etaynor

Hi, Trying to enjoy my two week old E 300. So far, so good. I am curious to know if CarPlay can be activated via bluetooth instead of hard wiring. I can't seem to get it to connect without the wire. Thanks Elliot

unr1

Unfortunately it can't.

makris0000

It's only available if you connect it via USB (I think it has to be in the USB thats by the cup holders). Right now I think the new 5 series (2017 or 2018, I don't remember) is the only car that does it wirelessly.

etaynor

Thanks for the info. I got it to work through the usb port near the cups. It was just wishful thinking that i could leave the phone in my coat pocket and have a magical connection.
I wonder if there is a work-around-it solution, such as a blue tooth adapter into that usb port. Carplay in the iphone will bluetooth with other cars, maybe it is only on the car side that is the problem.

BACnMercedes

I was just looking to confirm that carplay had to be connected through a wire for it to work in the W213 and I'm astonished. I'm looking to replace my wife W212 and we both have a love hate relationship for carplay in my GLE and having to connect your phone everytime you get in or out of the car is a pain in the.................well you know. So it's true it HAS TO BE connected by wire and has anyone seen or heard of a Bluetooth adaptor thingy for the MB USB plug to "trick" the system? (Heck, even the BMW M4 we've been looking at is wireless)

pl626

Old thread, but I just installed a wireless Carplay smartbox for my 2015 E400. It works great!

JDPEClassUK

Is that for the whole CarPlay or just to connect to existing CarPlay wirelessly?

mercedes.fan

Carplay needs very high bandwith and bluetooth doesnt cut it, bmw uses wifi so that is why it works wirelssly in the 5 series.

pl626

So the smartbox is wired to the OEM COMAND hw, but the Carplay connection to my smartphone is wireless via wifi, not BT. However, I like to connect my phone when it's in the car to keep the battery charged, especially if I'm running WAZE or Tune-in. I've thought about adding a wireless charging pad, but that's not important enough to me. I'm just glad I have Carplay working in my 2015...

FedM

Where did you get if from?

pl626

Joyeauto store on aliexpress
Though it's listed as 2011-2014, this is the one I needed for my 2015. ISTR, the later 2015s had NTG5x, mine was definitely NTG4x.

suby01

https://appleinsider.com/articles/19...in-ios-13/amp/

b0rderman

If someone can get this to work on the W213 and post instructions, I will venmo you a beer!

sackboydad

The second video stream is great but i’d bet my left one that MB isn’t going to make a new version of COMAND to let us see CarPlay stuff in the HUD.

arnsbrae

I know it’s not quite what you want, but if for example you only want to play music from your phone by Bluetooth, that is easy.

Assuming you have already paired your phone with the car, just start Apple Music or Amazon Prime Music on your phone then hit the “Media” button on the car and select your phone from the list of devices.

Apologies if you already knew that!

IsaraPaan

I’m using W213 with wireless adapter for carplay : carplay2air, it was working as well, but sometimes will make your phone a little hot.

FedM

Carlinkit sells the same on Ebay but cheaper. And they make often updates for their product

sardarji

I'm interested in this for sure... I use CarPlay 95% of the time. I hate having to plug in the wire each time.
Couple of questions regarding Carplay2air and Carlinkit:

• Does it kill the phone battery more than usual? I know the wired connection saves the juice (of course), but wondering if wireless eats the juice way faster than any other wifi connection?
• Can I still use the wireless charger when it's connected? I assume it should work fine (since it is NFC).
• Do the steering wheel buttons work to control the CarPlay when wireless? This is important for me personally.

Thanks!

b0rderman

I have a Carlinkit. After dozens of emails and weeks of "troubleshooting" they are supposed to offer me a refund.

Out of the box, the device never emitted a wifi or bluetooth signal. They never really understood this concept. I sent a lot of video proof from multiple devices. No signals detected from any of them. They insisted I try this, or that, or update the firmware. All of which I did on video. Just this week they emailed to say they talked to their engineer and informed me that my car is not supported...???

I've tried every which way to very plainly and simply state in English that the dongle emits no wifi or bluetooth signal regardless of what kind of apple carplay car it is plugged into. They've seen video from me where the dongle is plugged in, the red light is on, and I have an ipad, a laptop and an iphone all showing now bluetooth or wifi within range.

It's unfortunate because I think I just have a bad piece of hardware, and if they would just exchange it out for another one I would at least have a shot at getting it working. Instead I am expecting the refund terms to come in (in a few days) explaining how to ship the device back to them via Chinese courier and to await a refund in 90 days.

sardarji

Wow... Sounds like a terrible experience. I guess we should avoid the Carlinkit

FedM

Well it is sad about carlinkit
But I have at least a couple of guys who uses it from day one and happy. No issues at all
So just no luck for you. And Chinese customer service is always sucks

LOGOSDJ

Apple CarPlay is much better via hard-wiring than any other method, IMO. No connection issues or interruptions as long as your wire is good. It's really not much of an inconvenience.

Also, BMW had a CarPlay nightmare last year with its "wireless" subscription-based CarPlay services. https://9to5mac.com/2019/05/09/bmw-carplay-outage/

FedM

Those with wireless CarPlay wants it to be wired
those with wired wants wireless
that's ok

Cerave

Wired is nice because GPS uses a lot of battery life

I can understand for short trips, wireless is convenient. I’m still interested in CarPlay2Air but I want the bugs worked out before I commit to it.

FedM

I think all brands like CarPlay2Air and other who sell this adapters all use carlinkit product and technology, but sell it under their own brand.