2002 E320-Running a cable from trunk to center Armrest...

Hi:

Does the E320 have a cable-pass through channel from the rear trunk, to the center console?

And/Or:

What would be the easiest way to snake a wire to the center arm-rest? (I'm prepping for the Dension Ipod kit).


Thanks!

[bwheitman]

I would say the best route would be to go from the center console under the drivers seat, then down the side of the trim on the floor under the threshold of the door. After that go behind the rear seat and into the trunk. I did this in my S class 140. You could also pull the carpet up and run it right underneath. I thought the Denison kit hooked into the head unit? I have not seen one of those and for your model it would be fiber so I don't know. My car is hard wired and I just unplugged my CD changer from the head unit, pulugged in the a NEO and ran the cable down the center to my console, iPod plugs in there and I can control from the head unit. I am looking at a iCruz from Monster too. Check out these sites although I think Denison is the only one making one for fiber. The Ipod hooked to the Bose system in my SL is pure heaven and when I got the Sirius integrated that was a pleasure as well. Good luck!
Brian
http://www.mp3yourcar.com/

http://www.alpine-usa.com/ipod/
This one is if you decide to replace your head unit.

http://www.monstercable.com/icruze/

[suginami]

I had the Dension kit in my old 300E 3.2 with the Nakamichi head unit.

It plugged into the AUX input at the back of the head unit.

I'm looking at buying the Dension for my 2000 E430.

Does your stock head unit have an AUX input? I don't think it does.

I am installing at the end of this month the Mercedes Command Navigation unit. It does have an AUX input.

However, I am looking at a different way of using the Dension Icelink cable.

The best solution is to use the Dension cable that plugs into the CD changer slot. The problem is that Mercedes uses D2B, a fiber optic system, and nobody, including Dension, makes a cable that will plug into this kind of CD changer plug connection.

I have just discovered that two companies make a converter, that plugs into the CD changer slot, and converts it into regular RCA jacks.

Thus, you can plug the Icelink into this. The advantage is that now you can not only use your CD changer controls to control the music (instead of having to use the controls on the ipod), but you also get to see the song information on the digital display of the head unit.

[suginami]

I just did a quick search, and the two companies that make a CD changer to Aux input adaptor are Soundgate and Blitzsafe.

[suginami]

O.K., I thought I needed to explain a little bit more to those who haven't tried to hook up an iPod to a Mercedes factory radio.

The best ipod connectins are those that hook up to the CD changer port and the docking station of the ipod. This lets you use the CD changer buttons on your head unit control the ipod. It also charges the iPod at the same time because you are plugged into the docking station port of the iPod.

The problem with this is that by plugging the iPod into the CD changer port, you can no longer use a cd Changer. I have found this will not be a problem with me, as my iPod currently has about 6,000 songs on it, whereas my cd changer only holds 6 cd's. From the day I hooked up my iPod to my 300E, I never once listened to a cd again.

The companies that make these iPod cables that plug into the CD changer port only make them for factory radio's like GM, Ford, etc. as well as popular aftermarket brands like Pioneer, Sony, and Alpine.

As of yet, not one company makes an iPod cable that will plug into a Mercedes factory radio. Dension just announced that they will make a cable that will work on 2006 and newer Mercedes models.

Sooooo, without the ability to buy a cable that will work with your CD changer port, you have to buy a cable that plugs into the RCA jacks of the AUX input jacks of your car stereo, that is if your radio has them.

Many companies make a cable that has RCA jacks on one end that plug into the AUX Input jacks at the back of your car stereo, and on the other end has mini jacks (1/8" ???) that will allow you to plug into the speaker jacks at the top of the ipod. This lets you listen to your Ipod through your car speakers. However, you are using the battery of your iPod, not your car, which is a major drawback.

Dension is the only company that I've discovered after lengthy searching on the World Wide Web that makes an AUX input cable that plugs into the docking port on the bottom of the iPod.

This works great, but you can't control the iPod from the CD changer functions on the head unit.

So, like I posted above, if you buy one of the "CD Changer to AUX input adaptors" from Soundgate or Blitzsafe, you can use the Dension Icelink cable to hook into this adaptor, letting you use your iPod in your car, allowing the batteries to charge at the same time, and also use your CD changer functions to control the music and also read the song info on your head unit, exactly as you would when playing a CD.

[bwheitman]

wow,
seems like there is a lot of interest out there for these iPods. I first installed my iPod with an FM modulator, sounded bad, I then tapped into the CD inputs to the head unit from my ipod and had a switch to go back and forth to the Cd changer to an aux input. This adaption is on our website at www.mbca.org/northtexas go to audio systems and at the bottom you will see the diagram, this is free and works well, but you have to control the songs from the iPod. I then purchased the Neo unit which hooks into the CD changer port for up to 98 models. I can now switch tracks from the head unit, but don't have a cd changer. When the monstor product comes out I will get that because it has a separate display on it for song title and etc.. All MB command systems 2003 or newer have aux inputs, it is a cable you can buy that plugs in the back and they usually install the port in the glove box. All 2005 and newer are capable of fully integrating with the iPod and show song title and track information on the command control unit. You can see this at MBUSA. Since I have the iPod integrated in the car I have never listened to a CD again, I buy all my music now at iTunes. Happy Benzing.
Brian