bdajeha

Hi,
Just noticed on the configurator for the new E class, that Android Auto & Carplay was available now, if you specced the Comand system.
What are the odds of that showing up in the C Class before the facelift?

I find it a bit strange that you have to spec Comand to get it, the new Audi A4 has a better solution IMO.

cajun1689

I spoke with mercedes rep at the Detroit auto show and they stated that they have no intentions of bring carplay to the C class anytime in the near future and do not plan to make a aftermarket solution for current cars...

netboy

no fruit on the C
http://www.apple.com/ios/carplay/available-models/

no android on Mercedes
https://www.android.com/auto/

DapperStyle

Wow that's a pretty hardline stance. I wonder what the reasoning could be, seems easy to implement since the CLA/GLA already are shipping with it.

cajun1689

Yeah I can't tell you how frustrated i am. As this is one of the main reason I purchased instead of leased the c450. But I should have never taken the word of Mercedes.

DapperStyle

Eh I wouldn't be so down about it, people leasing 450s are getting fleeced last I checked. You could lease a V6 Jag F Type for the money people are spending on C450s.

Sharpgator

I have an October build GLE Coupe that was promised to have CarPlay. Of course, it does not. I have spoken with Mercedes Customer Care multiple times and I can tell you that they are certainly sticking with the story that there will NOT be backwards compatibility.

cleankutazn

Those are two different type of cars.

firebird90

In Europe, you can opt for Smartphone Integration Pack for GLE. I think it is a part of Multimedia Display. But the most annoying part is even the facelifted A class has it with integration package.

W124-FTW

Annoyingly MBUK are even putting Car Play in the outgoing E-Class (W212). Yes, the one which they're going to cease production for any day now.

See page 25 of this:
http://tools.mercedes-benz.co.uk/cur...oon-estate.pdf

Not sure if you've seen the COMAND on the W212, but it looks like it was from the ice age.

jeffj2h

I'm a big Apple user, so I'm very interested in CarPlay, but I'm not sure I'd actually use it, in it's current form. A few show-stopper problems for me:

- When CarPlay is active on the car screen, your iPhone is taken over as well. If you, for example, try to read an email on your phone, the car screen exists CarPlay mode (before you flame me for even mentioning this, my commute involves a lot of red-lights and I'd say 90% of everyone around me is staring at their phone.)

- CarPlay only supports Apple Maps. No Google maps. No Waze. I use Waze every day. It has excellent traffic avoidance routing, user supplied accident info, and even user supplied police locations. Note that MB's "Car-to-X" will offer MB-to-MB traffic and accident data exchange, but Waze is doing this today for the hundreds of thousands of people using it, for whatever car they use.


Because of the above, once I get a car with CarPlay, I might end up not using it and just doing what I do now: stick my iPhone on top of the ash tray or on some other ledge on the dashboard.

jeffj2h

Here is a good review of CarPlay, describing the pros and cons.
http://arstechnica.com/apple/2016/01...les-carplay/1/

A few plusses they mention:
- The Apple Maps nav screen is much nicer than that found standard in cars
- Siri's voice commands are much more natural language than the painful multi-step proceedure needed usually in cars

ManiacGT

All provided you have signal. No signal, no Siri.

Donnnn

I suspect the C series will not have carplay until wireless carplay.

jeffj2h

Perhaps, but wireless CarPlay is a feature solving a non-existent problem. It makes sense to plug your smartphone in while driving, just to keep it charged. Also, a hard-wired connection will be bullet proof while a wireless connection will be subject to all the vagaries of wireless (e.g. pairing and bad connections).

It's weird the MB published this video a year ago claiming the C-class already had CarPlay, and demoing it:

But Apple is so opaque, who knows why. Another CarPlay oddity is that VW wanted to demo wireless CarPlay at CES a few weeks ago and Apple said no:
http://blog.caranddriver.com/apple-b...arplay-at-ces/

Donnnn

Wireless carplay doesn't require wireless. It simply allows the option of not plugging in when charging isn't needed. Only users with OCD enjoy frequent plugging in and unplugging.

jeffj2h

Guilty.

FWIW here are the new features in the CarPlay 9.3 beta. Some Apple Music enhancements and 'near me' Apple Maps enhancements:

DapperStyle

Sadly it appears that the C Class won't be seeing carplay until the MY2018 facelift. https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-c...ml#post6695866 JPMBenz is quite connected and well known in the AMG forums.

I honestly can't see why they made this decision. The C has become their hot seller and they are choosing to ignore it with regards to Carplay. For me until Waze or google maps is supported I don't think I would use carplay THAT much but it should still be available on the C.

cidtek

Does apple maps give the split screen when executing a turn like the current MB nav does?