Here's the way I understand it. 2016 models with the smartphone integration package have all of the necessary software to implement CarPlay. It's just not activated (which is ridiculous and makes absolutely no sense). Starting in 2017, they began activating this software. The way you'll know if you have the smartphone integration package is there will be a symbol next to one of the USB ports. If you don't have the smartphone integration package, there's no way to activate CarPlay because the software simply isn't there. In other words, the upgrade doesn't add any CarPlay software. It just activates the existing software.

 

Deerlake,

Read through this entire thread. There's a guy who ordered an updated USB port module for his car and was able to use CarPlay.

 

Were you able to get the CarPlay installed?
Ours is 10/2015 GLE (official model year 2016) and our dealer said there is no such thing as Mercedes dealer updating software or anything to get the Car Play functionality into the car ever, period. Only GLE models where the 'Smartphone Integration Package' was initially installed at the time of original build of car can get Apple CarPlay and no other car, period. This is vastly different from my understanding of how this goes reading the threads here. I got the impression that dealers could get it installed in retrofit manner on certain vehicles WITHOUT smartphone integration package, by using software upgrade and OBD activators and such. There are websites that sell "Genuine Retrofit Smartphone Integration P (C 14U 246-820-38-00)" from Mercedes that apparently installs the 'Smartphone Integration Package' into the car and then you can activate the CarPlay functionality thru a separate OBD CarPlay activation module.
I just wanted this done by the dealer so as not to void warranty and not to mess anything up but the dealer says they've never head of such things and it's impossible period. I printed the PDF in this thread that describes retrofit smartphone integration package for vehicles with NTG5*1 COMAND, and the dealer looked at it and said that is only for vehicles that were purchased and equipped with Smartphone Integration Package at the initial build of car. This doesn't make any sense to me. I thought 'retrofit' meant getting it installed in cars that didn't originally have it at the initial build.

 

Yes - Mercedes has a "CarPlay adapter" - I have attached the relevant spec sheet.

However for use of this adapter - your vehicle must fall into the correct build dates AND your vehicle must have COMAND 5.1. Both build date and 5.1 can be confirmed by accessing the "VMI" factory build sheet which can be done by Service or Parts.

The installation of the adapter is basic - not rocket science - and can be accomplished in under 1 shop hour real time.

 

My GLE was built 10/30/2015. My usb ports have 1 port labeled as phone/tablet, and the other as USB symbol. Do I have the right USB module? Or do I need the kit and then get it activated?

 

Mine is a Jan 16 GLE. It has the smartphone symbol on one of the USB port but it just charges the phone and the carplay does not show. What is the cheapest way to fix that ?

 

Does anyone around here know how to enable carplay or this is a mystery to us all?

 

When I decode my Vin# on my 2016 GLE400 4MATIC, my release date is 10/28/2015 and the deliver date is 11/10/2015.
It is equipped with Code 531, Command APS NTG5/NTG5.5 with Garmin Map-Pilot currently Installed: 2015/2016 (V4.0) N.America.

I have talked to one of the local MB dealership. They won't update the firmware and or the Map-Pilot (I thought I had (1) free left of the 3 years) because MB said there nothing wrong with it. I'm waiting for my friend that work at another MB local dealership as a Master Tech. The response might be slow due to the Xmas Holiday and the upcoming New Year.

For my vehicle I'm leaning towards the firmware and or Map-pilot for Apple Carplay and or Android. Once I get an update I let you all know.

 

Is the update included in the warranty ? I still have like 2 weeks left on mine and was wondering if it is something I would take advantage of

 

Our GLE was produced after the Jan 8th cut off date (Jan 12, 2016 production date to be exact) and still didnt have carplay/android auto despite having the updated interface/USB with a tablet picture in middle console etc...
I phoned our local dealer here in Calgary with the VIN number and their parts department advised that there is a part available and that they can retrofit carplay! Will report back as to how this goes.....

 

Please report back asap.

 

Great news. Awaiting for your update please.

 

After reading all the threats I do not see a solution for models build in December 2015 the Model year 2016.
Dealer states that the upgrade is only available until 30. November 2015!

What do I do if the car is built on 3. December 2015 and already has the USB integration kit, dealer will not upload the codes as the VIN does not support it according to the product sheet:

Smartphone Integration package (Code 14U)
Available as retrofit for vehicles with NTG5*1 COMAND Online up until 30.11.2015

Any solutions or advice? Seems MB does not offer support for December 2015 build GLE400 Matic?

 

The retrofit was completed this week with full success. We now have apple car play on our GLE that previously didnt have it installed. One dealer said it could not be done so I phoned the other dealer in town....
See bill below - the cost was very reasonable.

 

Part Number: 246-8202-38-00 (Retrofit Smartphone Integration P (C 14U) online price is $97.20 (List Price: $125.00) from MBoemparts.com.

What is 7205 CP for $158.00?

 

Labor? They had to update the software......

 

Not sure of our build date, but out '16 didn't have CarPlay. It did show the phone on the USB port. My nephew has been an MB tech for 8 years. He took it to work one Saturday and spent a couple of hours with the software and got it working. Didn't need to purchase and parts. Cost me a bottle of bourbon.

