I recently purchased an R500 that does not have a navigation system. I want to add in the Mercedes DVD navigation capability to the vehicle. I found a "kit" on ebay which has the unit, the antenna splitter, and the DVD.
Has anyone out there done this installation? And have lessons learned, or helpfull suggestions for me?
Can anyone provide or tell me how to get a WIS document AR82.60-P-7502GZ "Remove/install radio"?
Thanks,
Paul
__________________
94 SL500
06 R500
Last edited by OldSavage : 06-15-2007 at 05:59 PM.
Mercedes Nav system is not the most user friendly system out there and your Dealer should be able to add this No touch-screen, press-a-thousand buttons,and then OK, pray that you do not hit the Back soft key by mistake and start all over again Navigation system in the current Command sytem for a mere $1500-$2000! It's gonna be nice to look at but you need to be more patient with it. Get a Garmin Nuvi 360 or 660 and find a way to mount it neatly (remove the ash tray?). Mercedes needs to majorly upgrading in this department.
Mercedes Nav system is not the most user friendly system out there and your Dealer should be able to add this No touch-screen, press-a-thousand buttons,and then OK, pray that you do not hit the Back soft key by mistake and start all over again Navigation system in the current Command sytem for a mere $1500-$2000! It's gonna be nice to look at but you need to be more patient with it. Get a Garmin Nuvi 360 or 660 and find a way to mount it neatly (remove the ash tray?). Mercedes needs to majorly upgrading in this department.
I second this. The built in Nav in my R350 is horrible. Hindsight says that I should have bought a Garmin or Tom-tom. Even Honda Odessey offers a touch screen and voice activated NAV.
I second this. The built in Nav in my R350 is horrible. Hindsight says that I should have bought a Garmin or Tom-tom. Even Honda Odessey offers a touch screen and voice activated NAV.
I "partially" aggree/disagree with you all on the MB navigation system:
- Touchscreen is good and bad. I have seen many things with touchscreen that are punctured with normal use as wear and tear.
- The multiple clicks/pushes on the MB navigation can be reduced or eliminated if we all read and learn more on how to use its features (eg. list, sorts by names, distance, city, state, etc.). Kindly reminder: this is a software product and it is more friendly as we all learn to be familiar of how to best use it.
- The clutter look of an after-market navigation on top your beautiful dashboard is something that you must trade-off for the "real" need of a navigation system for your car.
I agree - I do not want the aftermarket unit stuck on my dashboard. And I already have gotten the parts for the unit that fits nicely into the command head unit. Just have to get them installed. Long story short - I have an appointment at my dealer who is going to do the install for me - about 3 hours labor.
I am happy about this as I will have the integrated unit, and still not have spent the $1600 for the option if purchased with the car - or (I guess) about $2,500 or so to have the dealer do it all after the fact.
The dealer is the one who lost out here as I asked them at least three times about installing navigation capability. First I was told that it was not possible as it was only a factory install (That turned out to be wrong.) And the next time they had a Garmin like unit to install on top of the dashboard on display for $1100 which the service advisor said that he did not reccommend for the R500. Unfortunately for the dealership he never told me what he did reccommend. Third time I asked again and just got a "deer in the headlights" look for a different service advisor.
So I found it on ebay, got it, thought about installing it myself, but in the end decided to have the dealer install it - now it will be under warrenty with the rest of the car.
Paul - Glad it works out for you. You made another good decision is to have the dealer install the unit. The system if properly installed would work beautifully providing you with both video (COMAND screen and INSTRUMENT CLUSTER) and audio (through car speakers) directions with volume controls (from steering wheel or COMAND volume knob). MB integrated unit for the COMAND is the way to go. Fortunately, this navigation system can be a factory option (for $1750 minus discount) or add as an MB dealer installed option (1600 for parts + $600 for labor). Either way is money well spent and the way to go over the after market choices.
And if I havent said it, I am saying it again. Touch screen systems will leave you with torn/worn spots on your beautiful screen in no time (just like what you normally see on microwave or refrigerator touchpads).
I agree - I do not want the aftermarket unit stuck on my dashboard. And I already have gotten the parts for the unit that fits nicely into the command head unit. Just have to get them installed. Long story short - I have an appointment at my dealer who is going to do the install for me - about 3 hours labor.
I am happy about this as I will have the integrated unit, and still not have spent the $1600 for the option if purchased with the car - or (I guess) about $2,500 or so to have the dealer do it all after the fact.
The dealer is the one who lost out here as I asked them at least three times about installing navigation capability. First I was told that it was not possible as it was only a factory install (That turned out to be wrong.) And the next time they had a Garmin like unit to install on top of the dashboard on display for $1100 which the service advisor said that he did not reccommend for the R500. Unfortunately for the dealership he never told me what he did reccommend. Third time I asked again and just got a "deer in the headlights" look for a different service advisor.
So I found it on ebay, got it, thought about installing it myself, but in the end decided to have the dealer install it - now it will be under warrenty with the rest of the car.
Any thanks for the thoughts.
Paul
I am very glad to hear that you can install an integrated unit in a R -Classs. I would love to hear your installation experience . Also can you please post part numbers, cost and how much the dealer charged you for the install
I am taking the car to the dealer this morning for the installation so I should have a good after action report later today. I am estimating about $500 - $600 The parts I acquired on ebay for $799 (it was a buy it now price) and they are as follows: BQ 682 0952 Processor, DVD Navigation; BQ 646 0204 DVD-ROM; B6 Splitter, GPS antenna. I believe that the dealer price for these is around 1900-2000.
I was at my local Costco the other day playing with the $400 Magellan 4040. In comparision to my MB Nav it was extremely user friendly. I found all the listed nearby Starbucks in less than 15 secs first try (you can't find a single Starbucks on MB's Nav w/2006 DVD). It's a portable unit, and has voice recognition. The touchscreen on these units can be easily fitted with screen protectors, I have a screen protector on my Treo and it eliminates any wear and tear.
Overall, I prefer the MB Nav system because of it's integration with the audio system and drivers display. Also, I'm not fond of the "added on" look of these units. But for some $400 vs $1,600 + install might make more sense. Either way, especially here in Los Angeles and while traveling, Nav is a must have.
__________________ '06 R350 Desert Silver w/Macadamia interior iPod Kit/Parktronic/Rear Side Airbags 317 Comfort Package Auto-dimming mirrors, Memory Seats/mirrors, Power folding mirrors & steering colomn, Cargo cover & Net 326 Premium Package harman/kardon LOGIC7 system, Rear Audio Controls, 6-Disc CD Changer, Panoramic Roof, Power tailgate, DVD Navigation, Tele-Aid 864 RSES Package 7" screens, Auxillary for external sources, 2nd Row Console 19" 5-Spoke wheels 255/50 tires SprintBooster Power Converter
I took it to the dealer today, but they did not get the installation done so they held the car until tomorrow - bummer. I wish they would tell a customer if they are not going to be able to perform a service before you bring it in for the day. Hopefully, I will have it in and working by tomorrow at this time. Lot of fuss, but I really did not want the portable unit sticking up on my dashboard.
Adding a navigation system 
Linear Mode
