Hello all,
After an infuriating two months of searching online to try and make some sense of how to add Bluetooth or AUX to my w211, I have finally given up and decided to ask for help to look for solutions.
For some context, I own an 04 w211 classic trim with the base AUDIO 20 (MF2310) system, and I'm looking to add Bluetooth or AUX functionality to the car because burning WAVs on CDs every time I like a new set of songs is just not cutting it for me anymore. To my knowledge, I have found these possible solutions, and I want to know if there are any other possible solutions or just general advice before I go with one of the options you lovely people might help me with. Keep in mind that trying to maintain as much sound quality and OEM look if possible.
Here are the solutions I have plus some of my questions about them that hopefully, more experienced users here can help me answer:
1- Soldering an AUX wire directly to the CD lines on the unit directly then possibly drilling a hole to route an input where I can connect an external aux cable to maintain a nicer look.
(To anyone who did this, does the quality of sound take a hit? If it's dependent on the cable used then no worries as I do have very high-quality AUX cables) (Just general thoughts on this)
2- Getting a custom android head unit that maintains the OEM look (preferred?)
(This is the most headache-inducing solution because I just don't know if my car uses the *cue the scary music* fiber optic system; I don't have any of the extra speakers or any marking on my speaker covers indicating that it's the HK or Bose system. How can I tell if it does or doesn't without taking the head unit or looking around the car manually? For anyone who did it, does the sound quality take a hit? Any recommendations on units?)
3- Retrofitting the appropriate COMMAND system and then routing the FACTORY aux input to the glove box.
(Is this even possible? I looked around, and the spot for the AUX input is simply covered but I can spot and feel the indentation where it would be.)
4- Finding an A2DP adapter to hook into the CDC slot.
(Okay I'll admit this is the one I'm least familiar with as I found out about it 3 days ago, but also I can't seem to find a seller and any old listings say this will replace the CDC function by emulating it. In this case, my car doesn't have a CDC changer and the button says no CDC. Fine, could it be coded in or is it just tied to some wizardry that I'm too dumb to understand?) (Also, this is my least preferred option because Bluetooth and sound quality don't go together too well for me)
This is what I found so far, and hopefully, some of you guys might be able to enlighten me on different solutions that I might be able to use and/or answer my questions regarding the solutions I posted.
Thank you all, and I hope you all have a lovely time.
Just an extra question for anyone in the US, is the PARKTRONIC package not available? I've been curiously looking at US models of the w211 and all listings I came across lack the PARKTRONIC sensors.
After an infuriating two months of searching online to try and make some sense of how to add Bluetooth or AUX to my w211, I have finally given up and decided to ask for help to look for solutions.
For some context, I own an 04 w211 classic trim with the base AUDIO 20 (MF2310) system, and I'm looking to add Bluetooth or AUX functionality to the car because burning WAVs on CDs every time I like a new set of songs is just not cutting it for me anymore. To my knowledge, I have found these possible solutions, and I want to know if there are any other possible solutions or just general advice before I go with one of the options you lovely people might help me with. Keep in mind that trying to maintain as much sound quality and OEM look if possible.
Here are the solutions I have plus some of my questions about them that hopefully, more experienced users here can help me answer:
1- Soldering an AUX wire directly to the CD lines on the unit directly then possibly drilling a hole to route an input where I can connect an external aux cable to maintain a nicer look.
(To anyone who did this, does the quality of sound take a hit? If it's dependent on the cable used then no worries as I do have very high-quality AUX cables) (Just general thoughts on this)
2- Getting a custom android head unit that maintains the OEM look (preferred?)
(This is the most headache-inducing solution because I just don't know if my car uses the *cue the scary music* fiber optic system; I don't have any of the extra speakers or any marking on my speaker covers indicating that it's the HK or Bose system. How can I tell if it does or doesn't without taking the head unit or looking around the car manually? For anyone who did it, does the sound quality take a hit? Any recommendations on units?)
3- Retrofitting the appropriate COMMAND system and then routing the FACTORY aux input to the glove box.
(Is this even possible? I looked around, and the spot for the AUX input is simply covered but I can spot and feel the indentation where it would be.)
4- Finding an A2DP adapter to hook into the CDC slot.
(Okay I'll admit this is the one I'm least familiar with as I found out about it 3 days ago, but also I can't seem to find a seller and any old listings say this will replace the CDC function by emulating it. In this case, my car doesn't have a CDC changer and the button says no CDC. Fine, could it be coded in or is it just tied to some wizardry that I'm too dumb to understand?) (Also, this is my least preferred option because Bluetooth and sound quality don't go together too well for me)
This is what I found so far, and hopefully, some of you guys might be able to enlighten me on different solutions that I might be able to use and/or answer my questions regarding the solutions I posted.
Thank you all, and I hope you all have a lovely time.
Just an extra question for anyone in the US, is the PARKTRONIC package not available? I've been curiously looking at US models of the w211 and all listings I came across lack the PARKTRONIC sensors.
