[mercedes-benz430]

Hello Everybody!
On Monday I just purchased a 2005 E500 with only 23,000 miles! I LOVE IT! It is the best car I have ever got! However, my car apparently does not have serious satellite radio (xm), navigation, or phone wiring. On the command system there is a button that says "SAT" for satellite radio. When you press the button it says "NO SATELLITE RADIO", so I thought you just had to subscribe. The dealer told be though after I got the car that my car only has the "STANDARD RADIO" which means it only has AM/FM and weather band. My car also as I said does not have navigation. If I get the discs will my car be capable of navigation? The dealer said no. I also wanted to get the phone, I don't even need the bluetooth, just the car phone with the car number.

I DO NOT want in my car one of those ugly aftermarket products that stick out and make the car look cheep. Is there any unit the dealer can add to my car to give it serious satellite radio and navigation? I would be willing to forget the car phone if there was a way that I could have serious satellite radio and navigation.

I thought that in 2005 serious satellite radio and navigation were dealer installed options. Is this correct or am I going to have to get a new Mercedes-Benz COMMAND system?

Thank you for your time and if you know anything please respond! Please let me know if the dealer can order a product or something to enable my current COMMAND system to have serious satellite radio and navigation.

Thanks again!

 

[Roadking999]

Can't enable, you have to add a DVD drive in the trunk and the Sirius module on the unit plus the antennas, if you want to stick to MB OE parts, you're looking at a few thousand dollars.

 

[mercedes-benz430]

How much would it be with the DVD drive and the antenna?

 

[mercedes-benz430]

I just talked with dealer today. The car cannot have sirius or navigation.
I have the standard car radio.

I want to put in navigation and sirius. What are the cheapest but good parts that will not cost me thousands? I want to try to do it myself if possible. Also, will I need a new command head unit or can I just wire the navigation drive to the trunk and plug the trunk drive into the back of the existent head unit?

PLEASE HELP!

 

[Roadking999]

A new head unit is $6k
Check this out on ebay: 220874558003
You may want to ensure compatability with your car, this is a DIY if you have a Star system or a clone, the command unit needs to be programmed and coded to the car, otherwise your dealer or an indy can do it for a fee.
The fiber optics are fragile on the unit, you need to be careful. This is not an easy DIY
I don't know which command module your car has, my impression is that all US bound cars had the capability of Navigation add on, I'm assuming you're in the US!
I still think you'll be in for a few $000's before its all said and done.

 

[mercedes-benz430]

I am in the U.S.

Is it possible, to connect like a Cartronics Sirius Box to the command system? Also, how much are DVD drives that would go in the trunk?

Thank you for your help.

 

[mercedes-benz430]

Just now doing some research, I found a Mobridge system. I don't know if my car would be compatible or not. Here is the link:
XM Satellite Radio | mObridge
PLEASE HELP

 

[johnb_E350]

in my eyes the dealer ripped you off. when I bought mine, the dealer told me I had a command unit that was not navigation ready but still has the button for it. Sounds like he was just trying to get rid of the car and not bring up the part about navigation - which everyone know days usually gets when they buy a car in my eyes.

 

[mercedes-benz430]

Your right but, the car is amazing how clean, low mileage (23000 miles), and cared for this car is. Even though it didn't have xm, navi, or phone I would have probably still bought it.

Can any of you tell me if my car is compatible with the system?
mobridge
Thanks!

 

[IronDad]

I know '06 on you basically just buy a satellite module off eBay and plug it in back in the trunk area, hook up an antennae and have the dealership use their STAR system for the system to recognize it. For some reason I think that's true for'05 as well.

Navigation...don't waste your money. Get an Android phone and use Google maps/navigation.

Lots of threads on MBworld

 

[Noodles]

If a used COMAND is installed then make sure the seller has the original serial# on the unit to make coding it to the car possible.
Otherwise it could be a very large and pricey paperweight.

 

[mercedes-benz430]

That's what I had thought too, until the one dealer told me otherwise.

Would the Mobridge system be like what you are talking about?
Also, what type of interface connects to the auxiliary hole in the glove box?
Thank you!

 

[LeFantom]

That's what I had thought too, until the one dealer told me otherwise.

Would the Mobridge system be like what you are talking about?
Also, what type of interface connects to the auxiliary hole in the glove box?
Thank you!

my '05 CDI has identical to yours command unit / NO navi , sat or phone / at first I was just as eager as you're right now to "complete" all goodies , yet after thorough reading shared & discussed information on this forum things I learned and took to consideration : Original MB Navi - terrible, MB Sat radio and integrated Phone can be installed , but key is to have original parts(even thru Used Parts reputable sources can be costly) and DIY...
AUX jack in my car was used by previous owner for an XM radio he had mounted inside ashtray compartment.
All in all....... search read & re-read this forum take your time before jumping into spending frenzy. Taming your initial excitement can possibly save you considerable amount of cash.
Good luck and enjoy your Benz.

