Looking for suggestions in the following areas please?
1. MP3 player. I would really like the capacity to play MP3s whether from DVD, CD, USB or Memory Card. I would rather not lose the steering wheel functionality while doing so.
2. Subwoofer. Looking for something that will rattle my windows, but not those of the car next to me. Need to fit at least 3 sets of clubs in the trunk as as well.
3. Speakers. Not quite sure which ones yet, but am going to need to replace some of the stock speakers. They just dont sound right for a high end vehicle. Maybe its the head unit, or maybe the amp...anyone else feel this way?
MP3 player. I would really like the capacity to play MP3s whether from DVD, CD, USB or Memory Card. I would rather not lose the steering wheel functionality while doing so
Some of the '02s appear to have an Aux Input in the glovebox. Not mine. Yours?
Have read a bit - Becker will retrofit an Aux in into the cassette player if you send it in to them. Don't know the cost. Easiest solution seems to be dropping a cassette input into the player and running the wire behind the radio unit - passing it out to either the center console or to the right under the glove box. Won't give you steering wheel controls over your IPod, but that will be very unlikely in any event. There are one or two people making an ipod interface (I am not an Ipod guy, so I haven't looked too closely) that should interface with the steering wheel. You might look around as well.
They just dont sound right for a high end vehicle. Maybe its the head unit, or maybe the amp...anyone else feel this way?
I have the Bose amplifier and like it. Have just run a bunch of CDs through it, but I get pretty clean tone at all volumes. Not a lot of thump (thinking about a subwoofer as well), but not sure the thump goes with the car, either.
you can go with almost any single din aftermarket headunit. a vw harness works with the mb's. i'm currently running an alpine 9855 hu, alpine speakers running off the factory bose amp with 2 infinity 12" subs. you might need a custom enclosure in the trunk if you need the room.
i personally thought the factory hu sounded like ass. actually, when i just changed the hu, it made a world of difference.
((Easiest solution seems to be dropping a cassette input into the player and running the wire behind the radio unit - passing it out to either the center console or to the right under the glove box.))
I tried this and sounds like Sh*t. Don't use it. Change head unit out or get use to a FM Mod wireless unit. You can try adding bass with a self powered Bazooka woofer unit. I have one but still have'nt installed it yet.
45acp - Thanks, for some reason I thought we lost the steeringwheel controls when we replaced the HU. If we can put any HU into our cars with the vw harness, I have a lot of shopping to do!
Are you happy with the Alpine speakers? For me 2 12s are going to be way overkill. I have an 8' Bazooka in my 850R Wagon, and it is almost enough. I will head down to a local sound shop and see what sort of enclosures they have if you feel the Bose amp is sufficient to power them. Thanks!
DawsonAMG - Thanks for he heads up on the cassette thing. If I dont have an Aux like MRB1717 mentions, then I will not attempt this.
MRB1717 - Thanks you for all the info. I am hoping a single 10 or 12 will give me the right amount of punch without sloppy boom. Although I have found in the past that an overpowered system is easier to turn down, than it is to turn up and underpowered system to hit whatever soundlevel you like.
So what do you guy do with the empty box under the HU? Seems perfect for some sort of stealth item....maybe radar protection...maybe hard mounting an aftermarket GPS to slide out? DVD Players? Thoughts?
Some of the '02s appear to have an Aux Input in the glovebox. Not mine. Yours?
I don't have a cassette in my 2000, just the NAV with the CD changer in the trunk. Mine does have the AUX input in the glove box and was a simple way for me to add a MP3 player when I wanted it. Seems to be a lot noise coming that line when the MP3 player isn't present though. Also it doesn't keep my Bass and Treble settings for the AUX input after I turn off the car.
I also have a self powered Bazooka tube I'd like to add to, haven't had time to put it on. Was planning of just using high level speaker inputs. I know thats the worse way to hook up a amp, but I just want a simple install and more base. I really don't care too much about audio quality
you can go with almost any single din aftermarket headunit. a vw harness works with the mb's. i'm currently running an alpine 9855 hu . . .
Please clarify for a second - does this mean that you can:
(a) play the HU through the MB speakers, etc, using any HU with a WV harness adaptor; or
(b) Choice (a) AND be able to control the HU using the steering wheel buttons; or
(c) Choice (b) AND be able to see the stations/CD selection number/etc on the instrument cluster readout panel; or
(d) Choice (c) AND be able to continue to use the goofy voice control system that amuses my children (highly doubtfull, but gotta ask)?
Not trying to pick a fight, just want to have some idea of what does and does not work with different options.
Dawson: If the cassette adaptor sounds like crap (and thanks for that - I was skeptical, but the one post I found seemed happy - nobody's baby is ugly, I guess), is the RF bypass any better? I am reasonably content with the stock HU, but need to get my satellite back up and running!
When you replace the MB HU with after market you loose all your control from S. wheel and command center in speedo. But I hear it is worth it. do a search in this forum and MBworld for changing HU they have a lot of info on w210 with Bose. You can use your Bose speakers and amp or replace them all. I was looking at an FM mod but think I may go with the Alpine DVD unit (non-7" mon.) and place a mon. in visor JL Audio amps/ speakers.
dawson is correct. you will lose all steering wheel radio controls when switching hu's. the display on the dash just shows dashes when the radio is chosen. i have the alpine remote handy at all times, so this doesn't bother me anymore. there are, however, some aftermarket steering wheel controllers that's supposed to allow your oem wheel controls to work. i haven't seen them in action on an mb, but from friends' personal experiences, they worked for about a month, then stopped. there was always a problem with it.
and yes you can use an aftermarket hu with a vw harness and still power them through the stock bose amp and mb speakers.
tagsley-i forgot to mention that i do have an external amp for the subs (the oem bose amp only powers the interior speakers). the compartment under my hu is a sunglass holder/cubby/storage area.
once you hear a good aftermarket hu in your 210, the oem radio will seriously sound like wet poo. you'd be suprised how well the oem speakers can sound (if you're on a budget and don't want to replace them).
LS- I just wanted to thank you so much for informing me that there is an AUX jack in the glove box. I feel like such an idiot for not knowing it was there. I too have a 2000 with the CD (no cassette). Anyways, driving is going to be that much better knowing i can attach my iPod. Now if only if that jack will accept video!
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