Audio 5 conversion issues

[Aksnor]

I have this 2012 Sprinter W906 original equipped with Audio 5 car stereo. I wanted to upgrade this with a Comand NTG 2.5 from a similar Sprinter. It worked for a while until the Comand shows a message about Anti-theft activated. Visited a local Mercedes dealer who told me that this Comand won’t fit in my Sprinter. He advised me to use a third-part stereo with adapter instead. Bought a Pioneer stereo with corresponding 2 Connect adapter for steering wheel controls, but there aren’t any power nor speakers available through the original DIN connector. I have spoken to several dealers and car-stereo specialists, but no one seems to know anything about this issue. Now I’m heading for the road for 5 weeks and would really like to have a working stereo. Are there anybody who have experienced issues like this with the Sprinter radio harness / canbus or what it might be?
Any feedback appreciated.

 

[sparkplug]

Don't know if it's helpful or not...

I made up my own harness to integrate a (standard ISO) Pioneer head unit into the Mercedes loom.

I actually did this on my old T1N but I took it all out and installed it into my NCV3 with no issues.

I also bought a replacement steering wheel centre with the control buttons and an adaptor which was supposed to integrate the Pioneer with the steering wheel controls, but it simply didn't work and I returned it. From what I've read afterwards it might be to do with needing Mercedes to enable something on the ECU or some similar electrical wizardry - I never pursued it.

So the big question is how important the steering wheel controls are to you.

If they're not that important then I can give you the information you need to make up your own loom (I got all the bits from eBay for less than $10), in fact I think I posted the information on here a while ago...

Yes - I did. Here it is

 

[Aksnor]

Thanks for your reply. I will give this a chance, and tomorrow I will get som help from another car stereo specialist to have a new look on this. I will get back with the result.

AKsel

 

[bearyw]

Don't know if it's helpful or not...

I made up my own harness to integrate a (standard ISO) Pioneer head unit into the Mercedes loom.

I actually did this on my old T1N but I took it all out and installed it into my NCV3 with no issues.

I also bought a replacement steering wheel centre with the control buttons and an adaptor which was supposed to integrate the Pioneer with the steering wheel controls, but it simply didn't work and I returned it. From what I've read afterwards it might be to do with needing Mercedes to enable something on the ECU or some similar electrical wizardry - I never pursued it.

So the big question is how important the steering wheel controls are to you.

If they're not that important then I can give you the information you need to make up your own loom (I got all the bits from eBay for less than $10), in fact I think I posted the information on here a while ago...

Yes - I did. Here it is

Does this mean the T1N steering wheel and the NCV3 are interchangeable?

 

[sparkplug]

Unfortunately not @bearyw

I did try swapping mine over as my NCV3 wheel was in poor condition but they are not a straight swap. I can't remember exactly why (possibly the splines are different?)

The only bit which is the same is the wiring for the stereo - but I can't say if the steering wheel button part of the loom is compatible. Not even sure if T1Ns had steering wheel buttons.

Neither of mine had them and I bought a wheel for the NCV3 with buttons but even with a harness which was supposed to work I never managed to get them working.

In the end I've gone back to one without buttons and it's fine.