Mercedes-Benz MY2001 C-Class COMAND 2.0 User Manual

Mercedes-Benz COMAND 2.0 Retrofit for a MY2001 C-Class

A guide to installing COMAND in your W203 C-Class

The following are some basic instructions on how to retrofit a COMAND 2.0 head unit into a 2001 C-320.
These instructions should be similar for all of the new W203 series (although I am not responsible if they
aren’t). These instructions will not be the same for the new face lifted 2004/5 models as those use an
entirely different COMAND head unit. Use this pub only for advice if you are installing on anything but a
MY2001 “C” or other model Mercedes.

The obvious disclaimers … don’t do this unless you are comfortable working on your vehicle. My W203 is
an early 2001 US version with a VIN number under 800. I take no responsibility for the accuracy or
compatibility of this document with your vehicle. You can make a huge and costly mess of your vehicle if
you don’t have the proper tools or experience. If you are unsure of anything it is probably better left for
someone with more experience to do it for you. Steve Krabbenborg at http://www.mbenznl.com
all the time and is way more experienced & knowledgeable than I will ever be. Contact him if you want it
done right … as opposed to your local MB dealership that will probably do it wrong, if at all!

The retrofit is pretty straightforward on a new “C”. It should only take about three hours max, if you are
good (like Steve), under two. For reference, my “C” has the Bose audio option, CD changer, and integrated
V60i cell phone. I created a PDF copy of the Mercedes WIS (Workshop Integrated System) and Service
Bulletins I used for the retrofit specific to the W203 that is available on my information website at

http://home.earthlink.net/~phdwebsite/

print the file from there. There are two additional links on that web page with a lot of good information I
used for my retrofit. Read (and understand) all the information completely before starting the retrofit. I
refer to connectors and such in this publication that you won’t understand until you read the WIS and other
information from the linked webpages.

Tools required:
Torx T20 bit/driver
Wire cutters/strippers
Molex (or whatever else you want to use) crimping tool
Screwdrivers and a ratchet with assorted metric sockets … a powered screwdriver will save time
Some hard plastic/nylon wedges and picks for removing snap in panels/covers (shown in the WIS)

. Just click on the COMAND 2.0 Install link and download or

does this

Parts required:

COMAND 2.0 unit specific to your vehicle. I used part number A203 827 4842. This is a 2004 US spec
unit that includes the SAT button for the Satellite radio option now available in some 2004 models. I have
not hooked this up or know much about it. I will report back when I know more. Please note the first three
numbers correspond to my model (203). Make sure you buy a COMAND unit that is specific for your
vehicle if you are doing this in something other than a “C”. The different model numbers (usually) have a
different navigation gyroscope angle adapter depending upon how the unit sits in the dash. The W209
CLK units are the same as W203’s. There is info on both of the independent install/retrofit links on my
website about part numbers. You can usually find COMAND units on eBay but be cautious about what
you buy there. This is a picture of the head unit I used:

I purchased a COMAND adapter harness for my “C” and cut that up to do the install. This probably wasn’t
necessary but made the install easier for me as I didn’t have to locate/find the C1 and C2 connector/shell
pieces that plug into the back of the COMAND unit. The part number for the harness is A203 540
0909 which sells for about $45. This is what the harness looks like:

I also purchased the AUX input harness that allows you to connect an external audio device to the head
unit, like and iPod or cassette player (since the COMAND unit does not have one). The part number for
that is A203 540 6107. Below is a picture of it (left) with the shortened mating connector harness (right)
ready to put back into C2.

I also purchased the GPS antenna coax cable and a GPS splitter to tie into the existing GPS antenna that is
attached to the upper right side of the rear window. I have seen that other folks (including Steve) add an
additional antenna under the dash when doing COMAND installs but I wanted to make my install as
“stock” as possible. Intuitively the rear antenna should work a little better as the line of site around the
vehicle is better … plus the parts are cheaper than buying a GPS antenna, although more work to install.
The splitter and coax cable may already be installed in later ’01 and beyond models, but mine was not. The
part number for the GPS antenna cable is A203 540 7006 and the part number for the GPS antenna splitter
is A210 820 2489. They look like this:

I also purchased some C2 connector pins so I could shorten the AUX harness that came with the adapter
harness. The part number is A008 545 5526 and you need at least four of them assuming you do the install
as I did, at least five more if you don’t use and modify an adapter harness. Buy lots, they are cheap!!

I am not going to spend time describing how to remove the pieces from your vehicle necessary to do this
retrofit. The WIS (on my website) from Mercedes is pretty specific. If you can’t follow them you probably
shouldn’t be doing this yourself. The only part of the WIS that was inaccurate was the removal of the
center air vent in the dash … that was the worst part of the install for me!!!!

This is a picture of all of the stuff you are going to remove. The shifter trim plate and knob, shifter cover
wood trim panel, ashtray, center air vent, center console trim assembly, under radio storage tray, and head
unit all come out.

If you follow the WIS you can’t go wrong but removing the center air vent took me about 20 minutes. The
tabs you use to pivot the vents farther up and down to get to the screws and release tabs are easy to figure
out. If you are pivoting the vents up you pull the lower tabs right, the upper tabs right to pivot the vent
down. You remove the two Torx screws on the bottom of the vent opening as shown in the WIS by
pivoting both vents up. When you pivot the vents down there are four plastic tabs that need to be released
on the vent, not two as described in the WIS. The other two are near the center and you should release
those (with your plastic wedge … or at least something softer than a screwdriver) first while keeping light
pressure on the vent assembly to pull it straight out. You then pull down the outer ratcheting tabs and the
entire vent assembly pulls out!! Easy once you know how (sigh). This is what your center console will
look like (fun huh?).