APS4 Retrofit

[Templar Al]

I bought a 1997 S280 a couple of weeks ago, and the only problem was that the previous owner had lost the detachable face for the radio, so I have just purchased a very cheap APS4 System off eBay, which consists of a Radio/Cassette head unit, 6 x CD Changer, Navigation Computer, and TMC Receiver - but no wiring harness!

The price I paid was probably worth it just for the Head Unit (which works nicely), but I would at least like to get the CD Changer working, if not the Navigation aswell.

The local Merc Dealer had trouble locating the correct retrofit wiring harness, but has one without the CD Changer Connection for about £280.

I have managed to find enough information about the wiring to be able to make my own harness, as I can get most of the connectors fairly cheaply.

I was wondering if anyone else out there has also bought one of these kits, has any experience of retrofitting them, or would like to share info along the way?

One thing I might get stuck on though - I think that a test CD is needed to configure and calibtrate the Navigation Unit before it will work properly.

Can anyone please confirm this?

Regards, Alan.

 

[02 A160 AG]

I think that the APS 4 is a rebadged Blaupunkt unit (possibly an RNS3 or RNS4), I think it also looks similar to a Blaupunkt DX-R52.

Have you got any more information, part no's on the head unit or CD Changer or a link to the ebay advert?

I've had a Becker Traffic Pro and currently have a car with COMAND and another with Mercedes Audio 30 APS. All of these are different systems but the principal for setting them up is much the same.

 

[Templar Al]

I think that the APS 4 is a rebadged Blaupunkt unit (possibly an RNS3 or RNS4), I think it also looks similar to a Blaupunkt DX-R52.

Have you got any more information, part no's on the head unit or CD Changer or a link to the ebay advert?

Hi 02 A160 AG,

The Head Unit is marked Bosch, with a Model Number of B01550 and Part Number A208 820 05 89. There are two standard DIN connectors on the back, one for Power and the other for the Speakers – same as most aftermarket Head Units. Above these are two smaller oblong connectors each consisting of 2 rows of pins – one with 8 pins, the other with 18 (I think). The 18 pin connector looks as if has some sort of locking lever mechanism on the plug to hold it in place. The pin arrangement looks very similar to the pins you find on the back of computer Hard Disk Drives.

The CD Changer is marked ‘Blaupunkt’ and the only number on it is 7 612 001 159 and has a short flying lead coming from the back corner, with a round 8 pin DIN male plug, similar to an M-Bus connector (but probably not M-Bus compatible). There are no other connectors on it and the Magazine holds 6 CDs.

The Navigation Unit is also marked ‘Blaupunkt’ with a Part Number of A 210 820 09 97. There is a single oblong connector with 13 rows of 2 pins, similar to the ones on the back of the Head Unit, with some sort of locking lever mechanism on the plug to hold it in place. The only other connector on the unit is the one for the GPS Aerial.

There is also a small TMC Unit with a very similar connector to the one on the Navigation Unit, except the shell is Green and has an additional polarizing keyway. It is marked ‘Bosch’ with a number 7 612 001 151 and B01151Y3019780. Also has ‘Mercedes Benz’ and Part Number A 210 820 56 26.

If you search eBay for Item# 270006532341 you will see the actual kit. I have managed to source the main cable from the Head Unit to the Nav Unit, and will get it hooked-up this weekend, but I still think I need a Test CD to get it calibrated - and I have no idea what Map CD to use!

Regards,
Alan.

 

[Templar Al]

By the way, I just checked the mail and the Cable that connects the Nav Unit to the Head Unit has arrived! It looks pretty simple (straight plug-in at each end), but there's a separate single blue wire that has to connect to a spare pin on the diagnostic socket.

This probably means that it needs to be enabled or calibrated by an external device, but I feel I'm getting somewhere now!

Alan.

 

[02 A160 AG]

Blaupunkt is (or maybe was) part of Robert Bosch.

Blaupunkt have used two types of navigation CD, E & DX

Mercedes COMAND systems use DX CD's.

I just did a google search and it looks as though APS 4 is a non-DX system. I found this company in the UK that appear to do navigation CD's for your system. Click on Factory Navigation systems, then Mercedes and APS 4 is the first unit they show. It may be worth giving them a call to confirm the options, then maybe you can scour ebay to get a good deal .

http://www.bluespot.co.uk/nav_cdrom.asp

Looks like you got a good system there, definitely a good buy maintaining the OEM look. Imagine how much that would have been originally as an option!

Have you got a GPS antenna yet? If not do you know which type you need, WICLIC or HR5 are the standard connector types.

Good luck & keep us posted...

 

[Templar Al]

Hi 02 A160 AG,

I have now managed to get the cable for the CD Changer from eBay at a cost of about £25 (half of the dealer price) and an English operator's manual from M.B. at £3.60!

Thanks for the info - I checked BlueSpot and it looks like the right disk, but a bit pricey! I still think I need something other than the Map Disk to get it started-up though.

I fitted a VDO MS5000 unit in my old C200 and the GPS antennae fits the APS4, so I could use that one. That system needed to have a firmware disk loaded before first use, but I have asked the 'expert' at 4 different M.B. Dealers now, and they either don't know or are not letting on!

I'm going to wait for the CD Changer Cable to arrive before I do anything else, and when I eventually get round to it - I will document everything in case anyone else decides to fit one of these systems.

Regards,
Alan.