Audio 20 or COMAND: what your Mercedes has
Mercedes split its cabins between a double-DIN radio and the COMAND system, and that single fact decides the job:
- Audio 20 CD and Audio 10 / 15, roughly 2007–2014 — a radio the size of a double-DIN slot with a small display, in the C-Class W204, ML W164, Vito and Sprinter. It comes out and a car-specific Android screen goes in with a matching fascia: wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, reverse camera input, steering buttons kept.
- COMAND and the NTG tablet screens, 2011 on — the display on top of the dash with the rotary controller and touchpad. These stay: the screen is well integrated with the car, and the better upgrade is a CarPlay box behind it. That route is on the Mercedes CarPlay page.
- MBUX, 2018 on — the wide screen with “Hey Mercedes”. Nothing to replace; CarPlay is usually already in the car and just needs switching on.
Mercedes-Benz models we work on
| Model | Years | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| C-Class W204 | 2007–2014 | C180 screen, C200 screen — see the C200 install |
| C-Class W205 | 2014–2018 | COMAND kept — CarPlay box |
| A-Class W176 | 2012–2018 | COMAND kept — CarPlay box |
| CLA C117 | 2013–2019 | COMAND kept — CarPlay box |
| E-Class W212 | 2009–2016 | Android screen on Audio 20 cars, box on COMAND |
| GLC X253 | 2015–2019 | COMAND kept — CarPlay box |
| ML / GLE W166 | 2012–2019 | Android screen for ML — see the ML install |
| Vito W447 | 2014–2021 | Android screen for Vito, camera on the same screen |
| Sprinter 906 | 2006–2018 | Android screen, camera on the same screen |
Fitting a Mercedes radio properly
The Audio 20 unit sits on side brackets that transfer to the new screen, and the fascia is moulded for the Mercedes dash so the opening closes without a gap. The harness carries power, speakers, the antenna, the CAN lines and the camera in the factory plugs — no cut wires. On amplified cars the amplifier harness goes in first; without it the speakers stay silent, which is why we check the VIN before the car comes in. The parking display and steering-wheel buttons carry over, and we keep the original radio in the box so the van or car can go back to standard at resale.
Prices
- C-Class W204 and Vito screens — €290 supply-only, fitting booked at checkout.
- ML / GLE W166 screen — €700 supply-only.
- COMAND cars — CarPlay box from €450 fitted, on the Mercedes CarPlay page.
- Reverse camera at the same visit — the usual add-on on Vito and Sprinter.
Why Radio King
Vans and older C-Class are the Mercedes we see most, and the installs below are real cars from Rosemount Business Park, Dublin 11. Seven years of Mercedes through the workshop, a demo stand to try the screen first, one-year warranty on the unit and the fitting, 4.8 stars on Google.
