Version 1.1 6th January 2008

The Mercedes Benz iPod kit is a sort of kludge that connects to the Auxiliary input of the stereo system (for sound) and uses the car's network (Canbus) to display information on the instrument cluster and read the steering wheel controls, as oppose to other audio devices like phone and CD changer that connect to the audio fibre-optic network called MOST.

There are various iPod kits for the different models but basically they contain the same basic parts.

Each kit consists of an iPod control unit, a cable from the iPod control unit to the iPod, a power and audio cable, a manual and some mounting hardware.

On the A/B/C/CLK/ML/GL/R class iPod kit and the new C class iPod kit the power cable and the audio/power cable are combined into one harness that is inserted between the car's wiring and the head unit - thus giving the iPod kit access to power, CANbus and audio feed to the stereo, and being nice and simple to install.

On the E/CLS audio system is different as the kit connects to the boot (trunk) so there is a seperate power feed and audio connection to be made.

I have often been asked if the various Mercedes iPod kits have different controllers and cables, and the answer is that some parts are the same, others are different. I have looked at the 3 of the latest kits (at 6th January 2008) and list the parts below.

Mercedes iPod kit for A/B/C/CLK/ML/GL/R class -  B6 7 82 4254

Mercedes iPod kit for E/CLS (W211/W219) - B6 7 82 4239

Mercedes iPod kit for New C Class (W204) - A204 870 28 90

Common questions:

Can I install this myself ?   See my iPod retrofit in A/B/C/CLK/ML/GL/R class document.

Where can I buy an iPod kit cheaper than the dealer? See my buying guide document or www.comandonline.co.uk

My iPod volume is too quiet. See my iPod volume fixes document.