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Glad you made it through the process, even without instructions! Tip: keep an eye out for Road Top MCU/SW firmware updates, as they are constantly being released and improved. Note: none of these Andream clones are perfect, but they come fairly close, considering the overall costs involved.
Now, some people consider it blasphemy for installing a Chinese aftermarket box in their fine German automobile, but for me, it's a helluva lot cheaper than trading up to a newer car with it already factory installed, or retrofitting a factory OEM unit (BMW guys love doing this) but to each their own. Who knows, maybe the next gen will get it perfected Until then, enjoy your new car!
-David
Hope you don't mind my pinging you so long after the original post you made. You noted Andream and I was wondering if you could expand on what you mean or the relationship to the Road Top unit?
I have an Andream and am fighting the AUX connection not working. It would be good to understand any additional background. In asking Andream about software upgrades they are very dismissive. They are also insisting that my W166 with HK and NTG 4.5 is special so it needs the AUX port adapter.
I had this working in my 13 E550 for months via wired Aux and then I just get a light static, and if something is playing through CarPlay and I crank up the audio I can hear a distorted version of what’s playing. I think it happened when I accidentally hit radio on the car. I didn’t change anything at all that I’m aware of in the computer menu. Is there some setting I could check in the car’s audio system? I think it was just in conventional Aux before under audio/Aux. I’d appreciate any thoughts!
Make sure it is still grounded. Check the ground wire.
it’s interesting, after plugging it in and out of the interface socket in the glovebox a few dozen times, it works again. Is there anything you can think of there to make it more reliable? We won’t remove it intentionally, but I’m worried it will come out and be a challenge getting working again.
Does RoadTop deive or its clones that you guys are talking about in this thread support "wireless" Android Auto? The following product seems to support wireless Android Auto but much more expensive than RoadTop one.
Hi all. A bit large to the party here only just owning my first mercedes.
Looking at the road top unit I also see there is an option for a "plug and play" version to go in the becker socket in the glove box. Has anyone done this? Trying to figure out if there is a downside/which one is best for me.
Thanks
Hi all. A bit large to the party here only just owning my first mercedes.
Looking at the road top unit I also see there is an option for a "plug and play" version to go in the becker socket in the glove box. Has anyone done this? Trying to figure out if there is a downside/which one is best for me.
Thanks
I went ahead and purchased the standard unit. Happy with it. When I press the voice command on the steering wheel it activates Hey Google which is great, but it also activates the default becker nav voice assistant, is there a way to dissable that? Also noticed a wierd thing where my android phone was flickering when connected to it initially. Anyone else had this?
When I press the voice command on the steering wheel it activates Hey Google which is great, but it also activates the default becker nav voice assistant, is there a way to dissable that?
Not sure about the Becker units, but this works on the NTG4.5/4.7 units here in the USA to disable the OEM assistant:
Thank you for this, annoyingly my car has a different engineering menu and I can't find these options. Looks to be the same engineering menu as in this post https://www.benzworld.org/threads/ne...-w212.1565630/ so I'm stumped!
I just installed my Road Top unit on my '11 S212 with NTG4.5 and it works great. Except for the fact that I can't make calls from my phone. The screen shows the call but, I can't hear the person on the other end even when I switch back to the MB screen. I have to end up putting my phone on speaker to hear them. I am going through the MB bluetooth and the Road Top wifi. If I could get the calling down, this upgrade would be perfect.
I just installed my Road Top unit on my '11 S212 with NTG4.5 and it works great. Except for the fact that I can't make calls from my phone. The screen shows the call but, I can't hear the person on the other end even when I switch back to the MB screen. I have to end up putting my phone on speaker to hear them. I am going through the MB bluetooth and the Road Top wifi. If I could get the calling down, this upgrade would be perfect.
Easy fix if you are using CarPlay. (I can't help with Android Auto)
1) Make sure the phone and car remain paired with Bluetooth.
2) Make or receive a call while using CarPlay and while the call is in progress, select the MB Bluetooth source under the Audio icon on the iPhone's home screen. This will use the car's internal Bluetooth for the call and the phone should remember this preference for future use. Further, I've found that using the steering wheel controls to both accept a call and end a call work consistently well. As an additional benefit of this method, the call uses the car's mike with noise cancelling for better call quality.
Easy fix if you are using CarPlay. (I can't help with Android Auto)
1) Make sure the phone and car remain paired with Bluetooth.
2) Make or receive a call while using CarPlay and while the call is in progress, select the MB Bluetooth source under the Audio icon on the iPhone's home screen. This will use the car's internal Bluetooth for the call and the phone should remember this preference for future use. Further, I've found that using the steering wheel controls to both accept a call and end a call work consistently well. As an additional benefit of this method, the call uses the car's mike with noise cancelling for better call quality.
cadetdrivr,
I just tried it using my iPhone. The only options under the audio icon on the phone is phone, speaker, and carplay. I made sure that both the phone was connected to both the phone and the carplay. Any other ideas?
