Replacing the Radio in a Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Posted By Paul Clinton, May 29, 2009 in INSTALLATION HOW-TO
Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Due to its size and durability, the Mercedes E-Class is used as a taxi in some European countries.

A Mercedes-Benz arriving at an install bay that hasn’t seen many luxury cars can often cause an entire day to be wasted accomplishing the simple task of replacing a head unit. Robert Davidoski and Elias Aviles of Mobile One in Houston show us how to replace the radio in Mercedes Benz E-Class sedans.

Due to its size and durability, the Mercedes E-Class is used as a taxi in some European countries.

As you can see, the factory radio screen isn’t double-DIN.

As you can see, the factory radio screen isn’t double-DIN.

The shifter trim must be removed first. This panel is held in place with clips and is easy to remove.

The ashtray, which is also held in with clips, must be removed next. Simply pull up on it to get it out.

The ashtray, which is also held in with clips, must be removed next. Simply pull up on it to get it out.

There are two Torx screws above and behind the ashtray that must be removed to allow access to the radio screws. The right-hand screw is pictured.

There are two Torx screws above and behind the ashtray that must be removed to allow access to the radio screws. The right-hand screw is pictured.

The left-hand Torx screw must also be removed.

The left-hand Torx screw must also be removed.

Once the controls above the ashtray are removed, you’ll have access to the radio’s screws.

Once the controls above the ashtray are removed, you’ll have access to the radio’s screws.

The screws to remove the radio are tough to see, because they’re pointing up and into the bottom of the radio. When you try to remove these Torx screws, they will come loose, but will not come out. They are a part of a cam-lock system in the dash that holds the factory radio in place.

The screws to remove the radio are tough to see, because they’re pointing up and into the bottom of the radio. When you try to remove these Torx screws, they will come loose, but will not come out. They are a part of a cam-lock system in the dash that holds the factory radio in place.

This photo shows the factory radio removed. You can see the cam-locks on both sides of the opening.

This photo shows the factory radio removed. You can see the cam-locks on both sides of the opening.

The speaker wiring for the factory radio can be found in the trunk at the amplifier on the driver’s side.

The speaker wiring for the factory radio can be found in the trunk at the amplifier on the driver’s side.

A final dash piece goes back into place.

A final dash piece goes back into place.

Here we see the customer’s aftermarket radio installed in a custom-built kit that was made out of MDF and wrapped in matching vinyl.

Here we see the customer’s aftermarket radio installed in a custom-built kit that was made out of MDF and wrapped in matching vinyl.

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  • Ron
    The Ironic thing is speaking of "resale value" is that if you are in the market for a used car these days, you will find the best deals, and the vehicles with the WORST resale value, are Mercedes and BMW. This is actually an opportunity for installers.

    What we are going to notice more and more (mark my words) are 5-10 year old Benzes coming into our bays that were $60,000-$80,000 a few years ago, and were purchased by a consumer for the price of a new Hyundai, or less. So what we have is a Mercedes Benz owner, with a Hyundai budget.

    Now when the factory audio/nav/entertainment/telephone system etc starts having problems, which they ALL will eventually they are forced to go to the dealer, who in turn quotes them thousands to repair/replace system components. The customer will almost faint, and end up at our shops where we need to be able to work on these vehicles, and find a solution that is affordable for the customer and will satisfy them. And this will often require replacing the factory head unit.

    So looking at it that way...is resale value really a major concern when the vehicle already has none as is? Consider for under a grand a customer can have a deck installed that has bluetooth/sat/nav etc, and will work quite a bit better then the antiquated "telephony" system in the older Benzes.

    Not to say we should not offer to integrate at times using Nav TV products and the like if the factory deck and system is functioning well, but often a deck swap, which can included upgrading amplifiers and speakers as well will be the best option for the customer..and us. Don't fear these cars, embrace them. There are going to be a lot of these needing system work in the future, I do quite a few now and find they are fairly easy to work on.
  • Mitch
    You are absolutely seriously dinging the vehicle's resale value by replacing the factory radio.

    Besides that, there are other seriously compelling reasons not to do this:

    1. The MB factory radios ALL have telephony functions. That is, able to host very well-integrated telephone including phonebook. There are integration solutions that hook up to this. Besides the factory option (which you can retrofit although it's a BIG job), there are more straightforward options from the likes of NAVTV, DICE, mObridge, Cartronics.com/iTronic, etc. These are big earners (probably as much or more than your average headunit replacement.


    2. The COMAND (full color screen headunit) can support MP3 CD-changer emulations (on the vehicle's MOST fiberoptic MOST bus) for full iPod browsing capability DICE, NAV-TV, mObridge, Dension, Cartronics.com/iTronic, etc.

    For the non-COMAND headunits (Audio20 Classic/Audio50 [2003 only]) they don't support the MP3 mode but you can browse the iPod in a simple CD-changer mode where discs map to special user-created playlists (DISC1, DISC2 ... etc)
    Maybe not as big an earner as Bluetooth, but it helps.

    3. Although you'd normally have to make do with line-level converter or processor such as the Audison BitOne to tap off speaker level outputs in these MOST bus cars. Soon this will be no more! You'll be able to use a device such as the mObridge DA1000/2000 series to grab the audio off the MOST bus which will output it either to TOSLINK (to output to Audison Amps or processor) or, coming soon in the DA2000 analog pre-amp outs. The sound quality is phenomenal (check out the beta test version put into this Porsche 997 from the factory unit into the mObridge to Audison Bit One processor feeding Tru amps and Dyn Audio components. Probably THE BEST sounding car audio installations they've ever listened to. This is a MAJOR plus to keeping the factory headunit. www.youtube.com/mobridgeusa ... hard to depict audio in a low-res YouTube video but at least you get the point that this is possible)

    Guys, keep the factory headunits intact. There's a lot of money to be made in doing so and more integrations coming as we speak (SAT radio, for one).

    Articles like this only perpetuate the myth that the customer is better off turfing the factory headunit rather than looking for more seamless, elegant solutions.

    Hope this helps, as I've learned a lot integrating stuff into my 2005 E500 and I wouldn't have it any other way! I've used a variety of products from the manufacturers above and they all have their pluses and minuses just like everything, but overall the integration approach gets a BIG THUMBS UP and I can't wait to start doing the audio come integration capability #3.

    Mitch M.
    Raleigh, NC

  • Robert Davidoski
    Thank you for providing so much useful information. But I would like to point out that this article was to give a step-by-step guide on how to remove the factory head unit. The customer had already had two amps, subs, and all of the speakers swapped out for aftermarket product. He brought us the radio of his choice to have it installed. This article was published around the time that a very informative article was printed by Mobile Electronics concerning the MOST system.
    While integration into OEM systems like these would have been my first choice, this customer already knew what he wanted and needed someone to perform that job for him.
  • Hi Guys, did you know this new MOST BUS interface http://www.motuslab.com/en/productsaservices/products/audiogateway.html ?
    It seems something like DA1000 + BITONE all in one!
  • jeremythibodeaux
    how much did this install cost im thinking about doing it to mine
  • robdavidoski
    Since the customer already had the amps installed, we just needed to run the signal cables (RCA'S) to the front of the vehicle. We removed the factory radio and built this entry-level kit and installed the radio he brought us.
    Now...assuming you have a similar Benz...
    I would start by locating a shop in your area that has someone with the ability to do this job for you. I suggest finding a reputable shop with some sort of experience in dealing with these vehicles. You do NOT want an inexperienced "newbie" working on a vehicle of this caliber. Mitch (who posted above) has listed some very good manufacturers of interfaces made for the Mercedes Benz.

    Hope that helps.
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