Upgrading from Audio 10 to Audio 20

[syedali]

Hi, Ive just bought a Audio 20 on ebay (think it looks much better than existing Audio 10). Before I go ahead and take my dash apart, do they have the same connections or would i need to purchase a different conector.

I am a MB novice, just bought my first merc c class 203 estate - 2002 and Will be grateful for any info.

thanks

 

[jberks]

errr - may not be that simple. I'm no expert but ....
MB didn't sell Audio 20s as upgrades to 10s. They replaced the 10 with a 20 when they did the 203's facelift around 2004, so an Audio 10 equipped car was never intended to take an Audio 20 and anything could have changed, including mounting points, wiring and even wheel control and dash interface software. Remember, even the dash cluster changed on this facelift.
I'd imagine that the connectors will be different and if you have bought an audio 20 with cassette, this unit was designed for an audio gateway, which your car doesn't have.
May be a minefield.

 

[bitonw]

Yep, Your right as the Audio 10 has D2B and the Audio 20 has MOST...

Google D2B+Mercedes

 

[Alfie]

Hi, Ive just bought a Audio 20 on ebay (think it looks much better than existing Audio 10). Before I go ahead and take my dash apart, do they have the same connections or would i need to purchase a different conector.

I am a MB novice, just bought my first merc c class 203 estate - 2002 and Will be grateful for any info.

thanks

This will not work properly without massive major rewiring of your car. Audio 10 is D2B based, different shape etc. Audio 20 is MOST based and definately wont fit into your car without hacking the centre dashboard apart.

The facelifted cars 04/2004 production onward were almost completely redesigned electrically to accomodate MOST bus. That said, it is possible to power up a MOST system in a non MOST car provided you dont want any phone or Cd changer to work with it. This involves rigging up a fibre loopback cable and then working out where the speed signal comes from. The connector block for a MOST system is very different but there is an adapter loom available for plugging in the standard ISO connectors for power and speakers.

The Audio 20 is a self contained unit with the audio gateway already built in. So if you are prepared to take a saw and knife to your centre dash, then you could just about get it to work sort of. You would be much better off going for a proper Audio30aps or COMAND designed for your car in the first place!

 

[thespirit3]

I have a 2004 04 plate C220 CDI, and that came with an Audio 10. I understood this was a facelifted model - but now I'm not so sure. Was the facelifted model available with an Audio 10? *confused*

 

[jberks]

no it wasn't as far as I am aware.
One tell tale is the instrument binnacle where the facelif model has circular dials with chrome surrounds and a tall rectangular computer display sat between the speedo and tacho, whereas the pre-facelift has a square computer readout with the speedo needle moving around it.
Therea re other tell tales such as clear glass headlights etc.

 

[syedali]

Thanks for all the info. Now i'm having doubts about installing this audio 20.Think I'll give it a miss and put this thing back on ebay.

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

sounds wise...

 

[thespirit3]

thanks jberks - in that case, I have the pre-facelift model