Questions on iPhone connectivity and bluetoth
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 275
Likes: 18
2010 GL550, 2013 C63
Questions on iPhone connectivity and bluetoth
I just bought a 2008 GL320. Love the truck so far but have a few questions on the iPhone integration.
What I have - old iPhone cable in the glovebox that is broken and an AUX input. Also, I have slot for the puck in the center console.
What I want to achieve - I would like to be able to do two things. 1) I'd like to get an iPhone 5 cable to replace the broken older cable so I can play music and control it with steering wheel controls while my phone charges. Also, a bonus would be to be able to view the iPhone screen on the NAV screen. 2) I would like to have full bluetooth integration with my phone so that I can use the car controls on my phone.
Questions - how I go about it? Which cable do I need to buy and is the swap easy? Should I just get the Benz puck for bluetooth or go aftermarket (basically, are there any better choices)?
Thanks for the help in advance!
What I have - old iPhone cable in the glovebox that is broken and an AUX input. Also, I have slot for the puck in the center console.
What I want to achieve - I would like to be able to do two things. 1) I'd like to get an iPhone 5 cable to replace the broken older cable so I can play music and control it with steering wheel controls while my phone charges. Also, a bonus would be to be able to view the iPhone screen on the NAV screen. 2) I would like to have full bluetooth integration with my phone so that I can use the car controls on my phone.
Questions - how I go about it? Which cable do I need to buy and is the swap easy? Should I just get the Benz puck for bluetooth or go aftermarket (basically, are there any better choices)?
Thanks for the help in advance!
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 54
Likes: 9
2017 E300, 2017 C300
No sure about how the GL320 display works. However, you cannot use the new MB cable for the iPhone 5. The new MB cable will the Lightning connector will not work. I am not exactly sure, but I believe it will only work with vehicles newer than 2012 or 2013. It would not work with my 2010 E350 coupe.
The cable swap is easy - just remove the broken one and plug in the new one. You may need to squeeze the two tabs on the connector to remove the old one.
If you decide to use a MB cable you will need to purchase the older style (same style as your broken one) with the 30 pin connector. Then you will need to purchase an AUTHORIZED Apple 30 pin to Lightning adapter - an aftermarket adapter will not work.
Hope this helps somewhat.
The cable swap is easy - just remove the broken one and plug in the new one. You may need to squeeze the two tabs on the connector to remove the old one.
If you decide to use a MB cable you will need to purchase the older style (same style as your broken one) with the 30 pin connector. Then you will need to purchase an AUTHORIZED Apple 30 pin to Lightning adapter - an aftermarket adapter will not work.
Hope this helps somewhat.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 275
Likes: 18
2010 GL550, 2013 C63
Its annoying that newer lightning plug cable wont work but i guess its not the worst to use an adaptor. I have to take apart the glovebox to see where the cable is plugged into. Will look into it today.
Any info on bluetooth?
Any info on bluetooth?
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 54
Likes: 9
2017 E300, 2017 C300
Bimmer777.
I did a lot of research on Bluetooth streaming of music from both my old iPhone 4s and my new 5s. I seems that starting only in 2012 MB changed the Comand system to allow Bluetooth streaming of music.
With that said, a number of people have been able to get their dealers to update their pre-2012 Comand systems to a later version and had success in enabling Bluetooth music.
I went so far as to give my dealer's service mgr. copies of various posts on this as well as the actual MB disc part # without success. My service mgr. claims that he went over these papers with the tech, but insisted my 2010 would not support Bluetooth music.
I did not want to plug my iPhone into the cable because I knew I would forget to take it with me when I parked the car. I subsequently bought an iPod that I leave in my car, connected to the MB 30 pin cable & lightning adapter so that I always have my music available.
Of course there are aftermarket Bluetooth gadgets that will allow streaming music from your phone, but I did not want to go that route.
Some people have been able to go into the "hidden" engineering menu on their cars (you can do a search to find out how to do this) to enable Bluetooth streaming of music. However, this will disconnect each time you turn the car off. You would have to go back into the engineering menu again each time you start the car - not for me.
I hope you come to a satisfactory conclusion for your problem.
I did a lot of research on Bluetooth streaming of music from both my old iPhone 4s and my new 5s. I seems that starting only in 2012 MB changed the Comand system to allow Bluetooth streaming of music.
With that said, a number of people have been able to get their dealers to update their pre-2012 Comand systems to a later version and had success in enabling Bluetooth music.
I went so far as to give my dealer's service mgr. copies of various posts on this as well as the actual MB disc part # without success. My service mgr. claims that he went over these papers with the tech, but insisted my 2010 would not support Bluetooth music.
I did not want to plug my iPhone into the cable because I knew I would forget to take it with me when I parked the car. I subsequently bought an iPod that I leave in my car, connected to the MB 30 pin cable & lightning adapter so that I always have my music available.
Of course there are aftermarket Bluetooth gadgets that will allow streaming music from your phone, but I did not want to go that route.
Some people have been able to go into the "hidden" engineering menu on their cars (you can do a search to find out how to do this) to enable Bluetooth streaming of music. However, this will disconnect each time you turn the car off. You would have to go back into the engineering menu again each time you start the car - not for me.
I hope you come to a satisfactory conclusion for your problem.
Last edited by bmeck2003; Jun 28, 2014 at 10:56 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 507
Likes: 16
'11 E350BTC P2 Leather
Sorry to resurrect an old thread.
I have a 2011 E-350, and a wife with an iPhone 5, soon to be iPhone 6.
She wants to be able to charge her phone from the cord that plugs into my glovebox. Right now, that cord has the old Apple connector.
She's not going to stream or bluetooth anything, just charge. Should I buy an adaptor to go from the old apple plug to the new one, or get the new cord that has the lightning cord?
Please do not suggest the cigarette lighter, she doesn't want that. And my car has no USB.
Thanks in advance.
I have a 2011 E-350, and a wife with an iPhone 5, soon to be iPhone 6.
She wants to be able to charge her phone from the cord that plugs into my glovebox. Right now, that cord has the old Apple connector.
She's not going to stream or bluetooth anything, just charge. Should I buy an adaptor to go from the old apple plug to the new one, or get the new cord that has the lightning cord?
Please do not suggest the cigarette lighter, she doesn't want that. And my car has no USB.
Thanks in advance.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 275
Likes: 18
2010 GL550, 2013 C63
I bought the adaptor for new lightning iPhone 5 charger straight from apple store and it works with the OEM glovebox cord like a charm now. Phone charges, music plays, I can use radio and steering controls to switch songs etc. The adaptor is $30 from Apple, not worth going with cheaper knockoffs from ebay.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 54
Likes: 9
2017 E300, 2017 C300
mikemargolis:
Do not buy the new MB cable. It will not work on a 2010 or 2011 model year. You need to buy the adapter to go from the 30 pin cable to the new lightning plug. DO NOT buy an aftermarket adapter - it will not work. You need to buy the authorized Apple adapter ($30) from Apple as Bimmer777 and I have done.
Do not buy the new MB cable. It will not work on a 2010 or 2011 model year. You need to buy the adapter to go from the 30 pin cable to the new lightning plug. DO NOT buy an aftermarket adapter - it will not work. You need to buy the authorized Apple adapter ($30) from Apple as Bimmer777 and I have done.
