E-Class (W212) 2010 - 2016: E 350, E 550

Drive Kit Plus in the 2014 E class

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Old 04-26-2014, 11:28 PM
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2013 E350 Sport Wagon - 4Matic
Originally Posted by samkimg
OK, car finally back and the static is gone ... Shop foreman told me that my car had become a personal challenge to him and his staff.

1. They installed a new DKP iPhone 4s kit piece-by-piece to determine which component was causing/allowing the static. Still had static across all audio from the DKP after 100% of the pieces were replaced. No idea why.
2. Moved the new DKP kit back from the center console into the glovebox (official installation location) and still had static.
3. Installed another new DKP iPhone 4s kit into another similarly equipped 2014 E350. Static appeared in that car also.
4. Shop foreman convinced the DKP for iPhone 4s was haunted.
5. Shop foreman installed a new DKP with BT for an iPhone 5 into my center console and found the static was gone!
6. I went out and bought a new iPhone 5 with the latest 1.7.2 version of the app and confirmed that the static was gone. It now works as advertised.

I'm now able to use the features as advertised and am happy with the kit. It is still is not a mature product as I would have preferred, but I expect updates will continue to add features much easier and quicker than updating the COMAND system.
Good to hear! Please keep is updated as you use the features more and more.

BTW, do you feel the install is "clean?" (Does it seem like a factory fit?)

Thanks!
Old 04-26-2014, 11:33 PM
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Yes, the install is perfect looking and matches like the "factory" fit and finish of the rest of the car.
Old 04-26-2014, 11:38 PM
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Originally Posted by samkimg
Yes, the install is perfect looking and matches like the "factory" fit and finish of the rest of the car.
Could you snap a photo of your center console when you get a moment?

Also, are you concerned at all with disassembly reassembly of various internal component LS (future rattles, etc)?

Lastly, do you know what had to be disassembled/removed for the installation (nav screen, dash, etc)?
Old 04-27-2014, 02:35 PM
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This shows the DKP entering the center console from the front, note the plastic spiral-cut tube giving strength to the lightening connector cable. The normal pigtail split cable allows me to charge an older 30-pin iDevice, and the analog audio portion is tied back into the DKP. In the USB port, I have a 8Gb stick full of my tunes.

Other than I need to clean out the center console from the dirt/dust of installation, it doesn't interfere with the normal volume of stuff I carry in the center console. I'm not hearing any rattles now and I know that my shop foreman will handle anything that may come up.

Second question about installation, somewhere earlier in this post is a link to the installation instructions. Watching that gave me a clear understanding of the level of effort my shop foreman went through to "solve" my static issue.

The service team did go above and beyond on this one for me...
Attached Thumbnails Drive Kit Plus in the 2014 E class-image.jpg  

Last edited by samkimg; 04-27-2014 at 02:38 PM.
Old 04-27-2014, 02:53 PM
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2013 E350 Sport Wagon - 4Matic
Originally Posted by samkimg
This shows the DKP entering the center console from the front, note the plastic spiral-cut tube giving strength to the lightening connector cable. The normal pigtail split cable allows me to charge an older 30-pin iDevice, and the analog audio portion is tied back into the DKP. In the USB port, I have a 8Gb stick full of my tunes.

Other than I need to clean out the center console from the dirt/dust of installation, it doesn't interfere with the normal volume of stuff I carry in the center console. I'm not hearing any rattles now and I know that my shop foreman will handle anything that may come up.

Second question about installation, somewhere earlier in this post is a link to the installation instructions. Watching that gave me a clear understanding of the level of effort my shop foreman went through to "solve" my static issue.

The service team did go above and beyond on this one for me...
Thanks for the pic. That's helpful.

Can you explain what you mean by a analog wire from media interface cable being tied into DKP?
Old 04-28-2014, 12:00 AM
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According to the shop foreman, the audio goes through the analog cable from the pigtail media cable into the system.
Old 04-28-2014, 08:44 AM
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2013 E350 Sport Wagon - 4Matic
Originally Posted by samkimg
According to the shop foreman, the audio goes through the analog cable from the pigtail media cable into the system.
Interesting....especially considering the official instructions call for the DKP to be installed in the glove box (no where close to the media interface cable).

In addition, the new iPhone 5 media interface cable does not include the analog portion of the pigtail.
Old 04-28-2014, 09:47 AM
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Originally Posted by shashivr4


Sorry for taking 3 posts to post 3 pictures...every time I tried to post more than one pic per post, the paged refreshed and I lost the previously copy and pasted link. Gave up after a few failed attempts.
Thanks for the pictures, how long did it take to get? Looks like DKP was shipped from Germany?
Old 04-28-2014, 10:08 AM
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2013 E350 Sport Wagon - 4Matic
Originally Posted by stas2007
Thanks for the pictures, how long did it take to get? Looks like DKP was shipped from Germany?
I ordered it many months ago with the purchase of my new car. The dealer then purchased it immediately once it become available. They received it within 3 days.
Old 05-15-2014, 04:16 PM
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Originally Posted by samkimg
OK, car finally back and the static is gone ... Shop foreman told me that my car had become a personal challenge to him and his staff.

1. They installed a new DKP iPhone 4s kit piece-by-piece to determine which component was causing/allowing the static. Still had static across all audio from the DKP after 100% of the pieces were replaced. No idea why.
2. Moved the new DKP kit back from the center console into the glovebox (official installation location) and still had static.
3. Installed another new DKP iPhone 4s kit into another similarly equipped 2014 E350. Static appeared in that car also.
4. Shop foreman convinced the DKP for iPhone 4s was haunted.
5. Shop foreman installed a new DKP with BT for an iPhone 5 into my center console and found the static was gone!
6. I went out and bought a new iPhone 5 with the latest 1.7.2 version of the app and confirmed that the static was gone. It now works as advertised.

