Ipod connection into 2003 CLK

[Bhavick]

Hey

I have had a search through the posts but cant seem to find what I am looking for, so I am hoping somebody will be able to help me out.

I have a 2003 CLK W209 with the Audio 10 (Becker BE6019) headunit with a CD changer and the bose sound system. I believe this is the D2B stereo system. I want to connect my ipod up to my stereo and have it so that I am able to control it from my steering wheel controls and also have the tracks names listed on the display by the speedo.

I have found out that the Dension Icelink Gateway 500 system that will work with my stereo but it will not display the track names.

I believe what I want from my Ipod is only available with the MOST systems which were introduced in the 2004 CLK's. Is it possible to install a MOST system into my 2003 CLK so that I can connect my ipod to it. If so which models would be suitable for my car?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[psmart]

Hi Bhavick, and welcome.

Basically, your looking at a lot of work and part purchase, not least your head unit, cd changer and bose system will need to be ripped out.

Someone like Alfie has the knowledge to advise what MOST parts you will need (head unit, audio gateway, digital Bose etc).

I have just installed the Dension Gateway 500 into my A-Class (and will install this excellent system into my ML/C) and I got around the problem by mounting the Ipod on the dash, in full view with a long fly lead. This means my passengers can use the ipod to interactively select there songs and when Im on my own, I can see the song information on the Ipod directly yet control if via the Audio 30 APS standard CD controller. The Dension, besides preserving my existing CD changer (on the ML) has a great benefit, it accepts USB hard drives/flash drives, so if you havent got your Ipod handy, your still swamped with songs.

Im impressed with the Dension, v.easy to install and use. Just a matter of how big your wallet is? The other solution is to ditch the Audio 10 and by a more modern Sony/Panasonic/Becker etc headunit with navigation and touch screen, or use a TomTom Go910 interfaced into your Audio 10 via the D2B.

 

[Alfie]

Hey

I have had a search through the posts but cant seem to find what I am looking for, so I am hoping somebody will be able to help me out.

I have a 2003 CLK W209 with the Audio 10 (Becker BE6019) headunit with a CD changer and the bose sound system. I believe this is the D2B stereo system. I want to connect my ipod up to my stereo and have it so that I am able to control it from my steering wheel controls and also have the tracks names listed on the display by the speedo.

I have found out that the Dension Icelink Gateway 500 system that will work with my stereo but it will not display the track names.

I believe what I want from my Ipod is only available with the MOST systems which were introduced in the 2004 CLK's. Is it possible to install a MOST system into my 2003 CLK so that I can connect my ipod to it. If so which models would be suitable for my car?

Thanks in advance for your help!

To convert your D2B car to a MOST based car is a monumental job and is quite frankly best achieved by changing the car!

Suggest you look at a third party solution or change the car!

 

[Bhavick]

Cheers guys! Thats not the response that I was hoping for but thanks anyway! I've only had my car a couple of weeks so I don't think I will be changing it anytime soon as I am loving it!

If I were to replace the Audio 10 headunit with an aftermarket headunit (Alpine) Would the head unit be compatible with the Bose sound sytem? Woud it be possible to keep the steering wheel controls with the addition of an extra adaptor? And would the track name still appear on the digital display in the centre of the speedo?

Cheers

 

[Alfie]

Cheers guys! Thats not the response that I was hoping for but thanks anyway! I've only had my car a couple of weeks so I don't think I will be changing it anytime soon as I am loving it!

If I were to replace the Audio 10 headunit with an aftermarket headunit (Alpine) Would the head unit be compatible with the Bose sound sytem? Woud it be possible to keep the steering wheel controls with the addition of an extra adaptor? And would the track name still appear on the digital display in the centre of the speedo?

Cheers

Answers to your question; No, No, No and No. However, anything is possible with the right equipment and design but in the main, the answers are No I'm afraid.

 

[Bhavick]

Hhhmm!!! Ive been doing abit of research and thought that you might say that Alfie! Nevermind!

Right so my next question is! What is the best way to connect my ipod up to my existing stereo? Im not to bothered about using the steering wheel controls and having the names on the display anymore. I would however like my ipod to charge while it is plugged it. I am not to keen on the fm transmitters as the sound quality is not that great. I have found the connects2 adaptor but am unsure how well that will work. Are there any other solutions that you could suggest?

Cheers!

 

[psmart]

Hi Bhavick,

If you havent got a B Connector on your Audio 10 (ie. The speaker connector - 8 wires) then you have digital BOSE and as per Alfie, nothing much can be done.

If you have Analogue BOSE (ie. you have the B speaker connector) then any head unit should fit, albeit you will lose your CD Changer (I have seen adapters for the Merc CD-Changer, but cant remember where )!

From my point of view, the Dension for circa 300quid is the way to go, comes with all the cables, optics etc and literally, takes about 30mins - 1 hour to fit. You will keep your steering wheel controls etc along with you BOSE, CD Changer etc.

The Audio 10 unit hasnt got an AUX in, so either you get a D2B based Aux Input converter (there almost as expensive as the Dension) or you use an FM Modulator. A suitable D2B Aux In converter can be seen here: http://www.dension4u.de/shop/index....age=2&osPsid=1967ce82beba0933c55478e324cf6b73

Something that I am investigating is this:
http://www.dension4u.de/shop/index.php?cPath=203&osPsid=1967ce82beba0933c55478e324cf6b73
Basically, with the addition of a D2B Aux In adaptor will allow you to control your Ipod from a touch display, see your title, playlists etc and allow phone control.