 

[mercedes-benz430]

I am soon going to be contacting the dealer about my situation with my car, but I want to ask some questions here before I start. I have the links to the mobridge system that I will hopefully be able to get.

The XM Radio Link:
XM Satellite Radio | mObridge

The Bluetooth/iPod Aux Link:
MOST Bluetooth, iPod, Aux | mObridge

My Questions:
1. Do I still have a command unit even though I don't have Xm, navi, or phone? I have the large screen and keypad and soft side keys so DO I HAVE COMMAND AGW?

2. Are these Mobridge products replacement parts or can they be used as "add on's" to my car since it wasn't originally purchased with these add on's?

3. Also, am I able to purchase a Mercedes-Benz Navigation Drive for the trunk of my car so I can have Navigation?

Thank you all who have helped me and please if you know anything about this please let me know
THANK YOU!!!

 

[notten]

I want to point you to mbdoctor.com, but they seem to be down. This is the first one I found out about from my local dealer. And I want to point you to cartronics.com, but the owner died. I found out about them through online searches. Then there's the Chinese COMAND units from Alibaba that seem to have EVERYTHING but they don't. Most of them are lacking the MOST fiber sound hookup so your audio will sound like crap. From the extensive reading I've done on this topic, there are a few people that have retrofitted the NAV functionality. I also remember a couple of distinct cases of "nav-ready" cars that came with COMAND, but not with the DVD drive or the antenna. Apparently, this is the easiest to fix. There are some DIY posts on this, but I don't have the links anymore.

 

[mercedes-benz430]

I talked with Mobridge last night, and they said that there products are the 'add on's' that I need. I am going to get the xm and bluetooth products.

However, they do not have any navigation devices. Could I buy Mercedes-Benz DVD Navigation drive for my trunk and would it hook up to my COMMAND system so I could have navigation??
Thanks!

 

[notten]

I am not sure if I am allowed to do this, but here goes. There's a guy on the "other forum" that had a W211 with COMAND but no DVD nav. This is his experience with the kit from MBDoctor.com:

OEM Navigation Retrofit w/ pics - MBWorld.org Forums

Hope this helps!

 

[mercedes-benz430]

Thank you for both links. Very much appreciated but, the MBDoctor.com website is under construction.

I also am having another problem. The Mobridge xm unit that I was going to get is for xm radios. I checked the W211 E class and It has sirius satellite radio. I am going to have to see what I do.

Can the parts department of my dealer order a sirius satellite radio tuner for my trunk and hook it up??

All this is getting very annoying and irritating to me. I JUST WANT MY SATELLITE RADIO, BLUETOOTH, AND NAVI TO WORK! I never new it would be this much trouble:crybaby2:

If any of you can help me decide on what I should get/go to please help!

 

[LeFantom]

did you check your PM box?

 

[notten]

Thank you for both links. Very much appreciated but, the MBDoctor.com website is under construction.

I also am having another problem. The Mobridge xm unit that I was going to get is for xm radios. I checked the W211 E class and It has sirius satellite radio. I am going to have to see what I do.

Can the parts department of my dealer order a sirius satellite radio tuner for my trunk and hook it up??

All this is getting very annoying and irritating to me. I JUST WANT MY SATELLITE RADIO, BLUETOOTH, AND NAVI TO WORK! I never new it would be this much trouble:crybaby2:

If any of you can help me decide on what I should get/go to please help!

So, Sirius and XM merged a while back. Now they're Sirius XM. Some of the channels cross over from one receiver to the other. They mixed the programming so everyone can get some of the good shows. IIRC, Howard Stern was the beginning of this crossover deal. If you can deal with having XM vs Sirius channels you should be alright. Check with both for the programming.

As far as which satellite radio goes in, it doesn't matter to the COMAND unit. The COMAND unit SAT radio program is a generic interface to any device that responds with a list of channels with programming info. So, it asks whatever module you have for a list of channels by name, and then it allows you to choose one for media playback. This allows you to put in any unit you want. XM, Sirius, and I believe someone even made an iPod adapter that passes song names back to the unit and lets you choose one to play. Check to see if anyone is willing to sell one of their Cartronics units. Or search the internet for "MOST satellite radio modules" to see if you can find another manufacturer.

As far as the dealer options, I spoke to two dealers about this and I received two different responses. One was that I cannot purchase the radio module through them anymore. Actually, they both said this. One of the dealers first offered to install it for $2700. I think you are much better off buying one of these $800 units aftermarket.

As far as the phone module, MB said they were more willing to help with that, but again they wanted $2600. Back when Cartronics was around they wanted $800. I never bought either because I don't mind using my phone while driving.

For the Navi your best option is to upgrade your COMAND with the appropriate parts. If you are a stickler about using MB to do the work on your car you will be happy to know that some MB dealers are willing to do this job.