Retrofit NON OEM Sat Nav

[Pork]

Hi chaps,

I've recently bought a very well spec'd B200 Turbo, W245. The only thing it doesnt have that I really wanted was the COMAND.

I looked into getting this retro-fitted before, and was going to go with the NTG2.5, touch screen, blue tooth etc and was given a quote I was happy with.

What I didnt see coming was the 'problem' of having the HK speaker upgrade - this has made the OEM retro-fit uneconomical (i.e. c40% of the cars value!).

So....with this in mind, I'd like to look at getting a non-OEM (ideally touch screen) with Bluetooth which looks nice and integrates with the steering wheel controls.

Over to you lot...and suggestions?

Cheers
Pork

[Pork]

Just for reference, I thinking something like this:




http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

[Pork]

Is there anyone who has looked into this at all? Or already done it?

[tobinen]

Not yet but I am looking at an Alpine unit to replace my factory COMAND.

[tobinen]

Not yet but I am looking at an Alpine unit to replace my factory COMAND.

[Pork]

tobinen said:

Not yet but I am looking at an Alpine unit to replace my factory COMAND.

OK, cool.

Will it be a direct fit, with blanking plates or something? Will in interface with the steering wheel controls?

[audidoody]

I have COMAND. It's OK. But nothing a PND or a newish Android or iPhone on a mount won't do probably better (eg live GPRS-derived traffic info instead of FM-derived traffic info)

[Pork]

audidoody said:

I have COMAND. It's OK. But nothing a PND or a newish Android or iPhone on a mount won't do probably better (eg live GPRS-derived traffic info instead of FM-derived traffic info)

Its largely to do with the aesthetics and MFSW functionality, not that the COMAND is particularly good. Its much like the BMW system - a TomTom would do a much better job, but the screen on the dash just looks dandy!

[gizlaroc]

You do realise that the OEM HK is hooked up optically from the head unit?

You will need to put a new amp in as well and then cut up the old HK harness and use that or rewire the car from new amp to speakers.

[tobinen]

Pork said:

OK, cool.

Will it be a direct fit, with blanking plates or something? Will in interface with the steering wheel controls?

I think there's an interface for the steering wheel but it won't have all the functions. Pretty sure it only retains volume control. I expect I will need a plate of some sort. Just waiting for one to come up at the right price!

[Pork]

gizlaroc said:

You do realise that the OEM HK is hooked up optically from the head unit?

You will need to put a new amp in as well and then cut up the old HK harness and use that or rewire the car from new amp to speakers.

Even for a non-OEM, I'd need to do all that!?

Gah.....tell me it isn't so!