my c180 order

Well, I personally avoided the Mercedes phone wiring even though my work and personal handsets were probably compatible, because I cannot guarantee keeping the same throughout my lease. I use the ClearCall hands-free system - it isn't as tidy as the Mercedes option but will vary with me as necessary.

If, however, you think it will suit your needs, I would go for the wiring.

(my Merc is an A-class... arrived home tonight to find it back from the bodywork repairer.)

The MB phone has an amplifier and intelligent controller that puts it through the sound system. Dont waste your time with aftermarket phones. Yes, there is a new version of the stacker coming which is more compatible with MP3 storage systems.

Several companies are working on a replacement also. Alpine already have iPOD control ..... so expect to see it in the MB soon if any of the head units are alpine.

In the short term .... satellite radio and digital radio is also in the pipeline.

I hope you are getting COMAND with the order.

Good news!

Sorry for my ignorance but what is COMAND?

Thanks to both for the replies Oz

Take a test drive in a car fitted with COMAND .... dont take my word for it.

From the comment about Nokia phones I take it OVS is in Europe. If so, take the fully-factory fitted cradle.

When I ordered my car directly from a German dealer the options were slightly different to those from UK dealers (I am in UK). In Germany they had a form pre-wiring which was, in effect, cables only without cradle, to allow for a third-party cradle. However, I found out that any fitter in the UK would bypass this and lay own wires.

Thus I took the whole lot, which goes through hifi system as Miro says. The contents of the SIM card is controlled from the steering wheel, i.e. any number stored there can be called hands-free. What also works is voice controlled dialling, but I haven't bothered with that.

Regarding COMAND, I would not be so enthusiastic about it, though do try it. It all depends on how much time you will spend in the car and to what extent you would use the COMAND features. The current version is probably a lot better than when I had to decide (in 2000 for 2001 delivery). It's an integrated satnav and music system

DAS

Thanks again for the replies. DAS I'm also in the UK. I'll have to discuss the finer points of the pre-wiring with my dealer to see exactly what it entails.

COMAND does look like a great gadget to have, but its even more expense. It will probably(will check to see) add an extra £1500 to the price.

The facelift comand is DVD not the old CD version. Therefore it is vastly superior.

The sound is better than the stock radio option and the phone integrates perfectly.

I think DAS is suggesting the following setup

- Phone

- Linguatronic

I am suggesting

- COMAND

- AUX cable

Mostly given that your FUTURE MP3 player is handled through COMAND much more easily and ANY current model can sit in the glove box through the factory installed AUX cable which has a stereo port in the glove box. So you can play your MP3 NOW.

Hard to say but the GPS option isnt just that. COMAND takes control of the whole car, including the CD stacker, TV tuner, DVD, AUX sound inputs, Phone and Navigation. Its much more than just a sat radio.

The beauty is that it can largely function through the instrument cluster and steering wheel.

Now that I installed COMAND after I bought my car I can see why it would be better having it from day one. It was a lot of work learning how to pull the car apart.

COMAND sounds extremely tempting, but I have to think of the costs. I'm seeing my dealer on monday, hopefully he can arrange something at a decent price. If I could afford everything I wanted I wouldn't be buying a C180!

But thanks for all the advice, I'll have more of a clue when I do see the dealer.

Let me put it this way .... I have a C180 and if I could have done it, I would have bought it without tyres. There is no shame in buying the base unit.

To get the AUX function you need COMAND installed. Simple as that.

You can also leave it for later ...... do a google on "COMAND retrofit" and see what happens.

I never got COMAND and I only do about 6000 miles p.a. tops. Plus, I quite like paper maps, which help me get oriented. I have used satnav systems and found them potentially useful, and might consider one in the next car, esp if available on DVD, so that I can have the whole of Europe on one disc.

As I said, it all depends on how much time you will spend in the car and which gadgets you would use. For example, I am glad I never went for a multi-CD-stack in the boot as I usually listed to the radio. And when I do listen to CDs, swapping individual discs is hardly a hardship. I have the basic Audio 10. The current COMAND certainly sounds interesting.

On the other hand, even if you don't choose COMAND, I strongly recommend the built-in wiring and cradle system, which takes a variety of Nokia handsets (though not the camera phones), or something very similar that allows you to operate the phone from the steering wheel.

I don't know what expertise OVS's dealer has, but where I bought my car there is a technician who specialises in comms technology and can explain all technical detail and relative merits to customers. It was vey useful!

DAS

** Navigation is only one small part of what COMAND does .... it also controls the other ICE car functions. ** The W203 has the stacker in the glovebox. ** The COMAND is a highly rated head end. When coupled with the BOSE option it delivers amazing sound. It is a vast improvement on my Audio 10 head end. ** A blue tooth kit has just been announced that works with the steering wheel.

-- For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling

That is probably the reason why Mercedes-Benz USA opted to replace the W221 E-Class that were ordered with COMAND to be fitted at later date when it became available. The engineers realised the enormous difficulties in fitting the COMAND in the cars that weren't pre-configured for COMAND.

The owners were given choice of refund for the cost of COMAND or replacement of their E-Class.

I forgot the number of E-Class replaced, but it's probably about low thousands...

Oliver