How to Add Bluetooth to Old Mercedes Factory Radio ( No MBZ Cradle )

How to Add Bluetooth to Old Mercedes Factory Radio
How to Add Bluetooth to Old Mercedes Factory Radio

You need Bluetooth Music in your Classic Mercedes Benz.

Factory Limitation: Some of the 2000 – 2010 Mercedes Benz Factory head unit only supports Bluetooth for phone connections; streaming music is not possible directly from the factory setting. Here are your options on how to add Buetooth to old Mercedes factory radio.

Option One:

The “Mercedes Benz OEM Bluetooth Phone Cradle Adapter” is a genuine (OEM) Bluetooth adapter designed specifically for Mercedes Benz vehicles equipped with an integrated hands-free system. It is typically found in models from 2005 onwards.

Mercedes Benz OEM Bluetooth Phone Cradle Adapter Model B67876131

Option Two :

Aftermarket Options: While there are aftermarket Apple CarPlay or Android Auto units available for streaming music, they tend to be expensive and require expert knowledge for installation. NOT RECOMMENDED!

How to play Bluetooth Music in Classic Mercedes without MBZ Cradle

DO NOT replace your Mercedes Benz Factory Radio just to get Bluetooth?

There’s a much cheaper and easier solution!

Westley aka Gizmo Guy introduces a cost-effective solution appropriately named Gizmo Guy Gadget Bluetooth Adapter. to add Bluetooth connectivity to your existing Mercedes head unit, it adds seamless audio streaming to your Mercedes Benz Factory Radio,saving you hundreds of dollars and preserving the original look and feel of your car. Most importantly, add Bluetooth to an old mercedes radio and you will get to keep your classic Mercedes Benz 100% stock for the best resale value of a classic vehicle.

Identify Your Mercedes Benz Model and Years

Identify your head unit: This method works for Mercedes models from 1997 to 2010 with MOST or COMAND fiber optic Check the video for specific head unit examples.

Here’s a breakdown of Mercedes-Benz MOST vs COMAND systems:

COMAND (Cockpit Management and Navigation Display):

Mercedes Benz COMAND – A management system allowed users to control their vehicle’s functionality from the center console. Using the D2B (Domestic Digital Bus) optical network, allowed controls for everything from vehicle navigation to radio.

  • Function: COMAND is a multimedia infotainment system that integrates various car functions into a single unit, including navigation, audio controls, phone connectivity, and more. It utilizes the MOST network for data transfer in models equipped with it.
  • Years and Models: COMAND was introduced in the late 1990s and became the dominant infotainment system for Mercedes-Benz in the late 2000s and early 2010s. It was found in a wide range of models, from the A-Class to the S-Class.
Mercedes COMAND 2.5
Mercedes COMAND 2.5

The Mercedes Benz MOST (Media Oriented Systems Transport):

The COMAND system was later upgraded to MOST bus giving it a new look and a new name. Now called the COMAND APS NTG, the new system became the standard in-car infotainment system in all Mercedes. And it remained so till 2018

  • Function: MOST is not an infotainment system itself, but rather a high-speed fiber optic audio system used to connect various components in a Mercedes, including the head unit, navigation system, CD changer, and other entertainment devices.
  • Years and Models: MOST was primarily used in Mercedes-Benz vehicles from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s, particularly in higher-end models like the S-Class, CL-Class, and E-Class.
Key Differences:
  • Type: MOST is a data network, while COMAND is an infotainment system. MOST was gradually replaced by faster and more flexible solutions. Today, it’s no longer used in new Mercedes-Benz models.
  • Function: MOST carries data for various components, while COMAND provides a user interface for controlling those components.
  • Years: MOST was phased out earlier than COMAND. COMAND was also superseded by the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) system in 2018. However, you can still find COMAND systems in pre-2018 Mercedes-Benz models.

The Mercedes COMAND head unit is an in-car infotainment and vehicle control system developed by Mercedes. Offered in every Mercedes since the 2000s, it serves as a hub for audio, communication, navigation and vehicle telematics.

