Car Audio and Interior Upgrade Question

mercmatharu

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Hi all...

Just a quick couple of questions on upgrading my w210 (facelift).

Firstly I was thinking of changing the sun visors from the basic ones to illuminated ones. Is this a big job, and/or is the wiring loom already there so I can do a straight swap?

Secondly I was thinking of changing the stereo from the factory MB Audio 10 to an Alpine model. With the factory model there is a CD changer connected from the boot, would that work with a new head unit? Or do I require an adapter of some sorts?

Many thanks for your help in advance!
 

bigasotonuk

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C43/55 AMG 1999 / C230K 1997
Hi,
The illuminated sunvisor loom will not be present, if you getting the new illuminated visors from a breaker just remove the loom as well, very easy to do.
Regarding the stereo, the CD changer won't work with an aftermarket stereo.
Changing the head unit should be just a straight swap though if the stereo is controlled off of the CAN (Can,t remember if it is on a facelift 210) you will have to run a feed from the cigarette lighter for the ISO plug.
You may lose radio reception with the new stereo, if this happens you will have ensure the radio amplifier cable is supplied by an ign. 12+VDC at the ISO plug.
If you are in mind to do some mods, then why don,t you consider Auto dimming rear view mirror, very easy just plug and play, and are cheap to buy now from e-bay, I bought one with Ambient light as well for less than £15.
 

The Pan Man

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I know others will be itching to ask but I will dive in. Why do you feel the need for illuminated sun visors?

The audio is very simple to do especially as in today's digital era you will not need a CD changer in the boot. Alpine Sony and Kenwood all have great units as do most of all the other big manufacturers. Check out Car Audio Centres, They usually have a special offer on every month very competitively priced.
 

ianstaley

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ML 270CDi 2001.
I don't get this idea of not supporting a cd changer, I have had a changer for years and I like my changer, I neither want or need and Ipod, I have no intention of paying a huge amount of money for a stupid piece of electronic crap. I have no need of a USB port on my head unit either. I don't need an aux output as I don't have AUX and bluetooth no need for that crap either as I have no need to handshake with an effin mobile phone.

SO I want a modern DD head unit that does nothing but play music via the radio or a DVD to watch when I want to and play MY music from my CD changer.

FULL STOP. So maybe Alpine, Pioneer and all the rest may take not that there are infinitely more middle to old drivers out there that want to spend their money on a new head unit but with the option WE require. I have such a grievance on twats that continually tell me I NEED to get this or that piece of JUNK. HEY THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT.
 
N

npuk

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It is the same with most car manufacturers factory kit, it wont work with aftermarket kit. In the case of MB the cd changer is connected by fibre optic. You can obviously buy a new cd changer for the aftermarket unit you will get buy why? You can store alot more music on a USB pendrive. Sell the old stereo and cd changer to recoup some of the cost of the new unit.
 
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EmilysDad

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I don't get this idea of not supporting a cd changer, I have had a changer for years and I like my changer, I neither want or need and Ipod, I have no intention of paying a huge amount of money for a stupid piece of electronic crap. I have no need of a USB port on my head unit either. I don't need an aux output as I don't have AUX and bluetooth no need for that crap either as I have no need to handshake with an effin mobile phone.

SO I want a modern DD head unit that does nothing but play music via the radio or a DVD to watch when I want to and play MY music from my CD changer.

FULL STOP. So maybe Alpine, Pioneer and all the rest may take not that there are infinitely more middle to old drivers out there that want to spend their money on a new head unit but with the option WE require. I have such a grievance on twats that continually tell me I NEED to get this or that piece of JUNK. HEY THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT.

But an mp3 player of some sort (phone/ipod/stand-alone mp3 player) can hold more music than you can physically carry in CDs
I find the problem with a changer is that unless you're on the ball & change the discs regularly, you end up with the same discs in there & you think I'll change them when I get home ..... but then life takes over & you forget till the next time you select the changer & you think I'll change them when I get home & ............. :lol:

(I think I fit into the 'middle to old driver's category ;) and use a phone & use its mp3 bit)
 

Triv

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A brace of s210 1998 e300 turborustbuckets. Toyota HiLux Surf kzn185 3.0L
My car came with a Sony Bluetooth stereo already fitted.
At the time I thought why would anyone do that? Now that I've got used to it, I wouldn't go without it. I even bought another one for my other shed. They're great.
Get in car, bring up spotify on my phone, hit play and I'm off.
Any music I want, no wires, no discs sliding around the car, no changer. What's not to like?
 

