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Completed my install this weekend, I like the bigger screen. The only issue Im having right now is how can I keep the android screen from changing my audio from the factory screen. Example Im listening to xm through the oem, then I activate an app through the android screen, and it changes my oem radio to aux or media. I know how to change the output between aux, media or whatever source I want, but how do I keep it from changing at all?
What version are you running? Stuff like listening to the radio while google maps taps into the driver speaker and does not take control of the entire sound system. It might be app specific on how it handles audio.
2018 GLS550 & 2015 S550 gone but not forgotten: 2001 S500, 2006 ML500, 2010 S550 & 2014 GL550
I have the lastest verision 8.1. I was running the easy connect app, to mirror my phone for waze. Thats pretty much all I want to do with the android screen is mirror my phone while playing music from the factory radio. Any help to accomplish this would be great.
1. Android: Does this unit require the phone to be plugged into the head unit, or can it work wirelessly through bluetooth? If so, what app can be used (Android auto?)?
2. Apple: With the purchase and plugging in of the Carplay USB, does this unit require the phone to be plugged into the head unit, or can it work wirelessly through bluetooth?
3. I make a lot of calls on long drives. Is this head unit reliable for calls and is the microphone as good as factory?
4. Can the head unit pair with, take and make calls from multiple phones at the same time? E.g. work phone and personal phone connected at same time.
5. Is it possible to connect one phone to the aftermarket head unit and another phone to the factory bluetooth at the same time to make and take calls?
Sorry - I just used the unit to mirror the OEM screen so never used the aftermarket features. I just wanted a larger screen and more modern look. It worked flawlessly in mirroring the OEM screen. I just couldn't take the screen quality in reverse (camera).
1. Android: Does this unit require the phone to be plugged into the head unit, or can it work wirelessly through bluetooth? If so, what app can be used (Android auto?)?
2. Apple: With the purchase and plugging in of the Carplay USB, does this unit require the phone to be plugged into the head unit, or can it work wirelessly through bluetooth?
3. I make a lot of calls on long drives. Is this head unit reliable for calls and is the microphone as good as factory?
4. Can the head unit pair with, take and make calls from multiple phones at the same time? E.g. work phone and personal phone connected at same time.
5. Is it possible to connect one phone to the aftermarket head unit and another phone to the factory bluetooth at the same time to make and take calls?
Note that this is my version. There are many versions out there depending on who and where you buy. Sometimes its best to purchase from the manufacturer instead of a reseller as they may be able to patch or update some features that you may want.
I did no such thing and went for a reseller so YMMV. My headunit is connected through the AUX cable method. I'd have to get a 50$ adapter to connect it to the MB bluetooth.
You can retain MB bluetooth/phone functionality which allows you to access the hard buttons on the center control stack. You can also connect to the bluetooth of the android unit to make calls but its through the touch screen. Most of the hard buttons do not work (this is where you get your unit may matter, this could have been updated by the manufacturer). I tried installing a third party dialer on the app store but said software is looking for the internal SIM card on the unit and my area doesn't support those frequencies. I can have my Android phone connected through MB bluetooth for phone calls and Android head unit for music playback at the same time. You can also set it up for both the MB unit and the Android unit to handle calls at the same time if you wish, why.... i dunno. You do not need a cellphone to run the unit or display apps. You can install what ever app you want from the app store. Waze, Google Maps, Spotify, Android Auto, Google Docs, Instagram... etc. Nothing is stopping you. I have Nova launcher on mine and created a shortcut to go back to the stock NTG screen on the main desktop. You will need to provide internet connectivity.
I do not have any Apple experience to speak of.
Cannot comment of mic quality as I go through the MB bluetooth for calls only and the Android head unit for media.
I can't test the multiple phone question.
Yeah.
Last edited by Sierra117; Jan 14, 2020 at 03:46 PM.
