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

[Lse14j10]

Bobcat, thanks for all the info! You will make my installation job go much smoother I'm sure.

Where were you able to pick up your CD changer? Model number perhaps?

[bobcat]

Originally posted by Lse14j10
Bobcat, thanks for all the info! You will make my installation job go much smoother I'm sure.

Where were you able to pick up your CD changer? Model number perhaps?

This is where I bought the Becker 7860 CD changer for use with
my Traffic Pro:

Continental Imports
1219 S. Main St.
Gainesville, FL 32601 USA
(877) 407-2950 (ask for Scott at car audio)
http://www.continentalimports.com/be_sales.html

It comes with wiring harness that's about 18 feet long, enough
to go from the headunit to the trunk. One 6-CD magazine is
included. It uses the same CD magazine as some Sony 6-CD
changers.


Description by Harman/Kardon/Becker:

The Becker 7860 CD changer offers non-stop music for long distance driving. Enjoy your favorite tracks for hours. Putting together your own personal music program is easy with a Becker CD changer. Simply put your favorite CDs in the CD changer and compile your own personalized charts. The Becker 7860 can also act as a disc jockey, automaticaly playing a completely new music program every time you use the car. The CD changer is to be used with Harman Kardon Traffic ProII and is fully compatible with all Becker models manufactured after 1994. The ESP (Electronic Shock Protection) system guarantees uninterrupted listening. Pleasure – even on bumpy roads.

6-CD Changer for use with Traffic Pro and compatible with Becker head units

[Lse14j10]

Thanks for the info, I'm sure the changer will be my next purchase.

Back to wiring the reverse sensor for a second. Since the stock mercedes plugs jack directly into the back of the traffic pro without the use of a harness, is pin 2 on socket A empty? or is there a wire there that is tied off? I guess what I'm trying to ask is, did you have to plug a wire directly into the OEM socket at pin 2 which ran to the gearbox, or was there a wire already there that you just extended?

[BBad199]

I'm also curious about a glove box changer installation...the w202 box is rather tiny, but I'm sure that there is room behind it.

Is that where you installed yours bobcat?


Also, is the 7860 the only CD changer out there that will work with the traffic pro? Any adapters availible to hook something up that is a little less pricey ($500)?

[bobcat]

Originally posted by Lse14j10

is pin 2 on socket A empty?

Lse14j10,

Sorry, I forgot to address this issue earlier. That pin location
is indeed empty.

The connector that came with the TrafficPro is just like the MB's.
I pulled the wire and push pin out and inserted it into the MB
connector. Perfect fit. Next, I extended that wire by about 2 feet,
so it could reach the reverse light output next to the gear shift.

Hope this clears it up for you.


bobcat

[bobcat]

Originally posted by BBad199
I'm also curious about a glove box changer installation...the w202 box is rather tiny, but I'm sure that there is room behind it.

Is that where you installed yours bobcat?


Also, is the 7860 the only CD changer out there that will work with the traffic pro? Any adapters availible to hook something up that is a little less pricey ($500)?

BBad199,

Yes, the Becker 7860 fits in the W202's glove box. However,
you'll have to take out the leftmost plastic part of the door.
This is the only way to make the glove box door without cutting
the rear of the glove box.

However, I have decided to put the CD changer in the trunk,
in the stock MB location. I'm going to rework the MB bracket and
install the Becker changer there. This involves a little more time,
as I'll have to lay down the included CD changer wiring harness
from the headunit to the trunk. I"m only doing it because I rather
have more storage space up front.

[detroit202]

sweet review man,

thanks for pointing out the reverse light wire. i might have to do that when it gets warmer out.. i was too lazy in the first place to do it.. the unit still works fine without the reverse plugged in it just re calcs the route after you pull out of the driveway.

i have my antenna mounted just below where yours is right in front of the wood bow trim piece and i removed the piece and ran the wire behind the bow through the big clip hole.

also when it gets warmer the antenna will actually fit above the vents underneath the dash so you cant see it at all. but i dont know if this will affect performance.

and keep it comming anybody if they find a cheaper changer !

Thanks !

[Lse14j10]

Detroit,
I was also thinking of mounting the antenna there, but I wasn't sure if there was enough room in the indent directly in front of the wood bow. How did you remove the wood bow and, does it stick out after you run a wire beneath it?

[detroit202]

The wood bow has screws attached to it and is secured with like sideways keyhole shaped holes in the dash 0=== kinda like that .. so you lift up one end of the trim and push it to the side to unlock it and lift it out. I forgot which side though. Even with the wire it is a flush fit again. Do a search on the website I think its been posted how to remove it.

[Lse14j10]

Thanks, you were right, there was already a topic on how to remove it.

[faki00]

Just ordered mine crutchfield. I'm really looking forward to getting it...i'll post pics.

[bobcat]

Originally posted by detroit202
sweet review man,

thanks for pointing out the reverse light wire. i might have to do that when it gets warmer out.. i was too lazy in the first place to do it.. the unit still works fine without the reverse plugged in it just re calcs the route after you pull out of the driveway.


Thanks !

detroit202,

I agree. The first few days I had the Traffic Pro, the reverse wire
was NOT hooked up. I did not notice any real difference. The
only reason I decided to hook it up was because I was already
hooking up the connection to my cell phone's mute wire... so I
thought I might as well hook up the reverse wire.

This cold weather really sucks. It went down to 8 degrees last
night... but I guess it must be even colder up in Detroit...



bobcat

[knvs]

Originally posted by faki00
Just ordered mine crutchfield. I'm really looking forward to getting it...i'll post pics.

how were u able to do that?!?! It says they're out of stock. I really want one now.

