Dan - is there a cable with a plain USB connector for the face-lift models? My car with Audio 20 in it came with an Ipod/Analog cable that plugs into the interface jack in the glovebox. However, I have a Zune player that uses a standard USB connector and would like to use it in the car.
OK guy's i think there's some confusion here, this is for a device that allows different audio feeds to be connected to the car's ICE network, don't expect it to give the whole nine yard's that MB are going on about.
If you have a post facelift car then you can get the factory option retrofitted for better functionality, IF this unit is compatible with pre-facelift car's then it will probably emulate the CDC and you will not have the option to do anything other than feed music from it.....
Dan, I'm picking up my '09 tomorrow and I have all of the available options except the HID lamps and sport package. Is this "another" package available or did I miss something.
P1: Premium I details
· Power seats and steering column with memory
· 4-way lumbar support
· SIRIUS Satellite Radio
· Rain sensor
· SmartKey
· Garage door opener
· Interior Ambient Lighting Package
· Auto-dimming mirrors
· iPod/MP3 Media interface
Multimedia Package details
· COMAND navigation with 6-disc in-dash CD/DVD changer
· 6.5-inch color display
· harman/kardon® LOGIC7® digtial surround-sound system
· SD-Memory Card slot
· Voice Control
Heating Package details
· AIRSCARF with neck level heating system
· Cloth Windscreen
· Heated front seats
Guys from the people I've spoken to today this kit will be the business for the facelift but if it does work pre-facelift will be kinda pants because the headunit can't understand it's functions properly.
You might be better off just sticking with the MB iPod kit, that raises a few q's from me if you don't mind -
Does this thing work with the mini? i've never tried
Does it lock out the ipod control's? I'm 99% sure it does but if you guys know otherwise let me know.
Guys from the people I've spoken to today this kit will be the business for the facelift but if it does work pre-facelift will be kinda pants because the headunit can't understand it's functions properly.
You might be better off just sticking with the MB iPod kit, that raises a few q's from me if you don't mind -
Does this thing work with the mini? i've never tried
Does it lock out the ipod control's? I'm 99% sure it does but if you guys know otherwise let me know.
Dan, I have regular (and old) iPod so can't help you with the mini.
I know that it wakes the iPod. When I plugged mine, the iPod was off and locked and immediately came to life displaying a MB logo. I will do more checks today and will let you know.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by richard_leeds
... and that doesn't work with the Audio 20??
See my post here http://www.slkworld.com/slk-r171-gen...ions-help.html - these are pretty much the "non-comand" options as far as I'm aware. If ANYONE is aware of other aftermarket MOST interfaces, let me know, I'd like to keep the list up to date.
Dan, to answer your question, the MB iPob interface does not have a "dumb" mode - it assumes control of the iPod rendering it into a lump of metal. As has been noted elsewhere, it also only uses CANBUS to the MFD, and does not scroll (or at least last years version...) long names, so the artist / title info is a bit difficult to navigate.
On the post mentioned above, I did not explicitly state which solutions support "dumb" mode (allowing control from the iPod itself.) The Denison and DICE solutions both support dumb mode, allowing you to control the iPod either from the iPod interface or through the steering/HU controls.
At the moment, both support text data to the HU if the HU is a COMAND OR if the HU supports "CDTEXT" mode. It's easy to test your HU - if you put a new (ie less than 2 years old) CD in, and get track information, your HU supports CD text. None of the solutions display anything other than "CDxx TRACKxx" in the MFD. Denison has the electronics and software to write to the CANBUS on the v3 GW500 (current shipping version), but have yet to bring the necessary cable loom to market - their demo showed full integration into the MFD.
I'm going to try a different solution when I pick my SLK up next week - I don't have time to install a GW500, so I'm going to use a modified iPod dock interface with a controllable built in line level amp. This *should* allow me to 1] have one cable going to the iPod 2] Charge the iPod while it's in use, and 3] equalize the COMAND AUX input with the other sources so that I get a consistent volume across all inputs. Wish me luck - I'll post pictures; in reality the biggest problem is going to be getting power in the glovebox..
On that last note - Oh Mighty Dan of the part numbers... Would you by any chance have the part numbers for the 1] power plug for the CD changer, 2] Pins for #1, 3] power socket that will fit #1, and 4] pins for #3? I'm thinking of making a "Y" adapter so that I can split the power from the CD changer and share it with the iPod, since I only need 150ma.
