronic as it holds that unit. Its on left side of trunk behind the cubby hole cover.

3) I don't know how you determine if a car has an AGW without looking, and whether all AGWs are compatable with COMAND

Cheers,

Richard