Vehicle: 2008 Mercedes Benz C300 Sport AMG 18" Type V Wheels and Bodykit Package - Video In Motion Mod!!
Location: Georgia
Posts: 124
I just installed the VIM kit from MidCity Engineering!!
AND IT WORKS BEAUTIFULLY.
I now have video in motion and auxilary video in!!
I highly suggest you call Mid City Engineering at tel: 312.421.1114 and order from TJ or Dan or Rob!!
The VIM unit was $400 and the Aux in was $70.
Those guys have clear concise instructions, and while it was not EASY to do...I managed to get it installed and working fine. I had the factory Ipod, which made it VERY tight to get the radio back in...but with patience, I was able to get everything back the way it was and now I have VIDEO IN MOTION!
When you put a DVD in and start playing and put the car into drive, you get the "DO NOT WATCH VIDEO" message. All you have to do is just push the VOLUME + and VOLUME - for less than a second and you have video in motion. To disable VIM, just do the same button keypress again and the warning message reappears.
When you have VIDEO IN MOTION activated, the NAVIGATION does not display properly, because VIM overrides the signal. You can't have both at the same time, but when you re-enable the NAV, it finds your position again in less than 15 seconds and you have fully working NAV again. So if you go on a long trip and are using GUIDANCE, when you enable video in motion, it interrupts the NAV, BUT...when you disable video in motion..the NAV finds where you are within 15 seconds and the guidance picks up from exactly where you are.
To enable the AUX in...I had to push HANG UP, CONNECT, and MUTE buttons. Now AUX in is enabled, and I don't have to do another thing ever. When I use the COMAND knob to go to VIDEO, I now have a new choice, which is AUX video. I ran the wires to the glovebox, drilling a hole above where the factory AUX audio plug is. I can plug in my ipod video or my Archos 605 and the video and sound play through the factory system and displays on my COMAND screen. To watch Aux Video in motion, I just do the volume buttons trick and VIM is enabled!
Again, give TJ or Dan or Rob a call at MidCity Engineering a call. These guys are really professional and the quality of their product is TOP NOTCH. If you ordered the same thing from NavTV, it would be two separate pieces totalling $750!!!
The connections were all very easy to make, just like that video on YouTube that I posted earlier. Getting the radio back into the slot was the biggest pain, so if you don't want to install it, there may be people in your area that will do it for you.
VIDEO IN MOTION!!! Works like a charm.
* To all the haters...I DO NOT PLAN TO WATCH THIS WHILE I AM DRIVING. It is strictly for my kids to watch on trips. (My wife can watch it too.) I will not crash my car while watching movies.....TRUST!
Have fun.
Feel free to PM me with any questions you might have. I highly suggest you call those guys today. I am not a spammer....I ordered it...I put it in my own vehicle...and I am DAMN glad that everything went great!
Last edited by Hazemonster : 04-24-2008 at 07:52 AM.
Well more power to you. If my Daughter (or my wife) wants to watch a DVD while on a trip we have a portable DVD(lcd) that they can watch without the possability that I will be distracted.
I now have video in motion and auxilary video in!!
I highly suggest you call Mid City Engineering at tel: 312.421.1114 and order from TJ or Dan or Rob!!
Tell them that Dan Hazelwood sent you...and they will take care of you. The VIM unit was $400 and the Aux in was $70.
Those guys have clear concise instructions, and while it was not EASY to do...I managed to get it installed and working fine. I had the factory Ipod, which made it VERY tight to get the radio back in...but with patience, I was able to get everything back the way it was and now I have VIDEO IN MOTION!
When you put a DVD in and start playing and put the car into drive, you get the "DO NOT WATCH VIDEO" message. All you have to do is just push the VOLUME + and VOLUME - for less than a second and you have video in motion. To disable VIM, just do the same button keypress again and the warning message reappears.
When you have VIDEO IN MOTION activated, the NAVIGATION does not display properly, because VIM overrides the signal. You can't have both at the same time, but when you re-enable the NAV, it finds your position again in less than 15 seconds and you have fully working NAV again. So if you go on a long trip and are using GUIDANCE, when you enable video in motion, it interrupts the NAV, BUT...when you disable video in motion..the NAV finds where you are within 15 seconds and the guidance picks up from exactly where you are.
To enable the AUX in...I had to push HANG UP, CONNECT, and MUTE buttons. Now AUX in is enabled, and I don't have to do another thing ever. When I use the COMAND knob to go to VIDEO, I now have a new choice, which is AUX video. I ran the wires to the glovebox, drilling a hole above where the factory AUX audio plug is. I can plug in my ipod video or my Archos 605 and the video and sound play through the factory system and displays on my COMAND screen. To watch Aux Video in motion, I just do the volume buttons trick and VIM is enabled!
