Mercedes SLK World Forum - View Single Post - Install of aftermarket radio and BT kit to replace Audio20 in the R171 SLK

**ghostdunks** · 05-07-2007

Ok, finally got around on the weekend to installing an aftermarket radio and bluetooth kit in my SLK. One of the main reasons why I opted for a 280 rather than a 350 here in Australia was because the 350 comes standard with COMAND and SATNav(which is pretty bad in Melbourne, Australia, with lots of missing maps, streets, etc..), and I didn't relish paying for something which I knew I was going to replace with anyway. I also wasn't impressed with the MB pre-wired phone offering(UHI) which limited me to only a few phones and to top it off, will cost me extra for a cradle. Didn't want to change my phone just so I would have the privilege of paying another 400 bucks for a cradle and when I switch phones again, get another cradle, etc.. Also wasn't very impressed with the IPod integration kit and its interface, etc..

Anyway, it was always in my plans when I bought the car that I would rip out the Audio20, and install a new headunit and Bluetooth functionality. Shopped around and found a nice headunit with the features I wanted(mainly, good ipod integration option), a Clarion MAX667(think the USA has an equivalent version called the MAX675), which is a 2-DIN touchscreen unit which also allows videos to be played from a video Ipod. Also bought a Parrot CK3100 Bluetooth kit after looking on the forums and people were saying good things about it. Unfortunately, couldn't get a steering wheel control adapter which would allow me to control the headunit from the steering wheel, mainly because the Clarion didn't have an input for it. There are some aftermarket CANBUS boxes out there(see http://www.dietz.biz/) which can interpret the signals from the MB CANBUS and provide the possibility of steering wheel control, but they didn't have an adapter for my particular headunit, and also, the CANBUS box was pretty expensive as well, so I gave the idea the flick. If I really wanted to, I guess I could have got the CANBUS box from Dietz, and retrofitted some sort of IR remote learning device to learn the Clarion codes and transmit to it, but I couldn't be bothered.

Here's a picture of it fully installed.

Picture of the Ipod interface, quite similar to a normal Ipod, and with ability to choose genres(something that Alpine headunits have never heard about). Can also play audiobooks, videos, slideshows of photos, composers(not shown in picture)

Picture of the unit playing the DVD "Transformers The Movie"(one of my all-time favourites, with such luminaries as Orson Welles and Leonard Nimoy voicing some characters)

Picture of my Ipod in my glovebox connected to the Ipod connector cable(had to enlarge the hole in the glovebox a bit with a dremel to accomodate the cable). I like having the ipod there because the glovebox locks automatically when you lock the car..another option was to have it in the center console but seeing as mine gets stuck half the time, I opted for the glovebox. Intending to just leave it there all the time.

Picture of the microphone which is connected to the Bluetooth unit, mounted discreetly on the overhead control panel(or OCP as Dan likes to call it

That 1 cm of cable is the only visible wire from this install, which I'm quite happy about

05-07-2007	#1 (permalink)
ghostdunks Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Vehicle: SLK280 Posts: 213 Country: Thanks: 7 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Install of aftermarket radio and BT kit to replace Audio20 in the R171 SLK Ok, finally got around on the weekend to installing an aftermarket radio and bluetooth kit in my SLK. One of the main reasons why I opted for a 280 rather than a 350 here in Australia was because the 350 comes standard with COMAND and SATNav(which is pretty bad in Melbourne, Australia, with lots of missing maps, streets, etc..), and I didn't relish paying for something which I knew I was going to replace with anyway. I also wasn't impressed with the MB pre-wired phone offering(UHI) which limited me to only a few phones and to top it off, will cost me extra for a cradle. Didn't want to change my phone just so I would have the privilege of paying another 400 bucks for a cradle and when I switch phones again, get another cradle, etc.. Also wasn't very impressed with the IPod integration kit and its interface, etc.. Anyway, it was always in my plans when I bought the car that I would rip out the Audio20, and install a new headunit and Bluetooth functionality. Shopped around and found a nice headunit with the features I wanted(mainly, good ipod integration option), a Clarion MAX667(think the USA has an equivalent version called the MAX675), which is a 2-DIN touchscreen unit which also allows videos to be played from a video Ipod. Also bought a Parrot CK3100 Bluetooth kit after looking on the forums and people were saying good things about it. Unfortunately, couldn't get a steering wheel control adapter which would allow me to control the headunit from the steering wheel, mainly because the Clarion didn't have an input for it. There are some aftermarket CANBUS boxes out there(see http://www.dietz.biz/) which can interpret the signals from the MB CANBUS and provide the possibility of steering wheel control, but they didn't have an adapter for my particular headunit, and also, the CANBUS box was pretty expensive as well, so I gave the idea the flick. If I really wanted to, I guess I could have got the CANBUS box from Dietz, and retrofitted some sort of IR remote learning device to learn the Clarion codes and transmit to it, but I couldn't be bothered. Here's a picture of it fully installed. Picture of the Ipod interface, quite similar to a normal Ipod, and with ability to choose genres(something that Alpine headunits have never heard about). Can also play audiobooks, videos, slideshows of photos, composers(not shown in picture) Picture of the unit playing the DVD "Transformers The Movie"(one of my all-time favourites, with such luminaries as Orson Welles and Leonard Nimoy voicing some characters) Picture of my Ipod in my glovebox connected to the Ipod connector cable(had to enlarge the hole in the glovebox a bit with a dremel to accomodate the cable). I like having the ipod there because the glovebox locks automatically when you lock the car..another option was to have it in the center console but seeing as mine gets stuck half the time, I opted for the glovebox. Intending to just leave it there all the time. Picture of the microphone which is connected to the Bluetooth unit, mounted discreetly on the overhead control panel(or OCP as Dan likes to call it That 1 cm of cable is the only visible wire from this install, which I'm quite happy about Last edited by ghostdunks; 05-07-2007 at 02:47 AM.

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