Just as an aside - I have a DICE interface in my C200 with an A10 headunit (D2B). The sound quality is excellent, the steering controls are useless except for volume and "up/down" to navigate in an album. Having the ability to still "drive" the iPod itself is critical - while you don't "need" to do it all the time, when you have a navigator, it cuts down on all sorts of frustrations.. ;P
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Guys from the people I've spoken to today this kit will be the business for the facelift but if it does work pre-facelift will be kinda pants because the headunit can't understand it's functions properly.
You might be better off just sticking with the MB iPod kit, that raises a few q's from me if you don't mind -
Does this thing work with the mini? i've never tried
Does it lock out the ipod control's? I'm 99% sure it does but if you guys know otherwise let me know.
Dan, I have checked that it completely locks out the iPod controls. Only the MB logo is displayed and the iPod does not react to any physical action. A few seconds after the Audio 20 is switched off, the control is back on the iPod; the MB logo disappears and back to the usual menu.
Hope this helped.
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Thanks guys, The reason i ask about the mini is at the moment i use the one ipod for the car and for everyother use i can think of for it but I'm thinking about picking up a mini cheap then getting a huge CF card and stuffing it in then i can put my whole music library in it and leave it with the car.
The way MB have set up the kit is not really a problem for me as it stands but i would like to get some control from the headunit itself for when others are in the car so I'm thinking about a swap, the Dension looks good because of the variety of interfaces and because i know they are a well established company but I'm none too keen on the UI with the disks for menu's setup and the fact that switching between it and the CDC involves a MOST reset that means totally shutting down the car (3 minutes after engine off) in the Merc and thats a PITA.
It's kinda odd the way the Dension works with the CANBUS, by design the headunit sends what it sees to the cluster so i would have thought track names would go automatically.
Anyways about the part number's our EPC is all messed up still but they should be stamped on the connector's so if you give the dealer those numbers and then ask for the associated pin's and contact springs you should be dandy, sounds like an interesting project so keep us posted just remember thats not a switched line.
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FYI - the benzworld guys have put a "group buy" of sorts together for the Denison GW500 with Enfig http://www.enfigcarstereo.com/
Deal is that if they get 10 pre-orders, they will sell the units at $400 plus shipping. They don't have any in stock at the moment, and evidently have some to "fill" at this price middle of next week.
Normal price with Enfig is $449. They had 4 confirmed earlier today when I spoke to them.
UK buyers - I'm headed stateside for June, back in London July 1st. I'd be happy to carry one back if you like, quote shipped to my US address was $408 and change. I think the best price I've found in the UK was 269GPB + shipping.
Again, this is assuming they get the 10 buyer commitment they are asking for, pm if you'd like to discuss logistics.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DansSlk
It's kinda odd the way the Dension works with the CANBUS, by design the headunit sends what it sees to the cluster so i would have thought track names would go automatically.
Hey Dan - so today they are NOT talking to the CANBUS; the v3 hardware has CANBUS "support" built in. Thinking about what you said, it sorta makes sense (and you should know!) - so I'm not sure how they are sending data to the COMAND via fiber for the playlists, etc, but then the COMAND won't "echo" that back to the MFD....
CANBUS Problem today (from talking to one of the Denison developers) is actually two-fold. First is that they spec'd a more common CANBUS chip for their unit, which naturally is not compatible with MB (different speed?), so they need more than just cables to plug into the bus for us. Second, reading from the CANBUS is evidently "easy", writing to the data stream is more complicated, and potentially risky - so reading between the lines I think they want to make sure what they are doing both works, and does not interfere with other devices.
I've used it with a COMAND based systems, and the menus are not that bad. With text only, forget the menus completely, put the thing in "dumb" mode, and drive via the iPod itself, just moving up and down in the playlist with the steering controls.
Also, based on 2 years with the DICE unit replacing my changer in the C - I've not once wished or missed the changer. The *few* times we actually wanted to listen to a CD, I just throw it in the HU - and honestly I only think I've done that when the mom-in-law wanted to listen to something I'd be ashamed to have on my iPod :P
One question though about the Media Interface, I used the connection in the glovebox for my iPod Touch which works great, however I do not see an USB connector, just an AUX audio in plug. Is there another connection cable I need to to get the USB connection?
SLK 350