Mercedes COMAND APS NTG 2.0

How to Remove the Mercedes Benz Factory Radio Head Unit

  1. Park Your Mercedes Benz and Shift it to neutral and turn off the ignition.
  2. Remove the Mercedes dash components:
    • Cigarette lighter compartment
    • Ashtray compartment
    • Air control panel (2 T20 screws)
    • Control switchboard (carefully pry with a plastic tool)
  3. Access the head unit: You’ll see four T20 screws – two on the bottom and two above. Remove them to slide out the head unit.
  4. Disconnect the head unit: Unplug the main connector by pressing the release tab.
  5. Locate the CD changer connector: It’s a white connector. Carefully remove it.
  6. Connect the Bluetooth module: Plug the module’s connector into the slot where the CD changer connector was.
  7. Power the module: Find a safe constant power source, like the cigarette lighter. to secure the connection properly
  8. Reassemble everything: Put everything back in the reverse order you removed it.
  9. Pair your phone: Turn on the Bluetooth module and pair your phone.
  10. Switch to auxiliary mode and enjoy! Play music or make calls through your original Mercedes sound system.

Mercedes Benz with Gizmo Guy Gadget Benefits:

Gizmo Guy Gadget is significantly cheaper and easy to add on to any classic Mercedes Benz Factory Radio to preserve the classic originality and NOT lose access to the CD changer or other premium features.

Over the last 20 years Mercedes has launched 13 different iterations of the COMAND unit which makes it quite confusing. However, each COMAND unit has some specific functionality and slightly different looks (display, buttons, controller) giving it a unique identity.

Mercedes COMAND version – by year of production

First Gen COMAND system: First Gen COMAND systems were ones running on D2B optical networks. Mercedes launched three versions of First Gen COMAND that were installed in many Mercedes models till 2003.

Unit NameMercedes ModelModel Year
COMAND 2.5Mercedes W220 S Class:S 280/ 320/ 430/ / 500/ 600 Mercedes W215 CL Class:CL 500/ 600 1998-2002   1998-2002 
COMAND 2.0Mercedes W210 E-Class:E 200 Kompressor/ 240 / 280 / 320 / 430 / 55 AMGE 200 CDI / E220 CDI / 270 CDI / 320 CDI Mercedes W208 First-Gen CLK:CLK 200/ 200 Kompressor/230 Kompressor/ 320/ 430 / 55 AMG Mercedes W209 Second-Gen CLK:CLK 240/ 320 / 500 / 55 AMG /CLK 270 CDI Mercedes W163 ML CLass:ML 230 / 430ML 320ML 350ML 500Ml 55 AMGML 270 CDI / 400 CDI Mercedes W203 C Class:C 180C 180 KompressorC 200 Kompressor / 240 /320 / 32 AMG C 200 CDI/ 220 CDI / 270 CDI Mercedes W463 G Class Mercedes R230 SL ClassSL 350 / 500 / 55 AMG / 600  2000-2002 2000-2002   2002-2004   2002-2003   2000-20012000-20022002-20042001-20042000-20042001-2004  2001-20022002-20032001-2003  2001-2003 2000-2006  2002-2004   
COMAND 2.0 MOPFMercedes W220 S-CLass:S 280 / 320 / 350 / 430 / 500 / 600 / 55 AMGS 320 CDI / 400 CDI   Mercedes W245 CL Class:CL 500 / 600 / 55 AMG / 65 AMG 2003 2003    2003

Second Gen COMAND System: Second Gen COMAND system was one that replaced the D2B optical network with MOST bus. It was released in 2002 and is now called COMAND APS NTG.

