W211 CD Player Replacement

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Alex225

MB Enthusiast
Joined
Aug 23, 2015
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2,368
Car
CLS63 AMG
I recently acquired 2002 E-Class which has a standard Mercedes head unit as shown here...

284BAE91-7D52-44A3-8A17-2DC77F434511_zpsmxfjg14d.jpg


As you can see it has a built in cassette deck but the problem is the CD player. It makes some odd noises and often won't read CDs. Plus it would be nice if it read MP3s but that's minor.

So I'd like to replace the unit and would prefer another standard unit. Would one from a later W211 fit in terms of its integration with the trip computer etc?

The head unit in my CLS (07) is similar but has a bigger screen and plays MP3s. Would I be ok to buy a unit from a 2007 W211 and assume it'll fit ok?
 
That doesn't look like the standard one, that is the APS50 I think?

Isn't the CD player underneath?
Press the silver button under the hazard light switch and you will open the multichanger.

The drive at the top is for the nav disc.
 
The chap who sold it to me said he didn't think it was the original unit.

No changer underneath just a little tray where as my CLS has a changer in there.

The slot at the top is for the navigation disk and plus audio.

Which unit should I have?
 
That is: Radio audio 50 APS.
It is what is in mine.

As gIzzE says, if you press the silver bar right below the hazard switch something magical will happen.

Put you VIN on here and I will get the datacard for you and that will tell you what it should all be.

Tony
 
Thanks Tony, I'll get that later on today.

That little silver button does indeed open up the space underneath to reveal......a cubby hole. No changer in there sadly.

I'm wondering whether it's worth sourcing an OEM unit of some kind or an aftermarket model. There's plenty of Android based units about but I don't one something that doesn't integrate with the speedo display.
 
No changer?
Ok, it will be interesting to see what the VIN reveals.
Sometimes there is COMAND pre-installation fitted (mine has) meaning the wiring is all there to upgrade later.
It is in a bundle by the fuse box in the boot on mine.

Tony
 
Definitely no changer, which is a shame as in my CLS it's loaded with MP3 CDs so there's days worth of albums in there.

Alternatively, can a change be retrofitted into that slot?
 
Alfie or Richard at Comand online could more than likely do that.

If you pm me the reg number I will be able to get the VIN from that as well.

Tony
 
Thanks Tony, no great secret on the Reg mate as it's on a few other posts on here already -

VO52 PXV
 
Datacard
Identification number: WDB2110262A227946 2
Chassis
Sales designation: E 320 CDI
Order number: 0 3 537 84175
Delivery date: 30 01 2003
Paint code 1: 744U BRILLIANT SILVER METALLIC
Equipment: 731A FABRIC, AVANTGARDE - BLACK / ANTHRACITE
Engine no.: 648961 30 013214
Transmission: 722626 04 267686
SA code
205B OWNERS MANUAL AND SERVICE RECORD - ENGLISH
213 SPEED-SENSITIVE POWER STEERING/VARIO STEERING
220 PARKTRONIC SYSTEM (PTS)
221B SIGN COOLANT/REFUELING - ENGLISH
236B WITHOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE - STATION INDEX
249 INSIDE AND OUTSIDE MIRROR AUTOMATIC DIMMING
275 MEMORY PACKAGE (DRIVER SEAT, STRG. COL., MIRROR)
280 LEATHER STEERING WHEEL AND LEATHER GEAR SHIFT KNOB
423 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
461 INSTRUMENT WITH MILES IND. AND ENGLISH LEGEND
489 AIRMATIC DUAL CONTROL / AIR SUSPENSION SEMI-ACTIVE
500 OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR LH AND RH FOLDING
525 RADIO AUDIO 50 APS
537L GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
543 SUN VISOR WITH MAKE-UP MIRROR L. AND R., BE-
551 ANTI-THEFT/ANTI-BREAK-IN WARNING SYSTEM
580 AIR CONDITIONING
5XXL EUROPE
600 HEADLAMPS - CLEANING EQUIPMENT
618 BI-XENON HEADLAMPS FOR LEFT-HAND TRAFFIC
633 LA 17" 5 SPOKE DESIGN WITH WIDE TIRES
668 PRODUCT PROT.F.TRANSPORT VEH. W/ TIE-DOWN HOOKS
690 EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE (MINI SPARE)
730A FABRIC, AVANTGARDE
731A FABRIC, AVANTGARDE - BLACK / ANTHRACITE
744U BRILLIANT SILVER METALLIC
803 211____ - 20000201 - AEJ 02/1/X
803 648.9__ - 20021007 - YOM 12/1
803 722.6__ - 20010316 - YOM 12/1
873 SEAT HEATER FOR LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEATS
882 INTERIOR SAFEGUARD
910 DYNAMO WITH HIGHER CAPACITY (FFO)
915 FUEL TANK WITH LARGER CAPACITY
954 EQUIPMENT PACKAGE FOR AVANTGARDE VEHICLES
984 COC DOC., DELETION OF VEHICLE REGISTRATION DOC.
989 IDENTIFICATION LABEL UNDER WINDSHIELD
M002 ENGINES WITH EXH.TURBOCHARGER WITH INTERCOOLER
M32 CAPACITY 3,2 LITER
M648 R6-DIESEL ENGINE OM648
U36 COMAND PREINSTALLATION
 
If you want to sell that unit, let me know as my Dad's W211 only has the audio 20 (with a cassette...!)
 
Option 819 is the cd changer, which isn't listed on yours.
But you do have U36, comand preinstallation. Which means fitting a comand system is not as much work.
The cheaper comand option is fitting ntg 2.5 which isn't that cheap but fitting a cd changer would be cheaper still.

Tony
 
We updated a couple of our W211's a few years ago from Audio 20 with the 6 CD changer to NTG2.5.

Was quite expensive at the time, still have the old Audio 20 units laying around somewhere.
 
That unit is APS 50 as others have said, it would be an easy upgrade if you installed the early Comand APS unit as both the early Comand, Audio 50 and the tape deck head units fitted the the first cars have a separate amp in the left side of the boot,MB call it the audio gate way. This connects to the head unit, CDC, phone etc via a fibre network called the MOST bus.

If you wanted to upgrade to an Audio 20 or Comand NGT 2.5 then all the speaker wires, Ariel and power feeds will need to be reroute from the boot to the dash and the MOST bus will need re configuring.
 
Thanks for all the info guys and there is a lot of info! :)

Thing is the CD player in the hesdunit makes some odd noises and intermittently doesn't play discs.

Question is, what's the simplest upgrade? Or is it just worth me going for a replacement version of the same unit?
 
I reckon the simplest upgrade would be Comand APS,

Check E bay there's some units on there from Germany for around 300 pounds
 
Thanks mate. I'd be happy with a standard replacement to be honest.

I suspect the CD drive is constantly trying to read a disc even when the car is off and locked. Got a couple of odd messages indicating a power drain and the headunit is clicking a lot. I'm wondering if it's doing do when i leave it over night?!?

I assume I shouldn't even be considering something like this?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331849344434
 
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