Activate Phone and Navigation Service? - Benzworld.org

airpan · 07-24-2007, 05:30 PM

I recently bought a 2000 ML430, which came with a Bose stereo system, Navigation, and phone capability. I RTFM and no where does it indicate how to actually have the service hooked up to the phone in the car. I understand that there are CD's for the navigation system and yet again, no where does it say where to get them, can you subscribe to any service? If anyone needs more specific information regarding the stereo model etc etc, I would be happy to provide it. I was just curious if anyone has run into this and if so, how do I accomplish the above? Thanks in advance for your help.

Bogie · 07-24-2007, 05:48 PM

Where to begin... You've got a lot of reading to do. Just use the search feature.

Here are the short answers, assuming that you do have the NAV CD drive...
All you need for NAV is the right CD (or set of 10 CDs if you want the whole country and Canada).. no service required.

For the phone, if you have the phone cradle, then you need to buy the one phone that is compatible. MB used to sell it at an outrageous price, given that it is 1999 technology. (anyone now carrying an 8 year old phone is NOT up on technology). If you do not have the cradle it will cost you more than $2000 to update to the 8 year old technology, and then add $375 for bluetooth.

Most here have opted to buy a Pioneer or Kenwood system that has Navigation, CD, DVD, IPOD integration (get rid of your CD changer), and bluetooth for ~$1000. They both offer much better graphics than the MB and the NAV data is up to date. Your MB CD will probably be 2001 and look like it's built on Windows '95.

Here's the bottom line.
If you have navigation capability, it's sufficient. If you don't, your money is better spent on an up-to-date aftermarket. Too bad none of the built-in systems use Tom Tom software.

As for the phone, if you don't have it, forget it, unless you upgrade your whole system.

An afterthought... since there are others looking to keep OEM, after paying your $1000 for your aftermarket, you can make all of it (and maybe more) back by selling your MCS, CD Nav drive and CD changer. -- go figure!

airpan · 07-25-2007, 09:38 AM

Bogie,
I have a Bose system, and I do have the CD drive for the nav. As for the phone, forget it. I can use my cell with a hands free set, but wanted to see what my options were none the less. I like the stereo and as long as I can get the nav cd's which I found out I can, I think I will purchase those and just forget the phone option. Thanks for the help and I will be frequently visiting this forum as there are other things I am sure I will find and need help with.

asianml · 07-25-2007, 11:00 AM

Watch out for the versions of the nav CDs. They may be out of date! It may cost less to just get a portable navigation system with the whole U.S. in it. The MB nav isn't the best in the world either.

Bogie · 07-25-2007, 08:40 PM

I agree with both of AMLs points. I pm'ed you, in case you are still interested.

tomcat7 · 08-24-2007, 12:00 PM

I was interested in the Pioneer Aftermarker for my ML430 and was looking at the AVIC-D3 however Crutchfield says it does not fit, do you know if this the case?

Thanks

Bogie · 08-27-2007, 05:33 AM

Crutchfield is wrong. It's a standard double din unit. There are many ML's here with D1's, D3's, Z1's (including myself) and Z2's. They fit fine.

Here is my Z1, just installed last friday. All of its features, including ipod and BT phone integration, work great.

broker · 08-27-2007, 09:23 AM

Hi Bogie, Can you tell us how much did you pay for hardware and installation? I'm interested to get Z1 or D3.
Thanks....

Bogie · 08-27-2007, 01:35 PM

I got a really good deal on my Z1, but I paid more for installation. It was the last floor model in the store ($998). With bluetooth, ipod integration, installation and 3-year warranty, it was ~$2000.

tomcat7 · 08-27-2007, 06:44 PM

Thanks for the info about the Double DIN unit. I'd really like to do this and I suddenly thought about bringing the car in for repairs. Do they get to any of the switches, AC or the fog light ones on the side by going in thru the stereo hole? I understand the MCS is easy to remove, but is the Pioneer easy to remove?

Other question, the Z1/2 vs the D3. I have read a lot that says the Z1/2 dropped nice features like IPOD video and the IPOD interface is really slow for music. What is your cut? I like the D3's IPOD Video, but prefer the Z1/2 screen and Hardrive Nav. What about the Z1/2's Hard Drive for Music? Is that easy to use or more of a pain because you can only rip songs to it from a CD, guess go burn a bunch of CD's from my MP3's then rip them? or can it upload from an MP3 cd?

Sorry for the million questions but I figure this upgrade is going to have to last me a while and want to do it right.