E-Class (W212) 2010 - 2016: E 350, E 550
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Major issues with audio skipping via Bluetooth? iPhone 7 and X

Old Oct 2, 2018 | 06:25 PM
  #51  
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2011 E350 Wagon
Apple Watch Interference

I have a 2011 E350 Wagon and pair with an iPhone 6 or 7 Plus. When on bluetooth, the audio skips whether playing music or on the phone.

One thing I noticed is that I can stop this from happening if I put my Apple Watch (Series 2) in airplane mode. Think the Command system and Watch are fighting to control the Iphone.

I asked the dealer if there was a bluetooth update and they said no.

To deal with this, I put the Watch in airlplane mode. Not ideal, but works for me.

Last edited by UA727; Oct 2, 2018 at 06:29 PM.
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Old Nov 29, 2018 | 09:37 PM
  #52  
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2015 us e250
The Bluetooth skips really bad in my 15 e250. It starts only after about 30 minutes or so. Im using a samsung note 9. I have also tried it with a note 8 and lg g6 with no luck, so its not just apple guys lol. The dealer said it is fully updated and can offer no solution. I have been just resetting the Bluetooth every 30 minutes by pushing the #5 button and back to #6 on the phone pad. I've tried everything posted above and enabling and disabling every setting in engineering mode that has anything to due with Bluetooth with no luck. Whats strange is i think it is getting progressively worse. today it seamed like I had to push it every 20 minutes idk. Amazon adapter is looking pretty good!
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Old Jun 18, 2019 | 09:11 PM
  #53  
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Originally Posted by mbhead
The Bluetooth skips really bad in my 15 e250. It starts only after about 30 minutes or so. Im using a samsung note 9. I have also tried it with a note 8 and lg g6 with no luck, so its not just apple guys lol. The dealer said it is fully updated and can offer no solution. I have been just resetting the Bluetooth every 30 minutes by pushing the #5 button and back to #6 on the phone pad. I've tried everything posted above and enabling and disabling every setting in engineering mode that has anything to due with Bluetooth with no luck. Whats strange is i think it is getting progressively worse. today it seamed like I had to push it every 20 minutes idk. Amazon adapter is looking pretty good!
I have had the same problem with my 2015 E400 with my work Galaxy S8 and my personal Galaxy Note 9. Just bought a OnePlus 7 Pro, so I'll get a chance to test it over the next few days. It's exactly as you describe, the audio starts skipping/stuttering or even echoing about 30-45 minutes after consistent streaming. Deactivating bluetooth on the phone and then reactivating it solves the problem for another 30-45 minutes. Was hoping there was a known issue I could take it to the dealer for and receive a firmware update...
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Old Jun 19, 2019 | 03:47 PM
  #54  
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I took it to 2 different dealers. The first said it was up to date, the second said that there was an update and charged me 25 for the update. It didnt fix anything. Thinking of replacing the radio or even upgrading it to the newer version. Also couldn't find a bluetooth mmi device that worked, tried 3 of them and most of them only work for older models before 2012.
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Old Aug 16, 2019 | 09:54 AM
  #55  
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2011 E350 (W212)
I finally gave up on bluetooth / iphone xs on the 2011 e350

I have the NTG4 system (with the compact flash drive) and have finally just given up.
Moving to replace head unit with an 8500 series Pioneer Carplay unit.
It supports wired and wireless connectivity.
Using an Avin MOST Fiber optic adapter so that I can avoid replacing the amplifier and speaker system.

I'll report back on how it goes.

==Forrest
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Old Aug 17, 2019 | 10:06 AM
  #56  
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Originally Posted by forrest154
I have the NTG4 system (with the compact flash drive) and have finally just given up.
Moving to replace head unit with an 8500 series Pioneer Carplay unit.
It supports wired and wireless connectivity.
Using an Avin MOST Fiber optic adapter so that I can avoid replacing the amplifier and speaker system.

I'll report back on how it goes.

==Forrest
I don't see previous post from you on this.

Did you ever get your Comand software updated?

My first MB was a brand new 2011 E350. I had it updated and Bluetooth streaming worked fine. I then traded it in for my current car 2010 E550 and had this updated as well. My Bluetooth streaming has worked flawlessly with several different phones including the current iPhone 7.
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Old Aug 17, 2019 | 11:34 AM
  #57  
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yes

Originally Posted by Arrie
I don't see previous post from you on this.

