ML cd changer Install
 

Hey all,
havent posted in awhile. Anyways.. my 2001 ML320 still has plenty o problems. Its like a box of chocolates, u never know what you're gonna get
I just got an OEM fiber optic changer and bracket from ebay and was just wondering if its just plug and play? My 99 E320 was plug and play, but I've been hearing that the MCS unit needs some reprogramming? Will be be expensive through the dealer or is there a code I can punch in myself? Thanks..

please ignore this post
 

Sorry, I had forgotten that I had posted an exact topic. Sorry for any inconvience. This may be deleted if need be.

What, me delete a post?----Gilly

The older ML's that were hard-wired were plug and play. The fiber optics versions are not, they should be programmed. Then again your 99 E320 also should have been. They may work OK for awhile, eventually they can stop playing though. You must be lucky on the 99, usually they don't last over a week or two without stopping/locking up.
The programming needs to be done with the Mercedes scan tool (SDS)

Gilly

Hi gilly,
Thanks for such a quick response. I shall make an appointment. Thanks so much for the help. Take care

what type of problems??
 

so what type of problems did you have? any solutions? my ml only had to replace a air mass sensor but other than than its been running awesome for more than a year now with no other major problems...

hi Tabo
 

Hey Tabo,

Well i have another post if you just search it. But long rap sheet for my 2001 ml320. Panels falling off, door trims crackin, driver window repaired twice, third time new relay switch and motor, Major Airbag problem, Rear inside panel broken, Outside rear corner panel fallen off, loose bumper.

Drivetrain is excellent, craftsmanship..ehhh on the eddgie side.

wow...
 

wow.. I never had any of those problems =( but luckily those are all minor things that you can fix yourself if you know how.. except for the air bag... well.. I fixed most of the major stuff already (because it was free and I wanted to do it before my warranty was over) such as transfer case, fuel filter, window switch, and one of my seatbelts had problems.. after my warranty was over my air mass sensor screwed up on me! $650 canadian dollars! but i fixed it myself ... with the help of a computer scanner... I read a article somewhere that claims certain models of mercedes the engines are hand built and have the signature of the person who made it.. now i think that is very cool...

yeah..
i will definitely do it myself...but as its underwarranty, why not get free new parts? oh yeah..today the mercedes entry panel came out. gotta get anotherone....great..

Hey guys...
i just picked up my Changer for my 2001 ML. I installed it and the power is there, but the MCS doesnt recognize it. I called my dealer at Autobahn Motors in San Carlos CA. Service there is horrible!!. Well anyhow, I have to get the MCS version coded and therefore is going to cost money of course. Some people said it was free..but they are going to charge me 75 dollars!!!!!
I have never heard of anything as stupid as that.

I guess its my only choice..

Not another dealer you could ask?

Gilly

Hey Gilly..
I was waiting for your reply:) Yeah..i called Autobahn, which is supposed to be the biggest dealer around here. Those sales people are so snotty. They think that customers are stupid and clueless when it comes to cars. I hate that. I called San Francisco dealer,,they will charge. I have no resort but to pay the fee!!

dammit!!!

I guess the only alternative I can think of would involve a trip to Wisconsin;) .
I would usually call the service dept. though, why ask a salesman, unless it's the one who sold you the truck and you think they can "arrange" it for you.

Gilly

haha wiscsonsin..
i might be a trip wel worth it. Since you are so much more knowlegeable than any service person at any dealer around here.

But yeah..i spoke to a service advisor as so they are called. he told me at first it was plug and play like my 99E320. But this guy was a dope. I will keep looking around. thanks

If anyone that lives in the SF bay area and knows where i can get it activated for free, i would gREATLY apprecaite it!

Thank u

Yeah, that really is dumb because a 99 e320 isn't plug and play either.
Strange yours won't even try to play though, usually they will play for a while anyways, before locking up.

