CITC230

I don't really hang out at this forum but I figure this would be some useful information...=)

I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGES TO YOUR CAR ETC. THIS IS INFO ONLY. TRY EVERYTHING AT YOUR OWN RISK.

To my knowledge there isn't a bluetooth MB kit for the w203 yet...I maybe wrong but if there is, it definately wasn't easy to find...so I decided to try the IHF1000 by Motorola...

This is my first time ripping open my benz so I might be doing somethings wrong...Here's the kit...$200 shipped...



Here's what you get...BT module...Wiring hardness...loud speaker...mic...and control...



Here's a close up of the control piece...its quite small...



Here's my car 05 C230k NAV 6spd...



I promised myself I wouldn't take apart this car...but 6 months later here it is...



Made a good guess...things start coming out...

CITC230

Take out the cig tray...becareful the clips break easily...







Remove two torx bolts on both sides...



T20's...



The AC piece now comes out...



Remove the top ac vents...



Flip em up...



Remove two more torx...hard to see...



Make sure you remove the two clips up top also...this was the hardest part because its so hard to see in side...

CITC230

2 more torx removes the accessory buttons...





4 more torx removes the NAVI...





Back connections...







I didn't know my car had fiber optics...I thought it was only on the HK models...

CITC230

At this point I wasn't sure how was going to tap the wires...so I decided to look for other places for the module...









Well that didn't work out too well...I have no idea what those pins are so I ditched the center console idea...



Turns out that right behind the AC controls there's the perfect space for the BT module...



Even all the wiring fits...



Test fit the plate...



Went to buy some wire tips...in two sizes...

CITC230

Yellow is the mute button...



Front left speaker + and - ...but this turns out to not work because I guess the mute turns off the amp?



Used a voltmete to prove the rest of the signals...I work a lot with BMWs so I guess their wiring codes are pretty similar...



So turns out I couldn't find an ignition power...one that is on only when key is in pos 1 or 2...thought about it for a while...then realized that I could use the cig adapter b/c its only hot pos 1 or 2...





black/yellow is that wire...follow it up near the radio...



Attach the green which is ign sensor...



Here's all 5 wires tapped...brown is ground and red/blue is const 12.

CITC230

Attached the rest of the accessories and put the radio back to test...



Amazing it works...!



But no sound from the front left speaker because the system is muted...anyone know a method around this? I thought about using the AUX but it would be a pain to press audio=>aux everytime a call comes in...I was also surprised that my car had aux in from the factory?



Anyway ditched that idea and put everything back together...


Here's the mic...actually its the perfect size for those empty accessory buttons...







Control location...



Speaker location...I think I'm gonna put a smaller speaker...but its okay for now...

CITC230

Here's everything finished...



Here's some videos....

Pair Phone

Receive Call

Auto Mute

Ignition

Voice Dial

valdes

Bro i think it looks bad
I know there are better ways but o well if you like it
thanks for the info any how

amdeutsch

Great write up. Thanx for all that hard work. I will now make you immortal by including a link of this in the DIY sticky above.

CITC230

valdes: I agree the speaker looks like crap...but what can you do when MB doesn't have a kit out yet? I guess im showing a proof of compatibility rather than the best solution...

Kenzmbz

nice write up !!

Capt Nemo o2

A few things...

First: Very nice write up, will come in handy for my upcoming mod... Waiting for parts to come in from Steve.

Second: Speaker placement, I have found that they are plenty loud, especially Motorola's pro install kits. Stick it to the top of the foot well close to the transmission tunnle on the passenger side. You will hear it just fine, and it wont be getting kicked by people sitting in the front seat, and is out of view.

Mic placement, when on the phone with the A/C on, that will drive the person on the other side crazy. Best place I found is on the A pillar near the top. Picks up the voice well, and is also away from the air vents. Never mount it near the center of the windshield, when it rains for some reason it picks up every single rain drop hitting the class and becomes impossible for the person on the other end to hear. Get some thin metal stips, about a half inch wide and bend it to make a clip to slide under the trim so this way you dont need to stick tape to the cloth. If you want, I will take a pic to show you what I mean. I dont have handsfree but thats what I did with my mezuzah.

CitronC230K_03

great write up! i love it when members help out like this! \

nlpamg

I concur, great write-up! thanks for doing this!

Usmc2k

I was thinkn bout doing bluetooth n my car thanx for tha info.

jedcred

I'm curious if you could use the built-in microphones in the car already. At least, that's what I assume they are (the little holes on either side of the speedometer). If you could tap into those, it would take care of your microphone problem, assuming they are there and you can tap them. Does anyone know if this is possible?

swale

Dont think the holes on the speedo are mics, I have pre wire and I'm almost 100% sure the mic is in the front roof light switch cluster on the drivers side vent.

fazooley

That is absolutley disgusting. Rip that out of your car, but a parrot ck3100 kit and I'll send you the diagrams to use the car speakers and the mute correctly. With the parrot you can mount the little lcd on the air vent and thats all you need to see, no wires.

fazooley

clkcadet

pretty cool, but cant you also mount the speaker in the footwell or something? and as for the mic, try putting it near the rearview mirror, thats where mine is located

Florida_Gadget

anyone fugure out how to mute the radio and get sound out of the car speakers on the unit. Can we confirm we have a prewire mic by the sunroof switch also. I am obout to crack my new c230 open...ugggg

Mason

Definatly do, The standard car wiring is there for a MB phone cradle! The Mic is in the front light/ sunroof switch cluster. Think it runs down the RHS of the screen (looking forward out the window).

Secondly, if you cut the wires to the speaker (provided in the kit) and splice them into the drivers side speaker before the splitter you will have a nice inbuilt set up with Mids and tweeters.

Now cant get much better than that (unless MB got their Sh't together and actually offered bluetooth as an option)

FANTASTIC WRITE UP

MBHustla858

howcome the pix are dead?

drexappeal

I checked the website for the original poster of this thread and those links no longer exist on his website.

The D.I.Y. still can make sense, but just no pics to help visualize. If anybody is willing to contribute their own D.I.Y. pics to add to this thread, it would be great.