iPod connection - A Class

[slender]

When I bought my A Class I noticed a 3.5mm jack plug in the glovebox but was under the impression that it would not work with my iPod as I do not have Comand installed. I've just discovered that by plugging in my iPod and then holding the CDC button in until Aux Active is displayed it will work.

I cannot operate any of the iPod functions from the steering wheel control, aside of turning the volume up and down, but, I can live with that.

I'm not sure if this facility is well known and a quick search revealed a lot of threads on this topic and, seemingly, a lot of confusion regarding what will and what won't work. This thread may help someone in the future who is pondering how to connect their iPod into an A Class.

 

[outsmartsmart]

Its pretty much the same with any brand of car with a 3.5mm jack lead; either switch to 'aux' or 'CD' on the head unit and away it goes.

Wish my C class had a jack plug as I'm faced with quotes of £300, albeit fully integrated, for the pukka iPod installation kit. I could live without the steering wheel controls for that sort of cash

 

[NewMB]

When I bought my A Class I noticed a 3.5mm jack plug in the glovebox but was under the impression that it would not work with my iPod as I do not have Comand installed. I've just discovered that by plugging in my iPod and then holding the CDC button in until Aux Active is displayed it will work.

I cannot operate any of the iPod functions from the steering wheel control, aside of turning the volume up and down, but, I can live with that.

I'm not sure if this facility is well known and a quick search revealed a lot of threads on this topic and, seemingly, a lot of confusion regarding what will and what won't work. This thread may help someone in the future who is pondering how to connect their iPod into an A Class.

Strange. My wife A-class have it and we certainly did not order it nor pay for it!

Have no iPod anyway, but will try with my Sony MP3 player. Might work!?

 

[mastereng]

I can confirm that iPod Nano works fine in my new A Class using the aux input in the glove box. I did find that the volume is not as loud as either the radio or CD but quality is fine. I believe it costs c. £200 to have a "proper" installation added to the A Class which will enable steering wheel control etc. Personally I agree with the previous post that this is way too much for the additional benefit that it brings.

 

[Blobcat]

Quite a few of the newer Mercedes have the 3.5mm jack in the Glove Box to enable you to use your mp3 player. I still use mine as I haven't got around to fitting the Ipod integration kit yet that I bought months ago.

 

[littlebrooklyn]

Quite a few of the newer Mercedes have the 3.5mm jack in the Glove Box to enable you to use your mp3 player. I still use mine as I haven't got around to fitting the Ipod integration kit yet that I bought months ago.

Are they only in the A Class?

 

[Blobcat]

Are they only in the A Class?

No, I had a C Class courtesy car last year and that had one in. Open the glove box and look in the top of the glovebox just below and to the side of the catch and it is recessed in there.

 

[outsmartsmart]

Strange. My wife A-class have it and we certainly did not order it nor pay for it!

Have no iPod anyway, but will try with my Sony MP3 player. Might work!?

You just need a 3.5mm jack lead to go from the headphone socket to the one in the car. Buy a good quality one from Dixons or whatever (still under a tenner). You need to set the volume on full on the MP3 player (and on iPods you can increase the default volume setting as well on the menu's) as its trying to amplify a quite low signal/volume to start with (you'll probably need the car head unit volume about twice what you normally use to get similar volume usually). A cheap and easy way to get an acceptable juke-box in most cars

 

[hawk20]

When I bought my A Class I noticed a 3.5mm jack plug in the glovebox but was under the impression that it would not work with my iPod as I do not have Comand installed. I've just discovered that by plugging in my iPod and then holding the CDC button in until Aux Active is displayed it will work.

I cannot operate any of the iPod functions from the steering wheel control, aside of turning the volume up and down, but, I can live with that.

I'm not sure if this facility is well known and a quick search revealed a lot of threads on this topic and, seemingly, a lot of confusion regarding what will and what won't work. This thread may help someone in the future who is pondering how to connect their iPod into an A Class.

I don't think that is standard. I have the i-pod integration kit on mine but not on Susan's. You don't need COMAND BTW to have the i-pod. With the kit you get the name of track displayed in the Instrument Cluster, you can adjust volume and you can skip tracks with the arrows on the steering wheel. That is all.

Works well.

BUT if you have a 6cd changer you can record CDs in MP3 format and then 6 cds will hold as much music as a 4mb i-pod (so somebody posted somewhere I read! -- but I haven't tried it)

Susan's is standard and has no jackplug. She does have a 6cd changer.

