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Just curious now that you have upgraded your unit to allow ACP and AA. Wondering how you are liking the experience in using this feature compared to other cars that have ACP/AA? Does it behave the same in your W212? Any glitches you noticed? Any feedback would be great!
Just curious now that you have upgraded your unit to allow ACP and AA. Wondering how you are liking the experience in using this feature compared to other cars that have ACP/AA? Does it behave the same in your W212? Any glitches you noticed? Any feedback would be great!
1. My dad, a 70+ yr old man uses it and LOVES it. He is familiar with the iPhone ecosystem and uses his iPad and iPhone with SIRI as much as possible, so this was a good transition
2. He and I don’t LOVE that you need to HOLD the talk button to activate Siri. Since the phone is now primarily in the center console, “Hey Siri” doesn’t pick up very well. He’s still getting used to it.
3. His wife loves that she can also charge her iPhone while using his for the CarPlay. The dial system is very nice and no fingerprints on the screen! Lol. But, he uses Siri for the most part.
4. Again, this is his car, he doesn’t live with me but I can tell he loves his “new to him” car even more now.
...He and I don’t LOVE that you need to HOLD the talk button to activate Siri. Since the phone is now primarily in the center console, “Hey Siri” doesn’t pick up very well. He’s still getting used to it.
IIRC, holding the talk button should trigger comms with Siri (or OK Google) via the car microphone/speaker, rather than through the mic on the phone in the center console. Maybe it's time to play with the dealer menu, again, item... "7. ringtone for CarPlay” option.
IIRC, holding the talk button should trigger comms with Siri (or OK Google) via the car microphone/speaker, rather than through the mic on the phone in the center console. Maybe it's time to play with the dealer menu, again, item... "7. ringtone for CarPlay” option.
Yes, it does (trigger comms with Siri via the car microphone). I’m commenting on the fact that you need to HOLD the button instead of tapping it like you can in the newer Mercedes with CarPlay. Holding it is annoying. You need to hold it for about 2-3 seconds.
Yes, it does (trigger comms with Siri via the car microphone). I’m commenting on the fact that you need to HOLD the button instead of tapping it like you can in the newer Mercedes with CarPlay. Holding it is annoying. You need to hold it for about 2-3 seconds.
Awwww, poor baby! LOL, I bet you and dad get used to it in no time at all... There's a learning curve for everything
If anything, I thought getting accustomed to using the console controller (rather than touch screen) would be the more interesting skill acquisition challenge.
thanks, Richie for the info,
I still need to goto another dealer to get the firmware updated. everything else on my system is correct just not the Command firmware update. My Current SA was pretty pissing about my not updating to that command firmware.
Just got off the phone with another Stealership , they what $201 to do it. That plus the cost of the OBDII device will put it well over $350 to do this. Think I'll live without it for a bit and do it for a birthday or xmas present to myself. LOL
Edit:I have an appointment to get it updated via Warranty on Monday. Wish me luck. Should I mention that High CY15_ 9 version??
Last edited by FireRx Captain; 04-13-2019 at 01:42 PM.
Reason: Unpdate
Just got off the phone with another Stealership , they what $201 to do it. That plus the cost of the OBDII device will put it well over $350 to do this. Think I'll live without it for a bit and do it for a birthday or xmas present to myself. LOL
Edit:I have an appointment to get it updated via Warranty on Monday. Wish me luck. Should I mention that High CY15_ 9 version??
I went to a different MB dealership in Scottsdale. Told them I was having intermittent break ups in my Bluetooth music. I gave them the High CY15_ 9 an the software version 18/24 10 and they updated it while I waited. Now I have carplay in the dealer menu item #11. I'm happy now.
Last edited by FireRx Captain; 04-15-2019 at 10:52 PM.
I took my car to the dealership yesterday morning. I was (actually) having intermittent Comand operation. With Comand ON when leaving the car, it would not automatically turn ON when restarting the car hours later. I also mentioned having periodic issues using the mBrace "Send to Benz" route guidance tfeature.
Turns out the main battery was under voltage (several codes), so they replaced the battery (a bonus). But they were also able to replicate and confirm the actual periodic failure of Comand to turn on when restarting the car. So, they upgraded my Comand firmware as well to the desired version, under warranty (expires in Oct).
Picked up the car this morning and will share the good news, as RichieBoyle did. My car was bult July 20, 2015...
Appropriate sections of my datacard:
Xentry confirmation of the upgrade. They would not give me the paperwork, but did allow me to take this picture (edited)...
Confirmation in Dealer menu that the system is ready for Carplay features (#11)...
Here's a hint... The dealer can't test (replicate) mBrace connectivity without your phone present. My SA asked me to perform some "Send to Benz" and car lock/unlock tests to confirm it's now working. I will do this and send him a memo.
Next step is to buy the ACP/AA dongle from Europe suggested by fleeno. The expense for this will be less than trying to goad the dealer into doing the final step to ACP/AA...
Congrats! That's where I am also. Just to be clear, is the next step for the dealer simply to;
1) Build codes need to be activated/documented by Mercedes, via the re-documentation software (XSF), to retrofit the following build codes needed to your VIN card: 14U Smartphone Integration Package 16U Smartphone Integration Carplay 17U Smartphone Integration Google Automotive Link
Or is there more? Will that work with the existing USB like the dongle does, or will it need the USB to be replaced? My dealer is researching the next steps and I should know the results (and cost?) by the end of the week.
