Mercedes navigation system install in half hour, direct replacement of factory radio

[bobcat]

Thanks to detroit202, I have installed my navigation system
in under 30 minutes. As I have written before, I installed and
uninstalled a Pioneer all-in-one unit, and partially tried a Kenwood
unit.

I finally decided on the Harman/Kardon Traffic Pro. Thanks to pnsji
I was able to buy the $1499 unit for only $379. (not a typo, it's
three hundred and seventy-nine dollars, or more than $1000 off)
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-eI0Yqb6...2350&I=108TPRO

I must say I love the unit very much. It is just as accurate as the
Lexus factory DVD navigation system on my other car, with the
except of not having an on-screen map. In fact, it re-calculates
missed turns faster than the Lexus system when I deliberately
make a wrong turn(or get out from the wrong freeway exit)

The install couldn't be simpler. The MB factory radio connector
plugs right into the back. All I had to do was to plug in the tiny
GPS antenna and stick it with velcro on the dash. In addition,
I tapped into the reverse light wire which is located next to the
gear-shift. I did hook up my cell phone's mute wire so the radio
will mute during phone calls. Not hard to do, since I had phone
mute wire hooked up to the original MB factory radio anyway.

Total install time from start to finish was 30 minutes!

After the install, I inserted the navigation CD. It comes with two,
East USA and West USA. I used East USA CD. GPS calibration and
road calibration took about 10 minutes and 2 miles of driving
around the neighborhood.

Entering destionation was simple with the rotary knob and the
predictive alphabet entry.

The navigation guidance voice can either be male or female,
Brisitish, American, German, French, and Spanish.

The best feature is the "factory-look" of the system. No flip-out
LCD screens. The "Mercedes-Benz" logo is also a plus.

I also bought a Becker/Porsche 6-CD changer and wiring harness.
It works great with the headunit. I plan to intall it in the glove
box this weekend. It fits, but I have to drill a couple of holes
in the rear of the glove box for the harness connector to go
through.

I'll write up a full review if anyone cares to hear about it. Let me
know. In the mean times, enjoy these pictures... Sorry about
the graffiti.. didn't want these people to end up on Ebay auctions.

Also, the picture quality is bad. It's 21 degrees outside and not
much warmer in my garage... Will take better pics of the GPS
antenna and the headunit later.

bobcat

[KenzBenz]

very nice! i kinda want one now, how did it come with the mercedes benz logo???

[bobcat]

Originally posted by KenzBenz
very nice! i kinda want one now, how did it come with the mercedes benz logo???

sorry... it's a trade secret... they'll have to kill me if I tell you....




JUST KIDDING!!!


If you recall, Mercedes-Benz dealers sell a one-CD in-dash
headunit. It has the exact same faceplate frame as this
Traffic Pro navigation unit. Not surprising, since both are
made by Becker of Germany. So it was simply a matter of
swapping out the plastic frame with one that says "Mercedes-
Benz"..............

Crutchfield has one or two left as of last night. With 30-day
return and free shipping(both ways), you may want to grab one.
Note: this is not an endorsement of Crutchfield. There are also
a couple of other places that still carry it, for a little more money.


bobcat

[mbsickness]

Just got off the phone with Crutchfield and they are completely out. Damn...one day too late.

[bobcat]

Originally posted by mbsickness
Just got off the phone with Crutchfield and they are completely out. Damn...one day too late.

I just heard another Club202 member got the last one...

Don't worry... keep checking Crutchfield. For some strange
reason, they keep getting a couple of Traffic Pro units every
couple of weeks. It is a discontinued item...

That's how I got mine... they were out of stock and I just
kept checking.... finally I got one.

[SpEeDy230]

Clean Install.....I like

[BBad199]

I bought the last one this morning! Sounded like a good deal and it saves me from having to buy a cd changer that doesn't play MP3s, that's trunk mounted, that I can't find wiring for...=)


Well, free shipping. I can't beat that with a stick.

$379 to my door.


Now I just need to find out where I can get a pair of the removal clips for the old mercedes head unit.

