Musician1

and guess what, I hate iphones and I only use androids. How do I get the Android package? I doubt its gonna require USB port change, I see an icon for smartphone, different then other one. So.. I think I have everything I need regarding hardware. Dealer says can't be upgraded easily with software but I have doubts about their knowledge.. Anyone ?

GLE43_Sube

I only use Android too. The reasons are too numerous to get into. I don't believe the dealer knows this to be fact. Sounds like they're too lazy to investigate further. I refuse to believe there was a hardware change from 2016 to 2017. So that only leaves software as the culprit. I would try another dealer. Then, I would deal with MB directly. I'm sure someone from the factory can steer you in the right direction.

softfree

AerowerkZ saw this guy offer do the programming .........ask him

E55 KEV

I prefer Android also but it wasn't available for 2016 models. Became standard in 2017 models.

Musician1

I'll try to locate him.. Thanks Bud

davezaristo

Are you sure you do not have andriod auto? if you have apple carplay, you should have AA also. You just need to activate it within the menus, although I had to figure it out on my own since the dealer didn't have a clue.

E55 KEV

[QUOTE=davezaristo;7262827]Are you sure you do not have andriod auto? if you have apple carplay, you should have AA also.QUOTE]

Note available until 2017 model year GLE:

https://www.android.com/auto/mercedes-benz/

https://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/owner...00ccec1e35RCRD

Musician1

Have it in the manual, so I thought the same thing. But then went to VIN decoder and turns out I have 14U (smart phone stuff) and 16U (Apple carplay ) but no 17U which is Android Auto.

Musician1

Contacted Mercedes and they are researching they said.
------
Thank you for your email to MBUSA.

We are reaching out to our product management team for further review to see if there is any type of retrofit to work with your Android phone.

Will respond to you shortly. Appreciate your patience while being reviewed.

Sincerely,

E55 KEV

For Android Auto to work the car needs the "USB port with the smart phone integration symbol" as shown in video I posted. It's 20 seconds into video.

https://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/owner...00ccec1e35RCRD

Musician1

Yep I have two ports, one below is the smartphone icon on it. Yet there's no evidence of Android Auto anywhere. thats coded as 17U .. I have 14U and 16U but no 17U.. I'm sure everything I need is there, even the manual has it both carplay and android auto booklet. Perhaps it was a copyright or some sort of technical issue that some cars released without activating it or not waited for it.. Because carplay is using the similar "mirror" technique to display the contents, so does the android auto. (I downloaded the app) I know all I need to do is push few magical buttons.. But that will be a very very hidden info.. Anyhow. Thanks for all the inputs.

davezaristo

Mine was a retrofitted since mine was built in 15 and didn't have neither apple carplay or android auto. At first when the dealer installed the new ports, only apple carplay showed up and android auto was nowhere to be found. I had to play around within the phone menu and somehow brought andriod auto into the menu after fuzzing around with it. It was hidden somewhere and like I said, the dealer didn't know how to get to it and somehow I was able to. Anyhow, good luck and hope you can find it w/o going thru the retrofitting route.

Musician1

is there is there any way you can take a look at your part numbers that it's installed by any chance if they are 14U 16u and 17u then you have it installed..

Musician1

Well guys, I bought the damn chip and I got the Android Auto activated. They made me make sure the car is built after /01/2016 Amount I paid for single use was ridiculous.. And its crashes time to time but seems like its everyones problem.. But I have to tell you just able to use waze handfree is worth it in my opinion. I don't even care anymore the version of my maps and dumb dealer tech's work.. if you're close to houston you can chip in and we can try it to see if its works on yours and my damage lightens up ..

E55 KEV

Congrats. What's your total cost? Thanks.

Musician1

$300

E55 KEV

What VIN Decoder did you use? I tried the forum one but I didn't see any codes listed. Thanks.

Musician1

I found something in Russian and use that but I used others as well the result was the same as yours so you have everything to run Android no worries

Gurpreet_Singh

what “chip” did you buy and where from? Did you have to go to dealer to get it installed ? Can you please detail on how you did it ?

Thanks

Musician1

its called unichip, blue chip got it online
http://www.unichip-tec.com/pd.jsp?id=51

ntgcommander

for Androidauto activation it request FW upgrade to 2016.09+, according to the PUMA case, you could ask for a free bucks upgrade through the dealers, in case any tricks needed, pls PM me

GLE43_Sube

I wasn't sure if everyone knew this. Did you know you can activate "Siri" by using a long press of the Voice Control button on the steering wheel? A short press turns on the MB Voice Control. A long press (about 2 seconds) turns on Siri or "OK Google" for Android phones. You can now operate ANY of your phone's normal features....completely hands-free. Of course, your phone must have a Bluetooth connection to the car first.

nvsocr7

hey, so not sure if you're still on here but. I had originally asked to have apple carplay installed with no concern for android auto. I just plugged in my galaxy s9 into my 2016 gle and it does in fact have android auto. I installed the app on my phone and plugged the oem cable into the bottom usb port in the center console. THEN, you have to go into the tel/world symbol at the top, and keep rotating through until you get to android auto. At the bottom i went to options and selected always enable. I can confirm it does in fact work. The one thing i've wanted all this time is finally there too; google maps on the nav! You have to use the cable, no blue tooth although I think audio might be BT.

Sarah Tillman

You must have 2017!

phoenixone

I have a 2016 GLE (build before 2016) and I also have the usb input phone/tablet symbol on it and I followed your instructions and I couldn't find Android Auto.