Installing an XTRONS Android Head Unit in a Mercedes S-Class (W220 Pre-Facelift with D2B)

In this video, we're installing an XTRONS head unit and D2B fiber decoder box to add Android Auto and Apple CarPlay while retaining the factory amplifier!
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Radio:
xtrons.com/merdedes-benz-andr...
Decoder Box:
xtrons.com/fibre-optic-decode...
Microphone options:
xtrons.com/microphone-mic003
xtrons.com/car-media-fitting-...
Shortcuts:
0:00 - Intro
1:04 - Radio Overview
4:25 - Unboxing
9:17 - Radio Removal
13:43 - HVAC Swap and Bezel Prep
15:56 - Radio Install
19:28 - Wire Routing/Driver Trim Removal
21:39 - Microphone Wiring
25:42 - Door Sill Trim Removal
27:10 - Rear Seat Bottom Removal
28:55 - Rear Seat Back Removal
30:45 - Amplifier Access in Trunk
36:58 - Backup Camera Wiring (optional)
39:00 - RCA Extension
40:21 - Wire Routing to Trunk
46:38 - Fiber Optic Prep
50:09 - D2B Decoder Connections
55:09 - Test!
55:23 - Front Trim Reassembly
56:47 - Door Sill Reassembly
57:55 - Rear Seat Reassembly
1:00:31 - Trunk Ressembly
1:04:31 - USB Cable Routing
1:06:19 - Radio Wiring Overview
1:10:31 - Outro

[@brendendas]

I find your voice very calming and soothing. This felt therapeutic. Looking forward to next weeks review!

[@allanriches9381]

great install, head unit looks good

[@EARTHKEENING]

Thanks for sharing nick , keep them coming my friend 🙏.

[@frenchineer]

Thank you for watching!

[@gloriadejuana5131]

Thanks for the awesome video!!

[@razirover5429]

It looks very cool 😎

[@frenchineer]

Thanks!

[@359erock]

Hey Nick, I found out that the sound is coming out of all speakers. It's just very very very low..

[@stonalodz]

beautiful installation. I have the same model. I have a problem with steering wheel controls. What type of CAN do you have set in the factory menu? Regards

[@frenchineer]

Thanks! And thank you for letting me know in your other comment that switching the CAN settingto MB model B200 worked for you

[@CL500MBZ]

Great video, do you get any noise like engine whine from the rca cables? Why didn't you just use the fiber adapter at the front to avoid running the rca cables?

[@frenchineer]

I don't get any engine noise from this setup, and I chose to go with this route for reliability with the fiber optic/amplifier wake process.

[@luney2005-kf1es]

And what’s the part number for this unit

[@rex1210]

This is an awesome and very detail video, after I saw it, I decided to upgrade my S500 but I encounter some issues I was hoping you can help, the link you shared the company is out of stock therefore I got the other brand of head-unit, the parts it came with are very similar. I didn't see how you did with the 90-degree fiber optic cables that you unplug from old head unit or just leave it? and the fiber optic decoder box has to be in the trunk or it also can be with the head unit? Looking forward to your help. Thank you!

[@frenchineer]

Thanks! In my install, I left the fiber optic connector unplugged behind the new head unit because of how I ran the audio signal to the rear. You can try connecting the fiber optic decoder box behind the head unit to see if it works for you. If it works there, you don't need to go to the trunk at all, but if it doesn't, you can install the decoder in the trunk like I did.

[@rex1210]

@@frenchineer Thanks for replied, I'm appreciate your advice.

[@donadams5185]

Hello, great video. Does the decoder box comes with the radio or it has to be ordered separately?

[@frenchineer]

Thanks! You would need to order the decoder in addition to the radio if you have a Bose sound system. The type of decoder depends on your car's year (D2B in pre-facelift and MOST in facelift models).

[@donadams5185]

@@frenchineer thank you for reply, I have one more question if you don’t mind? I have the same benze and I already purchase an after market radio and wanted to know if I’m able to just purchase that radio car harness alone?

[@frenchineer]

If you are talking about the fiber optic decoder box, you can order that from your preferred seller. The harness to connect the radio to the car might be possible to find separately but should be included with your head unit (if you bought a W220 specific unit).

[@359erock]

Come to find out the rca was going to aux in instead of audio 😒. I got full sound now! Thanks !

[@frenchineer]

I'm glad you figured it out, now you get to enjoy your new setup!

[@359erock]

@@frenchineer yes sir! excellent video by the way! need to work on this canbus now. thanks again!

[@lannybbromfield1769]

Can you install an Android HU in my 2004 S500 with the MOST OEM HU with fiber optic? We are unable to get audio.

[@frenchineer]

If you are unable to get sound, make sure the connections to the CANbus decoder box are correct. The wake signal for the amplifier is sent via CANbus.

[@Robtheautoguy]

This is huge!! The pre-facelift W220s used to be such a pain to put a radio in! Being able to keep the factory amp and the Bose speakers is a massive timesaver. How does it sound?

[@frenchineer]

It sounds really good! The factory Bose amp works great in this setup and the EQ in the unit is very good. It sounds really clear at all volumes and it can get LOUD!

