Retrofit CarPlay in W205
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,653
Likes: 560
2016 C300
There's no legal cause of action for a manufacturer delaying release of a proposed new feature, or abandoning the release of a proposed feature entirely. If it's not listed on the car's Mulroney Sticker, they don't owe it to you. Unless you can prove that MB purposefully induced you to buy a car you otherwise would not have purchased but for the promise of Apple CarPlay, I wouldn't get too fired up about it.
The issue MB (and others) are running up against is Apple's unwillingness to warranty or support CarPlay installations. They want the automobile's manufacturer to be responsible and handle support calls. MB apparently was not convinced of the stability and reliability of the platform across multiple IOS devices when the W205 locked. As someone mentioned, maybe it'll be available in the mid cycle facelift.
For CarPlay to work, MB must license CarIOS from Apple and embed it into COMAND's firmware. It also requires CANBUS level access to the car's microphone and Talk button. They're not there yet, or at least weren't there in time for the 205's launch. CarPlay was intended to be available native on 2015 models, and available as a retrofit module thereafter, but they're apparently still working out the kinks, and I doubt we'll ever see a retrofit module.
The issue MB (and others) are running up against is Apple's unwillingness to warranty or support CarPlay installations. They want the automobile's manufacturer to be responsible and handle support calls. MB apparently was not convinced of the stability and reliability of the platform across multiple IOS devices when the W205 locked. As someone mentioned, maybe it'll be available in the mid cycle facelift.
For CarPlay to work, MB must license CarIOS from Apple and embed it into COMAND's firmware. It also requires CANBUS level access to the car's microphone and Talk button. They're not there yet, or at least weren't there in time for the 205's launch. CarPlay was intended to be available native on 2015 models, and available as a retrofit module thereafter, but they're apparently still working out the kinks, and I doubt we'll ever see a retrofit module.
Last edited by Mike5215; Apr 7, 2016 at 04:28 PM.
Member
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 219
Likes: 11
From: Sweden
2016 AMG C63S, Lamborghini Gallardo, 2016, A-class 180
- 2016 A-Class
- 2016 B-Class
- 2016 CLA-Class
- 2016 CLS-Class
- 2016 E-Class Cabriolet
- 2016 E-Class Coupe
- 2016 GLA-Class
- 2016 GLE-Class
I dont get it.. WHY NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 139
Likes: 15
996 Carrera, G55 AMG
Doesn't make much sense tech wise. Likely trying to wring the last $$$ from overpriced multimedia pack on c-class.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,653
Likes: 560
2016 C300
Originally Posted by Zand3rs
- 2016 A-Class
- 2016 B-Class
- 2016 CLA-Class
- 2016 CLS-Class
- 2016 E-Class Cabriolet
- 2016 E-Class Coupe
- 2016 GLA-Class
- 2016 GLE-Class
I dont get it.. WHY NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 295
Likes: 19
2016 C300
would have been nice to have this, but not a deal breaker for me.
i would rather them implement a SKIP track on the steering wheel.
a touchscreen way to input addresses on the navi and i'll be golden
i would rather them implement a SKIP track on the steering wheel.
a touchscreen way to input addresses on the navi and i'll be golden
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 295
Likes: 19
2016 C300
so, to skip a track:
Press HOME button
press ARROW until MEDIA is selected
Press OK
then finally you are able to change tracks.
why can't it just be:
press forward to skip track, press back to go back.
instead of all that, i might as well just press middle button on touchbad and skip via swipping (very frustrating way) or rotating knob.
either way, there's no simple way to do it 1 shot, you know what i mean?
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 337
Likes: 7
From: North San Diego, CA
2015 C300
Though it would be great to have the option of a split screen COMMAND
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 597
Likes: 7
From: San Jose
2016 C450 AMG, 2009 C300, 2001 C320 2001 CLK430, 95 E500
honestly, it's just easier pulling up the favorites menu on the keypad - which comes up no matter what the command screen is, and then just swiping right on the keypad.. there's a bump on the fav. logic button on the keypad to make it easier to find without looking.. a sub pop-up of the current audio/media/station items pops up, then just swipe right or left for next or previous.
Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
W205
Hello all,
I do not like how all of us who really wanted CarPlay in the W205 are quiet about it after getting their cars. We were sort of tricked into believing that we will be getting it, especially because Mercedes chose to demonstrate CarPlay for the first time in a Mercedes in a W205 in the video below.
I don't know exactly how many people were enthusiastic about CarPlay in the C-Class. I can just talk about the few owners I saw in this forum and myself. I am extremely disappointed because CarPlay was one of the main features that grabbed my attention. What forced me to make this post is that I recently saw that CarPlay is being offered in the A-Class, B-Class, and others, and surprisingly the outgoing E-Class.
I am certain that Daimler can find a solution to this and retrofit CarPlay for W205 owners. We cannot stay quiet about this and eat it up. Let us bring attention to Daimler so that we put an end to the waiting and miscommunication about CarPlay.
