Phone Operation with Sound 20 and seating.

[theyoungs07]

Maybe I'm missing something very obvious...I hope I am, but I cannot figure out whether or not I'm actually able to use the phone function on my Sound 20 radio. In the manual it mentions a phone mount, but there's not picture or location of it. I don't believe I have a mount. I've read a few places on the web where bluetooth is mentioned but it's nowhere in the book nor do the two things seem to want to pair up. Is there some special mount that I'd need to get it to work or do I just have a bunch of buttons, on the stearing wheel as well, that will do me no good? I have a new 2008 Sprinter Wagon if that helps.

Another side question...I have a relative who is contemplating picking up a used 2004 Sprinter from a local shuttle service. It is a 10 passenger and his family will soon be 9 so they're not sure if it makes sense as it may not last them long. Is there a way to expand the seating in this vehicle? It is the 170" model I believe so is there a way to put a jump seat or something of the sort in the back at the least? Can the small seats be replaced with larger benches?

Thanks!

[jdcaples]

...
nowhere in the book nor do the two things seem to want to pair up. Is there some special mount that I'd need to get it to work or do I just have a bunch of buttons, on the stearing wheel as well, that will do me no good?


I can't answer your T1N (2004 Sprinter) question, but as for the phone and Sound 20....

click here (http://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1781)

Did you order the cell phone wiring prep? If not, I think you'll have to do aftermarket.

When I picked up my ordered van, no phone capabilities worked. I - and the sales guy - discovered that Cell Phone Wiring Prep is vital and not included with Sound 20 with Telephone Connection. You get a different wiring harness if you order the wiring prep and it's not something any dealership is motivated to retrofit.... everyone I talked to said, "it's not possible."

If you did, you might be able to get the OEM pieces to make it all work.

That's what I remember, anyway.

A company called PAC managed to create an adapter for some units (like Sony and Pioneer, I think) to make the steering wheel buttons work with an aftermarket radio. As for making the buttons answer the phone, I'm not sure anyone's done that....

-Jon

[theyoungs07]

Thanks for the response. I purchased the van off of the lot and I did not make any special orders...I got what it had. This wasn't something that I specifically wanted, just seeing the half-dozen plus buttons focused on phone operation sure made me think that I could actually use it with the phone...I guess that was naive. I'm assuming the stock wiring harness is expensive...I'm not sure I understand any other reason why it'd be left off unless special ordered :yell:. I'm not too interested in getting into the guts of this thing so I guess I'll just have to ignore the buttons and move on.

[BaywoodBill]

It is a 10 passenger and his family will soon be 9 so they're not sure if it makes sense as it may not last them long. Is there a way to expand the seating in this vehicle? It is the 170" model I believe so is there a way to put a jump seat or something of the sort in the back at the least? Can the small seats be replaced with larger benches?

Thanks!

Unless the family expects to increase to 11 it seems a 10-passenger ought to suit them? Maybe that answers the size question?

As for the age and mileage of the van, they need to investigate it just as they would any other 5-year-old vehicle that has been used in livery service. Someone posted a check list for anyone wishing to buy a used van and I can't find it right off hand. It lists all (at least most) of the things that may be peculiar to Sprinters. Maybe the person who posted the list will jump in.

Passenger vans come with bench seats and it's likely that the seats in the Sprinter they are looking at will come out and can be replaced by stock bench seats.

[jdcaples]

Thanks for the response. I purchased the van off of the lot and I did not make any special orders...I got what it had. This wasn't something that I specifically wanted, just seeing the half-dozen plus buttons focused on phone operation sure made me think that I could actually use it with the phone...I guess that was naive. I'm assuming the stock wiring harness is expensive...I'm not sure I understand any other reason why it'd be left off unless special ordered :yell:. I'm not too interested in getting into the guts of this thing so I guess I'll just have to ignore the buttons and move on.


The stock wiring harness is installed before the vehicle is fully assembled. Most of the sales force though that " Sound 20 w/telephone connection" meant "includes necessary wiring prep" (aka the right wiring harness).

Most of the MB nuts that I've spoken to say that MB always does it that way, but MBUSA, LLC has a better sales training program than DaimlerChrysler did at the time.

I think dealerships don't want to do it because of the amount of parts that have to be yanked and replaced... also, I'm not sure which electronic modules would have to be replaced.... dealerships may not have that information, either. They'd have a lot of homework to do, homework that owners wouldn't pay them to do, and that's probably too much unpaid tech time for a dealership to consider.

-Jon

[cedarsanctum]

I was told when i ordered my 2008 with the sound 20 that the phone systems in the unit were designed for europe and were not compatible with north america. No amount of harness wiring could change how the sound 20 handles the signals. I ordered it anyway since it wasn't the phone i was after.
Since getting the van i have purchased from Chris Case in England an auxiliary input cable that lets me plug my iPhone into the sound system. Doesn't work with the fancy steering wheel buttons, but it works.
Jef