Flying CLR

Yes- they told me $72 for the cable and $295 (2 hours) for labor into my R-class.

I am wondering if I can do it myself.

carpersn

So, do you have the iPhone 3G or the previous...additionally, i am guessing the new cable would work in the glove box if you didn't choose to re-route? If you do re-route, where does the iPhone cradle go vis-a-vis the bluetooth puck?

lkchris

3G

Not at all. The cable is an ADD-ON to the iPod interface that must already exist. If you already have this, you already have a connector in your glove box. Plus you can put an iPhone cradle in the glove box if you want, but it won't have any connection to the car's phone system from that location. The iPhone cradle is used INSTEAD OF a bluetooth puck and mounts on the same MHI connector in your console.

wrongcoast

I don't know what cradle you guys are complaining won't fit the 3G iPhone but the one I got at Auto Wireless Solutions fits and, despite a few interface quirks, works fine. See my previous posts for specificity. Also, I have the iPod connector in the glovebox but that does not function for the phone.

lkchris

Yes, and when your cradle arrived from Auto Wireless Solutions printed on the invoice was the notice that if the cradle was used for the 3G the warranty is voided.

Nevertheless it works, but the 3G doesn't exactly fall into the cradle, it takes some fiddling.

wrongcoast

Nowhere on my invoice from Auto Wireless does it say anything about use with a 3G phone voiding the warranty. Fitwise, I would say you're right, it doesn't "fall in" but it's easy to do and my only problem with the unit is the lack of a complete interface onscreen with the contacts on the phone.
Do you have one of these cradles and use a 3G phone? If so does your contact info read out on screen differentiating between multiple phones for the same contact i.e. cell, home, work?

lkchris

Yes I do and yes it does but it's mostly the icon to the left of the name that's the clue, since many names are too long for the /M, /H, etc. at the end to display. It does on the short names for sure.

wrongcoast

Hmmmm..... All the icons on my display are identical. BTW, I can live with the icon issue as most of the numbers I call regularly I've previously entered in my voice dial memory but I think the short-coming I dislike the most with this new cradle is the lack of ability to use the car as the antenna. My old cradle with the V710 was a champ at keeping a connection as it's antenna was so much more powerful -- the vehicle's. Now (giving ATT the benefit of the doubt and blaming my drops instead on lack of antenna strength) I lose calls all the time especially in very specific, obviously badly covered, areas.

lkchris

Maybe it's the difference betweeen COMAND systems. Alpine in Alabama cars, Becker in German cars.

Icons of course determined within the iPhone.

wrongcoast

Pardon me if I appear dense but I must admit I'm confused. How does my iPhone determine the icons on my Comand display?

t-bone

So has anyone tried ordering this cable that is referenced here as being usable for pre-2009 generation COMAND systems?

lkchris

Uh, if you designate the phone number as "mobile" in your iPhone, that's the icon you'll get on your Mercedes COMAND TEL screen. (picture of cell phone)

If you code it "home" the icon is different (it's a house). Or work (a factory).

This on my W164; others unknown.

BTW, it's a bit redundent--in addition to the icon on the left and if the name is short enough, it will be /M, /H, /W on the right.

lkchris

https://mbworld.org/forums/3196161-post75.html

wrongcoast

Hate to beat a dead horse but none of those icons appear on my first screen of addresses. I have to go deeper into the menu by choosing 'options' to see the individual numbers and even then the numbers have no identifying icons as to whether they're cell, home, work or whatever. I guess this shortcoming has to do with the make and/or version of the software as to how the phone reads out on the car's display.

lkchris

I think it has to do with fact you have a Becker COMAND and I have an Alpine COMAND.

NJS430

Does anybody know if Mercedes is working on a new cradle specifically for the 3G? It would be nice if they release it before the next iPhone re-design

Wolfgang

Mercedes Accessories is working on it.

remo72tg

Is there a way to get this to work on 04 S500. I appreciate any help.

kjb55

wireless4mb.com used to have mention that a 3G specific cradle is coming - but have removed the statement.

wrongcoast

Uh, chill with the haughty attitude dude. I know how to program my phone so it designates cell vs. home vs. work. Your advice about the differences between manufacturers makes good sense but the rest of your comments are dripping with 'tude. My frustration (and possible redundancy of posts which I suppose explains your tone) lies with not getting any feedback from others having the same issue who might actually have found a solution. After all, aren't these forums, at least partially, a place for answers from others with more insight, expertise or experience?

shimmers

So for those whom have installed the iPhone cradle and the cable to the iPod interface, I have some questions.

- Are you now able to control your iPhone's iPod music functionality from the Command screen as opposed to the instrument cluster display?

- Is it possible to connect iPod Touch or other iPod's (i.e., nano or classic) to the iPhone cradle and get the music to work on the Command screen.

- Are you able to connect a different bluetooth phone (non-iPhone) to the iPhone cradle via bluetooth?

Thanks!

lkchris

Nothing's changed--Mercedes system pre-2009 provides iPod control via steering wheel buttons and instument cluster display only. Not W204 C-class, of course.

blando

There is so much great information here. Thanks to everyone for sharing. I'm starting from scratch I believe. I just bought a 2006 E55 with comand but no phone option. Given that I have "no phone", I know I will also need some other hardware. It seems like that would primarily be the phone module. From other posts I have seen, it seems that the car is already "pre-wired".

My ultimate goal here is to be able to connect my iPhone to the cradle to leverage both the phone and music functionality while charging. I'd hope to be able to also pair the iphone via bluetooth on some occasions without physically connecting to the cradle.

Is that all possible with just the combination of the cradle and the ipod kit (assuming I get the phone module in and programmed)?

emagni

Just received my iphone cradle and my iphone 3G works with my 2007 S550. Getting it to sync was confusing at first since I didn't know if I needed to pair up to the cradle's bluetooth and to the Mercedes through the system > service > update. Turns out it has nothing to do with you pairing the iphone to the Mercedes's Command "System" > "Service" bluetooth.

In order for the iphone to connect and work:
1. You need to connect to the cradle's bluetooth first. The cradle needs to be connect to the Mercedes' phone port located in the center arm rest without the iphone docking in it. This powers up the cradle and the cradle should start to blink signaling that it is ready to pair up.

2. Once this happens, you need to go to iPhone's Setting > General > Bluetooth (Bluetooth should be set to "On"). You should be able to see "iPhone Cradle" on your list. Click on the "iPhone Cradle" and enter code "62872".

3. Once you successfully pair up, you can dock you iPhone to the iPhone Cradle. You know that if the iPhone is securely docked by confirming if it is charging since the battery symbol to the upper right will change to the battery charging symbol.

4. Go to the "Telephone" tab on the COMMAND screen and you should be able to enter phone numbers to make a phone car. You should also be able to go the your phone book via the "Call List" but give it a minute for it to download your phone book before it is visible on the screen. All of my numbers has a /M, /H, /W, etc. to distinguish if it was a mobile, home, or working number.

Hope this helps those that have the Mercedes S550 (W221). It was confusing to me since I thought you would be able to pair up to the cradle only if it was dock. Wasted 15 minutes doing various combination with it dock before I tried pairing it without it docking.

blando

Thanks for the information. I'm planning to do the same on my 06 W211 E55. Do you plan to do any audio integration with your iPhone? I'm guessing the iphone cradle only provides bluetooth and charging and one would need to go with the iPod kit.