Mercedes Sat Nav in a W123

jaymanek · 17-11-2009, 05:56 PM

Hi Guys,

I have installed APS 30 Nav unit into my W123 Coupe. Installed a CD changer etc using the W210 wiring kits. Was feeling very proud of myself until I purchased a disc for the sat nav and realised that the Navigation is not working!

Im getting 6-9 satellites but the unit doesnt know im moving.. It always thinks im at my work address which is where i first started the unit.

Even when im at home, the location doesnt update even though its receiving enough satellites.

Ive got a hunch that this is because I couldnt give the unit a speed pulse as my car doesnt have one.
Although I have Becker Indianapolis in 2 of my other cars and they both work without a speed pulse.. i assumed the MB unit was basically the same thing?

The only solution I can see is to buy a speed pulse generator?

Is there a programming mode somewhere where I can tell it that it doesnt have a speed pulse?

What do you think?

The only speed pulse generator is the Alping NVE-K300 and the instructions seem loopy.. talks about rubbing the tyre to make it magnetic... surely cant work reliably!

Cheers

Jay

bolide · 17-11-2009, 08:12 PM

I'd say lack of speed pulse is 99% certain to be the problem

On the W124 there's a socket on the speedo, next to the drive cable, for a plug-in Hall Effect sensor to generate a speed pulse. Pull the binnacle - the W123 may have the same thing

The sensor is about £30 and I may have one knocking about

Nick Froome
the independent Mercedes Estate specialists

jaymanek · 18-11-2009, 06:14 PM

Ill have a look but i didnt notice anything when i pulled it the other day..

SilverSaloon · 18-11-2009, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bolide

On the W124 there's a socket on the speedo, next to the drive cable, for a plug-in Hall Effect sensor to generate a speed pulse.

very interesting info there.

never knew the 124 had a "plug & play" socket for this.

GrahamC230K · 18-11-2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaymanek

The only speed pulse generator is the Alping NVE-K300 and the instructions seem loopy.. talks about rubbing the tyre to make it magnetic... surely cant work reliably!

Going back a while now, but assuming you mean Alpine, yep that's how they work!

Ian B Walker · 18-11-2009, 09:26 PM

Being an electronic dummy but could you not take a speed pulse from the abs unit?

Smiley · 18-11-2009, 09:50 PM

Jay
just buy a tomtom it is much easier

A-AvantGarde · 18-11-2009, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian B Walker

Being an electronic dummy but could you not take a speed pulse from the abs unit?

Not all W123's have ABS it was an option, not sure how many would have it though.

I'm sure that there are various Speed Pulse generators available.

vibesg · 18-11-2009, 10:14 PM

A proper Mercedes Nav System in a W123. I am quite impressed. Can't offer any techy solutions Jay. Just appreciating the modifications in your car. Hope you get it sorted soon.
Bought a 1980 W123 250 for my Dad years ago. It was a 4 speed manual and an enjoyable drive. Loved the torque and the way it squatted when doing the business. No no ..not like walking the dog. I mean when you apply the power.

jaymanek · 18-11-2009, 10:16 PM

No ABS im afraid!

Ill look behind the cluster for bolide's suggestion otherwise it looks like ill be magnetising my tyres!

Pontoneer · 18-11-2009, 10:44 PM

If yours does not have the socket , try to find a W123 speedo from a car with cruise control as that was what it was used for - don't know if you could modify a W124 speedo to fit in the 123 cluster - needs to be the same ratio .

jaymanek · 19-11-2009, 06:29 PM

Right well i found a plug on the back of the speedo.. It has a brown wire (earth) and a black and yellow wire.. Im going to drive home in a bit with my meter attached to see what it produces.. Anyone know what I should expect in terms of voltage, i read somewhere that it produces between 5-12V?

