I've heard some crazy stories about the stereo head unit in my 2004 SLK320. I've had installers laugh at me like I'm nuts when I ask them about replacing it with an aftermarket head unit. They say the whole audio system is "fiber optic", and "I'd have to rip everything out" to replace the head unit in a 2003 or later SLK320.

Has anyone with a 2003 or later SLK320 done this? Was it as easy as just replacing the head unit (and connecting it to the stock amp) or do I really need to rip out everything down to the speakers & start over again??

 

that crazy story you heard happens to be TRUE.

it is called D2B or digital optic bus. it's a network of optic fiber connecting your cd changer, telephone interface, gateway, head unit, etc.

haven't you ever wonder why they never put a password on the radio anymore? because stealing it is useless, not unless you have enough time to pull out all of those things.

yes, you can install another stereo system, but leave D2B system intact. those two red light emitting optic fiber can transfer sound, data, and information have more speed than your 400mbps DSL.

 

Actually, I got lucky...we took out the stock radio and found that it uses a standard VW-style plug into the car's wiring harness. The CD changer is, of course, fiber-optic, but that's no great loss.

So now I have an Alpine CDA-9820XM head unit that fits great and looks great in the dash. Now if the display were only a little brighter, I'd be able to see it when the top's down [sm=smiley16.gif]