If you don’t like the factory UI because it’s old, slow and not modern looking, and would like to add navigation system, then you can upgrade the factory Mercedes-Benz E-Class W211 radio with a new modern Android radio infotainment system now.
How does the new Android Mercedes Benz W211 aftermarket radio head unit look like?
It has been upgraded with the latest Android 10 system, 8-Cores high speed CPU processor, 64GB ROM and 4GB RAM.
The W211 aftermarket head unit supports steering wheel controls, Apple Carplay, Android Auto, WiFi, navigation, USB, DVD player and more.
Learn more features, price and order here.
Mercedes W211 Radio Removal
In order to install an aftermarket w211 radio, you need to remove the factory oem radio first.
Firstly you should prepare a plastic installation pry tool, if you don’t have you can use a flat screw driver instead.
In order to remove the factory w211 radio you can try the following steps:
- pry the ashtray part
- take out the shift gear panel
- take out the ashtray part
- remove the screw for the climate control panel
- loose the climate control panel and take it out
- now you can see the screw for the radio, remove the screw to take out the cd player head unit
- take out the radio and cd player, disconnect the plugs behind
For your convenience, you can also check this video: w211 radio removal
Install new aftermarket w211 radio
After the factory Mercedes W211 radio removed, you can start to install the new Android head unit.
Most Mercedes-Benz E-Class W211 comes with a fiber optic amplifier in the trunk. Please note the new Android radio does not support a fiber optic amp, so you need to use a long cable B5 connect speakers directly in the trunk.
You can check the plug behind the factory radio so that you can know if there are fiber optic cables there. If your w211 does not have a big square plug behind the radio, only has a small fiber optic plug, that means your car has a fiber optic amplifier.
For w211 without a fiber optic amp
If your car does not have a fiber optic amp, you just need to use one of the short power cables as below:
There’s a wiring diagram at the bottom of the unit, so you can see how to connect all plugs behind.
For w211 with a fiber optic amp
For a Mercedes w211 with a fiber optic amp, you don’t need to use the short power cable, but need to use a 6m long cable B5 to connect plugs in the trunk.
Note: another long radio antenna cable is also included, for the car with fiber optic amplifier, you should use the long radio antenna cable.
As for how to run the long cable to the trunk for w211 with fiber optic amp, a professional mechanic can do it for you easily. You can run the long wires under the carpet along the door frames, removed the back seat to get access to the trunk, and hid the wires behind the cover panel in the trunk.
How to connect plugs in the trunk?
Firstly you need to find out the exact location of your fiber optic amplifier in the trunk.
The fiber optic amp is located behind a metal bracket as below, so you need to remove a screw in order to see the amp:
Find the amplifier inside, so you can find the speakers plug and power plug as below:
This is the CANBUS plug:
New plugs from the aftermarket radio unit:
How to connect the new plugs:
CANBUS decoder should connect to the power cable with a small white plug, the CAN-BUS decoder is used to support steering wheel controls.
No power after installation
If there’s no power on the radio after installation, please check the CAN plug, you may plug the wrong CAN plug in the trunk, the right plug goes in with a click and a solid connection. The wrong plug is loose and wants to fall out.
Regularly the right CAN plug is shown as above at right, 99.9% possibilities. If the unit still can not turn on, you can try the other CAN plug.
And check if your car’s fuse was burned, you can measure the voltage from the yellow wire and see if it’s 12V.
You can also take some photos for us to check for you, our email is sales@dvdgpsnav.com
Install a rear camera with w211 radio
How to connect rear view camera with this Mercedes w211 Android radio?
- Firstly you should connect the power to the camera with 12V reverse light.
- There’s a black RCA cable included to connect the video cable from the camera:
- There’s another loose BACK wire from the long cable, you should connect it with 12V+ reverse light, this is the trigger line.
Note: You don’t need to connect the other BRAKE wire. - After installation of the camera, if the camera does not work well after you put in reverse gear, firstly please check all wires/cables connections, you can take some pictures for us to check for you. If the screen shows no signal or the backup display not stable when reversing, the problem is from the voltage from your reverse light, we have a solution, you can connect a relay with the camera, for more information about the relay, you can also contact us, we can send you more pictures about the relay and the connection.
Does the camera replace one of the license plates lights and does it have a light to replace the license plates light ? Do the functions still work with the steering wheel?
Our w211 radio supports steering wheel control with a canbus decoder included. The camera replaces one of the license plate lights, you can check it here: https://www.dvdgpsnav.com/mercedes-w211-backup-camera.html
will this work for my w219, year model 2008
Please send a dashboard picture for us to check for you.
Hi, i have a question about bypassing the fiber optic amplifier. Will the sub woofer still works if I use the long cable with 8 speakers.
