Hi everyone, this is another choice for those seeking easy connectivity without sacrificing the original Mercedes Head-unit, has its own pros and cons like any other system. Let me know what is your preferred choice. Link to product and $50 discount code in the description. Cheers, Max.
I don’t dislike the original head unit that my 2006 C280 4Matic has. Although my concern is that I rely on Google maps alot to places I’m not familar with in California. I do use a car phone holder but then it broke one of my AC vents as I was adjusting it. I got upset and now need to replace that which isn’t cheap, they sell for 50 USD online. And so this is a much better alternative for anyone that doesn’t want to replace the original head unit. Thank you for sharing Benz Addiction :)
@LuckyStar4648 Thanks for watching. Yes it has its own benefits. I prefer to keep my phone in my pocket in the car, especially for my daily driver. I hate to use a vent phone holder for that reason.
I drive a w212 e350 but still enjoy your videos on the older models, like this one. The COMAND in my car still works fine but I cringe thinking about the day this gateway may crash. As you've shown there are aftermarket solutions - this video is a top notch step by step tutorial. The only drawback for me on an added carplay device - nothing to do with your install - is that on older models the new unit is often unable to be integrated into the dash. But that may be secondary when compared to the updated functionality. Great video.
Thanks mate. Very true. Yes, and to be honest carplay is not for anyone. Myself I enjoy the originality and factory look of the dash, this CLK is my wife's daily and she benefits from carplay and reverse camera like many other people.
This is useful, I drive a CLK 350 with a COMAND system and I have also a W164 which I replaced the original COMAND that had failed with an Android head unit.. That works well but the downside is the inability to change the clock in the car. For the W164 I can live with that as I don't drive it so often and the clock is relatively small, but on the CLK the clock is more obvious and I don't want to give up using that. A solution like this that doesn't need to remove the COMAND system is ideal.
@andrewrouch1282 Very good point. Using an aftermarket head unit means you need an adaptor to convert digital fiberoptic to analogue, the amp and sub probably won't work as well as clock. Also some of the cheap Chinese head units are too slow and basically waste of money.
@andrewrouch1282 You could get a scanner that supports variant coding and enable the manual clock setting option in the instrument cluster. This is really easy to do and the Launch Creader Elite V2.0 for Benz is very affordable, especially when on sale. If you don't want to do it yourself, ask someone with access to SD (star diagnosis) or a capable scanner to do it for you. If you cannot find a dealer or they are asking for too much money, there is usually a private person in the area who can help you out. I initially had the clock issue as well but activated the manual date/time menu option myself and it worked like a treat. A poor man's solution is to pull fuse 42 (for the instrument cluster) on the CLK at 12:00 and plug it back in. The clock will then reset to 12:00, i.e., you can set it to the current time in this manner (without disconnecting the battery).
@@BenzAddiction Do you think it would be possible to mount the screen so it is roughly over the COMAND screen? On top of the dash you would be covering up the front parking sensor display.
There are replacement head units that blend in rather well. No cables to be seen anywhere, and the audio quality will in many cases remain the same, as the amplifier in the car is reused (many CLK head units only send signals to an amplifier in the boot). A further advantage is that the guide lines of the reverse camera will bend in response to steering input, since the replacement head unit is connected to the CANbus. It will also show open doors or if the boot is open.
@@BenzAddiction I'm super happy with mine. :) It uses an old-school UI (these blue rounded squares from the E-series) i.e., when turned on, it looks the part. I think the modern neon-coloured UIs look out of place in a car like this and am glad I could still grab a unit with the old school UI design. Even the backlighting of the buttons matches the orange of the original interior backlighting. :)
When I installed my reverse camera in my CLK, I did not have to drill a hole. There is enough space in the handle for the boot to route the cable through without the cable interfering with the handle, when one operates the boot (I use the keyfob or the button on the driver's door anyhow, but still). From there, I used one of the holes that are already in the boot lid (behind the plastic cover) They are covered with rubber plugs and I drilled through one to fit the cable through. Perfect and watertight fit.
@@BenzAddiction I think the rear plastic cover might rest on them, but the cable is so small, even if that were the case, it wouldn't be in the way much. I haven't noticed that the rear cover does not sit properly anymore. I'm sure I would have noticed if the cable had caused an issue.
Hello, "Benz Addiction" I was analyzing your channel and saw that in your channel have some problem, That's why your channel is not much growing and not getting much engagement, If you can solve these problems, Your channel will grow like a storm. If you tell I can tell these problems. Where can I tell? Here or ig or where?
Hi everyone, this is another choice for those seeking easy connectivity without sacrificing the original Mercedes Head-unit, has its own pros and cons like any other system. Let me know what is your preferred choice. Link to product and $50 discount code in the description. Cheers, Max.
I don’t dislike the original head unit that my 2006 C280 4Matic has. Although my concern is that I rely on Google maps alot to places I’m not familar with in California.
