New double din head unit for an ML270CDi W163

Neil_McLennan

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ML 270cdi 02
I want to replace the Audio 10 in my ML, I'd love to have something like a Pioneer double din head unit, however......
Apparently I have a Harmen Karden system, with an amp in the boot on the left and a sub under the passenger seat. Also a multichanger in the back on the right!
I'm looking for a decent unit that has Bluetooth for my phone, and that can use some of my iPhones apps like it's Satnav.
Fitting is apparently a major issue, so looking for some advice, or recommendation of a good fitter!
Thanks
 

michal-Q

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E320 CDI '03 3.2 Elegance
It's Harman Kardon.
But it's strange that you have H&K and audio 10...
Do you have sound option Logic7?
I can have a look on your data card to check what audio has been fitted originally. Just need cars VIN .
 
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Neil_McLennan

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VIN...

Now here's a thing, most cars I've ever owned have had the VIN on an engine plate under the bonnet, buggered if I can see it on here.
Will drag out the V5.
Cars reg is GU02WBT.
 
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Neil_McLennan

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Presuming its a H & K as the bloke at Mercedes in Lakeside said it was, I wouldn't even know where or how to start looking.
Started this whole effort in Halfords, who said they could fit a unit, then decided they couldn't having removed the unit and looked at the wires.
In the mean time I have now removed the old car phone cradle system etc.
:confused:
 

michal-Q

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I'll have a look in the morning and will let you know if it's H&K.
 

rigpig

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CLK 430 AMG
756 RADIO MB AUDIO 10 CD WITH VK/RDS
810 SOUND SYSTEM
819 CD CHANGER

This is what it says for your sound installation.
 
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Neil_McLennan

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New unit

Lovely, so in this new found knowledge, is it any easier to install a Pioneer or equivalent double din head unit, or is it still a biatch as need to rewire the car as I'm being told?
I know there is a Sub under the passenger seat, and a multi changer in the rear o/s wing panel, and am told there is an amp on the rear n/s panel hence the reason to rewire the whole thing!
 

rigpig

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CLK 430 AMG
Lovely, so in this new found knowledge, is it any easier to install a Pioneer or equivalent double din head unit, or is it still a biatch as need to rewire the car as I'm being told?
I know there is a Sub under the passenger seat, and a multi changer in the rear o/s wing panel, and am told there is an amp on the rear n/s panel hence the reason to rewire the whole thing!

I'm fairly new here myself and did originally want to do what you are doing, the honest answer is that I'm not an expert. I have had 2 CLK's in the last 2 months. The first had a BOSE system in and an after market head unit. It sounded great. My current one has the standard 10 speaker system fitted and had a cheap after market head unit in with the original CD changer in the boot not hooked up. (Fiber optic cable) I have put this back to an original Audio 30 head unit because I wanted to use the CD changer and bring all of the dash functions back online which now work prerfectly and it also sounds much better (And looks better)

I have now bought a comand 2.0 and will fit that with a third party media adaptor to give me better flexability.

But none of that answers your question :) I believe there are analogue and digital systems fitted as standard. If you have an analogue system then you can change the head unit and will posibly be able to retain the steering wheel buttons with the correct adaptor but you will lose the dash display.

No doubt someone will be along soon with a much more helpful answer than this!

As an aside I fitted one of the cheap Chinese ebay double din units to my other half's car and found it to be very good value for money indeed!

Tim
 

michal-Q

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Code 810 is for premium sound system so it's H&K.
 
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Neil_McLennan

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New unit

Thanks Tim, having had landies, rangers, shoguns, Pajeros, and countless cars.
This is by far the most comfortable, but also the most pain in the back end for electrical stuff.
There are no dash buttons or heads up display stuff. The m/changer has passed away, and the single disc doesn't work which leaves me with Radio and singing.
I am no Robbie Williams, in fact Robin Williams may be a better crooner than I! LOL
I have been told that third party wiring kits aren't available hence the post, and looking for a half decent sparky to do the job. Options so far are just the other side of £1000 to install and provide a unit.
 

michal-Q

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Disc changer shouldn't be to expensive to replace. Have a look for a secondhand head unit just like yours. I think it would be cheapest option. Bring it back to full working order and as it's H&K it will sound quite good!
 

gizze

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Easiest way is pop in a new amp and use the cables coming from the HK amp to the speakers and simply run a phono from your new head unit to the new amp.

I went with the Alpine W925R, as the ML is a big cabin and really benefits from time alignment, plus the Alpines look a bit more subtle grapics wise, and have more high end features like light sensors so the display adjust brightness with the cabin light levels.

alpine_ml.jpg
 

michal-Q

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Sounds good gizze.

May I ask what's that switch "low range" for?
I haven't been in ML and I'm not familiar with the features in it.
 
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Neil_McLennan

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Low range

It gives you a low range gear ratio, as it's 4x4 it increases the grip and slows everything down, great for towing horse boxes in 6" deep mud! And snow.
 
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Neil_McLennan

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Easiest way is pop in a new amp and use the cables coming from the HK amp to the speakers and simply run a phono from your new head unit to the new amp.

I went with the Alpine W925R, as the ML is a big cabin and really benefits from time alignment, plus the Alpines look a bit more subtle grapics wise, and have more high end features like light sensors so the display adjust brightness with the cabin light levels.

alpine_ml.jpg

So head unit needs 4 channels, as does Amp. Not sure how many speakers there are, 2 tweeters, 4 mid range and a sub I believe.
 
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Neil_McLennan

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The end of the road is in sight....

These bad boys are going to fit my nice new head unit!!
http://www.braybrooks.co.uk
They are specialists, and the chap I spoke to, Neil has installed in the same model with the same system. Seemingly, there is an amp up behind the dash, from which the power runs to all the speakers including the sub under the passenger seat, so for £250 + VAT, they will install a new amp, along with a nice sparkly new Pioneer AVH-X2600BT Double din head unit!
The head unit is £319.00, plus a cable for my phone which is about £50, love Apple!!
http://www.pioneer.eu/eur/products/25/109/281/AVH-X2600BT/page.html
Really looking forward to it, installation date is 28th August
So for a little under £700 I will have a rocking new stereo, which along with my iPhone will have phone, SATNAV and loads of music and videos etc.
Will post piccies when she's done....
:eek:
 
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