upgrade to fibre optics stereo

[Abuimad]

i have a 98 c230 i was wondering if i can change my stereo to a 99+(however those come with fiber optics) so is this possible or no ?

[davis449]

Yes you can replace the Head Unit, No it will not conrtol the changer if you don't have fiber optics.

[Abuimad]

what if i replace the head unit, and get a knew changer ???? and about how much would it set me back ?

[JDoggery]

It would be better to purchase the changer and or fiber optic cable from a member that is not using it. The dealer would prob charge 1000+ just for the changer and who know's how much for the fiber cable.

[Abuimad]

well i know this guy here (i live in lebanon thats pretty far away from the states) who sells all used benz stereo's for extremly cheap prices, propably a mobster with a chop shop sends him his stereo's but by god this guy has it all and at insanly cheap prices

[c55m8o]

Steve MBenzNL upgraded mine when he installed COMAND in my car. He ran a new fibre wire and control wire. It wasn't that big a deal at all.

...however, the upgrade from the analog phone kit to the to the digital phone kit @ the same time ... woa, what a job! (incase you think of doing that) :eek:

[Abuimad]

well i dont even have a phone kit, however i was thinking of buying one...what comes with the 98 stock, and is it good ???

[c55m8o]

Originally posted by Abuimad
well i dont even have a phone kit, however i was thinking of buying one...what comes with the 98 stock, and is it good ??? that phone & kit that came with the '98 should have come the color of poop-brown instead of black, so it could look like what it is... :D ...it's analog and hardly ever worked when phone companies still had analog service; i.e. why I had MBenzNL retrofit the digital phone kit, so I could use the Nokia 6310i phone handsfree & fully integrated; can even do text messaging thru the COMAND.

[Abuimad]

i was thinking long and hard on getting a nokia 610 it looked as something very nice, however i want STOCK phones, those black phones that u stash away in the center consol god i love those...ne idea if they would work...and whats the damage ??

[c55m8o]

...but why do you think my 6310i isn't stashed away in the center console/armrest?

I have this from this from Steve (MBenzNL):

http://www.mbenznl.com/products/phones/nokiakit.shtml

You'll notice however he doesn't include 1998 W202 in the compatability list. It is infact possible, but it's a beeatch!

The wiring of the '98 W202 was different the Steve thought. He had to cut my harnass in the back while he was here doing the install and re-wire it (lucky he has all the MB software and wiring diagrams); and he also had to go through several specially customized PSE or Compensator black boxes (I forget which one) until he found one that would work right with the setup. I remember him bitch'n about never doing this again to a '98... :p ...but I bet you he has.

...I'm sorry to say, but I don't know if anyone who doesn't have years of experience installing things in MBs that they weren't made to come with in the 1st place, can do it. ... might be better off with a modern Alpine or something with bluetooth, and use a bluetooth phone.


EDIT: I just realized this on Steve's site:

"(If you have an older car with an updated stereo or COMAND, we will soon have a kit for you too, including a phone wire harness.) " ...well there ya go...

[c55m8o]

Originally posted by Abuimad
i was thinking long and hard on getting a nokia 610 it looked as something very nice, however i want STOCK phones, those black phones that u stash away in the center consol god i love those...ne idea if they would work...and whats the damage ?? Are you talking about the phone all the way on the left or 2nd from the left?
http://www.mikbox.com/images/mbphones.gif
because the one on the left came with my car, and that's the one I said should have come poop-brown so it could look like it worked. ;) However, the Timeport is the phone that came with our (wife's) SLK320, and was the best phone she ever had, reception-wise.

[Abuimad]

do u know the beamer phones...like on the 98 5 series...well i want one of those :) they are llike black, one piece on the top u have the screen and keypad, and on the bottom (the part were u have ur ears and mouth) its black...do u know them...they look soo classy

[Abuimad]

post a pic on ur cars interior plz im interested in seeing the setup :)

[c55m8o]

I could probably find the link to the library of pictures from mbenznl and/or scorchie (buddy of his in california that does the same thing in partnership with him) before I get around to taking a pic of mine and posting it... ;)

Anyone who kows the URL I'm talking about, please post...

[Abuimad]

do u have ne pics posted on this site or no, pics like the interior or better yet ur BEAST of an engine ??

[c55m8o]

no interior, but regarding the swap:
http://public.fotki.com/m8o/kar_krazy/birth_of_my_c55_amg/

[Abuimad]

finaly saw that engine, just knowing my car can be upgraded to have a 55 engine is a pleasure for me, as for my car kit i decided getting a nokiea 610 easy to set up, and very high tech

[c55m8o]

Originally posted by Abuimad
post a pic on ur cars interior plz im interested in seeing the setup :) I finally took pix.
http://images15.fotki.com/v229/photos/2/296054/2756861/CIMG1016-vi.jpg

More pix HERE (http://public.fotki.com/m8o/kar_krazy/mbenznl_on_board/).

[Abuimad]

loove it looks so sweet, i asked about the screen here in lebanon and it would cost me about 800 bucks for it, so im thinking about doing that, cause im seriously liking it

[Surf Blau]

You don't have that already?? I hear old 84 diesels even have fibreoptic CD-changers... :p