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

[bobcat]

Originally posted by faki00
Hey bobcat thanks.... I just installed mine. Now i gotta find a way to hide the wires. Once again uch appreciated.

WOW! Do you have a time machine or something? Has it been
a week already? Wasn't it only a few hours ago that you wrote
" went to the shop and the said it would take him a week to install it..."


That's the fastest week I've ever seen...


Glad I was able to help...


bobcat

[bobcat]

Originally posted by mbsickness
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.

Crutchfield keeps a pretty tight control on its inventory. If you
can order it, you will get it.(unless if falls off the UPS truck or
something... ) I toured their facilities a couple of years ago
and was throughly impressed. Even their warehouse floor was
spotless.

The "Mercedes-Benz" faceplate cost under $100 installed.
All they did was replace the plastic frame of the faceplate.
Highway robbery if you ask me... I only got it done because,
well... you know... Email me if you'd like to know where I
had it done.

Back to your first question... I have posted it in another section,
since it's not related to electonics. Click linky below:

http://www.club202.com/forums/showth...&threadid=5887


bobcat

[1998K]

Dear bobcat, your installaion is really very nice.

I'd like to install the same 6 CD holder below my JVC headunit. I see in your phot a small hole in the upper right corner, probably to pass a cable, as I can see.

Since I intend to make a similar hole (probably below) to pass a cable to install on the left side of the CD holder itself, a dedicated switch (it is the push botton for the Nokia Bluetooth kit that actually is mounted inside the factory coin holder in the same place), I'd like to know if you find it possible, and mainly acceptable as aesthetic point of view.

Hoping to be clear in my bad explanation.

thanks

Marco

[bobcat]

Originally posted by 1998K
I see in your phot a small hole in the upper right corner, probably to pass a cable, as I can see.
Marco

Thank you for your compliments!

You're absolutely correct. I did make that hole to pass two cables
from the mobile phone cradle.(mounted on the right side) I guess
nothing can escape your sharp eyes! I grinded out that half
circle hole using a Dremel tool. One is the main phone cable and
the other one is the mobile phone antennal cable. (6mm and 2mm
in diameter)


I know exactly the Nokia Bluetooth switch you're talking about.
(had one in this car until I switched to a non-Bluetooth mobile
phone) I think a better place for it would be right next to the
rearview mirror and trunk-open switch, just in front of the
cupholder, assuming your W202 has an armrest.

But this largely depends on how you drive. I usually drive with
my left hand on the steering wheel and my right arm resting on
the armrest. Having the switch in the position I described means
I didn't even have to move my right arm to press the Bluetooth
switch.(just use my fingers to reach down there) If you usually
drive with both hands on the wheel, then mounting it on the
CD holder makes sense. I think it looks fine over there.

A friend of mine mounts that switch right on the center wood
trim, on the left of the ASR switch. Looks odd that way, but he
like that position.

bobcat

[1998K]

Originally posted by bobcat
Thank you for your compliments!

You're absolutely correct. I did make that hole to pass two cables
from the mobile phone cradle.(mounted on the right side) I guess
nothing can escape your sharp eyes! I grinded out that half
circle hole using a Dremel tool. One is the main phone cable and
the other one is the mobile phone antennal cable. (6mm and 2mm
in diameter)


I know exactly the Nokia Bluetooth switch you're talking about.
(had one in this car until I switched to a non-Bluetooth mobile
phone) I think a better place for it would be right next to the
rearview mirror and trunk-open switch, just in front of the
cupholder, assuming your W202 has an armrest.

But this largely depends on how you drive. I usually drive with
my left hand on the steering wheel and my right arm resting on
the armrest. Having the switch in the position I described means
I didn't even have to move my right arm to press the Bluetooth
switch.(just use my fingers to reach down there) If you usually
drive with both hands on the wheel, then mounting it on the
CD holder makes sense. I think it looks fine over there.

A friend of mine mounts that switch right on the center wood
trim, on the left of the ASR switch. Looks odd that way, but he
like that position.

bobcat

Dear bobcat you are really so nice with your explanation.
As far as my sharp eyes, thanks but only with glasses I saw also that your dreamed hole is perfect as if done by factory.

Did you find a fixed phone kit better than the Nokia Bluetooth? I've chose that because of possible phone changing with full interface, plus I do not use very often the phone during drive.

I'll take in great attention your suggestion for the installation: near the trunk open switch or, I I'm actually wondering on the Cd holder itself. ...as your friend done I agree with you, it's not so nice as also my point of view.

NOTE: Usually I drive as you but considering mine is a manual and not auto, sport shifting is quite difficoult with hight centre consolle, but it's really nice and comforting.

I like very much your Beker, please I belive that the FM reception is good, how is the CD signal? Mine is a JVC (top line model of 4 years ago), and CD's are really very nice played.

Thanks a lot

Marco

[bobcat]

I really liked the Nokia 6310i phone and the Nokia Bluetooth car
kit that I had. However, the mobile phone carrier in my area do
not have good signal. Swtiching back to a hard-wired Nokia
car kit allowed me to hook up an external(on-glass) mobile phone
antenna. It gets much better reception. I doubt this will be
a problem for you if you live near a big city with strong signals.
Of course Bluetooth was easier to use... no need to put the
phone into the cradle everytime I get in the car.