Gilly

yeah it was really weird.
My 99 320 was plug and play. Its still working fine.

the ml..just donest recognize it. When i press CD it still says.
"NO CD changer installed" i would have expected it to at least try to play.

Hey gilly,

well, its been a long time. The player is still instaled, but still have not activated it yet. I called the autobahn again, explained my situation, and they said this time they will charge me 250 dollars!!!! What is going on here?!!? I am getting pretty fed up. I need to find a local shop that will do it for cheap, preferrable below 50 bux, or better yet, FREE!! so for now,,,its just dead weight. Damn dealers dont know anything. I wish there was someone out there in the bay area who could help...

thanks

Going back to an early post on this thread made me think that maybe you could ask the person who sold the truck to you if they can help get this done. Holy crap, it's only 10 minutes worth of work. 250 dollars, are they insane? Or maybe talk to the actual service manager instead of a service advisor. There must be a number of dealerships around SF, maybe try a different one?

Gilly

yeah i have called around. Another dealer in Palo Alto called Park Ave dealers is gonna charge me 150 dolllars. I called some small authorized places, but they said they dont have this computer and it has to be done at the dealer. The guy i bought it from is from the east coast. He just took it out of his 2001 ML.

GREAT!!! hahah..now im stuck. what a deal..

Anymore help is greatly appreciated..thanks

No, I guess your kind of on your own at this point, not much else I can think of. Well, a few ideas you should be able to think about, I'm sure you can think of your own too:
1. Bribe somebody
2. Find out if you may have a "friend of a friend" sort of relationship who is a tech in one of the area MB shops.
3. Drive through the back lot with a dozen Krispy Kreem donuts at about 8am and look for a tech wandering around looking for his next car to bring in.

This may be a good time to try something like this, when they may be quite slow and have a little Holiday Spirit left in them.
Maybe just driving in, telling them "Hey, get reasonable, this is only 10 or 15 minutes of your techs time, give me a break. I got donuts and a $20 bill for a tech to do this for me" may just get it done. Maybe we operate differently here in the Midwest though, maybe I'm out of touch with the mentality out there.

You can also try what I mentioned in talking with the service manager instead of an advisor. Mention that how this is handled may affect where your next MB is purchased.
When I mentioned talking to whoever sold the truck to you, I meant the TRUCK, not the CD changer.

Gilly

ohh hehe..
yeah the advisor that sold us the truck said 250!! well i might just try that "bribery" thing. Even though most of the people are tightwads, just looking for more money. I will keep you posted.

thanks for all your help gilly..take care and have a great weekend.

i would not be happy. find out what the flat rate is for reprograming and make the service advisor ( crap taker/tough job ) stick to it.

make him put the 250 estimate in writing so you can mail it the the dealerships owner. that might change the sa's tune ( no pun intended ) a salesperson is not at liberty to quote you a price for shop charges.

i am spoiled by mercedes benz of knoxvile aka knoxville motor company. no bs. ever.

Hey guys and gilly,
Guess what?!!?!? i finally got my dang changer acitvated. FOR FREE!!! woo hoo im so happy. I went back to my dealer...whom was going to charge me 250 initially. but this time i spoke to the MAster Tech who worked on my car before. He was so nice, he just said "Come on in, I'm pretty busy but i will take care of it for you. Don't worry."
I went in and gave him a bottle of nice wine for the new years and got my truck back in less than an hour. He even gave me the right clip to lock in the changer. What a guy. I guess the SA really dont know crap,,,except for going by the book.

Thanks ebay for the changer!! and my Master Tech!!

that kind of service makes me a mb customer. congrats and enjoy the new tunes.

yeah i know. But see what BS i have to go through!?!? It all depends on the person you know at the dealer!! Which is not right at all All customers should be treated equal no matter what! If i had not known the master tech...i would be a quarter grand less in my wallet.

oh wells..the changer works awesome!! Only 215 bux off ebay. It was 2 years well worth the wait:)