Thrash

Hi all

I have been reading on various forums that Apple CarPlay can't be retrofitted to my car which is a early 2018 C205 but I presume the same applies to the C205 as the W205. I have also spoke to two different salespeople who told me the same.

I noticed on a Mercedes retrofitting company they now sell an OBD plugin device which activates it, however it's currently out of stock. After speaking to them and providing the VIN, they have confirmed it's compatible with my car and C205/W205 models from late 2017 onwards. I'm a little skeptical because even recent posts suggest its impossible.

Has anyone got one of these tools or used one on a W205 yet? Also, does it need to stay in the OBD port constantly or does it just activate it and you can take it out and maybe sell it on?

Star4life

this has been covered extensively on my w205 carplay retrofit thread.

You CAN retrofit OEM carplay. If you have a 2018 you may not need to do much. If when you turn up or down volume, you see the volume bar on the screen, your headunit is already carplay ready and you may just need to swap card reader and harness or it may be a software update only.


I have successfully installed carplay on my 2017 so i know its possible. look at my thread to see whats involved. If you have the volume bar displayed on the screen, the obd activation tool would work.

janusgrimnitz

i have a 2015 model, bought a 2018 HU and now I have Apple Carplay. Expensive but works

Thrash

Thanks, I had a look at your thread but don't intend to spend thousands on getting it to work - I can make do without it but just nice to have given I had it on my W176. Looking at the data card for my car, it does appear to have the Panasonic HU and it does display the volume bar so hopefully should be fine.

Crimmie

Thrash

Read Star4life's post above and check out his thread. As he says, if when you change the volume, a volume bar appears then you should have the updated Panasonic head unit which I believe you can just buy the OBD activator and use. I'm yet to find a reputable supplier with them in stock at the minute though.

GLO

was it plug and play??

Did you have to entertain a security code?
And how did you change the color of the cars?