Does anyone know how this effects the stock security system?

Thanks,
Jon

[bobcat]

Originally posted by BBad199
I bought the last one this morning! Sounded like a good deal and it saves me from having to buy a cd changer that doesn't play MP3s, that's trunk mounted, that I can't find wiring for...=)


Well, free shipping. I can't beat that with a stick.

$379 to my door.


Now I just need to find out where I can get a pair of the removal clips for the old mercedes head unit.

Does anyone know how this effects the stock security system?

Thanks,
Jon

MB dealer can sell you a couple of radio removal tools. They're
$7 at my dealer.

The Traffic Pro has absolutely no effect on the stock security
system. It does have its own flashing red LED when you leave
the car. Also, just like the MB radio, the Traffic Pro uses
radio code, which must be entered each time the radio unit is
completely unplugged from the car's power. Oh, and the
faceplate can be removed if you park in a bad neighborhood.


bobcat

[KenzBenz]

hey bobcat, how do you check? you call or you just try to buy and it'll ship when available?

[Renn 208]

bobcat, send me an e-mail, as I have some specific questions about your particular install.

[bobcat]

Originally posted by KenzBenz
hey bobcat, how do you check? you call or you just try to buy and it'll ship when available?

I just bookmark the Traffic Pro page on Crutchfield's website
and check it every couple of days. When it shows "in stock"
again, it usually becomes "out of stock" the next day.

Here:


http://www.crutchfield.com/S-CMnubz2...rch=trafficpro


For example, right now it says the item is "archived"... but that's
what it said two days ago... it came in stock again and the
other club202 member grabbed it.

[KenzBenz]

i see, damn i when i looked last night it said low stock! now it's no longer available. How do you like it by the way?

[bobcat]

Originally posted by KenzBenz
i see, damn i when i looked last night it said low stock! now it's no longer available. How do you like it by the way?

Don't give up... try it for a couple of weeks and you might get
lucky. The alternative is to purchase it for $599 directly from the
manufacturer, Becker of North America(Harmon/Kardon).


Yes, I like the Traffic Pro very much. At this price, there's nothing
better. Like I said, it is just as accurate as my Lexus DVD nav
system.(but without a map to look at) To get something like that
into my Mercedes, it would cost $2000+.

[faki00]

I read somewhere on this forum that this doesn't fit on older 202's because of the speed sensor. My question is how accurate is that? will it work in 95 c. Thanks

[bobcat]

Originally posted by faki00
I read somewhere on this forum that this doesn't fit on older 202's because of the speed sensor. My question is how accurate is that? will it work in 95 c. Thanks

Where did you read that? I know several W202 owners who
have the Traffic Pro. Never read about problems with the
speed sensor wire before. Of course, I don't actually know
one with the Traffic Pro in a 1995 W202. However, I've seen one
in a '96 W202. I don't think there are any difference...

The speed sensor wire is already inside the connector of your
stock Mercedes radio. It is the same wire that controls the
speed-dependent volume control.

I have driven almost 800 miles with the Traffic Pro and it is
as accurate as any other navigation system.(including the
Lexus DVD nav system in my other car, and my niece's
Infinit FX35)

However, like every nav system, it is only as accurate as the
map data on the disc.

[knvs]

man that looks awesome! Where did u mount the antena? Thats one thing y im hesitent bout getting one. I want to keep as clean as a look as possible. I don't like how the new cars like audis have "fins" on the roofs. Would be totally awesome if it could be integrated with the stock hidden atena

[Lse14j10]

I also picked up one of these just the day before yesterday. At the time there were 3 in stock. So the last 2 may have went to W202 owners as well...glad to see they stayed "in the family" so to speak.

I also wonder how you put the antenna in. Since I will be installing mine next week, can you give me any tips on how to route the wiring so everything looks clean? I'm also curious as to how you tapped into the reverse wire in the gearbox. Any info you could provide would be much appreciated!

