First of all, let me say "hello" to everyone that uses this forum, I am new as of today. This is my first Mercedes, and became enamored with the "hard top convertible" when we sold our touring motorcycle but still wanted to be "in the wind" when we retired.


I bought a '02, SLK230, Kompressor with only 58k on the odometer. I am spending the colder months of the year getting things up to par, and have so far replaced the windshield, had the drivers seat bolster redone, figured out how to fix all the little pealing on the center console, replaced the original clear bra, tinted the glass, and want to replace the 9 year old tires this spring.
Now on to my question:
I live in Western Colorado, about a mile and a half from nowhere, and want to update the OEM stereo, (the original is working fine, but I want to add a Nav system and Bluetooth compatible system). I will most likely try this myself if I can get some direction on here. I called a dealer in Denver, and the VIN# indicates it is the bose system and has a fiber optic connection for the amps, (no CD changer), and am being told by the dealer, that if I disconnect the fiber optics, I will have a considerable amount of issues. Not only will the new stereo not work, but it will flag other systems????
According to the dealer there is not an OEM replacement, and they couldn't offer any suggestions.
I have talked to Crutchfield, about the Jensen VX7012, which gives me the upgrades I am looking for, but am concerned about the change out. Crutchfield says it includes a wiring harness kit which will plug in to the factory OEM plug. No mention is made of the fiber optics.
I called Best Buy, and they want $250 to install it, and that is using some kind of bypass for the fiber optics.
All I want to do is use the existing speakers, and the amp in the new head unit, (which will handle all the speakers when the plug is wired in). I don't care about the the functions of the factory phone system, or the extra amps it links to.
Any suggestions? Has anyone done this and simply "dead ended" the fiber optics, or come up with a simple install?