rmemory

I'm having fun learning all of the new technology with my 450, but one thing is bugging me. I may also post this in the electronics forum but figured I'd start here.

I paired my iPhone 4S with the car at the dealership the night I picked it up. That went smoothly. Making calls with voice recognition has been smooth. However, I like to listen to the music on my iPhone. When I ask for Bluetooth Audio using the voice comand, it says a device is not available. I then have to manually "conncect" the device on the Comand screen each time I eneter the car. Shouldn't this happen automatically as soon as the car is turned on and the phone is close by? It seems to do that for calling purposes, but not to activate the bluetooth audio feature.

Any ideas?

sraza

i have had the same issue, however there are times it connects automatically - sometimes asks connect last device? i tried voice command connect too but it didnt recognize/connect

Dalema

I have a 4S and wife has a 4 - it automatically hooks up via Bluetooth to whoever was last connected. No issues at all. Just starts playing the last song on your iphone.

One thought - when you accepted the Bluetooth on your phone was there an option to automatically connect without asking I the future. Maybe that wasn't checked?

Btw - not sure if it is just me but the audio quality seems a lot better when hard wire connected vs Bluetooth?

Joyride

I agree with the above. I also think that when it's hard wired, you get better audio quality, over Bluetooth streaming.

Steve Maislin

Yes, you have more control over the music and much better quality of sound if you connect an iPod to the cable. I have an iPod that is specifically for the car; it only is disconnected to get an occasional change of music.

I have an iPhone5 and never have to do anything since the time I paired it. It does work as a phone and a Bluetooth audio device without any issues.

rmemory

The Bluetooth audio works just fine, it just doesn't connect automatically as soon as I get in the car. And for some reason, my iPhone doesn't connect well with any plug other than the one that came with it from Apple. All the other plugs including the one in the car don't click and therefore the connection is lost if the phone moves or the cord retracts by the slightest bit. That's why I prefer a cordless connection.

I called MB and the rep (who was very nice and knowledgable) told me he would try to find a solution and get back to me. He needed to speak with a product specialist. We'll see. If the phone function connects without doing anything, he thinks the audio should be able to as well.

Steve Maislin

If you have a phone prior to the iPhone5 you might want to take a flashlight and make sure that dirt or other debris has not accumulated in that slot on the bottom of the phone. This common problem has made it difficult for the phone to connect to chargers and cables. If you see that debris has collected in there, you can carefully remove it using a small sewing needle or something like that. This is just a thought on why you have trouble making the connection. Many women have this problem because they keep their phones in purses instead of simply in a pocket. Anyway, this is just a thought based on your need to use the old form of the cable with the click-locking feature.

sraza

no option to connect automatically that i can remeber..
i mean everything else connects- and bluetooth audio sometimes pairs automatically and sometimes it doesnt- i think if the last use was with bluetooth audio it still connects automatically but when you use diff source (sat or fm or cd etc) it does not auto re-connect to bluetooth audio and that has to be picked; i'm not sure why the voice control cant reconnect it..

one another note- anyone able to use video via bluetooth connection? i've tried but doesnt work, though it seems it should work easily..

Dalema

If close enough - you should go in and have your SA reconnect the BT on your phone. They did my wife's (and walked her through a whole bunch of interesting things). I did my own. We have a 4 and a 4s connected and they interchange (with preference to connect to last phone connected) with no issues. There is a "connect to last device" but have never had to click on it - I think that's more of a preference if you both get into the car at the same time.

Does your phone connect for phone calls automatically - it's just the audio you are having issues with?

rmemory

An MB product rep called me back today. The Bluetooth audio function purposely doesn't connect automatically because it's common, I guess, to have multiple devices available. Seems that would be the case with multiple phones that are registered, but whatever.

So for now, the phone features are ready to go as soon as the car starts, but audio has to be connected by going into the Comand system.

sraza

phone connects automatically- audio for me tends to reconnect if i dont use any other audio option and leave it on bluetooth audio- was playing with voice command - tried activate bluetooth audio, connect last device, reconnect etc etc, made up bunch of commands- then it played back a ton of acceptable options, was a good learning experience, of course i forgot most of those mentioned!

Dalema

Must be something wrong. My wife's phone is normally connected for audio. And then when I get in the car the Chilli Peppers just start automatically. When we both get in the car - it will take the last person that was connected.

rmemory

I had a little time this morning and figured out how (and when) it works. If Bluetooth audio was the last thing you were listening to when you shut the car off, it will automatically continue playing when you get back inside with the phone. But if you listen to Bluetooth, then change to the radio, a disc, or Sirius, and don't turn off the car in Bluetooth mode, you need to manually reconnect the Bluetooth function when you start the car the next time. Unfortunately, you can't connect to Bluetooth audio using voice commands. I also tried to make the Bluetooth audio connection one of the favorites using the star buttons, but there are only a limited number of functions that can be assigned to those buttons.