[faki00]

They had 1 left this morning.. They were all out on friday but I checked this morning and got lucky. If you keep checking you'll get lucky.

[bobcat]

Originally posted by faki00
They had 1 left this morning.. They were all out on friday but I checked this morning and got lucky. If you keep checking you'll get lucky.

I am intrigued... Crutchfield showed the Traffic Pro as "in stock"
at 1:10pm this afternoon. less than one hour later, it went back
to "low stock" another half hour later, finally back to "not in stock,
no longer available again"...... Obviously someone snatched it
up ASAP. Apparently they get a few of Traffic Pros in stock
every few days/weeks. (don't forget the Traffic Pro is completely
discontinued by harmon/kardon for the US market)

[Lse14j10]

Here's a question, I know that with proof-of-purchase HK will provide us (trafficpro buyers) with a discounted rate for the V 2.0 map disks ($185.50 or something). Do you think they will make any more after version 2.0? What year is the V 1.0 data anyways?

[detroit202]

Originally posted by Lse14j10
Here's a question, I know that with proof-of-purchase HK will provide us (trafficpro buyers) with a discounted rate for the V 2.0 map disks ($185.50 or something). Do you think they will make any more after version 2.0? What year is the V 1.0 data anyways?

where did you find the info for the v2.0 map discs? the 1.0 data is from 2001. and the 2.0 is from may-june 2004 should have some canada in there as well

[Lse14j10]

go to crutchfield, in the search box, enter in "108TPRO" and then click on the "detailed info" tab. It's in there.

[bobcat]

click this and it's in the 2nd paragraph

Link to Crutchfield's Traffic Pro page


http://www.crutchfield.com/S-RxvsTv2...info&i=108TPRO

[faki00]

is just me or does that price seem very expensive for the nav disk?:angry:

[detroit202]

hmmmm well the version 1.0 CDs can be copied

wonder if the version 2.0 can...

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[faki00]

Just got my Traffic pro... Went to the shop and the said it would take him a week to install it:angry: . I figured he didn't know shite since bobcat did it in 30 mins. So i've decided to do it myself..hey bobcat how about that write up?

[bobcat]

Originally posted by faki00
Just got my Traffic pro... Went to the shop and the said it would take him a week to install it:angry: . I figured he didn't know shite since bobcat did it in 30 mins. So i've decided to do it myself..hey bobcat how about that write up?

I assume you have the MB radio removal keys? If not, get a set
from the MB dealer. Wait... if you ordered from Crutchfield, the
keys are included, if you told them you have a Mercedes. Call
Crutchfield again if they didn't include the removal keys.

After you take the MB radio out, unplug all connectors, including
the FM/AM radio antenna connector. Plug the Traffic Pro in.
After that, plug the Traffic Pro's GPS antenna in. Route the wires
under or behind the dash. (either the way I did it or like what
detroit202 did) You're done. Turn the radio on and enter the
radio code to unlock the unit. Enjoy the music. Read the manual
to learn how to start using the navigation part.

Don't bother with the reverse light wire if you're uncomfortable
doing it. It won't make that much of a difference.


As for a full review, sorry... it will take me a while to write it up.
I cut my thumb badly today while putting in the Becker CD
changer. The original MB CD changer bracket cut me as I was
drilling it to fit the Becker changer. But I'd be glad to answer
any question as best as I can. I think I've covered almost every-
thing in the last several pages of this post.

Last but not least, here are the details on the CD changer install,
which I have just completed this afternoon.

I took out the original MB CD changer located in the trunk.
(unscrew two screws on top and one nut on the bottom
of the bracket) I tucked the MB CD changer wiring harness
back behind the carpet.

Using a Dremel tool, I drilled 4 holes on the MB bracket. The
Becker CD changer mount were screwed in using 4 10-32, 3/4"
machine screws from Home Depot (85 cents) I made sure all
the changers is mounted tightly on the bracket.

The changer and bracket were placed back in the original position
and secured.

I ran the Becker CD changer wiring harness from the back of the
Traffic Pro, down under the passenger side carpet, running along
the door sills. The rear seat(upper and lower cushions) were
removed to allow cable access into the trunk. There's plenty of
space there for the original MB wires/vacuum tubes/etc....

By the time I brought the wiring next to the CD changer, there
was still at least 3 feet left, so I tucked most of it under the trunk
side carpet and left about 1 foot out. It was then plugged into
the CD changer.

In the photo below, you'll see that I've used the CD changer
cover from MB. It fits okay, but makes the changer look small.
The Becker changer is a lot smaller than the original MB changer.
The MB changer took up all the space inside the changer cover.

The photo showing the headunit will also show the 6 CD holder
that I put in to replace the MB coin tray(or 6 cassette holder).
Perfect for storing the map CDs and a few other music CDs.
The bottom slot on the 6 CD holder has a red tab indicating
the presence of a CD. The other ones are white, indicating empty.

However, I don't think I'll ever have a need to take the map CD
out, since I put in a changer. (unless I need the West map CD)

That's all for now... will write more when my thumb gets better.


bobcat

[mbsickness]

Originally posted by bobcat

Hey Bobcat, where di you get the safety triangle on your trunk? Any chance of a part number? Also does Mercedes sell just the faceplate for teh Traffic Pro? And I am almost afraid to ask but....how much was it? I was able to pick up a Traffic Pro from Crutchfield yesterday and even received the confirmation email. Of course I am still keeping my figers crossed until it arrives.

[faki00]

Hey bobcat thanks.... I just installed mine. Now i gotta find a way to hide the wires. Once again much appreciated.
anyone feel like splitting the cost for the nav disks?