Unit NameMercedes ModelModel Year
COMAND APS NTG 1Mercedes W211 E Class:E 200 Kompressor / 500E240 / 320E 55 AMGE 350E 280 / 63 AMGE 230 E 200 CDI / 220 CDI / 320 CDI / 400 CDIE 270 CDIE 220 CDIE 280 CDIE 300 BlueTec Mercedes W220 S-Class:S 280/ 320/ 350/ 430 / 500/ 600 / 55 AMG / 65 AMGS 320 CDI / 400 CDI Mercedes W215 CL-Class:CL 600 / 55 AMG / 65 AMGCL 500 Mercedes C219 CLS-Class:CLS 350 / 350 CGICLS 500 / 55 AMGCLS 63 AMGCLS 550 CLS 320 CDICLS 350 CDI  Mercedes R230 SL-Class:SL 350 / 500 / 55 AMG / 600 / 65 AMG Mercedes R171 SLK-Class:SLK 200 Kompressor / 55 AMGSLK 280SLK 350   2003-20092003-20052003-20062005-20092006-20092007-2009 2002-2009 2003-20052003-20092004-20092008-2009  2004-2005 2004-2005  2004-20052004-2006  2004-20082004-20062006-20082007-2008 2005-20082007-2008   2005   2004-20082005-20082004-2007 
COMAND APS NTG 2Mercedes W203 C-Class:C 180 Kompressor / 200 Kompressor /230 / 240 / 55 AMGC 280 / 350C 320C 200 CDI / 220 CDIC 270 CDI / 30 CDI AMGC 320 CDI Mercedes C209/A209 CLK-Class:CLK 200 Kompressor / 280 / 350CLK 200 / 240 / 320CLK 500 / 55 AMGCLK 63 AMGCLK 220 CDICLK 270 CDICLK 320 CDI Mercedes Vito/Viano:Viano 2.0 L CDIViano 2.2 L CDIViano 3.0 L CDIViano 3.7 V6Viano 3.5 V6Viano 6.1 BrabusViano 3.0 L V6 / 3.2 L V6 Mercedes A Class:A 150 / 170 / 200A 160 CDI / 180 CDI / 200 CDI Mercedes B Class:B 160 / 170 / 180 / 200B 180 CDI / 200 CDI  Mercedes W164 ML Class:ML 350 / 500ML 63 AMGML 280 CDI / 320 CDI / 420 CDI Mercedes X164 GL Class:GL 450 / 500GL 320 CDI / 420 CDI Mercedes W 251 R Class:R 350R 500R 280R 63 AMGR 320 CDIR 280 CDI  Mercedes Sprinter              2004-2007 2005-20072004-20052004-20042004-20052005-2007  2005-201020052005-20062006-20102005-200920052005-2010  2005-20102005-20102006-20102005-20072007-20102005-2010N/A-2010  2004-20072004-2007  2005-20082005-2008   2005-20082006-20082005-2008  2006-20082006-2008  2006-20082006-20072007-200820072006-20082007-2008  2006-2009
COMAND APS NTG 3Mercedes W221 S-Class:S 350 / 450 / 500 / 550 / 600 / 63 AMG / 65 AMGS 280 / 300S 420 CDI / 320 CDI Mercedes W216 CL-Class:CL 500 / 600 / 63 AMG  2006-2009 2007-20092006-2009  2006-2009
COMAND APS NTG 3.5Mercedes W221 S-Class:S 280 / 300 / 400 Hybrid / 450 / 500 /550 / 600/ 63 AMG/ 65 AMGS 350S 200 CDI / 300 CDI / 350 CDIS 300 Bluetec HybridS 450 CDI Mercedes W216 CL-Class:CL 500 / 600 / 63 AMG / 65 AMG 2009-2012 2009-20112009-20122009-20102009-2011  2010-2014
COMAND APS NTG 4Mercedes W204 C-Class:C 180 (Kompressor/CGI) / 200 (Kompressor/CGI) / 350 / 63 AMGC 230 / 280C 250 / 300C 200 CDI / 220 CDIC 320 CDIC 250 CDI / 350 CDIC 180 CDI  Mercedes W212 E-Class:E 200 / 250 / 300 / 350 / 500 / 63 AMGE 220 CDI / 250 CDI / 350 CDIE 200 CDI / 300 CDI Mercedes C207/A207 E-Class:E 250 CGI / 350 CGI / 550 CGIE 200 CGIE 300 CGIE 250 CDI / 350 CDIE 220 CDI Mercedes W218 CLS-Class:CLS 350 / 500 / 63 AMGCLS 250 CDI / 350 CDI Mercedes C197 SLS AMG/ SLS AMG GT   2007-2011 2007-20092009-20112007-20112007-20092009-20112010-2011   2009–20122009-20122010-2012  2009-20122010-20122011-20122009-20122010-2012  2011-20132011-2013 2010-2015
