A possible comand alternative

cleverdicky

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Been looking round for a decent stereo without paying the earth. Tempted by the 2 dins etc but quality and looks seem to clash. Or you get only one or the other.
Recently I found this from a Chinese company called Shenzhen http://www.tradevv.com/chinasupplie...c/Sell-Mercedes-Benz-B200-car-dvd-player.html

There are alternative pages and even a uk ebay seller. Its Like a 2 / din but better and simpler functionality than a comand (possibly)
There appears to be a couple of suppliers and maybe I'm missing something, but they only sell it for Mercedes B200

Is anyone familiar enough with the different radio options to know if this would 'physically' fit and look oem. I only have an audio 20 anyway so not to many connectivity issues to worry about. But for a 'drop in' replacement it looks like a very good option for many (me).
But if only it will fit (the C class w203) Anyone know if w203 class shares same shape audio unit as B200?

thanks
 

television

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What a unit that is,,and I can see more coming from that firm before long.

It is hard to check, but I will see if there is anything that will help later in the day
 

kristoff

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I'd love something like that in my ML.

Anyone any idea if something like that could be adapted to fit as the source unit in the bose system?
 

television

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It needs a little more looking into, and more will come from this
 

SQ_W211

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I have had similiar off Ebay which was very cheap at £140 +£20 for import duty. It does exactly what it says on the box but the picture quality could be better and GPS isnt great but hey I dont have to put up with it (its fitted in my brothers car) and it was 3rd the price of my alpine monitor/unit
 
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cleverdicky

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If you read the specs it has a much higher screen resolution than many- even most.

Certainly better than the average 2/din. Amazingly it even has a can bus interface.
I've emailed the company for more info about models, but its really sales inquires they're after.
If you check out their site they make and sell loads of other oem units. Looks like this could be one of the original sources for car audio.

http://www.tradevv.com/chinasupplie...ial-Car-DVD-for-Mercedes-Benz-B200-7d4e2.html
 

television

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I wonder why they chose the B class
 
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cleverdicky

cleverdicky

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Me too. Such a shame !

Perhaps we can lead them to the light. . .
 

jberks

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If you check out their site they make and sell loads of other oem units. Looks like this could be one of the original sources for car audio.

I VERY much doubt it. You can buy a Chinese made S class, probably for £8000.
They copy everything but its a copy in the same way as you used to use a 1980s fax machine as a photocopier. Pretty crap.
I have recently bought 2 chinese copy items.
1) A new battery for my TomTom.
Result : It got me to within 1 mile of the meet and crashed (stripey screen etc) and wouldn't come back on. I ended up putting the old battery back in - all ok again.
2) A new screen for the Mrs' Sony phone
This is ok, ish, but the colours are insipid and the display keeps crashing.

This is a simple basic chinese copy and as with 99.9999% of their copies, it will be a piece of <fill in your own expletive>.
Even if it does work, I wouldn't dare plug such a thing into my Merc's expensive canbus.
Even if it doesn't do permanent damage I can see all sorts of things going haywire as a result.

Put in an audio20 and get a tomtom - you'll get a lot less agrivation in the long run.
 

M80

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I have owned a Chinese 2 din unit since Feb 09. Through Ebay at £232 delivered, obviously a Chinese unit, came to me from USA (12 days delivery time).

Mine doesn't connect to the can bus although if I connected through an interface there is the possibility, but thats beyond my knowledge.

There's a 3mm gap between the unit and the trim of the car. As I use the motor as a work horse the perfect finish is not so important to me. The value is now somewhere around £3.5K and to run a van instead would be similar cost without the C220 benefits. I would expect the Chinese to design a unit for perfect fit before long. I would chance connecting to the can bus, as if there were problems I could then disconnect it.

The unit can do a thousand things that don't excite me. Maybe I will get around to connecting a revering camera. But for me the radio (not as sensitive as the merc original), SD capability (mine has an 8gig in), bluetooth (would be better with it's own phone book but otherwise excellent), and Sat Nav (separate SD, uses IGO and I'm impressed) satisfies my needs.

The sound quality is excellent, the telephone conversations are better than using the phone alone, and it automatically pairs to the phone each time. The picture quality (not that I use this much) on DVD and photo albums is very good (but it is only a 6.2" screen). I don't expect I will ever try the TV facility.

I've had a few Chinese imports and the lack of instructions on use means there is usually some self learning involved. In general I am impressed as to what I have received for the money.

I hope my experience is some use to those with interest.
 

television

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With firms that make the big stuff like the one discussed here it should be OK,, sure when it comes to things like re chargeable batteries, they could be made anywhere.