 

Has anyone seen this post and tried installing? I wonder if this is the same part being installed at the dealership. I assume these are for the C Class which does not have the hardware kit in their cars yet https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Genuine...sAAOSwkolduxxv

New Genuine Mercedes-Benz Retrofit Smart Phone Integration Kit OE 2468203800

• Condition: New
• Brand: Mercedes-Benz
• Warranty: Lifetime
• Manufacturer Part Number: 246-820-38-00
• Fitment Type: Direct Replacement
• Other Part Number: 2468203800

To ensure proper fitment please enter vehicle's Year, Make and Model in the Parts Compatibility above.

Read all notes and compare with your vehicle information.

If you are unsure please contact us with your vehicle info or your VIN and part needed and we will gladly investigate for you.

When shipping items to domestic areas outside of the 48 contiguous states (including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico) there are special eligibility considerations for large and/or oddly shaped items and some items may not be eligible for free shipping.

Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to purchase.

 

Did you ever get this resolved? I have a December build date on my 300d and am trying to get the retrofit done now. I bought the kit just in case my USB was not right and dealer is saying my dates are wrong. I see that also but am curious what changed for the 5 weeks? Is it that I have the correct hardware or what? Mine does show the tablet icon on one of the USB ports. I’m going to try bringing my car in on Monday and having the shop foreman look it over and see what we can do. I really want CarPlay/android auto to work mainly for text messages and I think a better map and GPS option vs the stock command GPS. Please let me know if you got your issue resolved and I’ll add anything to this thread if I find out any more info on Monday.

 

Sorry for possibly re-reviving a somewhat dead thread. Thought I would fill this last bit in for anyone else looking to do this even if it is less likely the longer from original purchase. As I have posted earlier, I purchased the retrofit kit and then tried to get it installed. I called multiple dealerships that wouldn't even return my call about this. The last one told me it couldn't be done. I sent them the PDF and then they said that with my car falling in the December build date that it didn't count. I asked why this was because to me it made no sense that MB would have an old system go to a new system for one month of production and then put in a new "new" system starting January? I told them that I suspected it was more likely that the USB female plugs in the center storage bin was replaced or something along those lines but the coding wasn't done and then a month after that it was full on CarPlay. They told me I was probably not correct and that I could bring my car in for them to check if I wanted. I had to wait for the shop foreman to dive into it and during my last service they did. Called MB corporate and found out that my VeDoc could get reprogrammed and that I would need the new USB female plugs which I already had. They had to keep my car overnight because they got this done later in the day but long story short - even with December build date my car now has CarPlay from MB. In addition with the retrofit Android Auto also works. Thanks for the help here!

 

Btw, for what it is worth - I have a GLE 400 with CarPlay. And I have found Apple CarPlay to be totally useless, and never use it. I actually just use the Mercedes experience instead, which is better.

I think this will continue to be true in the future because the pre-MBUX in 2016s is pretty good, and MBUX which came later is really good - whereas Apple CarPlay is basically garbage. It's totally half-baked, Apple did a terrible job with it.

 

I agree that CarPlay is far from perfect. I do find it to be nice though. I regularly (at least for now) am driving for 5 hours at a time several days a week. When going on a long drive I prefer having CarPlay so I can have google maps displaying anything that has been flagged by users (such as speed traps) and Siri for text messages. The downside is not being able to use the star button to pull up the favorites menu and turn on my seat massage quickly. When you have a device plugged in that button scrolls through some different options for CarPlay and I assume also for Android Auto.

For short drives I don't use it at all. I can make calls and listen to anything I might want with no problems using bluetooth, but for the long trips, I prefer it. I also just wanted the option available because in my mind I knew it "should" be there. So the fact that I thought the car should be able to do something but it was just greyed out bothered me. Same reason I keep XM active on an older Acura I have. I can't stand that it has an XM tab that will display but give you no options without the service. That last part is 100% not a good reason to do/keep something but is my own form of OCD and having the options keeps me satisfied.

From my understanding Apple did a bad job with development but critically I think their licensing decisions were poor. I've been told that BMW was the one to reach a deal with Apple and part of that deal prohibited certain others (MB...)from being allowed to have it be wireless for 5 years (the time frame might be a little different) but that is also why MB doesn't have it until this upcoming MY. Either way it's certainly not necessary and doesn't change the dynamic of the car one way or another. It's more of a personal preference for if you want it via retrofit and find that it will be useful for you. Once I feel comfortable with commercial air travel again, I likely will not use it as I don't think it's good or helpful for normal drives. All in for a couple hundred bucks I'm happy and just wanted to let others with the build date of December 2015 know that it is possible to get it working.

 

Hi MaverikDS,

I have a Gle from 2015 August with no label of a smartphone on the USB outlet in the armrest.

If I ordered the Smart Phone Integration Kit OE 2468203800 described in the pdf in this thread. Do think that Carpaly would work if I get a software update on my command?

Note: I'm from EU

Best regards
Frank

 

Hi Frank,
I'm far from an expert but your car falls within the date range in the pdf that is provided earlier in this thread. It is potentially the start date so I would suggest calling your dealer. If you have the NTG 5.1 Command I don't know why it wouldn't work. I assume that you need the kit but would suggest asking the dealer for a full quote first. They might want to run the VIN and check with MB to see if they will send the update. I bought the kit online for a discounted price vs my local dealers. The dealer that actually did the work didn't seem thrilled with me having it and the price they provided for it was very low in difference to online and it would have made the process a bit smoother I think. But the dealer took 2 days to see if they could and then to actually install the update.

In short - my response would be yes based off the pdf and if one dealer says no, try another.

-Dave

 

Hi,

Check your PM's plz.