Reason: formatting
My screen is flickering when in oem screen and windshield wipers turned on .Happens only when car is not warmed up and only in oem screen view.If i switch to android screen its not flickering.Ebay seller is no help
My screen is flickering when in oem screen and windshield wipers turned on .Happens only when car is not warmed up and only in oem screen view.If i switch to android screen its not flickering.Ebay seller is no help
Could be a hardware defect. Also, some car functions are routed through the cables connected to the android head unit and the NTG unit. Check and re-seat your connections.
If you do t want or need the screen upgrade I highly recommend the JOYEAUTO box which adds wireless CarPlay. Actually connects with Wi-Fi , audio go into AUX in. The included microphone is only used for Siri phone callas use the Mercedes Bluetooth connection.
audio streaming pandora for example sounds fine to me there is a 5 band eq with presets that allow for some tweaking. Has a usb input you can play media including video from a flash drive. Glitches occasionally but there is a reboot function in their setup screen that always resolves the problem. I ordered directly from their site arrived from Hong Kong in 3 days. Definitely exceeded my expectations
Last edited by Packrat555; Jan 18, 2020 at 04:16 PM.
2018 GLS550 & 2015 S550 gone but not forgotten: 2001 S500, 2006 ML500, 2010 S550 & 2014 GL550
Originally Posted by Chedman13
Sorry - I just used the unit to mirror the OEM screen so never used the aftermarket features. I just wanted a larger screen and more modern look. It worked flawlessly in mirroring the OEM screen. I just couldn't take the screen quality in reverse (camera).
Im pretty much using mine the same way. The quality of the reverse camera sucks both with the factory screen and the aftermarket screen. I wanted to mirror my phone while being able to listen to the factory radio , but have not figured out how to do so. But I'm happy with updated screen.
If you do t want or need the screen upgrade I highly recommend the EJOYAUTO box which adds wireless CarPlay. Actually connects with Wi-Fi , audio go into AUX in. The included microphone is only used for Siri phone callas use the Mercedes Bluetooth connection.
audio streaming pandora for example sounds fine to me there is a 5 band eq with presets that allow for some tweaking. Has a usb input you can play media including video from a flash drive. Glitches occasionally but there is a reboot function in their setup screen that always resolves the problem. I ordered directly from their site arrived from Hong Kong in 3 days. Definitely exceeded my expectations
Do you find it annoying that you have to go back to the factory device to use the radio?
how do you deal with Bluetooth calling? Through the android on CarPlay or through the factory device?
Depends how often you use your radio. My unit in particular lacks the polish (or sophistication?) where it would be nice if by pressing the hard buttons on the dash, the head unit defaults to the NTG. But the factory MB radio takes over once you hit the radio hard button so it doesn't really matter.
As of right now, If I want radio, then I press the radio button an my default station just plays through the speakers while Waze (or youtube or pokemon go) is on display and giving me directions through the driver's door speaker.
Most of the time, I am using the Waze + Spotify integration on the head unit and avoid the radio completely.
Bluetooth calling on my unit is done through the factory MB bluetooth. You could try it through the unit + the stock MB bluetooth at the same time (that was fun) or you could try it through the unit and then feed the signal to the MB speakers. I just like the hard buttons and connect to stock.
Don't forget you could always change the launcher of the unit if you are not a fan of the MBUX-esq theme. I roll with Nova launcher and have the NTG shortcut on the home screen. I don't use android auto but I figure that might have better call integration than the chinese unit's software implementation.
Last edited by Sierra117; Mar 3, 2020 at 10:40 AM.
I’m in Toronto and we have 2 local distributers. I ordered one. I think the only thing that bothers me about these units is that they don’t have radio tunners. No am/fm. You need to go back to the Mercedes system to listen to the radio.
Where did you get your unit from ? Plug and play ? Did it give you any issues at all?
Make sure you order from the manufacturer's website (or ebay store) to ensure that you will be getting any future updates as quality of life issues would be nice if they were fixed. For example, if I adjust climate controls then the unit will pick up the new inputs. Great! But if I start phone dialing via the hard buttons or press the radio button, I get nothing on the unit (but NTG SOUND takes over, you have to manually switch over to get NTG screen).
If I was able to figure out a way to map the NTG shortcut to one of the buttons next to the scroll wheel (next to the cup holder), I'd be very happy. I've tried many options including button mappers and none so far have worked.