Again, give TJ or Dan or Rob a call at MidCity Engineering a call and tell them that DAN HAZELWOOD sent you. These guys are really professional and the quality of their product is TOP NOTCH. If you ordered the same thing from NavTV, it would be two separate pieces totalling $750!!!
The connections were all very easy to make, just like that video on YouTube that I posted earlier. Getting the radio back into the slot was the biggest pain, so if you don't want to install it, there may be people in your area that will do it for you.
VIDEO IN MOTION!!! Works like a charm.
* To all the haters...I DO NOT PLAN TO WATCH THIS WHILE I AM DRIVING. It is strictly for my kids to watch on trips. (My wife can watch it too.) I will not crash my car while watching movies.....TRUST!
Have fun.
Feel free to PM me with any questions you might have. I highly suggest you call those guys today. I am not a spammer....I ordered it...I put it in my own vehicle...and I am DAMN glad that everything went great!
Thats great Dan, glad it went well for you. I also was planning on buying and install it myself. But I wasn't sure because i'm not a techie guy. Thanks for the update Dan.
Vehicle: 2008 Mercedes Benz C300 Sport AMG 18" Type V Wheels and Bodykit Package - Video In Motion Mod!!
Location: Georgia
Posts: 124
Quote:
Originally Posted by dboskovic
I'm going to place my order on tuesday Does the VIM come with the aux or could I get just VIM by itself?
Thanks for the detailed description!
Regards,
Daniel
The VIM is $400 by itself...but why wouldn't you want AUX in? Then you could hook up an iPod Video, an XBOX, all sorts of stuff...and it is only $70 more..and there is really nothing extra to hook up...they just plug into the back of the radio. I didn't think we needed a backup camera for such a small vehicle...so I got AUX in.
When you call...ask for TJ and tell em I sent ya to get the same price as me.
The VIM is $400 by itself...but why wouldn't you want AUX in? Then you could hook up an iPod Video, an XBOX, all sorts of stuff...and it is only $70 more..and there is really nothing extra to hook up...they just plug into the back of the radio. I didn't think we needed a backup camera for such a small vehicle...so I got AUX in.
When you call...ask for TJ and tell em I sent ya to get the same price as me.
Thats true. Where does the connector for the aux in go, in the glove box? Is it a RYW component connector?
Thanks again, I can't wait to get mine going, only thing I'm worried about is the tight squeeze because I have the ipod adapter as well but I'll just take my time with it.
Vehicle: 2008 Mercedes Benz C300 Sport AMG 18" Type V Wheels and Bodykit Package - Video In Motion Mod!!
Location: Georgia
Posts: 124
Quote:
Originally Posted by dboskovic
Thats true. Where does the connector for the aux in go, in the glove box? Is it a RYW component connector?
Thanks again, I can't wait to get mine going, only thing I'm worried about is the tight squeeze because I have the ipod adapter as well but I'll just take my time with it.
Regards,
Daniel
I am not going to lie...it is a VERY tight squeeze...but be patient....
TJ will walk you through it..but be sure to tell them that you have factory ipod, because instead of inserting the T-harness behind the radio..you put it in between the ipod harness and the existing radio harness. Once you get your hands in there, you will see. If you go with the aux in, be sure to tell them to give you at least an 24" extension with FEMALE connectors. I ran them over to the glove box and drilled a hole in the right hand side. I fed the three female connectors through the hole and there they sit. I have attached a photo of it. I ran the AV cables out through the back of the radio area, under the glove box and around to the side where I drilled the hole.
I am not going to lie...it is a VERY tight squeeze...but be patient....
TJ will walk you through it..but be sure to tell them that you have factory ipod, because instead of inserting the T-harness behind the radio..you put it in between the ipod harness and the existing radio harness. Once you get your hands in there, you will see. If you go with the aux in, be sure to tell them to give you at least an 24" extension with FEMALE connectors. I ran them over to the glove box and drilled a hole in the right hand side. I fed the three female connectors through the hole and there they sit. I have attached a photo of it. I ran the AV cables out through the back of the radio area, under the glove box and around to the side where I drilled the hole.
TAKE YOUR TIME and you should be OK.
Haze
Hey Haze,
Thanks for the tips and pic, I really appreciate it. Have you hooked up anything to the AV yet or have any plans on what to hook it up to? I was thinking of putting a xbox 360 in the trunk (with wireless controllers) and have the AV cables long enough to go back there. (Maybe get an extension M-F cable)
p.s. How were they on shipping and order wise (quick)? Did they have tax? 470+tax or just 470?
The VIM is $400 by itself...but why wouldn't you want AUX in? Then you could hook up an iPod Video, an XBOX, all sorts of stuff...and it is only $70 more..and there is really nothing extra to hook up...they just plug into the back of the radio. I didn't think we needed a backup camera for such a small vehicle...so I got AUX in.
When you call...ask for TJ and tell em I sent ya to get the same price as me.
Do you still receive Bluetooth phone calls when your VIM is on?