I will go along with C220 chugger on his views that are like my own
 
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cleverdicky

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"I have owned a Chinese 2 din unit since Feb 09. Through Ebay at £232 delivered, obviously a Chinese unit, came to me from USA (12 days delivery time)".

Mine doesn't connect to the can bus although if I connected through an interface there is the possibility, but thats beyond my knowledge.

There's a 3mm gap between the unit and the trim of the car. As I use the motor as a work horse the perfect finish is not so important to me. The value is now somewhere around £3.5K and to run a van instead would be similar cost without the C220 benefits. I would expect the Chinese to design a unit for perfect fit before long. I would chance connecting to the can bus, as if there were problems I could then disconnect it.

The unit can do a thousand things that don't excite me. Maybe I will get around to connecting a revering camera. But for me the radio (not as sensitive as the merc original), SD capability (mine has an 8gig in), bluetooth (would be better with it's own phone book but otherwise excellent), and Sat Nav (separate SD, uses IGO and I'm impressed) satisfies my needs.

The sound quality is excellent, the telephone conversations are better than using the phone alone, and it automatically pairs to the phone each time. The picture quality (not that I use this much) on DVD and photo albums is very good (but it is only a 6.2" screen). I don't expect I will ever try the TV facility.
. . . . .

What model / make did you get. Would be interested to know as I've tried to research many of these sold with their respective manufacturers but they seem to be made with differing standards (and quality).

If I get one, its crucial the sound quality is ok.
Also must have sat-nav ability
The dynamic range of the standard audio 20 is very good. If I can find a multi function unit suitable that sound as good I will be happy.
What there doesnt seem to be anywhere is a list of recomendations for any of these units / manufacturers, yet there are plenty for the big brand companies. Maybe for a reason?
 

M80

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I've managed to find some info,

WD6201 car CD Player (actually a lot more)

Waywell Electronics Technology Co
Website www.szwaywell.com

My preference was to find one with a fixed screen. I didn't, don't like the idea of motorized fronts.

I was wrong about the unit coming from USA, that was likely just a ploy to create confidence in the seller. It is Chinese and came from there.

I sourced a surround trim from UK, ebay - 'incarmart'. £12.39 delivered. you would also need an antenna adapter.

If you find better please let us know. Good luck.
 
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cleverdicky

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Thanks for this, I'll check it out. I'm making do with an xtron I bought, mainly for sat-nav but its good for other stuff. I chucked a whole load of mp3's on toa dvd and select random. Cool. But its very cheaply made and had faults already.

Getting back to the comand alternative, I've been in touch with a UK firm who sell (design & make possibly?) really fantastic head units for other cars. I've seen some go on ebay mainly fords and vauxhauls. After a few persuasive emails he's assured me they will bring out a model based on my request (c class w203) selling a unit in a few months.
The ones they are selling now are up to 600 and no idea what they will go for a merc. But cant see how they could be any more. But the spec's, functions and write ups are better than any other for any unit I've seen. 7" OLED displays for instance, built in canbus interface etc, and so much more I may need a catheter.
Of course I'll also post if / when I hear more.
 

television

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Thanks,,its always nice to have alternatives
 

MSG2004

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get a tomtom 1 - very sleek. I rarely use the tomtom - had an older arge screev fat ove change for sleekr one - buy one of those ar-vent clips so you do not hane to stick on indow. However, a factory fit or retro fit is the best - we have one in our 4x4, factory fit - rarely used but feel lke the real stuff.
 
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cleverdicky

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I wanted something that does it all and looks standard oe. I love the shape / design of the audio 20 as it makes the best use of its size, and a smooth front. In contrast a comand has a diddy recessed screen with a million buttons all around, costs a fortune and needs countless other bits to do anything.
The nearest other best unit is a G4 running street deck. WOW!
But still a square box!
 

ThPadd

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Guys, I am also keen to get a better Satnav, Bluetooth phone and Audio solution (for podcasts and audiobooks) in my W203 C220. I personally will not diss the Chinese as I like to build watches in my spare time and their ETA and Miyota clone movements are superb. I am 'running in' a movement for a friends watch build right now, and having set it 24 hours ago, its running +/- 0 seconds (to an MSF radio clock). That's certified chronometer territory. The Swiss ETA movement it's based on is 3x the price, IF you can buy one!
I have seen some good reports about the Xtrons units, so will be investigating these babies.
 

mikestrivens

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dedicated sat navs are so old fashioned. I've moved over to WAZE on my iPhone and use Scenic on my motorbike. The Quadlock attachment is superb for holding the iPhone in place on all types of vehicles (including my pedal bike). The sooner car manufacturers move over to allowing apps based systems instead of the poor quality and often out of date built in systems the better.
 

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