Installing an Android Head Unit in a Mercedes C-Class (W203 Xtrons Radio)

Follow along as I install a factory style Android head unit in my 2005 W203 C230K! Adding Android Auto and Apple Carplay capability to this car is a great upgrade, and I kept the factory look!
This video is part of my $600 Supercharged C-Class rebuild series. Check out the playlist to see everything I've done to it!
• Mercedes C230K - Class...
The radio I installed is similar to this unit (mine is a previous version):
a.co/d/7ofo33r
Other information can be found on the Xtrons website here:
xtrons.com/mercedes-various-a...
Shortcuts:
0:00 - Intro
0:52 - Vent Removal
4:26 - Button Panel Removal
5:15 - Lower Section Removal
9:50 - New Radio Connectors
12:15 - Backup Camera Wire Prep
16:34 - Connections
21:18 - Test Fitting
21:57 - Reconnecting Panels
22:27 - Radio Testing
24:26 - Cable Management
27:28 - Fixing the Fit
28:05 - Reassembly
29:39 - Vent Reinstall
30:10 - USB into Center Console
36:13 - Center Console Reassembly
37:52 - Advanced Wire Routing (optional)
40:43 - Microphone Mounting
45:52 - Outro

[@Robtheautoguy]

That head unit looks like it came from the factory like that! That OEM look is so much nicer on these old Mercs than a giant cheap screen that looks tacked on and blocks a bunch of stuff. Thanks for the install vid!

[@kajosefwinkler5192]

Thank you from Germany, makes me this job more easy 😊👍🏻

[@gloriadejuana5131]

Wow! You make it look easy. Thanks.

[@Ash-yq4se]

Great video. Very helpful as I am about to do the same and upgrade to android 12 on a 2007 C Class following a read failure on the navigation side.

[@coolcat23]

BTW, the yellow plug that was plugged into the original radio is for a second (diversity) antenna. You correctly used the main antenna plug (the black one). Your original radio did not seem to have a navigation option. For those radios that do, one can reuse the car's built-in GPS antenna, instead of adding the one that comes with the new radio. All it takes is a small adapter cable. N.B., too bad the previous owner left the car in such a state for you. Kudos for putting all that effort in to make it nice again.

[@khaledalayan8565]

good work

[@rjkulman8990]

nice job

[@richardstoppelenburg.2708]

Great, thanks!

[@Gio-hp1vy]

Hey man huge fan, just got a 04 c230 and I’ve been following your videos because you give good advice and point out problems my car could have. Was wondering if you can put a link for the back up cam or one similar

[@frenchineer]

Thank you! I think the one we'll be installing is a PixelMan, but be sure to check out different mounting options while you think about where you want to run it. One option is to get a flush mount camera and install it in the bumper, though I haven't tried that yet. Others have license plate bracket mounts included as well.

[@coolcat23]

28:50 You could have transferred the clips from the old radio to the new radio. They can easily be pulled off the original radio and installed on the new radio. With your unit, the clips probably would have needed a bit of tightening but after that, they would have stuck to the new radio just fine. :)

[@frenchineer]

Thanks, I'll have to check that out the next time I'm in there! I'll check on the original radio in the meantime.

[@christiandebaecker7451]

Hello from France . I always enjoy watching your videos. I also installed a car radio (Chinese) with reversing camera. But since June, I haven't been able to get a radio. The connectors provided do not correspond to the car and the connections do not correspond. Following an update they sent me, it's Google play that I can no longer update. Which means that for the moment I am still waiting to use a car radio with radio stations or at least Carplay. Connecting and routing the reversing camera cable was easy to implement, I opted for a camera integrated into a license plate holder with LEDs around the lens, then in the car radio settings I opted for dynamic lines (which turn with the wheels). All of this works perfectly. For the USB cables unfortunately they were not long enough to go all the way to the central armrest, so I had to stop at the cup holder (but mine is not the same model as yours). I encourage you to continue your videos, it brings us knowledge that is easy to implement thanks to you.

[@frenchineer]

Thank you for watching! It's unfortunate that you're having software issues with your radio. If you aren't able to install from the google play store, you could try to sideload the apps you need. For Carplay, do you have a Carkit adapter? That could be a way to solve that problem. For the USB cable length, when the cable isn't long enough I either use an extension or plug in the cable I will be using before bringing it into the center console.

[@christiandebaecker7451]

Good morning. Thanks for your advices. I just ordered the USB extension, I will have to remove the phone holder in the armrest. For Android auto I will put it on a micro SD card to install it on the car radio. Looking forward to seeing your next video. PS: on mine I installed holograms in the doors with the brand logo.@@frenchineer

[@frenchineer]

You should be able to use a usb key plugged into the extension to load the app. I've seen the hologram style lights! There was one installed on an upcoming project.

[@clamgunful1]

really enjoyed...pliz advice on the name/brand/specifications of the radio...i wanna upgrade my W203 too. good job

[@frenchineer]

Thanks! This one is an XTRONS unit. I linked the unit I used in the description, but it may have been replaced by a newer model number since. I recommend searching for "w203 android radio".