I just tried it using my iPhone. The only options under the audio icon on the phone is phone, speaker, and carplay. I made sure that both the phone was connected to both the phone and the carplay. Any other ideas?
Yes, it looks like you are missing the bluetooth pairing connection between the phone and the OEM Mercedes bluetooth. You will want to make sure the phone is also paired with the car itself and not only with the RoadTop unit.
FWIW, on both my 2014 Mercedes the bluetooth connection is listed as "MB Bluetooth" on the iPhone.
I will have CarPlay working just great, and then sometimes it just doesn’t connect. I will often see the little Bluetooth symbol shown here, but then it doesn’t show up as an actual CarPlay profile. Is there any way to force it to go into CarPlay?
It has been working for months, but just sometimes it just doesn’t connect. I can go through the re-pairing process which takes multiple times to get right. Also, it seems if I’m on a call when I approach the car, sometimes I’ll get this Bluetooth Calling screen native to the appliance and not CarPlay. Thanks for any advice!
Reconnect WiFi to Carplay on your iOS device. Sometimes when you lose connection (walking too far away from car) and come back to re-gain connection, the CarPlay doesn't link/sync up right but will show the Bluetooth connected. Quickest fix is to go into your phone and just re-connect Wifi/Bluetooth to CarPlay and it should reload onto your dash.
Reconnect WiFi to Carplay on your iOS device. Sometimes when you lose connection (walking too far away from car) and come back to re-gain connection, the CarPlay doesn't link/sync up right but will show the Bluetooth connected. Quickest fix is to go into your phone and just re-connect Wifi/Bluetooth to CarPlay and it should reload onto your dash.
Thanks. I haven’t had great luck with that. Can you please help clarify the procedure? For example, do you disable/re-enable Bluetooth and/or WiFi, select a device in the phone, etc.? When mine loses the connectivity (I believe just like you’re saying), Bluetooth is connected at least partially, and I don’t see a way in the CarPlay settings to ask to connect. I do show that I can customize the apps shown etc, but I haven’t found a way to connect back to CarPlay. Thanks!
Hey guys, hope everyone is well, I made the 4.0 write up, but now also own an E550 with NTG4.7. I was revisiting this thread to go over any tips I should know about, but then I discovered this new, NEW box on AliExpress. Any thoughts on this one? Has anyone tried it? It is a much smaller design. Curious to hear anyone's opinions. Thanks
Hey guys, hope everyone is well, I made the 4.0 write up, but now also own an E550 with NTG4.7. I was revisiting this thread to go over any tips I should know about, but then I discovered this new, NEW box on AliExpress. Any thoughts on this one? Has anyone tried it? It is a much smaller design. Curious to hear anyone's opinions. Thanks
This looks intriguing for several reasons, including what appears to be better integration of the OEM mic and use of the internal AUX input. That would result in a much easier install without having to wire a mic or run a line to the AUX input in the center console.
My one concern would be firmware support from an Aliexpress seller vs a storefront. Might be awesome and it...might not.
I don't have the W212 anymore, but if the unit in the GL were to crap out I'd be intrigued with this one. So yeah, if anybody gives it a try be sure to share your results.
EDIT: I just watched the their video and they connected their USB cable the car's USB port in the center console on a NTG5.0 install. Not sure if that applies to NTG4.5/4.7, but that could complicate install if required.
Last edited by cadetdrivr; 03-09-2023 at 06:38 PM.
EDIT: I just watched the their video and they connected their USB cable the car's USB port in the center console on a NTG5.0 install. Not sure if that applies to NTG4.5/4.7, but that could complicate install if required.
I think that only applies to NTG5+ installs. We have USB ports that are only used for charging. The newer cars use USB as mulimedia and charging. I could be wrong though.
I've been looking online and found this other variation of the box. It appears to connect to the comand unit via bluetooth, and maintains use of the track info on screen and the skip track buttons. Relevant part of video here:
I've been looking online and found this other variation of the box. It appears to connect to the comand unit via bluetooth, and maintains use of the track info on screen and the skip track buttons. Relevant part of video here:https://youtu.be/oO67HXncVeo?t=483.
That’s pretty standard stuff across all boxes. You can dual connect bluetooth audio and to the CarPlay box (at least on iPhones). CarPlay is merely a video output. So theoretically you can choose any native audio source of your choice while still operating within the CarPlay screen. For example you can be on Sirius Radio while looking at CarPlay for maps. So yes, you can operate CarPlay through Bluetooth audio and retain steering wheel functions. The CarPlay would just be for visual aesthetics.
That’s pretty standard stuff across all boxes. You can dual connect bluetooth audio and to the CarPlay box (at least on iPhones). CarPlay is merely a video output. So theoretically you can choose any native audio source of your choice while still operating within the CarPlay screen. For example you can be on Sirius Radio while looking at CarPlay for maps. So yes, you can operate CarPlay through Bluetooth audio and retain steering wheel functions. The CarPlay would just be for visual aesthetics.
Oh right, I get you. It's just the iPhone connected to the comand unit? Do you know if I can have the same behaviour with Android auto?