COMAND APS NTG 2.5Mercedes W463 G Class:G 500/ 550 / 55 AMGG 320 CDIG 350 CDI Mercedes W169 A Class:A 150 / 170 / 200A 160 CDI / 180 CDI / 200 CDI Mercedes W245 B Class:B 160 / 170 / 180 / 200B 180 CDI / 200 CDI Mercedes R 230 SL Class:SL 500 / 550 / 63 AMG / 65 AMGSL 280 / 600SL 300 Mercedes R 171 SLK Class:SLK 200 Kompressor/350 / 55 AMGSLK 280SLK 300 Mercedes W164 M-Class:ML 350 / 450 Hybrid / 63 AMGML 300 CDI / 350 CDIML 280 CDI / 450 CDI Mercedes W251 R Class:All W 251 R Class Models Mercedes C219 CLS Class:CLS 280CLS 300CLS 350 CGI / 550 / 63 AMGCLS 320 CDI / 350 CDI Mercedes X 164 GL Class:Gl 450 / GL 500GL 350 CDI / 350 BlueTECGL 450 CDI Mercedes ML Class:ML 350 / 450 Hybrid / 550 / 63 AMG ML 350 CDIML 280 CDI / 450 CDIML 320   2008-20122008-20092009-2012  2008-20122008-2012  2009-20112009-2011  2008-20122008-20092009-2012  2008-20112008-20092009-2011  2009-20112009-20112009-2010  2009-2017  2008-20092009-20102008-20102008-2010  2009-20122009-20122009-2010  2009-2011 2009-20112009-20102010-2011  
COMAND APS NTG 4.5 / NTG 4.7Mercedes W176 A-Class:A 180 / 200 / 250 /45 AMGA 160 CDI / 180 CDI / 200 CDI / 220 CDI Mercedes W246 B-class:B 180 / 200B 250B 220B 180 CDI / 200 CDIB 220 CDIB 160 CDI Mercedes W204 C Class:C 180 / 200 / 250 / 300 / 350 / 63 AMGC 180 CDI / 200 CDI / 220 CDI / 250 CDI/ 300 CDI / 300 CDI Mercedes W 166 ML Class:ML 350 / 500 / 63 AMG / GLE 63 AMGML 250 CDI/ 250 BlueTEC / 350 BlueTEC Mercedes W212 E Class:E 200 / 250 /400 / 500 / 63 AMGE 300E 350E 220 BlueTEC / 250 BlueTEC / E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid / 300 BlueTECE 200 CDI / 220 CDI / 250 CDI Mercedes R172 SLK Class:SLK 200 / 250 / 350SLK 55 AMGSLK 250 CDI Mercedes X204 GLK Class:GLK 200 / 250 / 350200 CDI / 220 CDI / 220 BlueTEC / 250 BlueTEC / 350 CDI    2013-142013-14  2011-20142012-20142013-20142011-20142012-20142013-14  2012-142012-14   2012-20142012-2014  2013-20162013-20152013-20142013-2016 2013-2014  2011-20152012-20152012-2015  2013-20152012-2015 
COMAND APS NTG 5.1All Mercedes W176 A Class ModelsAll Mercedes W246 B Class ModelsAll Mercedes C117 CLA Class ModelsAll Mercedes X156 GLA Class ModelsAll Mercedes C218 / W218 CLS class ModelsAll Mercedes W166 GLE Class ModelsAll Mercedes X 166 GLS Class Models  2015-20182015-20192015-20182016-20192014-2017 2015-20192015-2019
COMAND APS NTG 5.2All Mercedes W205 C class ModelsMercedes AMG-GT / AMG GT S classMercedes W470 X Class2014-20202015-20202018-2020
COMAND APS NTG 5.5All Mercedes W222 S class ModelsAll Mercedes W463A G Class ModelsAll Mercedes W219 E Class models2014-20192018-Present2016-2020
Mercedes COMAND APS NTG 3.0