[@clamgunful1]

@@frenchineer thanx ..i dd a number of tymz but wld end up confused coz there are loads of different ones. but let me search for the xtrons unit thistym

[@ELLJAYY]

Any possibiliy to include the cars telephony system (the microphones in the Rear Mirror) into that radio? I am thinking about purchasing one like that, but it would be cool to just use the factory built in microphones.

[@frenchineer]

I don't know of any way to tie in to the built in microphone unfortunately.

[@davedsamhoun]

@Frenchineer which USB cable is the the Android Auto? the 6 pin or the 4 pin? mine arrived with 2 black USB cables, please help!

[@frenchineer]

If I'm not mistaken, the pin count is only different so they can only be plugged in one place, I think both have the same number of wires going to the connector. If you want to check if they both work, I would recommend testing the unit before closing everything up and routing the cable.

[@trevorheyward358]

Anybody know how to get the steering wheel buttons right with a android radio same w203

[@shaunwalker2055]

I have this same exact car, but mines has the Harmon Kardon system with the optical amp I was told and it needed a optical bypass, yours looks just like mine, do you have the Harmon Kardon system with the optical amp, and did you have to buy a decoder?

[@frenchineer]

I didn't need a decoder for this one, but I do have one in my 2004 S-class. I'm not sure which fiber optic type is used with the Harman Kardon system, but it should be either D2B or MOST. There should be forum posts about radio installs in w203 c-classes with fiber optics in the audio system!

[@masonichisenga3032]

Oh snap! There I was thinking that this could work in mine with the optic fiber business! On well, on to the next W203 radio video...

[@shaunwalker2055]

@@frenchineer yeah my 05 has the HK system and I believe it is MOST, I guess I could always run a 5 channel amp from the rca outputs and bypass all of the other stuff

[@frenchineer]

There are MOST fiber optic boxes, and those only need to be connected to 12V, Ground, and the left/right outputs from the radio. It's what I have in my S-class with the Bose system, and it was plug and play. The D2B boxes require a couple more connections.

[@mrichmon]

There are also D2B fiber optic conversion boxes that will inject audio from an aftermarket head unit into the Bose power amp for D2B equipped cars.

[@RookieTrader-hl7ko]

I installed an off market Android unit and the unit does not get power and also wanted to know how the fiber optic cable thats used for the speakers works and I did not see the fiber optix decoder for the speakers. Any help much appreciated.

[@frenchineer]

My install did not use a fiber optic decoder because the car did not have that sound system. If your unit is not getting power, you would need to check the connectors that were included with your radio.

[@victorbishara8488]

W203 has fiberoptic line going to the CD Changer and amplifier, how did you connect to it?

[@frenchineer]

My car doesn’t have a separate amplifier, but for those that do you would need a fiber optic decoder compatible with the system you have (either d2b or MOST).

[@davedsamhoun]

Mine had a CD changer with the fiber optics, I just installed the same head unit, it states that it does not support the CD changer, I disconnected and removed my CD changer which gave me more space in the glove compartment, you don't need any extra plugs as the speakers are normal wires that will work with the head unit plug

[@Dbisi-pj2bu]

Are you going to install the Camera soon ? Nice Vid!

[@frenchineer]

Thanks! The backup camera video is still planned, but I'm not sure when I will be installing it yet.

[@Dbisi-pj2bu]

@@frenchineer alright then, hope to see it soon !

[@carlee_marie]

There is no audio coming out of my car do you know what the problem could be

[@frenchineer]

Do you have a radio like this or the factory one?

[@te4oBG]

How long did it take you to install?

[@frenchineer]

This took me about an afternoon, but if you aren't filming and only bring the USB cable into the main part of the center console it could be quicker.

[@IvanR-rp1mc]

Send me a link where to buy that unit plase 8:32

[@erikgundersen1]

Hi there.Is there is any chance to connect this unit into Mercedes factory CD changer?

[@frenchineer]

Hi, unfortunately I don't know of any aftermarket unit that works with the factory CD changer. If you copy your CD music to your phone you could try an app like poweramp.

[@erikgundersen1]

One more question Master ❓ Is this android unit will work with my factory Harmon Kardon system(2005),or I need to buy some bypass into fiber optic?​@@frenchineer

[@frenchineer]

I am not familiar with the requirements for the Harman Kardon System because mine did not have it. You would need to find out what type of fiber optic system it uses if you want to use a decoder box.

[@erikgundersen1]

@@frenchineer Great 👌 Thanks for info Mate 💪

[@IvanR-rp1mc]

Where can i find the unit???

[@frenchineer]

xtrons.com/mercedes-various-android-11-octa-core-2gb-ddr4-ram-32gb-rom-pe71m209 should be right. You may also be able to find it on amazon.

[@Vitiuxa]

Jesus, so much hassle to remove a bloody head unit. German engineering ffs.

[@eriktheprayer]

Just be happy it's possible!!