No, just 4 car door speakers working.
Hi, brother, your instructions are very clear and easy to understand, This helped me solve a lot of problems, thanks! But about the radio antenna, you mentioned that I need to prepare a long antenna cable, so where should this antenna cable be connected? The fiber optic amplifier? Can you tell me more? Thank you & have a nice day!
There’s a small plug to connect our long radio antenna in the trunk, the other end connects to the back of our radio.
Hi . I’m interested in buying this Mercedes e200 w211 radio.
I’m staying in Singapore and the Steering wheel is on the right side of the car. Can this radio be fixed . Is it suitable. My Mercedes is E200 w211- year 2006 model.
Yes, it also fits your rhd model w211.
Hi , I didn’t see where you offered the long speaker harness for sale ?
Do you just need our long cable, or the entire unit with long cable?
Have any of you been able to use the space formally the 6 disc changer for storage? If so how did you get the door to open? I’m really interested in this unit for my 03 Benz W211 but want a functioning disc door.
The factory 6 cd changer is fiber optical, it’s not compatible.
I am considering buying this unit. I cannot tell from the instructions – does this head unit still utilize the original fiber optic amp in the trunk, or does it fully bypass it? Is there a way to continue to use the original amp, as it is high quality?
It does not support fiber optic amp in the trunk, it fully bypass it. However, you can install an aftermarket amp with our unit, as it has 4 channels audio outputs with RCA connector.
I bought a e55 2003 already with the android touchscreen, canbus decoder and axxess but I can’t get any 4 door speaker sound. I contacted the guy and he said customsounds installed it. Now heres what I dont’ get, They ran all the speaker wires from the head unit to the trunk with a connector on the end of it that looks like it can go on the highs on the amp. Tried that and nothing. I installed my amp Jx 1000/1 and the bass works fine. There is no factory amp installed on the drivers rear side either. looks like someone pulled it out. idk
Hi, only the supplier of your unit can help you, because only they know their product. Our w211 android touch screen unit can support 4 car door speakers working.
Hi I’ve got the 6metre cable to convert the infra red but also got a 6metre antenna cable but no antenna socket on back of unit does the radio pick up stations for radio off the gps aerial
I searched your email but did not find your order with us, please contact the seller of your unit for after-sales service, we just know our product, so we are not able to help for units from other manufacturers.
Hi
Please Let me know who can install your unit here in Sydney and I will buy your item straightaway.
Sorry we don’t have installers in your city, but installation should not be difficult for a mechanic, you can check installation instructions on this page.
And if you or your installer has any questions while installing, we can also provide online support via facebook or whatsapp or wechat.
I have a mercedes-benz e220 from 2006, w211. I bought an android head unit and a optic fiber decoder. The android head unit still cannot be installed. Do I need the 6m cable? And the antena cable?
There are 16pin, 14pin and 20pin cables. Which one of them is the one I need? Where can I buy it?
If anyone can help, please contact me, I will send some pictures. Thank you for your attention.
My e-mail is:jorgeheaton4@gmail.com
If your car has fiber optic amplifier, you should use a 6m long cable to connect the plugs in the trunk, if you purchase the unit from us, we will send you this long cable for free, if you did not purchase the unit from us, but still need this long cable, you need to buy it with the price of US$65.
where can I buy it, is there a link you can share
Yes, you can click the link in this post.
can you tell me where to buy 6 m cable because I have optics
You can send us an email to buy it.
Hello I have a 2008 E320 that I just replaced the head unit with a w219 and it has the harman system and I installed a fiber optic decoder and still have no sound? I am stumped here.. do I need to connect the green bus wires? If so where do I connect them.
The fiber optic decoder may not work for your car. For some cars, the fiber optic decoder does not work.
I have a 2004 with navigation and harman kardon, I should use a 6 m cable right ? Can I do something to make my a factory amplifier work?
Yes, you need to use our 6m long cable B5 to connect 4 car door speakers directly and by pass the fiber optic amp. It can not support fiber optic amp.
In the second pic under the paragraph “How to connect plugs in the trunk?” you connect a 2 wire connector into the fiberoptics connector. What does that one do?
I haven’t got that one in the harness for my new radio. 6
Those 2 green wires are CAN wires: CAN-L, CAN-R.
My head unit is ok, I only need a new DVD as mine is not working. The CD is working fine. Any suggestions for installing only a DVD?
Hi, this unit replaces the factory head unit including CD player with DVD player built-in, just installing a DVD and keep using the factory head unit is not possible. With the new Android head unit, you can enjoy music and videos via multiple functions including DVD, USB, SD and Bluetooth for streaming music.