I do use a car phone holder but then it broke one of my AC vents as I was adjusting it. I got upset and now need to replace that which isn’t cheap, they sell for 50 USD online.
And so this is a much better alternative for anyone that doesn’t want to replace the original head unit. Thank you for sharing Benz Addiction :)
@LuckyStar4648 Thanks for watching. Yes it has its own benefits. I prefer to keep my phone in my pocket in the car, especially for my daily driver. I hate to use a vent phone holder for that reason.
I drive a w212 e350 but still enjoy your videos on the older models, like this one. The COMAND in my car still works fine but I cringe thinking about the day this gateway may crash.
As you've shown there are aftermarket solutions - this video is a top notch step by step tutorial.
The only drawback for me on an added carplay device - nothing to do with your install - is that on older models the new unit is often unable to be integrated into the dash. But that may be secondary when compared to the updated functionality.
Great video.
Thanks mate. Very true. Yes, and to be honest carplay is not for anyone. Myself I enjoy the originality and factory look of the dash, this CLK is my wife's daily and she benefits from carplay and reverse camera like many other people.
Best tutorial , subscribed!
@weerawuttha4713 Thanks mate :)
This is useful, I drive a CLK 350 with a COMAND system and I have also a W164 which I replaced the original COMAND that had failed with an Android head unit.. That works well but the downside is the inability to change the clock in the car. For the W164 I can live with that as I don't drive it so often and the clock is relatively small, but on the CLK the clock is more obvious and I don't want to give up using that. A solution like this that doesn't need to remove the COMAND system is ideal.
@andrewrouch1282 Very good point. Using an aftermarket head unit means you need an adaptor to convert digital fiberoptic to analogue, the amp and sub probably won't work as well as clock. Also some of the cheap Chinese head units are too slow and basically waste of money.
@andrewrouch1282 You could get a scanner that supports variant coding and enable the manual clock setting option in the instrument cluster. This is really easy to do and the Launch Creader Elite V2.0 for Benz is very affordable, especially when on sale. If you don't want to do it yourself, ask someone with access to SD (star diagnosis) or a capable scanner to do it for you. If you cannot find a dealer or they are asking for too much money, there is usually a private person in the area who can help you out. I initially had the clock issue as well but activated the manual date/time menu option myself and it worked like a treat. A poor man's solution is to pull fuse 42 (for the instrument cluster) on the CLK at 12:00 and plug it back in. The clock will then reset to 12:00, i.e., you can set it to the current time in this manner (without disconnecting the battery).
@@BenzAddiction Do you think it would be possible to mount the screen so it is roughly over the COMAND screen? On top of the dash you would be covering up the front parking sensor display.
You need to reprogram the instrument cluster to nav not present and time/date adjustment will appear in cluster menu
@andrewrouch1282 everything is possible, needs to fabricate 2 brackets.
There are replacement head units that blend in rather well. No cables to be seen anywhere, and the audio quality will in many cases remain the same, as the amplifier in the car is reused (many CLK head units only send signals to an amplifier in the boot). A further advantage is that the guide lines of the reverse camera will bend in response to steering input, since the replacement head unit is connected to the CANbus. It will also show open doors or if the boot is open.
That's awesome. I have heard many negative points about many of them though...
@@BenzAddiction I'm super happy with mine. :) It uses an old-school UI (these blue rounded squares from the E-series) i.e., when turned on, it looks the part. I think the modern neon-coloured UIs look out of place in a car like this and am glad I could still grab a unit with the old school UI design. Even the backlighting of the buttons matches the orange of the original interior backlighting. :)
When I installed my reverse camera in my CLK, I did not have to drill a hole. There is enough space in the handle for the boot to route the cable through without the cable interfering with the handle, when one operates the boot (I use the keyfob or the button on the driver's door anyhow, but still). From there, I used one of the holes that are already in the boot lid (behind the plastic cover) They are covered with rubber plugs and I drilled through one to fit the cable through. Perfect and watertight fit.
@@coolcat23 Great point, but aren't those gromits for the rear plastic cover?
@@BenzAddiction I think the rear plastic cover might rest on them, but the cable is so small, even if that were the case, it wouldn't be in the way much. I haven't noticed that the rear cover does not sit properly anymore. I'm sure I would have noticed if the cable had caused an issue.
Nice video as per usual..Thankyou...I am looking at fitting an oil pressure gauge on my CLK 320 where you have placed the Carplay...
I would install 3 or 2 gauges on a a nice leather board :) I have done that on my 1975 camaro when I was young 😉
@@BenzAddiction That makes good sense..Weighing up how to do it atm..
@@DennisShaw-w1n 👍
Hello, "Benz Addiction" I was analyzing your channel and saw that in your channel have some problem, That's why your channel is not much growing and not getting much engagement, If you can solve these problems, Your channel will grow like a storm. If you tell I can tell these problems. Where can I tell? Here or ig or where?
Thanks mate please email it to: info@BenzAddiction.com cheers.
@@BenzAddiction check primary or spam box