Did you ever get your Comand software updated?

My first MB was a brand new 2011 E350. I had it updated and Bluetooth streaming worked fine. I then traded it in for my current car 2010 E550 and had this updated as well. My Bluetooth streaming has worked flawlessly with several different phones including the current iPhone 7.

Yes, I got the firmware level confirmed by another dealer.
The whole process is just very poorly defined. Dealers don't seem to know how to troubleshoot AV systems.
I also am able to get it to work most days putting my apple watch in airplane mode and not having other people with bluetooth devices in the car.
I've just gotten to the point where I can't take it anymore so updating to a Pioneer AVIC-8500X-NEC.
This device supports airplay both wired and wireless so I think that will end my audio problems.
Probably trade out for other problems but I'll take it at this point.
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Old Aug 23, 2019 | 08:36 PM
  #58  
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2011 E350 (W212)
Updated W212 to Pioneer W4500 NEX

Was able to get this done today.
2011 W212 E350 HK sound.

Used Pioneer W4500 NEX with AVIN Most converter and Metra dash kit.
Pretty satisfied with result so far.
The pre amp sound levels of the Pioneer/Most combo seem higher than the factory unit (louder at lower volume) but that's manageable.

Sounds great.


2011 E350 W212 with Pioneer W4500 NEX
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Old Jan 26, 2021 | 06:44 PM
  #59  
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I found a decent solution, software updates didn't work from the dealer, but the YouTube app and YouTube music app doesn't skip!!! All other apps like pandora and Amazon music all skip??
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Old Jan 26, 2021 | 06:57 PM
  #60  
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2011 E350 Wagon
One thing that works for me is to close all apps but the one I am using, e.g. music, phone, guidance. (Now using the Apple XS iPhone). Minimizing the number of Apps trying to output audio seems to help. Re-pairing the phone with the Command unit has also helped.

We have a Tesla Model X, and don't think I'm ever buying another Mercedes again. Over the air software updates, and cabin electronics that just work are now a base level requirement after this experience.
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Old Jan 26, 2021 | 07:03 PM
  #61  
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2015 us e250
I found a decent solution, software updates didn't work from the dealer, but the YouTube app and YouTube music app doesn't skip!!! All other apps like pandora and Amazon music all skip??
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Old Jan 27, 2021 | 04:02 PM
  #62  
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I've found that Spotify on my Android phone can have issues with weak cell reception if I put the phone in the center console box. if I'm playing stuff that I've downloaded ahead of time its fine, but if its real time streaming, it can run out of buffer space when the cellular reception drops out. putting the phone out on top of the console greatly improves its reception, and in fringe areas I have to put it on top of the dashboard. this has nothing to do specifically with Bluetooth.

re specifically bluetooth, shut your phone's wifi off when you don't need it, and that will improve bluetooth signal integrity, as even if you are not actively connected to a wifi router, your phone constantly reaches out on wifi frequencies to see if there's one in range. Bluetooth uses the same 2.4Ghz as most wifi (yes, wifi can also use 5Ghz, but its got to try both when its checking for access). Also, most all phones use 'software defined radio' aka SDR, and they use the same processor and radio guts for cellular, wifi, and bluetooth, so using all 3 at once can drag down the phone's processor. On my old Pixel 1, running a wifi hotspot and bluetooth at the same time was problematic, but on the Pixel 3a, it seems to handle it better.
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Old Jun 13, 2023 | 12:42 PM
  #63  
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W212
Bluetooth glitch workaround

My 2011 e350 did the same thing. went and got the update but only worked for a few months then always glitched when streaming from spot of appl music. I kind of gave up on it, for years, and tried again just the other day and found a fix.

open and close your steaming app, for apple swipe up to close, until it sinks with command and works fine. Not popping, skipping or glitching… sometime I can get it on the first or second try sometimes it takes me 10 times but it has always worked eventually. Sometimes i need to drive away from the house because there must be some interference with other devices or Wi-Fi or something. Hope this helps
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Old Jun 13, 2023 | 05:46 PM
  #64  
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It continues to happen for me on pandora, pocketcasts and spotify, and has persisted on all of my newer android phones. Usually happens around 45 minutes in. I simply turn off the bluetooth for a split second and let it reconnect. A minor annoyance that only affects me on road trips.
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