Congrats! That's where I am also. Just to be clear, is the next step for the dealer simply to;
1) Build codes need to be activated/documented by Mercedes, via the re-documentation software (XSF), to retrofit the following build codes needed to your VIN card: 14U Smartphone Integration Package 16U Smartphone Integration Carplay 17U Smartphone Integration Google Automotive Link
Or is there more? Will that work with the existing USB like the dongle does, or will it need the USB to be replaced? My dealer is researching the next steps and I should know the results (and cost?) by the end of the week.
Yes, I believe that is the next step, IF your dealer will agree to do it. Your expense for them to do it, however... but only if they will also agree to do the actual ACP/AA update that comes after... also your expense.
I'm pretty sure they will not do the re-documentation unless they commit to the ACP/AA upgrade too. Further, they may also require you to buy the "special" USB ($150) port in the console, and the labor to install that, too. Pretty sure it's a relabelled port and nothing more, so IMO it's not necessary.
Turns out my MB-Certified mechanic friend works for an indy shop, not a dealer. So he doesn't have access to the XSF system, so he could not help me with this re-documentation remotely. As I think about it, I'm now not sure it is needed to use the OBDII dongle (not USB) to perform the ACP/AA programming. And, I'm not sure I want to risk that the redocumenting has any real connection or impact on the physical OBDII upgrade. I can't imagine that it would, but just to be safe...
Watching RichieBoyle's video has convinced me that observing the OBDII dongle do the last step is not rocket science. So, I'm 95% convinced not to bother with mentally debating/haggling with the dealer, or paying them probably $200-$300 (or more) to do 1) the re-documenting, and 2) the ACP/AA upgrade. .Add that to the likely part and labor to install that "special" USB ($150) port in the console, and you're out $400 or more.
In comparison, the price of the OBDII dongle that fleeno and RichieBoyle have successfully used ($139 plus shipping) will be a steal in the long run.
Now my quest is to simply "ask" my MB SA to upgrade the COMMAND. However easier said than done, since I am not experiencing anything wrong with the unit (keep in mind here in Canada mBrace is not activated on any W212). I'm wondering what excuse/reason I can give them in order to upgrade the firmware? Yes, I am not a very good lair and I am assuming they need facts before they even think of doing an upgrade.
I have read threads where one has to be persistent but on what grounds can I be persistent when I am not experiencing any issues with my COMMAND unit?
Now my quest is to simply "ask" my MB SA to upgrade the COMMAND. However easier said than done, since I am not experiencing anything wrong with the unit (keep in mind here in Canada mBrace is not activated on any W212). I'm wondering what excuse/reason I can give them in order to upgrade the firmware? Yes, I am not a very good lair and I am assuming they need facts before they even think of doing an upgrade.
I have read threads where one has to be persistent but on what grounds can I be persistent when I am not experiencing any issues with my COMMAND unit?
Any advice would be extremely helpful!!
I'm not a very good liar, either. That said, perhaps you are having periodic bluetooth music streaming connectivity errors? They can't troubleshoot that without you leaving your phone, and no one will want to do that.
They will gladly upgrade if you pay for it, but with everything warranty related, all car dealers need to show a broken part, or other documentable problem to get reimbursed by their Manufacturer.
That said, if your car was built in the second half of 2015, I frankly don't see why they would refuse to upgrade the firmware to the September Standard (High_CY15_9... providing that 15_9 means year and month).. Presumably all cars built from Sept to end of run came with High_CY15_9, so your car built Jul 1-Aug 31 missed it by less than 60 days.
That's really interesting as my w211 was in fact built in 11/15 however, I do not see the option in dealer menu were the system is ready for Carplay feature as per #20.
That's really interesting as my w211 was in fact built in 11/15 however, I do not see the option in dealer menu were the system is ready for Carplay feature as per #20.
You wrote W211, but I assume you meant W212, correct?
My assumption that you should have the latest and greatest firmware after Sept 2015 is probably wrong, then. My bad. You must have one of the very last W212s bult, because I read here that all of the 2016 W212s were built in 2015. The guy that wrote that here might be wrong on that, too.
Anyways, good luck in dreaming up an excuse to ask for the firmware upgrade. It will be interesting to learn from MarkF later this week what the itemized cost is...
When I asked ofr the update on mine I told them intermittent bluetooth audio loss,. which was true. Some music I could scroll to with the wheel although you can see the minutes advance no music was coming out of the speakers. That was enough to get the update for me. Good luck on you end , Masads. DFWdude, I ordered my Carplay OBDII this morning
When I asked ofr the update on mine I told them intermittent bluetooth audio loss,. which was true. Some music I could scroll to with the wheel although you can see the minutes advance no music was coming out of the speakers. That was enough to get the update for me. Good luck on you end , Masads. DFWdude, I ordered my Carplay OBDII this morning
FireRX Captain, don't know why but I haven't pulled the trigger on the OBDII, yet. I guess I can't decide whether to pay the slow boat from China (err, Belarus) shipping, or the expedited shipping. What did you choose? And does vladimircdi really take only PayPal?
FireRX Captain,
Ok, I ordered mine just now from Vladimircdi. I'm sure you will receive yours before me...Based on my experience shipping White Star Flat Badges to Europe many years ago, I just couldn't justify the extra $49 to get it a couple weeks sooner, so it's coming slow boat shipping. I just hope I can keep from dancing from foot to foot in anticipation. LOL!
So, we now have a good handful of members who have had their firmware upgraded, and 2-3 who have completed the final step to ACP/Android Auto.
Does anyone else have anything to share? I'd be particularly interested in hearing from an Android Auto user.
One question lingers with me meantime... Can one have the audio function of the OEM Comand system (Radio or SD/USB music) operating at the same time Android Auto displays Google Navigation?
04-11-2019, 09:11 AM
LOL, I bet you and dad get used to it in no time at all... There's a learning curve for everything 
