Ipod/iphone with DB2 comand systems.

[W1Z]

Just thought you might like to know there is a new option out for ipod/iphone integration with the D2B comand system. The only systems I've seen until now connect to the CD changer wiring and aren't great, as they do not display track info (the comand doesn't support text) so you control the music selection "blind".

The new unit is made by Alpine and only works if you don't have the TV module installed. It connects to the ipod/iphone and displays all the track information/artist album cover art etc on the comand unit screen when you press the "TV" button. It even plays ipod movies!

The unit itself is very cheap (£160 in the UK or about $220?) but if you want the full comand integration so that it can be fully controlled from the factory head unit and steering wheel, then the relevent adaptor is about £350 ($450ish).


Details of the Alpine unit can be found here:

KCE-425i - Alpine - Europe - Mobile Media Solutions

As for the comand harness, I don't know where to buy one, but the company below quoted me £575 + VAT to supply and fit (Including the Alipine 425i and comand wiring harness).

Mercedes Retrofit | Mercedes Comand Installation | Car Navigation | In-car Entertainment | UK

 

[television]

That is not expensive and not that many cars in the uk have a TV though I do. Thank you for the useful info

 

[Miffy]

Just took a look at the manual for this, but it looks to me that its using the A/V inputs on Command, wouldnt you only have these if you have the TV installed?

 

[W1Z]

I think you'd need to see the manual for the comand specific interface to see how it works. As I understand it, it connects where the TV tuner would go and fools the head unit into thinking there is a TV tuner installed, but it actually passes through the video from the Alpine. It also connects the TV controls from the head-unit to the Alpine so that you can control the ipod from it. You then press the "TV" button on the comand head unit to access the Alpine/Ipod and you can use the TV control buttons to select play-lists etc. You can play video from the Ipod as well as browsing the content with full text and even album art. I guess they also have to disable the function that turns off the video when the car is in motion. The dealer I linked to called Braybrooks said that they can do all those things and have fitted several of these, so if you are interested it might be worth having a chat with them, they seemed willing enough to answer all my questions.

I very nearly went down this route, but in the end I decided that I wanted to see my iphone, so I'm having a bespoke holder/charger fitted. My phone connects to the comand system via bluetooth so the phone side is sorted and I'm having the cradle wired to the Aux in option (hidden wires) so I can play the ipod function using that. The main reason I want to see the screen is that there is a new version of the iphone software coming out in June that offers masses of improvements over the current system, including turn by turn navigation with voice. I have sat nav in the SL and it's good enough for fastest route stuff, but when I go to Europe in the car, I like to pre-plan the route precisely on my PC and download it, which even the latest nav doesn't do, so on those occasions I'll be able to navigate using the iphone. As the iphone is net connected, it is able to get much better traffic info and it's POI database is bascially the internet! so it'll have functions the comand system navigation just can't compete with.

If you have an iphone the new software is worth a look (see the video presentation): http://www.apple.com/iphone/preview-iphone-os

 

[CycleSi]

This is not quite true.

l have had the Alpine KCE-425i system just fitted to my SL55 AMG by Braybrooks and mine has TV.

l can still watch TV and now l can use my iPod courtesy of the Alpine.

However the only steering wheel control that works is volume - same on the head unit. Everything else works using a remote control supplied.

lt seems very good but the only thing l don't like is you have to restart it each time you turn the engine on:

i.e. if you 've been playing it and get to say Track 13, the next time you turn it on it doesn't go to Track 14 but just goes back to the beginning.

 

[television]

Then in this case CycleSi have they gone in via the AV1 on the tuner

I am thinking of fitting a digital radio tuner to the AV2 and use the display on the TV screen, the only snag there is that the screen blanks when the car is in motion

 

[CycleSi]

Surely if they can change it to 'allow' a DVD/video to work in motion on the Alpine then you can do the same to allow the Digital Radio Tuner to work in motion too?

 

[television]

Surely if they can change it to 'allow' a DVD/video to work in motion on the Alpine then you can do the same to allow the Digital Radio Tuner to work in motion too?

You cannot separate the TV from the rest of it and on the SL I have no rear screen, so TV on the move is out of the question for me

 

[W1Z]

Then in this case CycleSi have they gone in via the AV1 on the tuner

I think that is why the Alpine cannot be controlled form the head unit and why they usually say it can only be fitted without the TV tuner. If there is no TV option, they can connect the headunit controls up to the Alpine by way of a custom harness. If you retain the TV module then that isn't possible (as I understand it).

There are a few gadets about to allow TV in motion, like this one on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TV-IN-MOTION-...14&_trkparms=72:1683|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318

But they are not cheap. I've seen others, I think the SmartTOP people make one too, but none of them are cheap.

 

[television]

I will stick as I am, and I would never try and watch TV while on the move, and the top closing things upset all of the speed signals

 

[W1Z]

I will stick as I am, and I would never try and watch TV while on the move

No of course not, I was thinking of disabling it purely for Ipod integration or 3rd part SatNav.

One of the other options I was looking at was to fit a Garmin hide-away nav unit (KNA-G421V) which has full Europe cover and all the latest features and could potentally be viewed via the TV option - but wouldn't be much good if the TV went off of course. Just another option worth considering especially as I think the new one includes MP3 playback.

 

[television]

No of course not, I was thinking of disabling it purely for Ipod integration or 3rd part SatNav.

One of the other options I was looking at was to fit a Garmin hide-away nav unit (KNA-G421V) which has full Europe cover and all the latest features and could potentally be viewed via the TV option - but wouldn't be much good if the TV went off of course. Just another option worth considering especially as I think the new one includes MP3 playback.

Have not seen that one, thanks I will take a look

 

[wbra1975]

Dear W1Z,

Is it possible uou could share part-nrs of the alpine installation you're refering to?
I would like to be able to see what i'm playing on my ipod, but i don't want the ipod in plain sight. Also i would like to be able to use the steeringwheel controls to change the songs.
My '03 clk is equiped with a comand 2.0 without a tv-tuner.
I've been searching the internet to find the best solution, and i think you can help me with it.

Thanks in advance !!

W

 

[television]

Hello and welcome,, you would be better off maybe with this

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=52227

 

[wbra1975]

Thanks television,

call me stubborn, but i like the challenge of getting the alpine to work. The mp3 player substituting the cdc is a good alternative, but i allready have a cdc installed, which i would like to keep. I'm quite the gadget-freak ....

Still, any help withe the alpine is greatly appreciated.

W