[pnsji]

It's good to see that other members could benefit from that great offer. Too bad they only come in amber.... otherwise I will get it for my Crossfire

[bobcat]

Originally posted by Lse14j10
I also picked up one of these just the day before yesterday. At the time there were 3 in stock. So the last 2 may have went to W202 owners as well...glad to see they stayed "in the family" so to speak.

Here are a couple of pics of where I put the antenna.
It is only attached with velcro. From the back of the Traffic Pro,
I routed the GPS antenna wire under the dash, up and around
the lower windshield and placed the antenna dead center.
(up against the windshield) In this position, I get full GPS signal
reception 99% of the time. The wire is simply tucked into the
gap between the windshield glass the the dash.


Ignore the green paper behind the antenna... it's only there to
so you can see it clearer...

[mr. gatsbury]

Maybe this is obvious and I just don't get it but if a cd can go in the cd player where does the nav. disc go? Is it like a hard drive and doesn't require a nav. disc? Is there an adapter on the back so you can still keep the disc changer...?

Thanks

[bobcat]

Originally posted by pnsji
It's good to see that other members could benefit from that great offer. Too bad they only come in amber.... otherwise I will get it for my Crossfire

pnsji,

thanks for directing me to Crutchfield's great price on the Traffic Pro.

It does come in GREEN and RED, in addition to AMBER.

GREEN and RED are available from Continental Imports
and also directly from Becker/Harmon/Kardon of America.
(but cost a lot more)

What color is the dash lighting in your Crossfire?

bobcat

ignore the one at the very bottom, I don't think it was ever sold in the USA...

[BBad199]

When it comes down to it, I'm pretty handy with the install of audio systems. I don't have any schematics, but I too am wondering about how you tapped into the gear box for reverse. I know that it will reroute the map when you go back to drive, but I'd rather just run a wire if there isn't a direct access from the shifter.

Looks great!!!

I think the black back with amber lighting blands really well with the stock look.

Jon

[Lse14j10]

Maybe this is obvious and I just don't get it but if a cd can go in the cd player where does the nav. disc go? Is it like a hard drive and doesn't require a nav. disc? Is there an adapter on the back so you can still keep the disc changer...?

The way I understand it, when you input your destination, the unit requires the disk to calculate the route. Once it has been calculated, you can remove the disk and play a cd, or listen to the radio, or whatever. In the event that you take a wrong turn, and the unit needs to re-calculate, it will prompt you for the disk again. There is a hook up in the back for a CD changer so you could keep the nav CD in the unit while playing your CDs in the changer, eliminating the need for you to take your disk out of the unit when the deck needs to re-calculate. Hope this isn't too confusing.

[bobcat]

Originally posted by BBad199
I don't have any schematics, but I too am wondering about how you tapped into the gear box for reverse.

Jon

Jon:

See photo below... The red wire on the left comes from the back
of the Traffic Pro. A quick splice connector is is included in the box
and I used it to connect the reverse light wire coming out of the
gear shifter. The wire's color is grey-yellow.


CAUTION!!! THIS ONLY APPLIES TO THE '98 C280. I DO NOT KNOW
IF THE REVERSE LIGHT WIRE IS THE SAME COLOR IN W202 FROM
OTHER YEARS. IF YOU'RE UNSURE, RUN A LONGER WIRE DIRECTLY
TO THE REVERSE LIGHT WIRE IN THE TAIL LIGHT BULB HOLDER
PLATE CONNECTOR


After the reverse light wire is connected, you can go into the
Traffic Pro's setup menu. The screen will show three small arrows
pointing up, indicating you're going forward. When you shift
into reverse with ignition on(and reverse light on), the three
arrows will poing down, indicating that you're in reverse.

Hope this info helps!

bobcat

[bobcat]

mr. gatsbury & Lse14j10


Well.... yes and no... from my own personal experience, if all I
did was make a couple of wrong turns against the Traffic Pro's
guidance, it will recalculate without requiring the map CD. The
only time it asked me to re-insert the map CD is when I entered
a new destination or waypoint in the next town.

I don't take the map CD out anymore because I now connected
a Becker-Porsche 6-CD changer(which is based on a Sony CD
changer chassis).


bobcat