It's (almost) the entire process, because once reboot is done, it only takes 3 seconds for the unit to connect, find your phone, and display the CarPlay screen. So I'd say 10 seconds for the hard reset, then maybe 5 seconds or so for the unit to be up and running again.

 

Okay 👌. That's pretty quick.

 

It's certainly faster than the factory wired carplay method with partial screen, yes.

 

I have had several back and forth with Kremersino (kSmart Auto) and also Carlinklife for the CarPlay full screen unit I bought from them (as they both sell the same unit). Total failure. Customer support gives up quickly once they know they got their money. Responses are delayed, and in the end, they could not even fix the Bluetooth issue. Moreover, the unit started to freeze on cold start randomly (maybe once every week only but still). They refused to offer a replacement until I ship the current one back, they receive it, evaluate, and then ship me another one. They refused to look into the issue in a systematic way. All their chat, emails and AliExpress agents seem to be just a sales person who has no interest solving the issues. There were a few messages with angry tone that they sent me. At this point they are just ignoring all messages. I do NOT recommend Kremersino (kSmart Auto) or Carlinklife CarPlay to anyone. The product works great but only when it works. The 5% failure rate with Bluetooth, phone calls and random black frozen screens isn't acceptable to me. It took me at least 4 weeks to realize all the issue and confirm all issues.

I'll be looking into some alternatives now. I contacted @EleBest for any other options/suppliers he might be aware of, and he is working on a different solution himself that does not involve a box for the CarPlay full-screen but said he needs a few days. Am also looking into other options at the same time.

CC: FYI - @wildta @007ML500

 

Thank you for the update and for being a guinea pig. I'm sorry the product and support didn't work out as you hoped. If I hear or see alternative solutions, I'll PM you.

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I have some exciting updates:

1. As I mentioned above, the KSmart unit ended up being a bad experience (bluetooth call issues and frozen screen), and customer service didn’t help either. Aliexpress stepped in and refunded me.

2. I got an update from @EleBest about the request I referenced above to him if he has something to offer. He already got a solution that will work for X167 or any NTG 6 and newer MBUX units that he worked on this week with success. He sent me photos from his lab/office setup and said he got a factory-walkaround solution for CarPlay Full Screen. It also involves unlocking all high-end MBUX-high features like Augmented reality and full map on cluster if it’s not on the car already. CarPlay full screen is my priority anyway. I am getting that setup and he said the items will ship to me via Fedex or DHL tomorrow and he will also do coding later this week. I know nothing about it yet, but will report back. He sent a video but I don’t know how to post it here, seemed as smooth as factory. He said resolution matches the highest resolution of the screen itself so no clarify issue. I’ll keep everyone posted as I try it out but am excited:

Photos the Elebest sent me for his solution:

 

This sounds very promising. How much for the hardware aspect?

 

Sorry for the delays. I got the package from Elebest but didn't yet have time to install everything and do full testing to report to everyone. I'll start later this week and will report all the detail. Package came in very well put together, with factory OEM parts and USA designation that were all pre-programmed by Max / @EleBest for factory look full screen CarPlay and wireless capability just like 2025s and 100% screen coverage. I visually checked all part numbers and they were OEM with A-number, compliance numbers, and looked brand new. There was an inspection check-list on a sticker on the parts which I appreciated. Packaging came with custom perfect-cut foam. Package arrived within 5 days since I was told it will ship (and 4 days from actual pick u date). Hopping to have more time to put everything and do testing to report back to everyone.

I was told to also expect all additional features typically exclusive to High-End spec MBUX - not sure what that means but will check after CarPlay solution is confirmed.

 

FINALLY, I had the time to install everything over the weekend! I am speechless—everything feels and looks like it came straight from the factory:.

1. CarPlay is displayed at full resolution/clarity of the screen
2. It also made CarPlay wireless. I can even see the factory/setting window for CarPlay wireless (I’ve attached a photo).
3. It is accessed the same exact why as factory carplay and show up as such in the MBUX. All buttons and shortcuts also work including music swipe etc.
4. There are factory AC temperature, air conditioning, and sound toggle windows that appear when changed and then disappear (I attached a photo)
5. With the pre-coded OEM parts he sent me, I also received high-end MBUX specifications and features. Once I installed everything, CarPlay full and wireless worked immediately. However, he also coded full-screen MBUX maps onto the driver’s display. If I get a camera, augmented reality is also enabled. He also coded it to allow carplay text while driving, and also coded it to allow MBUX and CarPlay maps navigation to both work/navigate at the same time if needed.

I’ll thoroughly test the carplay unit for about a week before sharing more. Once I’m done testing, I’ll also take installation photos and share them. I’ll likely start a new thread by then to avoid confusion because the other carplay unit in my first post was an aftermarket unit from an online seller, unlike this OEM modification from Max. This guy is a genius! Thanks a lot, @EleBest !!!

Quick photos. I’ll post more and write a detailed thread as I test it further. So far, it’s acting as expected, just like I’d imagine if MBenz had done it.

 

This is looking like the real deal. Finally. Did you happen to document your installation or is it pretty straightforward?

 

@EleBest 's YouTube video of it (I recommend following his channel):

 

Huge upgrade!

 

Is this available for Android Auto? What was the price?

 

It is not available yet. Hoping @EleBest will figure out a way to make it work for AA users.

 

Sorry for the delays; as promised before, I actually took all photos for all steps needed and was going to post them all in a dedicated thread to this that others along with my final impressions about the product now that I've been testing it for more than a week. All positive thus far; I plan on writing a thread this weekend when I have time with the photos I took. It was straightforward.

