I have been looking on Car domain and came across this product that allows you to plug your ipod directly into your car stereo. I was curious to see if anyone knows if it will work with the Crossfire's factory radio.

Here is the link
http://www.cardomain.com/shop/item.pl?sku=PACAUXPOD

Thanks

 

$160.00 is almost as much as a new head unit that will play mp3s.

 

Unfortunately our "crippled" (Becker aka Infinity) head unit is only a radio / CD player. Even though it has all the connections on the back including a Mercedes optical port. It also has all the ports to connect either a CD changer or Aux-in port.

I spent several hours test wiring the back of the OEM head unit to see if I could get the Aux-in (CD Changer) port to function, to no avail. I found schematics and pinouts online but again our head units just don't have the guts or programming to use any of the ports on the back.

I am working on (an expensive) alternative to a replacement head unit. Mine will look and operate just like the OEM head unit except it will PLAY MP3 CD's, allow you to add a CD Changer OR have an Aux-in port. It will appear to be the original head unit (or it might have a slight tweak).

Edit: I really like my Sony CDX-F7700 and it sounds great, plays MP3's and my iPod is hooked up to its Aux-in... however... it does not match the dash like the OEM one. Additionally having an aftermarket head unit is perhaps (IMO) the biggest reason for car break-ins.

 

Here you go. Seamless install for your MP3 player.

http://frontiernet.net/~dbipes/SLK/m...pter/index.htm

They can be purchased from myroadster.net. I am affiliated with this site but have purchased a number of items from Jerry and been very happy with the service.

 

Aftger reading the description of operation I think I'll pass. This device sends the (unamplified) signal directly to the amp and then obviously out to the speakers. Which means you would have to adjust the volume on your MP3 player instead of the head unit. My guess is that the volume would be way too low but that's just a guess.

It is indeed an interesting concept...

 

I picked one up and it almost works.

(The bipes portable MP3 adapter from forMyMercedes.com.)

It plugs right in to the Becker radio but it won't stay on. When the ignition switch is on (sending power to the radio) I hear the MP3 player for a few seconds and then the Radio turns on and starts up and switches out the MP3 player. When I turn the radio off the player never switches in. Somehow the power seems always on to the adapter and never lets the MP3 signal through to the amp. So it's working for a few seconds at start up but that turns the radio on which then switches the MP3 signal off.

However if I leave the radio out of the system completely (unplugged) the MP3 player works great !! I am using my iPAQ 4155 as the MP3 player and full volumn will break the windows.

Any thoughts about what needs to be changed to make this unit work?

 

The Crossfire Radio does not accept a cd changer connected directly to the radio so I would guess the mp3 player won't work either. You might have to use a fm modulator.

 

I also have been looking into ways to play mp3's without changing the head unit. I found a simple device at Walmart. It's called a VR3 mp3 fm modulator.It sells for about $30.00. What's unique about this product is that it has a usb port that accepts memory sticks. I downloaded songs onto the memory stick plug it into the lighter socket; adjust the radio to 88.1 and I can play the downloaded music through the car speakers. It also has a plug on the side to add a portable mp3 player which I aslo tried. If you load good quality music onto the memory stick it sounds pretty good. I do not get any intereference; but you guys in the city might. It has six fm stations to choose from. Hey, for 30 bucks it's worth a try; and you can always return it to Walmart.

 

cindy2 This product doesn't plug into the CD changer ports, it actually takes the two ISO plugs from the back of the radio and then it plugs into the back of our head unit. So what SeaXfire was hoping was that if it "connects" it ought to work. Unfortunately it connected but now doesn't work.

SeaXfire, I searched for some other Mercedes radio manuals to see if I could find a difference in the wiring diagram or perhaps in operation of the radio. I was not able to locate any other Mercedes radio manuals, sorry.

I really can't imagine why it wouldn't work, here's all it has to do:
1. Convert the head phone jack into the speaker inputs on the head unit connector
2. Switch on the amp when you turn off the head unit
3. Switch on or activate when the amp signal looses power (radio off).

I'll think about it some more and perhaps others have some ideas.

 

Cute and smart and thrifty,and great taste in cars !

 

SeaXfire - have you resolved the issue with the BIPES adapter? Have you contacted Dick?, he seems like a great guy to deal with and very knowledgable. Perhaps you got a defective one?

Please post back - thanks.

 

Nope, no good resolution. I exchanged email with Dick and he had a lot of good words and suggestions for investigation.

So what I learned was that the antenna line that is used to switch the head unit out for the MP3 adapter on the Mercedes is at zero volts when the radio is OFF and at 12 volts when the radio is ON. However, on the Crossfire it's always at 12 volts ON or OFF. So the adapter will NOT work in the Crossfire even thought the connectors fit perfect.

If I wired up an external switch to break that antenna line to zero volts then the adapter would work.

But, where to put the switch? I really don't want to be in the business of drilling holes, making brackets, and routing more wires.

 

I don't think I'll ever use that tow switch, whatever it does (I guess I should read my manual!). That might be a good candidate, then it could be like your secret switch or something.


That does suck about the adapter... too bad you couldn't crosswire the amp turn on lead. That lead does turn off with the radio. Maybe you should ask Dick if that would work, let me see....

You'd take the incoming wiring harness on the BIPES, swap the amp lead and the antenna lead then on the outgoing wiring harness on the BIPES you'd swap them back. That way the car and radio still see what they are expecting to see except the BIPES gets a zero voltage on the new antenna lead (amp lead) when the radio is switched off.

Good luck, I hope you figure something out.