Real_Bowie

I'm a new MB owner - and still looking for a good mechanic (Sydney). My experience of Mercedes factory service is "Computer says no" to almost any question, and each question requires my VIN:

"Can I have a hidden tow bar with 19" rims? A: Computer says no.
"Can I stream bluetooth music on my NTG4?" A: Computer says no.
"Can I upgrade my Comand firmware even if I pay?" A: Computer says no.

See the pattern here?

Mercsrbest

imaps is the only navigation app that I can get visual and guidance .
It does work well and offers reroutes if it finds traffic ahead.
Waze also works well but is voice only.
I see there is a pay app navigation available esp in USA on CarPlay but I didn't explore it.
The CarPlay website/app on a mobile device gives the info .
I am very disappointed CarPlay has been castrated.Imagine if you could get your navigation to show you the speed of traffic ahead.read you Twitter,FaceTime calls ,show you stocks in realtime .That was the concept , now it is just a phone/text/nav

Mercsrbest

You can use imaps without data reception if you download destination/route before you leave. It sort of stores the maps.carplay has an gps sensor input that does the rest( this is how I believe it works, other theories are available)

JoeMa

Anyone else digging CarPlay? I love having it at my finger tips and using Siri through the steering wheel. The maps look great and the music app is pretty easy to navigate. The MLB app doesn't do anything, I just get a blank screen.

Anyone used Android Auto yet?

skelzer

Seems they included it in the manual a bit ahead of the software release. My GLS only has Apple CarPlay in the menus... bummer.

JoeMa

Did you try attaching an Android phone that has Android Auto? It may just work.

skelzer

Had me excited there for a second.... but gave it a shot and no joy. Every possible scenario, different cables, different Android phones. Nothing.

Guess we'll have to wait for a software upgrade sometime in the coming months...

JoeMa

Bummer. The underlying software/hardware required for Apple CarPlay is the same for Android Auto. Maybe MB encountered some glitches they want to resolve before activating Android Auto. I doubt it will be available to current GLS owners via a software update but will be available in future GLS builds when ready.

skelzer

It will be available to current owners... we just need to wait a bit for the update. Don't have sources handy but confirmed online and via MB corp.

JoeMa

Did MB say an update was coming for current GLS owners? If so, please post the source. I ask because my son bought a C-Class that he thought would include CarPlay based on a video MB themselves put out demonstrating CarPlay. But CarPlay is not supported and he was told it would not be coming via an update either.

Does MB provide updates to COMAND for existing owners? I'm not referring to map updates, I'm referring to complete COMAND system updates. Maybe they do, just asking.

skelzer

Trying to be careful to ensure we don't take this too "off-topic"... yes the *GLS* will get an update to enable Android Auto. It's listed in the COMAND user manual. Further, it's referenced in this article about the GLS63:
https://www.yahoo.com/tech/first-dri...224547683.html

So aside from the GLS series, not sure much else of this news applies to other models... sorry.

JoeMa

No doubt Android Auto is coming in the future but you commented about an update for existing owners. Do you have a link for that?

JoeMa

Stumbled on a cool search feature in CarPlay. While in My Music and scrolling through a list of my artists I found that if you turn the scroll wheel very quickly the screen displays a large letter representing the first character of the artists name. Once in switches to this mode you can for example scroll to the letter W and then press the scroll wheel to see a list of artists whose name starts with a W. This is very useful if you have a large number of artists or albums in your My Music library.

jerome8283

Agreed. Nice touch.

JoeMa

Does anyone know if there is another way to active the alphabetical search feature?

And does anyone know if there is detail manual available for CarPlay?

jerome8283

It's not Mercedes specific but may apply,

https://www.pioneerelectronics.com/S...r/CRB4685A.pdf

JoeMa

It covers the basics of how to setup CarPlay but doesn't get into any specifics on how to use the Apple Music app. I checked Apples web site and couldn't find any detailed instructions for CarPlay. Very odd that Apple developed this search feature but didn't document it anywhere (that I can find).

retguy

Spending just a little time with Apple Car Play, I am disappointed with it. I prefer to use the MB Nav rather than the iPhone but can't do so and use Car Play simultaneously.

Slightly off topic: is there a way to use music and audiobooks from the iPhone via the phone's bluetooth connection? That worked with my Escalade but I haven't found a way to do it with the GLS.

JoeMa

Personally I'll take CarPlay Maps over MB Nav any day. The MB Nav screens are too dark and the street names are too small. Also, I can ask Siri for directions to any location and I'm instantly off. For example I could ask Siri "Give me directions to the nearest gas station" or "Give me directions to the Philadelphia Airport". Try that with the MB Nav system.

As more and more manufactures come on board with CarPlay I expect updates and improvements for CarPlay so its just the beginning.

tate16t

Music and audiobooks at the same time? I would think any bluetooth device would only transmit one auto source at a time.

retguy

For clarification, I didn't mean music and audiobooks simultaneously. I meant one or the other via bluetooth. Cadillac CUE, despite its many criticisms, does do that. When the iPhone is bluetooth linked just select the iPhone feature and it comes through the vehicle's sound system. I can't find a way to do it in my GLS. Just asking if anyone knows if it can be done and if so, how.

retguy

I have actually not tried the Car Play Maps. Based on your favorable experience JoeMa, I will give it a try.

tate16t

Of course you can pair a bluetooth device to the GLS and play music from it. Did you look at your manual? I don't know the steps off the top of my head but I'm certain it can be done. Check your manual for bluetooth connections.

JoeMa

I paired my iPhone with the head unit so if I don't wish to plug it in I'm still connect via Bluetooth. Of course Bluetooth must be enabled on the phone.

retguy

Ugh, I had to resort to reading the manual. Something I am not inclined to do except for piloting an aircraft. Yes, the iPhone will play music and audiobooks via the bluetooth connection. The process is not intuitive. One must pair the iPhone as a telephone and must then pair it as a media device -- through the telephone menu and then through the media menu.