R230 head unit upgrade

[Steviec100]

Hi I have an R230, 2003 model with Bose and was wondering how difficult it is to change the head unit.
I already have a Pioneer double din with apple car play but I’m struggling to find the right facia and unsure if you just need a wiring harness.

Thanks in advance.

 

[LostKiwi]

Bose will be your nemesis.
The amplifier is fibre coupled to the head unit and uses the D2B standard (which has zero support from third parties).
2004 saw D2B replaced by MOST.
To change the head unit is a major piece of work.
You need to change the HU, run wiring to the speakers (this means either through the doors or into the back of the car where the Bose amplifier sits). If you want an additional amplifier to replace Bose then you will need to remove the Bise unit and fit the new amplifier in its place. You will not be able to use the Bose amplifier with a new HU.
The other issue (so I believe) is the Bose speakers are very low impedance (2 ohms from memory) which may cause issues as well.

 

[flowrider]

Bose will be your nemesis.
The amplifier is fibre coupled to the head unit and uses the D2B standard (which has zero support from third parties).
2004 saw D2B replaced by MOST.
To change the head unit is a major piece of work.
You need to change the HU, run wiring to the speakers (this means either through the doors or into the back of the car where the Bose amplifier sits). If you want an additional amplifier to replace Bose then you will need to remove the Bise unit and fit the new amplifier in its place. You will not be able to use the Bose amplifier with a new HU.
The other issue (so I believe) is the Bose speakers are very low impedance (2 ohms from memory) which may cause issues as well.

Is there any obvious way of distinguishing between MOST and D2B? My car is a March 2004 SL.

Thanks

 

[LostKiwi]

Is there any obvious way of distinguishing between MOST and D2B? My car is a March 2004 SL.

Thanks

Screen size is the giveaway I believe.
The early unit with the small screen and wood trim all the way round is D2B.

This is the early one:

 

[flowrider]

Gotcha, in that case mine is D2B. I think the MOST cars started on 54 plates.

 

[LostKiwi]

Gotcha, in that case mine is D2B. I think the MOST cars started on 54 plates.

It's only D2B to the amplifier if you have Bose. Cd changer, telephone etc are all D2B on both Bose and non-Bose cars.

 

[flowrider]

I find the OEM head unit to be ok for music playback, the D2B units have an aux input in the glovebox where I have a bluetooth receiver that streams Spotify from my phone. For satnav I use Waze at the moment.

 

[flowrider]

It's only D2B to the amplifier if you have Bose. Cd changer, telephone etc are all D2B on both Bose and non-Bose cars.

I have Bose.

 

[LostKiwi]

The other thing if you remove the Command is you won't be able to set the clock as it's done from Bose.

 

[LostKiwi]

I have Bose.

Yeah same problem as me changing it then...(and my Comand has a fault).

 

[ajlsl600]

sounds like benz making things easy,again

 

[LostKiwi]

sounds like benz making things easy,again

To be fair they weren't the only ones to use D2B. General Motors used it too (amongst others).

 

[ajlsl600]

To be fair they weren't the only ones to use D2B. General Motors used it too (amongst others).

understood. but again some yrs ago a upgrade of ones hi fi system was a matter of double din a bit of harness to match whichever make you were upgrading and a few hrs of yr time NOW it involves ??? and hassle! and £££££ I did manage to double din a sat nav hifi cd amfm into my a class but i had to get a new surround water jet cut and powder coated its grand and cost me 499 euro dont think thats going to work well on R230 or likely much else newer..

 

[Steviec100]

Thanks for all the info, I have asked an audio shop for a price and am yet to hear back.
As I have nose then, I only have to wire the head unit to speaker wire at the amp? Doesn’t sound too bad, but where is the amp?
And does anyone know where I can get a surround, have seen some on google images but not for sale.

 

[LostKiwi]

Found this the other day.
Says it's for Bose systems but not confirmed with seller if it's a wiring harness to bypass the amp or if it's a fibre converter.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.fr/ulk/itm/253803896091

 

[LostKiwi]

Have looked again at the listing and read it more thoroughly.
The kit includes a head unit and amplifier bypass loom.
Essentially its a cable from the headunit to the amplifier. The existing electrical connection to the speakers is unplugged and connected to the adapter thus bypassing the Bose Amplifier.
It also only enables 4 speakers unless you fit an additional amplifier for the others.
Still might be worth considering as it's less than half the cost of a refurbed new head unit.

 

[Viscount]

I have a 2003 SL with the Bose setup. Rather than mess with it, I fitted an iPod and Harman Kardon DP 1EU "Drive and Play" which allows the iPod to sit in the glove box plugged into the AUX and controlled from the DP1 which I have black-tacked to the console next the gear change. I provided a 12v to 5v feed to the iPod. I also legitimately acquired a CD with 2014 maps for the UK. Resolution isn't great but for all the mileage I do, it does the job. Just a thought.

 

[pgh13]

FWIW, I've just bought an Erisin for 2004 E class which has fibre and have ordered the harness to match. I think it transfers all the connections (not just speakers) to the location of the audio gateway, so just the hassle of getting the cable from inside rear wing up to dash.

 

[LostKiwi]

FWIW, I've just bought an Erisin for 2004 E class which has fibre and have ordered the harness to match. I think it transfers all the connections (not just speakers) to the location of the audio gateway, so just the hassle of getting the cable from inside rear wing up to dash.

Yours has MOST fibre optic. Early SLs have D2B. There's no support for D2B.