Stuffing the wires back into the caverns of the dash and ensuring all new connections were snug was my biggest hurdle. Also, if you are getting one, make sure you order a universal Y FAKRA connector off amazon to piggyback from the vehicle's gps antenna. It is so much better than the GPS crap they bundle with the unit.
Last edited by Sierra117; Apr 27, 2020 at 11:52 AM.
did you end up running the AUX under the center console to the AMI plug inside the arm rest?? do you have any pics or instructions on how to remove the center console?
I did end up running the AUX under the center console to the AMI plug inside the arm rest. In the end I removed the AMI plug from the slot and placed it in the space in front of the armrest, so the AUX wire would not be stressed. PDF for center control removal. File Type: pdf If it does not open it was posted earlier in this tread on 3/19/2019.
So I went ahead and purchased the 64GB/4GB Ram/ 8 Core Unit with "Android 8.1" running on that new blue MBUX-esq skin. This head unit is being called v3 in my research.
I am running what seems to be version 3561.
The Android 8.1 version is a lie. It's Android 6 with an updated buildprop to make it look like Android 8.1.
Some seller's are quoting a resolution of 1280*600 but in reality the model I purchased came at 1024x600. I understand that there are some sellers that are offering the full resolution versions but I find the larger icons on the lower rez versions easier to use.
As this is a v3 unit, I had thought that by now they would have fixed the Bluetooth connection but no, it is not possible to pair this to the NTG. You have to use the AMI cable or a bluetooth to AMI adapter for $50 more. My current use case for the android bluetooth is for a wireless bluetooth GPS receiver I have mounted elsewhere in the car. I no longer have to deal with messy wires. I ordered a FAKRA connector Y Splitter on Amazon to plug into the rear of my NTG Command unit so I can take advantage of the car's GPS antenna and throw away that flaky GPS box the android units are coming with. Will post when I have an update.
You cannot re-organize the main menu you see above. What you see is what you get. Now you could install Nova launcher to clean up the experience but then you lose the ability to go back to the NTG because this version removed the vehicle hard button access the old android units had. I managed to create an NTG shortcut on the desktop of Nova launcher and I am currently trying to setup a long press of the large selector wheel in order to switch between interfaces. I feel that I am 90% there with this modification. I had thought of assigning one of the Star buttons to turn off the screen like how it is configured under NTG Command but Android is not recognizing that input, in addition to many others.
I am sure that this unit is seeing the hard inputs from the vehicle but just ignores them.
Currently, the only hard inputs I am seeing with my unit is the back button, LEFT/RIGHT and center press on the selector wheel. I do not see any input for steering wheel controls although its a minor thing TBH. Not seamless though.
Here is a picture when I finally was able to go back and forth through NTG and Nova launcher. I made it look much nicer than what you are seeing below but it works as a proof of concept in case you want to move away from the new interface but do not want to loose functionality.
I also found a lot of hidden items that haven't made it to the new UI. You can activate TPMS sensors, Analog and Digitial TV among many other items that are seemingly locked out.
I think with some more time, I think I can tweak this to where I want it to be. Next week I am going to try to tackle/remove that annoying blue bar on the side. Its killing my aesthetic.
Now there is a menu you can utilize to change the above configuration and perform some quality of life tweaks, but for some reason this unit isn't providing access. The passwords I've been seeing online are 8888 but that doesn't work. I might try 0166 just in case its something dumb like that.
However, when I type 1234, I am greeted with this lovely message which I think translates to "successfully copied"
Hello there. Were you able to use the AMI to BT connector in lieu of the AMI cable to unit? Dids it work good?
Hello there. Were you able to use the AMI to BT connector in lieu of the AMI cable to unit? Did it work good?
Thanks
Im setup as AUX. It takes 10 seconds for the car to recognize the head unit is playing something and transition from NTG radio to whats playing on the head unit. After that its smooth sailing.
Note that I bought my unit last year, I don't know if there are any new updates if you buy today.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
among many other items that are seemingly locked out.