Video
I do not like how all of us who really wanted CarPlay in the W205 are quiet about it after getting their cars. We were sort of tricked into believing that we will be getting it, especially because Mercedes chose to demonstrate CarPlay for the first time in a Mercedes in a W205 in the video below.
I don't know exactly how many people were enthusiastic about CarPlay in the C-Class. I can just talk about the few owners I saw in this forum and myself. I am extremely disappointed because CarPlay was one of the main features that grabbed my attention. What forced me to make this post is that I recently saw that CarPlay is being offered in the A-Class, B-Class, and others, and surprisingly the outgoing E-Class.
I am certain that Daimler can find a solution to this and retrofit CarPlay for W205 owners. We cannot stay quiet about this and eat it up. Let us bring attention to Daimler so that we put an end to the waiting and miscommunication about CarPlay.
Video
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
2015 C300 4MATIC
Carplay only on NTG5*1
If you all carefully observe the interior of each of these listed vehicles -
2016 A-Class
2016 B-Class
2016 CLA-Class
2016 CLS-Class
2016 E-Class Cabriolet
2016 E-Class Coupe
2016 GLA-Class
2016 GLE-Class
You will find that all of these use previous generation COMAND NTG5*1 system. This system has a numeric keypad and only a rotational knob to control the infotainment system.
The two glaring omissions in the aforementioned list are 2016 C-Class and 2016 S-Class, both of which use the most latest iteration, COMAND NTG5*2 system. This latest COMAND system gets rid of the numeric keypad and adds a touch pad. See attachment for distinction between COMAND NTG5 systems.
I have been doing a lot of research on this, there are some folks on russian fora who have retrofitted Carplay firmware, that has been released for the aforementioned vehicles, on some older vehicles that were shipped with COMAND NTG5*1 hardware. This clearly proves that once NTG5*2 firmware with Carplay comes out (possibly on 2017 E-Class), it can definitely be flashed on to any of the vehicles with NTG5*2 hardware including W205 cars.
Now I truly hope it doesn't come down to doing all the dirty coding and flashing work. I hope Mercedes takes care of its customers and just issues a software update for all of us and prove that they are "Best or Nothing".
2016 A-Class
2016 B-Class
2016 CLA-Class
2016 CLS-Class
2016 E-Class Cabriolet
2016 E-Class Coupe
2016 GLA-Class
2016 GLE-Class
You will find that all of these use previous generation COMAND NTG5*1 system. This system has a numeric keypad and only a rotational knob to control the infotainment system.
The two glaring omissions in the aforementioned list are 2016 C-Class and 2016 S-Class, both of which use the most latest iteration, COMAND NTG5*2 system. This latest COMAND system gets rid of the numeric keypad and adds a touch pad. See attachment for distinction between COMAND NTG5 systems.
I have been doing a lot of research on this, there are some folks on russian fora who have retrofitted Carplay firmware, that has been released for the aforementioned vehicles, on some older vehicles that were shipped with COMAND NTG5*1 hardware. This clearly proves that once NTG5*2 firmware with Carplay comes out (possibly on 2017 E-Class), it can definitely be flashed on to any of the vehicles with NTG5*2 hardware including W205 cars.
Now I truly hope it doesn't come down to doing all the dirty coding and flashing work. I hope Mercedes takes care of its customers and just issues a software update for all of us and prove that they are "Best or Nothing".
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,653
Likes: 560
2016 C300
That motto is accurate. In the case of Apple CarPlay in the W205, it's presently "nothing".
They may offer a retrofit at some point but it doesn't look good. I'd be wary of flashing COMAND firmware with a Russian hack. It's possible to brick the unit, and it wouldn't be a warranty fix.
They may offer a retrofit at some point but it doesn't look good. I'd be wary of flashing COMAND firmware with a Russian hack. It's possible to brick the unit, and it wouldn't be a warranty fix.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
2015 C300 4MATIC
I love the car, but overall I agree with the sentiment in this thread, we were led to believe from that youtube video that carplay was coming to the new C-Class.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,653
Likes: 560
2016 C300
Not sure the intent was to mislead. Anybody who configured a C or ordered a C learned that CarPlay wasn't an option on a new build, much less available as a retrofit on existing cars.
The only hint MB gave about a possible retrofit CarPlay for any model was a press release in 2014 stating that they hoped to deliver a retrofit module for a variety of late model cars by late 2015, as well as having CarPlay as an option on new cars.
That never materialized and MB has been silent on the issue since. Looks like more of a minor PR flub, putting the announcement out prematurely and then being unable to follow through.
The only hint MB gave about a possible retrofit CarPlay for any model was a press release in 2014 stating that they hoped to deliver a retrofit module for a variety of late model cars by late 2015, as well as having CarPlay as an option on new cars.
That never materialized and MB has been silent on the issue since. Looks like more of a minor PR flub, putting the announcement out prematurely and then being unable to follow through.
Last edited by Mike5215; May 11, 2016 at 09:13 PM.
well done. 