This must be some sort of pulse as none of my other W123's have this and disconnecting it makes no difference to any guages or lighting.

p.s. i dont have cruise.

stever · 19-11-2009, 10:36 PM

If it's just a Hall sensor you need, then you're ok. AFAIK all W123s have a slot on the back of the speedo to fit one. I retro-fitted one to my '79 280 CE when installing cruise control.

jaymanek · 20-11-2009, 10:40 AM

Well i cant get any signal from it using my multimeter but in all honesty im not sure what im looking for! Maybe ill just try connecting it and see what happens!

mattc · 20-11-2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaymanek

Maybe ill just try connecting it and see what happens!

BANG!

17-11-2009, 05:56 PM	#1
jaymanek Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Nuneaton Warwickshire Car: 560 SEC AMG Widebody, 560 SEC AMG, W124 500E, W123 280CE, W123 200, R107-500SL Posts: 10,210	Mercedes Sat Nav in a W123 Hi Guys, I have installed APS 30 Nav unit into my W123 Coupe. Installed a CD changer etc using the W210 wiring kits. Was feeling very proud of myself until I purchased a disc for the sat nav and realised that the Navigation is not working! Im getting 6-9 satellites but the unit doesnt know im moving.. It always thinks im at my work address which is where i first started the unit. Even when im at home, the location doesnt update even though its receiving enough satellites. Ive got a hunch that this is because I couldnt give the unit a speed pulse as my car doesnt have one. Although I have Becker Indianapolis in 2 of my other cars and they both work without a speed pulse.. i assumed the MB unit was basically the same thing? The only solution I can see is to buy a speed pulse generator? Is there a programming mode somewhere where I can tell it that it doesnt have a speed pulse? What do you think? The only speed pulse generator is the Alping NVE-K300 and the instructions seem loopy.. talks about rubbing the tyre to make it magnetic... surely cant work reliably! Cheers Jay __________________ Mercland is listed here on MBClub please click to see services and discounts available. 1969 280SL Pagoda in Met Light Blue 1980 123-200 in Sahara Yellow 1985 123-280CE in Champagne 1988 500SL in Met Light Blue Now with Leather 1988 560SEC AMG in Midnight Blue 1989 560SEC AMG Widebody 1989 190E 2.5 Cosworth Dogleg Manual 1993 E500 Brabus in Silver with lots of toys! 1 of 29 UK Supplied Cars Gallery Link

18-11-2009, 06:14 PM	#3
jaymanek Hardcore MB Enthusiast Threadstarter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Nuneaton Warwickshire Car: 560 SEC AMG Widebody, 560 SEC AMG, W124 500E, W123 280CE, W123 200, R107-500SL Posts: 10,210	Ill have a look but i didnt notice anything when i pulled it the other day.. __________________ Mercland is listed here on MBClub please click to see services and discounts available. 1969 280SL Pagoda in Met Light Blue 1980 123-200 in Sahara Yellow 1985 123-280CE in Champagne 1988 500SL in Met Light Blue Now with Leather 1988 560SEC AMG in Midnight Blue 1989 560SEC AMG Widebody 1989 190E 2.5 Cosworth Dogleg Manual 1993 E500 Brabus in Silver with lots of toys! 1 of 29 UK Supplied Cars Gallery Link

18-11-2009, 10:16 PM	#10
jaymanek Hardcore MB Enthusiast Threadstarter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Nuneaton Warwickshire Car: 560 SEC AMG Widebody, 560 SEC AMG, W124 500E, W123 280CE, W123 200, R107-500SL Posts: 10,210	No ABS im afraid! Ill look behind the cluster for bolide's suggestion otherwise it looks like ill be magnetising my tyres! __________________ Mercland is listed here on MBClub please click to see services and discounts available. 1969 280SL Pagoda in Met Light Blue 1980 123-200 in Sahara Yellow 1985 123-280CE in Champagne 1988 500SL in Met Light Blue Now with Leather 1988 560SEC AMG in Midnight Blue 1989 560SEC AMG Widebody 1989 190E 2.5 Cosworth Dogleg Manual 1993 E500 Brabus in Silver with lots of toys! 1 of 29 UK Supplied Cars Gallery Link

