I found a great aftermarket head unit that I want to purchase and install in my wife's 2004 ML350. Problem is the stock system makes use of fiber optic cables, making the amplifier worthless. The CD changer will also become redundant, but with iPods, who uses CDs in the car these days anyway?

I'm fine with this, but does anyone know if the wires leading from the amplifier to the speakers can be kept in place? Or are they some odd, proprietary nonsense that MB thought was state of the art in 2004?

Also looking for a source for adapter plugs for the MB wiring harness to connect with more modern units. There is a dearth of adapters of any kind out there for the ML series - might explain why I've seen so few aftermarket stereos in this series of Mercedes.

Any thoughts on ML audio upgrades greatly appreciated, thanks.

__________________
Gil

2004 ML350
1984 300CD; Ivory (sold)

So nobody's ever done this? Hard to imagine all those ML drivers suffering through crappy stereos out there.....!

__________________
Gil

2004 ML350
1984 300CD; Ivory (sold)

I finally found a way to play Pandora and music files through the stock Bose stereo! The TranzIt USB from iSimple will allow an easy hook up from an Android, iPhone or other smartphone, iPod, etc. and fits very nicely into the empty space above the tape player in the stock radio. This unit does not transmit an FM signal like many others, but it bypasses the antenna wire and connects directly to the radio. This bypass is controlled by the red switch in the picture, so if you still want to use the regular radio, turn the switch off aid it's back to a normal antenna function.

The sound comes from the 3.5mm audio jack, and the USB is for power if you want to charge your device while driving (might need a different adapter for iPhone/iPod).

Removal of the stock radio required two radio keys for the bottom slots - extremely easy to do; a pair of these keys cost about eight bucks. Connecting the wires was simple once I found an ignition lead behind the radio (use a multimeter here to be sure).

To install the switch and plug panel where I did, I had to remove the black plastic piece where the navigation system is on the factory radio (my car did not have it) by unscrewing the top panel of the radio and lifting out the blank face plate. A special antenna adapter wire was also required for the back of the radio to connect to the product. But overall this installation took under an hour and cost less than a hundred bucks. Well worth it compared to nearly a thousand for a complete radio replacement and re-wiring of the fiber optic system.

EDIT: Though the picture shows the radio connecting with the face plate down, I re-routed the wires to come up above the wood trim and located the phone in a holder on the dash board. You can't drive around with the radio face plate open or it will start beeping (safety feature).

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__________________
Gil

2004 ML350
1984 300CD; Ivory (sold)