W211 Head Unit Upgrade

[edspurrier]

I've just got a 57 reg E220 estate, which is great. It's got a standard Audio 20 single CD player - no CD changer and no gateway - and a Parrot plugin bluetooth thingy.

I'd like to be able to play MP3 off a memory stick. Ideally I'd also like to have all the steering wheel controls work, including the phone control. For some reason the CD player refuses to play MP3 discs, but that's another issue.

I'm thinking of replacing the head unit with a reasonable double DIN unit like
Alpine CDE-W235BT

which should work with all the steering wheel controls. This looks like a fairly easy job.

Question is, will the phone and audio information still appear in the speedo display as it does now? I do like being able to see things on the dash rather than looking down.

Thanks
Ed

 

[Biodiesel]

2 DIN or not 2 DIN

I have an Alpine CDE-W235BT in my Delica - it has a reasonable sound output with a good telephone system.
It even comes with a microphone.

It does have a wired remote control input, I don't think it will talk directly to the controls in your MB, however you can get an interface and specific cables from Connects2 which will work.

This Alpine unit will not send messages to the speedo display.

I hope this helps

Graeme

 

[Doodle]

As Graeme says, you'll lose the audio and phone info in the dash.

Bear in mind also that the motorised panel underneath the headunit will stop working when you remove the original unit.