19-11-2009, 06:29 PM	#12
jaymanek Hardcore MB Enthusiast Threadstarter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Nuneaton Warwickshire Car: 560 SEC AMG Widebody, 560 SEC AMG, W124 500E, W123 280CE, W123 200, R107-500SL Posts: 10,210	Right well i found a plug on the back of the speedo.. It has a brown wire (earth) and a black and yellow wire.. Im going to drive home in a bit with my meter attached to see what it produces.. Anyone know what I should expect in terms of voltage, i read somewhere that it produces between 5-12V? This must be some sort of pulse as none of my other W123's have this and disconnecting it makes no difference to any guages or lighting. p.s. i dont have cruise. __________________ Mercland is listed here on MBClub please click to see services and discounts available. 1969 280SL Pagoda in Met Light Blue 1980 123-200 in Sahara Yellow 1985 123-280CE in Champagne 1988 500SL in Met Light Blue Now with Leather 1988 560SEC AMG in Midnight Blue 1989 560SEC AMG Widebody 1989 190E 2.5 Cosworth Dogleg Manual 1993 E500 Brabus in Silver with lots of toys! 1 of 29 UK Supplied Cars Gallery Link

20-11-2009, 10:40 AM	#14
jaymanek Hardcore MB Enthusiast Threadstarter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Nuneaton Warwickshire Car: 560 SEC AMG Widebody, 560 SEC AMG, W124 500E, W123 280CE, W123 200, R107-500SL Posts: 10,210	Well i cant get any signal from it using my multimeter but in all honesty im not sure what im looking for! Maybe ill just try connecting it and see what happens! __________________ Mercland is listed here on MBClub please click to see services and discounts available. 1969 280SL Pagoda in Met Light Blue 1980 123-200 in Sahara Yellow 1985 123-280CE in Champagne 1988 500SL in Met Light Blue Now with Leather 1988 560SEC AMG in Midnight Blue 1989 560SEC AMG Widebody 1989 190E 2.5 Cosworth Dogleg Manual 1993 E500 Brabus in Silver with lots of toys! 1 of 29 UK Supplied Cars Gallery Link

17-11-2009, 08:12 PM	#2
bolide Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Brighton Car: W124 E300 Diesel Multivalve Estate Posts: 1,828	I'd say lack of speed pulse is 99% certain to be the problem On the W124 there's a socket on the speedo, next to the drive cable, for a plug-in Hall Effect sensor to generate a speed pulse. Pull the binnacle - the W123 may have the same thing The sensor is about £30 and I may have one knocking about Nick Froome the independent Mercedes Estate specialists

18-11-2009, 09:26 PM	#6
Ian B Walker Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Kirkham Car: 300-24, E220 Coupe, E220 saloon, 190D Posts: 7,912	Being an electronic dummy but could you not take a speed pulse from the abs unit?

18-11-2009, 09:50 PM	#7
Smiley Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,618	Jay just buy a tomtom it is much easier

18-11-2009, 10:14 PM	#9
vibesg Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cumbria, Used to be in Kent Car: SL 350; Volvo XC90 D5; VW Polo tdi Posts: 313	A proper Mercedes Nav System in a W123. I am quite impressed. Can't offer any techy solutions Jay. Just appreciating the modifications in your car. Hope you get it sorted soon. Bought a 1980 W123 250 for my Dad years ago. It was a 4 speed manual and an enjoyable drive. Loved the torque and the way it squatted when doing the business. No no ..not like walking the dog. I mean when you apply the power.

18-11-2009, 10:44 PM	#11
Pontoneer Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Ayrshire Car: '57 219 W105 ,'84 280SE W126 ,'86 500SEL W126 Posts: 3,402	If yours does not have the socket , try to find a W123 speedo from a car with cruise control as that was what it was used for - don't know if you could modify a W124 speedo to fit in the 123 cluster - needs to be the same ratio .

19-11-2009, 10:36 PM	#13
stever Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2005 Car: 1984 230E Posts: 175	If it's just a Hall sensor you need, then you're ok. AFAIK all W123s have a slot on the back of the speedo to fit one. I retro-fitted one to my '79 280 CE when installing cruise control.

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