Basically I already have a phone in my ML so Im considering switching the Dension from the A into the ML and buying the BlueTouch for the A-Class.

The Company www.maxxcount.de are very good, speak English and ship Europe wide.

 

[Bhavick]

Thanks for that psmart.

I like the idea of the dension gateway but I dont wat to spend nearly £300 on a system which doesn't display the track names, because I will have no idea what track I will be selecting.

Would it be possible to connect my ipod up via bluetooth? I have seen some bluetooth dongles which plug into the ipod which allows it to connect to bluetooth headphones. I wonder if it is possible for it to connect to my bluetooth kit which is installed in my car. I doubt it because I dont think there is anyway for me to pair the two devices together. Does anyone know if it will work?

Cheers!

 

[psmart]

If you had COMAND, you could manually input the track names etc, but that is a lot of hard work and would mean a 400quid expenditure for a 2nd hand COMAND unit.

Bluetooth - Mmmm! Not my favourite topic, Im an early adopter and was burned with Bluetooth, only recently has it started looking like a working technology! I cant advise on your cars bluetooth adapter unfortunately, never looked into it. Perhaps Alfie or others have.

Just to add, this guy has a treasure trove of centrally located information. www.mercupgrades.com - he's done many retrofits himself, so is giving real hands on information on what can and cannot be done.

 

[Bhavick]

I've reluctantly decided to try an fm transmitter. I’ve just placed an order via amazon.co.uk for a griffin auto itrip which has cost me just under £20. I'll see how that works! Thanks for all your help guys

 

[psmart]

I've reluctantly decided to try an fm transmitter. I’ve just placed an order via amazon.co.uk for a griffin auto itrip which has cost me just under £20. I'll see how that works! Thanks for all your help guys

Hi Bhavick,

I tried an FM Transmitter (Kensington) but ended up giving it away because it was useless. You would tune it in at start of journey and you would be perpetually changing frequency as you traversed down the country (Europe in my case). Its alright if you are pottering around 1 city, but because Radio stations cover the entire bandwidth, sooner or later you will drive into an area covered by a Radio station which your FM Transmitter is set to!

 

[Blobcat]

Like psmart I found the itrip only useful in certain areas. I replaced that with a Kensington RM Transmitter and Ipod Charger and found that on 107.9Mhz I can get good reception all around the UK. (~£38 from Misco)
However once I get the funds I will be getting the Ipod adaptor kit for my Comand

 

[Bhavick]

I know its been awhile but I've still not got anythin sorted for my Ipod. I have returned the Itrip because it was rubbish. The quality was so poor, I was rather dissapointed. I have now resorted to using a cassette which plugs into my ipod. Its not perfect but it only cost £2.50 and its an improvement on the itrip.

I was wondering if it would be possible to replace my Audio 10 headunit with another Audio model possibly the Audio 20 or Audio 30 or one of the other models because I have been told it is very expensive and requires alot of rewiring etc. I would like to know if there are any Audio models available which have an aux in on the back which would allow me to connect my ipod/mp3 player to it? Also would i be a direct replacement if I swapped my Audio 10 headunit for another Audio model and would it still be compatible with my Bose Sound system?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Maxwell Smart]

I was wondering if it would be possible to replace my Audio 10 headunit with another Audio model possibly the Audio 20 or Audio 30 or one of the other models because I have been told it is very expensive and requires alot of rewiring etc. I would like to know if there are any Audio models available which have an aux in on the back which would allow me to connect my ipod/mp3 player to it? Also would i be a direct replacement if I swapped my Audio 10 headunit for another Audio model and would it still be compatible with my Bose Sound system?

Thanks for your help.

Did you ever find an answer to this? I'm torn between spending £250 on a dension 500 or a new head unit. I want to keep my steering wheel controls and display.

 

[Alfie]

I know its been awhile but I've still not got anythin sorted for my Ipod. I have returned the Itrip because it was rubbish. The quality was so poor, I was rather dissapointed. I have now resorted to using a cassette which plugs into my ipod. Its not perfect but it only cost £2.50 and its an improvement on the itrip.

I was wondering if it would be possible to replace my Audio 10 headunit with another Audio model possibly the Audio 20 or Audio 30 or one of the other models because I have been told it is very expensive and requires alot of rewiring etc. I would like to know if there are any Audio models available which have an aux in on the back which would allow me to connect my ipod/mp3 player to it? Also would i be a direct replacement if I swapped my Audio 10 headunit for another Audio model and would it still be compatible with my Bose Sound system?

Thanks for your help.

If you have Bose then you are tied to staying with MB as the Bose amplifier has all the speaker connections and is driven by fibre from the head unit.

You cannot fit an Audio20 into your car. It is MOST based and your car is D2B. Plus it wont physically fit.

You can fit Audio30 or audio30 APS but I dont think these have an AUX input.

Best path in my opinion is to go for COMAND which will work well with the Bose and can easily have an AUX port added to allow any MP3 to playback through it.