The Pan Man

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Ian Staley,
I have approximately 150 albums on 4 dvds. So in reality I only need 4 disks to carry all my music. These all play in the DVD slot in the head unit all made for MB. Perhaps if I had said that you will have two or three choices of type of head unit but it is very unlikely that any of the modern stuff will support a CD changer.
 

ianstaley

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But an mp3 player of some sort (phone/ipod/stand-alone mp3 player) can hold more music than you can physically carry in CDs
I find the problem with a changer is that unless you're on the ball & change the discs regularly, you end up with the same discs in there & you think I'll change them when I get home ..... but then life takes over & you forget till the next time you select the changer & you think I'll change them when I get home & ............. :lol:

(I think I fit into the 'middle to old driver's category ;) and use a phone & use its mp3 bit)

I don't give a crap about phone I am retired the mobile phone is there for MY convenience not so that some ****$r thinks he/she or it has that right to break into MY time to pratle on about a load of shyte. MP3 just doesn't cut the mustard when it come to audio I don't need anything from Apple, the only appels that I have in house are ones I and my wife eat. And I choose the music I like to hear in my car and the ones I like are in my changer, so why should I pay even more money out to listen to a downgraded load os shyt from uummm apple or any other purveyor of crap.

That is MY opinion.
 

brandwooddixon

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Having a bad day?

I can understand your feelings with regard to the demise of CD changers, in the same way that I don't own a mobile capable of surfing the internet, but you did come across a little angry in your posts.

It's bad how things go - I went out to see if I could buy some bolt on exhaust hanger brackets only to be told in all of the local motorfactors that there's no call for them now as nobody performs car maintenance any more. Perhaps us Forum members are a dieing breed.
 

Neil_McLennan

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ML 270cdi 02
This seems to sort of link up to my issue.
Just had a firm out to fit a nice Pioneer AVH-X2500BT DVD, radio, Bluetooth double din unit, only to be told the whole car is amplified, so won't work without having to hunt it down and work around.
Firstly, any idea what in the world he's on about?
And if so, where is said amplifier so I can remove it and bypass the darn thing?
May help to know its an 02plated ML 270CDI Facelift.
Thanks.
Neil
 
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television

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Do the loudspeaker grills have a Bose or Harmon logo on them
 

television

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I don't think so, unfortunately, number 1 son has disappeared with my keys so I can't look and find out!
LOL

If no Bose it will be for that year on the grills there is no amp fitted to your car
 

Neil_McLennan

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Amplified system

Do the loudspeaker grills have a Bose or Harmon logo on them

It would appear not, it's a Mercedes Audio 10 CD head unit with a 6 disk changer in the boot. Can't find any evidence of an amp.
The back of the head unit as a triple ISO plug, an aerial plug, and a pair of brown cables with a strange plastic plug about an inch long but quite thin, the other end of which seems to be in the multi changer.
I have a selection of photos, but can't post them here!
:-(
 

television

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It would appear not, it's a Mercedes Audio 10 CD head unit with a 6 disk changer in the boot. Can't find any evidence of an amp.
The back of the head unit as a triple ISO plug, an aerial plug, and a pair of brown cables with a strange plastic plug about an inch long but quite thin, the other end of which seems to be in the multi changer.
I have a selection of photos, but can't post them here!
:-(

Then Audio 10 is just a normal radio and it can be replaced with anything using standard ISO connectors
 

Neil_McLennan

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Doesn't appear quite so straight forward....

There apparently isn't any speaker cables it all goes through this amp......
I can't post pics or I would of the rear and facia of the unit.
The doors have nothing on re Bose etc.
 

Miffy

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There apparently isn't any speaker cables it all goes through this amp......
I can't post pics or I would of the rear and facia of the unit.
The doors have nothing on re Bose etc.

upload your pics to photobucket or similar. Then create your post here, but click ADVANCED. You will see an icon that looks like a mountain with a yellow background. Click that and paste in the image like from photobucket. job done
 

television

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Could someone else have been there and added something
 


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