This looks exactly how it works on my GLS too. Looks like the video also captured some other features I didn't point out in my photos above.

Indeed! I'd hate any car with partial carplay screen and/or no wireless. This was a must-have update for me.

I am not an Android user so I never tried, but he did tell me when I first reached our to him that he will prioritize working on the CarPlay solution for now since there is more demand. A few days later he came back to me and mentioned that CarPlay solution is ready but never mentioned Android and I never asked. I assume it will be next. With regards to price, I got brand-new OEM high-spec headunit from Mbenz that needs to go to him so he can work on it and program the full screen and wireless CarPlay features (around 650 including programming), and then the rest was 100 USD for remote coding after u install so the car can see the new headunit and see the fullscreen + Wireless Carplay features….I also asked for a few other services along with this like full map on cluster and augmented reality that were separate, enabling carplay keyboard typing allowance while driving, and enabling both MBUX map and CarPlay to work at the same time. I asked him to ship with the fastest method he could find and paid DHL priority as it was my choice - i really didn’t want to wait and was getting sick from that Chinese carplay box I had before. Another thing I noticed is that MBUX system itself is now much faster, cause the new headunit is the high spec (and it's labeled as such) which has the Nvidia chips and higher processing power or memory, it was very noticeable to me.

Hope that helps. Happy so far with everything, not a single glitch, but I will post like promised above all my installation photos and steps for the installation and a few notes about my experience with it. Hopping to post them in a thread this weekend when am free. I can't thank @EleBest enough, very nice humble smart guy, within nearly a week since i first consulted with him after I was desperate with other non oem carplay solutions/box I tried, he came back to me with a solution that truly looked oem yet with other features... this has really made the car infotainment system more enjoyable.

 

Awesome! Thank you for the update. Looking forward to seeing your installation pics. I'll reach out to him and ask about the timing for an AA solution. Just one point of clarification on the price. Was the price of the head unit $650 or was that his programming fee? How much was the head unit from MB? Are you able to provide a part number?

 

That was for BOTH, the brand new unit as well as his time to program it before it shipped. When I looked online to source my own, the cheapest one (used) on ebay was 900 USD not including shipping or his time and still used, and some were 1800 USD. Note that the one from Elebest is a brand new OEM unit from Mbenz with part number and had all tags as the one I removed from my car. I can sell my old headunit on ebay now for MORE than what the whole thing costs if am willing to sell (but I like the idea of keeping a backup unit handy).

 

Thanks for sharing, this is great news. I’m really looking forward to your detailed write-up. I’ve been in contact with @EleBest and am in the process of purchasing. I’ve just recently purchased my GLS and this is my first foray into anything like this. Any tips for beginners would be helpful.

 

@W-222 Looking forward to doing this as well, but have no DIY experience. On a 10-point scale of difficulty, how would you describe this? Also, slightly confused about your point on MBenz, did the hardware also have to go to Mbenz when it left @EleBest Can you clarify? Patiently waiting on your detailed write up.

 

I think this video gives you an idea of where the device needs to be installed, under the front passenger seat:
(disregard the device advertised in this video though)

 

You guys are making me feel really bad for not yet finding the time to write a detailed installation instruction with photos I have taken (sorry about that). I was hopping to dedicate 30 min this weekend but truly couldn't and it's not something I can draft from my phone like I do when scrolling through the forum in my free time.
I promise to do that this weekend. I've been too busy with work, and during my free time am searching for a new toy : ) (new car).

Anyway if you must get help for installing the unit now, the video that Wildta shared above is exactly what you wanna do to get to the headunit (except that you don't need to worry about that chinese box they are showing) - ignore that. For the solution that Elebest sent me, once you get to that area, all you need to do is to remove 3 screws around the MBUX unit (it's that large silver device), and then move the cables one by one from the old unit, to the new headunit. It's plug and play with same exact ports, so all your cables would just relocate to the new unit exactly the same way. Then of course put the 3 screws back so that the new headunit is secured in same place as the old unit, and take your unit then and keep it save as a back up : ) or sell it on youtube if you like.
And no, you do not need to go to Mercedes-Benz after you install it. Elebest signed in remotely and made the car aware that it has a new headunit now. I then downloaded fresh-new maps in a flash drive (free through Mercedes Me app but also Elebest also sent me a direct pre-paid link though again it's free to US users in the US through Mercedes Me). I promise to share my installation photos with step by step instructions this weekend.

 

Under the passenger seat is totally doable. I'm glad you don't have to rip the dash apart, that would definitely be a deal breaker for me!

 

You don't but there are a few steps that the video provided intentionally ignore to make it look easy, which i was trying to explain when I write my full detailed installation info. This is related to the B biller (bottom portion), you really need to get that removed (just pop it out, it has clips) so that then you can remove the carpet (cause part of it is tucked under the B biller).
Also, my suggestion is to remove the negative terminal from the battery which is right under the driver seat and u can access it from behind. The negative terminal is easy to access. Just safer to play with cables when car is 100% off.
Last, do not remove the seat belt - no need to do so. Just remove the seat outside the car and pull the seat belt and tuck the car seat as far as u can setting on your garage so u can freely access that area under the seat.

 

Thanks for all the info you’ve shared, it inspired me to make the purchase from Elebest. I’d love to see your detailed write up if it’s still in the works.

 

How do I get it installed on my X167, here in USA? what OEM device do I need to buy, any advice,
thx.