[@ikopnmwosaisokpan3979]

I have a Junsun android, but the radio is not working on my W220 with Bose sound system. Pls do u hv any suggestions for me?

[@frenchineer]

Are you using a fiber optic decoder box? I had to install it close to the amplifier.

[@luney2005-kf1es]

Will this fit w215? I would have to remove the unit from the housing hazel it came with but just a bit concern if it will fit

[@frenchineer]

This unit is only compatible with the W220 because of its design, so you would need to find a compatible one.. The connections for the install should be similar though.

[@luney2005-kf1es]

@@frenchineer ok thanks. The same head unit fit both cars I.E w220 and w215 from the factory so its kinda weird

[@frenchineer]

That's true, but the way this one mounts is with the tabs on the provided bezel, so it's only for the W220. I think there are other radio styles that are compatible with both W215 and W220.

[@luney2005-kf1es]

@@frenchineer Thanks again cause i was gonna buy it thinking i would simply take the unit out the bazel it came with and some how mount it to the original bazel

[@fueledgaragetv1212]

What happens if you install the fiber optic decoder behind the radio and leave the CD changer in? I realize the changer won’t work but will it pass audio?

[@frenchineer]

Some people have success installing the decoder behind the radio and using a fiber optic loop to bypass the CD changer if necessary. It's worth a try to see if it works in your car!

[@fueledgaragetv1212]

@@frenchineer I installed behind the head unit today and it worked great. No loop, left everything in the trunk alone.

[@frenchineer]

Awesome!

[@fueledgaragetv1212]

I was super excited about getting one of these for my 2000 S500 but now Xtrons is telling me it won’t work in a 2000 model S500 😢

[@frenchineer]

I responded to your other comment, but think the 2000 has the same radio setup as the 2001. You could remove your factory head unit and compare the connectors to this video.

[@359erock]

does the cd changer integrate?

[@frenchineer]

It does not, though there are models that have a built in CD player.

[@hristovargolomov2999]

Hello my car have d2b but not bose and no amp what should i do ?

[@frenchineer]

If you don't have the Bose system, the factory head unit connects directly to the speakers. The harness included with the radio has the connectors for non-Bose systems as well, and you will not need the fiber optic decoder box.

[@hristovargolomov2999]

@@frenchineer okay but when i installed my android navi the music stops when i turn the volume much up and then continue what’s the problem?

[@frenchineer]

I'm not sure what would cause that, does it happen with the buttons on the unit?

[@359erock]

so the only thing you plugged to decoder is the amp fiber? i have 2 other boxes on there that has fiber connections. i faintly heard sound from the front driver door speaker. also the fiber plug in the dash remains unplugged also? Please help im pulling out my hair here..lol

[@frenchineer]

Did you connect the D2B wake wire from the decoder box? The decoder box also sends a signal to the Bose amplifier to tell it to wake up when the car powers on.

[@359erock]

@@frenchineer yes, i did get beep signal from meter, do the other fiber connections need to closed loop? also thank you for reponse

[@359erock]

@@frenchineer my canbus cable isnt connected either, you showed plugging into another port on harness after taking it out of the connector. if that makes a difference. this radio doesnt have that plug.

[@frenchineer]

You would need to find another place to connect the canbus decoder for all of the radio's features to work, but your sound issue seems like a wiring or fiber problem. Do you consistently get sound but only from the front driver door?

[@359erock]

@@frenchineer yes i did, but it was sooo low you could barely hear it but it played consistanly. then i moved around the other fiber plugs and havent been able to duplicate that again. just to be sure does all the other fiber connections need to be plugged in ? or is the decoder and amp is all that needs to be connected?

[@Bob-z8v]

I’m only getting sound out out of the front speakers

[@frenchineer]

That's strange, did your original radio work with all the speakers?

[@Bob-z8v]

@@frenchineer on the DSP it won’t play past the center of the car towards the rear

[@frenchineer]

Because of how the fiber optic decoder boxes work, the signal from the front speakers is passed as all channels to the factory amplifier. You can adjust balance L/R in the DSP, but fade front/back does not work because only the front audio outputs from the new head unit are connected to the decoder. If you set the fade to front or center audio should come out of all the speakers.

[@Bob-z8v]

@@frenchineerokay thank you so much

[@jcstarion88]

Links not working

[@frenchineer]

Looks like it was changed or the version was updated, here's a new link: xtrons.com/merdedes-benz-android-12-octa-core-4gb-ram-64gb-rom-iap92m220s

[@tomferrell]

I was on board until you got into the trunk

[@frenchineer]

I understand! Some people have had success with the decoder box installed behind the head unit and using a fiber loop to bypass the CD changer if necessary. In my case going to the trunk gave me the best results with amplifier wakeup.

[@GeNesiS-hk3ku]

My d2b didn't work, you think it's because i didn't using fiber loop to bypass cd changer? ​@@frenchineer It's the cd changer the problem? (Sorry for my Bad english)

[@frenchineer]

It's possible you would need to bypass the CD changer. You could bypass it by reconfiguring the fiber or using a bypass loop. In my car that didn't work so I needed to do what I showed in the video.

[@GeNesiS-hk3ku]

@@frenchineer ok i will try loop monday