Harman/Kardon Drive + Play Install

[Uncle Jase]

I've finally finished my HK drive + play install...here are the pics...

[Uncle Jase]

[Proven Guilty]

excellent job man, i really appreciate the time you spent to make it a clean and oem-looking install, with the faux vinyl faceplate in the coin tray, and rubber grommet in the arm rest.

i've honestly never looked into this audio package, but it looks similar to an ipod with an IR remote as you've attached it to the center console next to the trunk release. i used to have a sony minidisc deck in my first car that had a permanent remote such as that, and man that was a great feature; comparable to the W208 steering wheel controls.

can you tell me a little about what you've got here?

[predrag1]

is that a radio? looks like the original mercedes radio, please give more info

[Uncle Jase]

Thanks for the compliments, i was not goint to install this unless all of the wires were invisible, nothing I hate more than a ton of wires everywhere.

the display is attached to a plastic cover to give it a custom look, I had to drill a small hole in the back of the cubby to pass the wire.

the control knob was placed in a spot that was easily reached while driving, I also had to drill a small hole directly underneath the knob to pass the wire. ( it clears the cupholder when open)

the brain of the unit is placed in the bottom portion of the armrest
screwed to the plastic door that covers what I think are the phone connections.

all wires are concealed underneath the console wraped with plastic wire wrapping to keep it all neat, the audio is connected to the AUX in the radio, and power is connected to the power of the radio.

btw this unit also charges the ipod and the interface looks just like the ipod does, add the ipod in the armrest and your all set

it was not an option for me to change the radio to an alpine or something similar because the Trafficpro GPS nav radio is the best
so this will give me the best of both worlds.

[Uncle Jase]

Originally posted by predrag1
is that a radio? looks like the original mercedes radio, please give more info

the Radio is a Harman/Kardon Trafficpro GPS navigation CD player

http://www.hktrafficpro.com/ - 4k - Cached

plug + play same as OEM radio, only have to add the GPS antenna

[anf6789]

besides the alpine hu. this is the best thing i could of bought audio-wise. it works seamlessly, looks great, and is easy to use. i also have pics of the way mine is installed in my members gallery. my screen is on the left part of the dash(i think it is easier to see there, but does not look as unique as this install. my hk brain is behind the hu, theres actually ample space back there.) great job!

[kameraguy]

That looks great! A very nice installation, that navigation controller looks cool.

Does the display for the ipod illuminate at night? What color?

I really wanted that HU, but they were discontinued a long time ago....or so I thought?

[Uncle Jase]

the only problem I had with this interface was that it glows light blue exactly how my iPod lights up and the control knob lights up bright blue, if only there was an option to have them light up in amber like the radio

guess we cant have it all.

[Uncle Jase]

Originally posted by anf6789
besides the alpine hu. this is the best thing i could of bought audio-wise. it works seamlessly, looks great, and is easy to use. i also have pics of the way mine is installed in my members gallery. my screen is on the left part of the dash(i think it is easier to see there, but does not look as unique as this install. my hk brain is behind the hu, theres actually ample space back there.) great job!

where did you place your control knob?

[predrag1]

where'd u get that chrome piece around your shifter?

[anf6789]

same place you did!!, perfect spot,

[Nelson Lago]

sweet but what behind the harman/kardon HU that plastic leather looking thing. and where did you get the traffic pro its says at a ford dealer but if thats the only way it must of been a bitch to install it on a mercedes

[Uncle Jase]

Originally posted by predrag1
where'd u get that chrome piece around your shifter?

I got the chrome shifter trim off ebay a while back.

[Uncle Jase]

Originally posted by Nelson Lago
sweet but what behind the harman/kardon HU that plastic leather looking thing. and where did you get the traffic pro its says at a ford dealer but if thats the only way it must of been a bitch to install it on a mercedes

behind the plastic cover is the OEM cubby tray. still intact but had to drill a small hole in the top right corner to pass a wire.

this model trafficpro is made specifically for mercedes so all you do is unplug the OEM Head unit and plug in the trafficpro, there have been a few on ebay and crutchfield but you can also get them from harman/Kardon in jersey.

[AirPost]

Nice clean install. I also had the display installed on the driver's side dash and the controller same as yours (to clear the cupholder). I was in the process of utilizing the cubby area for the display including buying a climate control bulb to match the light blue of the display but really didn't want to look down while driving so ended up relocating the display on the dash with wires still hidden.

[Nelson Lago]

i might sound retarded or maybe what you call cubby i call it somthing els but whats the hell is a cubby tray and where did you get the plastic

[Uncle Jase]

Originally posted by Nelson Lago
i might sound retarded or maybe what you call cubby i call it somthing els but whats the hell is a cubby tray and where did you get the plastic

Cubby Tray
Coin tray
Empty slot
1 DIN pocket
black square empty space

there all the same thing... some people have a tape holder or Cd holder in this place

the plastic was just something I found laying around, it was just a square peice of plastic with some texture on one side that I cut to fit the face of the "Cubby tray".

[Nelson Lago]

ahhhh now your speaking my language

[Logic]

did you add the harman piece because the deck wasn't ipod compatible? is that why the deck say aux...also why dont you get a deck that does direct ipod into it and control it threw the deck itself....it would have saved on holes in the dash plus you dont lose the pocket etc etc....

[Uncle Jase]

Originally posted by Logic
did you add the harman piece because the deck wasn't ipod compatible? is that why the deck say aux...also why dont you get a deck that does direct ipod into it and control it threw the deck itself....it would have saved on holes in the dash plus you dont lose the pocket etc etc....

I thought about getting a new Head Unit that can use an iPod directly but I will lose the use of my navigation in the current HU,
it works great and I use it all the time plus it looks very stock, plus I think the holes I've put in the car are very small and easily covered up if needed.

[Logic]

does that unit tell you via voice where to go since i dont see a screen or map?

[Uncle Jase]

it does tell you by voice which direction and it is extreamly accurate, it displays the direction, how many yards till the next turn, which direction to prepare to turn to, and name of street on the display and to be honest, and more. personally I think that it tells me exactly what I need to know without a distracting map. you should checkout their website.

portable GPS navigation systems are nice but I love the stock look
of the trafficPro

[chaddeus]

Love the clean install. Quick question: where did you run your power from? Did you tap into the cig lighter? Or is there a better place I should know about before doing this myself.

Thanks,
Chad

EDIT: I'm asking about the D+P control unit.

[chaddeus]

Re-read the thread, and found my answer!

Doh.