I'm now able to use the features as advertised and am happy with the kit. It is still is not a mature product as I would have preferred, but I expect updates will continue to add features much easier and quicker than updating the COMAND system.
Glad to hear you got it working!
So are you still able to use AUX Audio jack for something else or basically the Drive Kit Plus replaces AUX?
By the way is voice function fixed on the iphone 5 kit (steering wheel voice button)?
Old 05-17-2014, 04:34 PM
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E400 2014
Drive Kit Plus for my W212 E 400 Coupé

Next wednesday I´m driving up to Scottsdale to have the DKP (for the iPhone 5S) installed on my car.

I got it because I EITHER get the navigation maps for the USA and Canada OR the navigation maps for Mexico and Latin America, as if I wouldn´t drive the car across the border.

What the hell where the MB guys in Germany thinking? A Mercedes would skim right along the US-Mexico border or what?

I´ll keep you guys posted on how it performs...

Best regards.

Last edited by finleybob; 05-17-2014 at 04:36 PM.
Old 05-21-2014, 12:04 PM
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Installed my drive kit plus for iphone 5 this weekend. None of the dealers in Massachusetts area know anything about drive kit plus, eventually told me will take them 5-8 hours labor @130$ per hour. Installation was a pain but managed to install everything in about 6 hours, mainly because there was no installation manual. Probably can install in 2 hours now , I wouldn't recommend installing DKP by yourself unless you are very mechanical and electrical inclined.
So far everything works- siri, navigation, both modes with AUX sound and radio sound- no static.
Only issue I have is cant get the contacts to sync with Drive kit plus.

Last edited by stas2007; 05-21-2014 at 12:16 PM.
Old 05-21-2014, 01:46 PM
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2013 E350 Sport Wagon - 4Matic
Originally Posted by stas2007
Installed my drive kit plus for iphone 5 this weekend. None of the dealers in Massachusetts area know anything about drive kit plus, eventually told me will take them 5-8 hours labor @130$ per hour. Installation was a pain but managed to install everything in about 6 hours, mainly because there was no installation manual. Probably can install in 2 hours now , I wouldn't recommend installing DKP by yourself unless you are very mechanical and electrical inclined.
So far everything works- siri, navigation, both modes with AUX sound and radio sound- no static.
Only issue I have is cant get the contacts to sync with Drive kit plus.
How much disassembly was requires to install DKP (dash, center console, etc)? I still have my DKP for iPhone 5 but haven't had it installed yet due to fear of rattling after installation...
Old 05-22-2014, 10:51 AM
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Originally Posted by shashivr4
How much disassembly was requires to install DKP (dash, center console, etc)? I still have my DKP for iPhone 5 but haven't had it installed yet due to fear of rattling after installation...
In my M-class i had to remove the radio, display and center speaker.
I also removed center console(not completely, just loosened so I can move it around) and area under glove box. I mainly did it to route the cables since I wanted DKP in the center console not in the glove box. I followed the video on youtube for CLA installation of DKP I4, my DKP wiring was different but close enough so I could figure it out. I dont know about rattling since I removed this pieces before on my W166, but seems fine. Also couldnt find a good spot to mount the module(black box) so did the same as per youtube video(removed the foam on pas. carpet and mounted DKP Box there.)
Old 05-22-2014, 04:10 PM
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Originally Posted by stas2007
Glad to hear you got it working!
So are you still able to use AUX Audio jack for something else or basically the Drive Kit Plus replaces AUX?
By the way is voice function fixed on the iphone 5 kit (steering wheel voice button)?
What do you mean by "By the way is voice function fixed on the iphone 5 kit (steering wheel voice button)?" ... my voice control functions fine on the MB functions, but doesn't control the DKP.
Old 05-22-2014, 10:24 PM
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2013 E350 Sport Wagon - 4Matic
Originally Posted by samkimg
What do you mean by "By the way is voice function fixed on the iphone 5 kit (steering wheel voice button)?" ... my voice control functions fine on the MB functions, but doesn't control the DKP.
So how do you activate Siri for DKP?
Old 05-23-2014, 01:38 AM
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Via the COMAND knob is the only way I know that it works. The voice button in DKP mode still only controls the native MB systems, not DKP. I wish it would work that way.
Old 05-23-2014, 02:25 AM
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13 E350 4MATIC
Originally Posted by shashivr4
Does anyone know if the 2013s read text as well?
Nope
Old 05-23-2014, 09:35 PM
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Originally Posted by juliana21
Nope
My 2013 reads texts while driving. When the "certain functions unavailable....." Screen comes up, just press the command dial again and it reads the texts.
Old 10-30-2014, 11:33 AM
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What map is used for nav guidance while driving ... is it the google / iPhone map or the original Merc map?

If I understand correctly, Audi lets you look for POIs with google maps but once you start driving it reverts back to the Audi maps. I could be wrong.

Any news on getting DKP retro-fitted to a '12 E?
Old 10-31-2014, 01:28 AM
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DKP uses Google maps and when navigating with the DKP, it will use those maps. If you switch to the MB Comand system, then you would need to enter and use that system for navigation.
Old 03-31-2016, 05:04 AM
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Mercedes Benz c class w204 face lift
Hi Everybody,

Looking forward to get DKP installed in my c class w204 facelift (audio 20 CD with CD changer, becker map pilot, media interface), just wondering if DKP is compatible with iphone 6s running iOS 9.3. Thanks

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