Not a huge deal, but I still think it's not a lot to ask for the Bluetooth function to always be connected the way the phone function is. Maybe this will change with future model years.

sraza

yup- exactly what happens with me as i wrote above

JoeMa

The iPod Integration Kit that comes with the GL works only with older iPhones that use the 30-pin connector. Does anyone know when MB will offer an iPod Integration Kit for the iPhone 5?

sraza

i was told by the servicw manager that MB is in process of making a converter pin now- which makes me wonder if we just got it from the apple store it should work with the supplied cables (?)

JoeMa

I found this article on the web at: http://daveknowscars.com/2012/10/06/...pin-connector/

MB is working on a new iPhone 5 cable.

FROM MERCEDES BENZ:
With the recent launch of the iPhone5®, Apple made some significant changes to the connector. Whereas the previous generations of iPhone® and iPod® models were equipped with a 30-PIN connector, the all new iPhone® and iPod® variants require an 8-PIN “Lightning” connector.
These changes will have a significant impact for customers with the Apple products, as all vehicles equipped with Media Interface (option code 518), iPod Integration Kits (option code 057), and vehicles with Nav + 4 / UMI (option code 001 or 079) only have the standard 30-PIN connector.
As soon as the 8-PIN “Lightning” connector is released by Apple, a careful investigation will commence. All features of Media Interface, iPod Integration Kits, and Nav + 4 / UMI will be tested in accordance with stringent Mercedes-Benz standards to provide our customers a detailed answer as to whether the adapter can be used and what features are compatible. Once testing has been concluded MBUSA will issue an official statement at the end of October / early November.
In the meantime we are working on developing new 8-PIN “Lightning” Media Interface cables, which will replace the existing 30-PIN connectors if the customer has ownership of the new Apple product. These cables are expected to be introduced in the first quarter of 2013 as a customer-pay option.

1Adam12

I have the same problem as the OP and for me it's random. The phone connection always works (iPhone 5), but the audio sometimes simply won't, and it makes no difference what audio source I was on the last time I was in the car. If there is a pattern, it's that I need to have Bluetooth enabled on my phone before I start the car. But even so, sometimes it simply won't connect, even after I run through all the options to re-detect it. Even tried deleting it and repairing it, that's worked sometimes but not every time. Possible that I just have a defective device I guess.

Another theory: I have an iPod connected full-time in the glove compartment. If I haven't driven for awhile, the battery on the iPod runs out. If it then is trying to boot up the next time I start the car (as it starts receiving a charge), then that seems to interfere with the Bluetooth audio connection to my phone.

1Adam12

btw, the best solution to my problem would be to get a newer iTouch with wifi to use solely in my car. It would pick up my house's wifi network when I pull in the garage and keep all my music synced via iTunes Match. Then I would use Bluetooth for my phone only.

My friend who also has a GL points out that this is a non-issue for him because he just plugs his phone into the glove compartment and gets all his messages on this: http://martianwatches.com/products/passport-watch/.

Steve Maislin

The iPhone4 to iPhone5 adapter works perfectly. So, no need to buy a new kit from Mercedes as the adapter never leaves the car. Actually, the iPod Shuffle that is in the SUV is also dedicated to the GL. It only comes out for an occasional sync to get some new music.

JoeMa

I assume you mean the Lightning to 30-pin Adapter:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD...apter?fnode=45

If you have an iPhone 5, what can you control via the steering wheel buttons when your iPhone 5 is connected?

Steve Maislin

Yes, that is the adapter. Technically, it is really a 30-pin to Lightning, but I guess Apple wants to put Lightning first.

Are you talking about music or phone control? Even though I have the adapter in the car, I have the iPod Shuffle connected using the standard 30-pin connector. I only keep the adapter in case I need to charge the phone. The phone is always connected using Bluetooth. When I head to work today, I will plug in the phone, turn off Bluetooth, and see what happens.

I can now see that I was not clear above between using my iPhone5 and my iPod Shuffle. Ahhhh.

Steve Maislin

OK. Just did a quick test. Connecting the iPhone5 via the cable provides the same function that you get with the iPod, including charging the device. Everything is controlled with the Comand controller. The volume is controlled by the steering buttons on the right and the left can control things like next song or back a song if you choose AUDIO on the left side buttons. Phone functions always require Bluetooth. Bluetooth can provide audio, but it is not as functional or as crisp as connecting using the cable. The reason I have the iPod is that I have no desire to take my phone out of my pocket and I want the better quality audio along with better control over what is playing when using the Comand controller.

I hope this has all been clear.

JoeMa

Thanks for the update. When you dock your iPhone 5 using the adapter, do you get any additional information on the Nav screen that is not displayed when using just a Bluetooth connection? The MB web site implies that more phone functions are available when using their adapter. Thanks.

Steve Maislin

When using the adapter, whether it is the iPhone5 or the iPod, you get lots more information on the songs (album name, band, song, album art) that are playing including all kinds of ways to search and play various types of playlists. With Bluetooth Audio, information is very sparse as are options on what you decide you want to play. If I remember, you can just scroll the songs sequentially. Since I don't like the Bluetooth audio (options and audio quality), I don't really use it so I cannot give details off of the top of my head.

A time when I have used Bluetooth Audio is when friends who are in the car have a phone with music and we'll connect to it just to play some of their tunes on a long drive while they are checking their email or searching the web.