 

[whitenemesis]

Hawk, you can do more than that with the MB iPod kit.

One can do most things one can with the iPod wheel. I find it a little confusing to be honest but the control is there.

The cluster display is a little disapointing as it is very limited to the number of characters displayed, titles are curtailed

 

[hawk20]

Hawk, you can do more than that with the MB iPod kit.

One can do most things one can with the iPod wheel. I find it a little confusing to be honest but the control is there.

The cluster display is a little disapointing as it is very limited to the number of characters displayed, titles are curtailed

Not what they told me. What controls on the Merc do you think would replicate the wheel on an i-pod?

 

[whitenemesis]

Not what they told me. What controls on the Merc do you think would replicate the wheel on an i-pod?

I have the MB kit and one can select play lists, list artists, list albums etc., all by the steering wheel buttons. But that's what I find confusing, many presses of the "Menu" button and the "Page" button then holding the set the search results......

It's all there but, honestly, beyond me

 

[hawk20]

I have the MB kit too. Do you have operating instructions? Can you scan and post them or e-mail?

I just put my i-pod on shuffle before connecting it up and it plays the lot in random order. Then on the steering wheel I just skip tracks I don't feel like. So simple.

 

[whitenemesis]

Yup! That's pretty much what I do!

I'll scan the instructions, much good it will do you. Much like those digital watches of the '70's, two buttons to control 50 functions

 

[fred52]

Also works in 2008 B class

Are they only in the A Class?

This solution also works on a 2008 B Class

 

[Alfie]

This solution also works on a 2008 B Class

There are Mercedes ipod kits available for all models in the range except the SL which does not have an AUX facility hence no ipod possible.

The A/B/C/CLK/ML/GL/R all use the same kit.
The E/SLK and CLS must have comand to have Ipod

 

[fendoch]

There are Mercedes ipod kits available for all models in the range except the SL which does not have an AUX facility hence no ipod possible.

The A/B/C/CLK/ML/GL/R all use the same kit.
The E/SLK and CLS must have comand to have Ipod

Hi Alfie

What about a 2004 S class (first reg 31/12/04) WDB2200252A419852. Tried everywhere to get either an IPOD Kit or even an Iphone 3G kit for it, with no joy. Tried our friend Comand online too but he shows kits for ipod and iphone for all classes.....EXCEPT S CLASS..... My S class also has phone pre-wire, with nokia phone in the cradle

Can anyone help, and give me some advice in where to get a kit for my car, for either IPOD 80GB or Iphone 8GB 3G.

Thanks

 

[fendoch]

Further to above.....I have been in touch with my Mercedes Dealer, and initially he said he had a kit for £190 + fitting. He then phoned me back and said there was NO IPOD KIT available for my car only after 2005.

Is there anyone can assist me, or is this true ????? If its true then I suppose the only way is to connect a jack socket to the aux in the back of the comand unit. I may not be able to use the steering wheel for functions, but at least I will be able to play it through the speaker system

Hope ALFIE or someone can assist

 

[blassberg]

Multiple answers

The 3.5mm glovebox socket is called a cinch socket in the manual. Newer models prob have this in the manual, but not nec fitted.

If you have the socket then 3.5 to 3.5 phono lead from maplins costs a couple of quid and plays any mp3 with a standard phones socket.

The steering wheel controls does not replicate the ipod wheel (laughs - pretends that you turn the wheel while driving and press the horn to select)(disclaimer - don't!!) but there are up / down buttons. Holding them has different function to single presses. There was an interactive demo on the mercedes site.

200-300 pounds may be an expensive option, but I did it instead of a multi-stack CD player and justified it that way.

The Itouch 1.0 works fine but 2.x (ie after firmaware upgrade) means that it charges but will not play. Have a thread on Apple site hoping to find a fix.

 

[finster]

You just need a 3.5mm jack lead to go from the headphone socket to the one in the car. Buy a good quality one from Dixons or whatever (still under a tenner). You need to set the volume on full on the MP3 player (and on iPods you can increase the default volume setting as well on the menu's) as its trying to amplify a quite low signal/volume to start with (you'll probably need the car head unit volume about twice what you normally use to get similar volume usually). A cheap and easy way to get an acceptable juke-box in most cars

Would using the line-out from the dock connector via a suitable lead (such as this one) improve the volume situation?

Or maybe if you're feeling rich, something like this might be better, as it includes a charger and remote control...

Edit - Sorry for dragging up an old thread - I could have sworn it said April 2009, when I looked at it.