I had a W202 a few years(from Europe) that did not come with
the high certer console(armrest). It had a flat center console.
No place to put my right arm and no cupholder, but it was easier
to shift the gears.(especially if you have a manual transmission
W202)

♫
The original MB radio(Alpine) and the Becker Traffic Pro both get
pretty good FM reception. However, both are limited by the
embedded radio antenna in the rear glass window. Again, my
old W202 with the power antenna on the rear fender had better
radio reception. I did notice that the Traffic Pro gets much better
AM reception in my area.(but I only use it to listen to one news
AM station)

As for the CD sound(in-dash player and the CD changer), the
Traffic Pro is pretty good. ♫I n fact, I'm going to say it is slightly
better than the MB CD changer. Seems to have better stereo
separation(better stereo image of the sound, not sure if that's
how to describe it. (could be just my personal preference)


Also, The Becker changer is based on a Sony 6 CD changer and it
has ESP electronic shock protection. (which also means I can buy
Sony 6-CD magazines at a cheaper price) It handles rough
roads better than the MB/Alpine changer, especially when I
switch back to the 18-inch wheels after the winter. The MB
changer will skip when I hit reall hard bumps or potholes. Yes,
my area has really bad roads.

What part of Italy are you in? I visited Venice and Rome, and
then Stockholm, last year. It was my first time in Italy. You may
find this hard to believe, but I like driving in Italy. It scared the
cr*p out of my friend, since I was driving his precious new
Alfa Romeo 166. It's not like in Germany where everyone is
so uptight.(follow the rules too much)


bobcat

[1998K]

Hey Bob,

I understand your problem, seems me that your area is not well covered both by phone signal and...also by good road.

And you are running during summer on 18" very impressive!

Did you received a W202 from Europe! Really strange, you had a lot of W202, seems you are quite satisfied.

Mine is the first MB, and I have to say that I'm also really happy (a part for the manual gearbox really slow if used sportly). I only would like to have a mechanical LSD. ASR do not help too much.

Previously I had mainly BMW (E36 318 serie not well assembled and a E34 that was really very good).

Here they suggested me, as top quality sound that the best are Nakamiki (as CD point of view) but due to their lack on the radio reception (that I always listen) I preferred the other two kindly suggested brand: Alpine and JVC. I have to say that I found, that time, JVC better than Alpine, so I decided that.

As far as Beker, I received good appreciation for the radio reception but as the CD quality they said that only Alpine and JVC are close to Nakamiki. I really loved Beker (look is the best) and I still wondering to it.

but...money is the first problem. Now I just spend for Koni and H&R so....


Venice and Rome are really nice place, but too much "caos" to live. I'm in north est (Trieste) close to Slovenia. Really nice place also here, close to sea and mountain.

Driving here now is really critical because new regulations permit you loose the driving license very fast rules due to an amount of "storage point" you will loose if you drive/park bad (hope you will understand my bad english).

That is the reason I sold my old M5 E34, I payed too much and loose (that time only for one mounth but now is worse) the driving license.

As far as Stockolm I were in Sweden some times, but too cold in winter

Marco

[mbsickness]

I just finished installing my Traffic Pro. I have never had an easier install. More time was spent putting the wiring harness back together as it was cut up during an aftermarket deck install. Bye bye Nakamichi deck. I didn't hook up the reverse light wire but it seems to work just fine. Hopefully by the end of next week I'll be able to figure out how to adjust all the settings. Anyone have the version 2.0 nav disks? Just wondering if it is worth the upgrade....at $185, that is half the cost of the deck! Thanks to the Club202 forum as if it weren't for this forum I would never have known about this unit and the great price at Crutchfield.

[knvs]

I just got one today too! No just wondering, does the GAL (speed sensitive volume adjust) work on our cars? I don't think my bose has that, n if it does i don't notice it. I'll be trying to intall it tomorrow! Also how do u hide the wire for the atenna? How do i get it behind the dash is my question. Do i have to u screw something? or just kinda pry it back a lil and stuff it under?

[kameraguy]

I've been debating a navi system for a while now, and this item has really got me curious. It looks really cool and the price is really hard to ignore.

It would be hard to give up mp3 playing ability from the alpine cd changer I currently have though.

Is there any option to hook up an mp3-compatible disc changer to this unit?

Or how about a line-input for an ipod?

Thx!

[faki00]

Originally posted by kameraguy
I've been debating a navi system for a while now, and this item has really got me curious. It looks really cool and the price is really hard to ignore.

It would be hard to give up mp3 playing ability from the alpine cd changer I currently have though.

Is there any option to hook up an mp3-compatible disc changer to this unit?

Or how about a line-input for an ipod?

Thx!

Theres an option for aux in, but if you use that u can't connect a cd changer. I have my archos pvp connected to it and it works ok.



someone sent me an email a while ago asking about splitting the costs of the nav disk, but lost the email. If u get thiis can u please email me again. I accidently deleted it. Also if there are ne others interested in splitting the costs of this disk email me @ faki00@hotmail.com. Safe.

[knvs]

Ok I know there are several traffic pro users on the board. I have the update discs and if u guys want copies of them email me at djkev28@sbcglobal.net . Just aking $20 a copy, which is better then paying $200 from Crutchfields or Harman Kardon.

*edit* If there are alot of people interested I'd drop the price to around $15~10. I'm just looking to get my money back from buying the discs

[unHookt]

If only we could get this over on our side of the pond:

http://www.becker.de/beckerCC21/www_...001&navSeq=705

Would the US CDs work in this unit..?

[bobcat]

Originally posted by knvs
Ok I know there are several traffic pro users on the board. I have the update discs and if u guys want copies of them email me at djkev28@sbcglobal.net . Just aking $20 a copy, which is better then paying $200 from Crutchfields or Harman Kardon.

*edit* If there are alot of people interested I'd drop the price to around $15~10. I'm just looking to get my money back from buying the discs

Hi!

I know it's been a long time... but I was wondering if you still
have the update CD for the Traffic Pro? (for Easter USA)

Thanks!