Ron Weiss

2 months ago I took receipt of my 2006 ML350 with the dealer installed iPod integration kit. I have one nuance and the people I spoke to at the dealer don't seem to know enough on iPod operaton to correct my problem. This is it:

Prior to connecting the iPod to the harness in the dash, I assure that the iPod is set to 'shuffle by song'. I connect my harness, select a playlist and it does indeed shuffle the playlist. As soon as I change the playlist or go back to my original playlist, the songs plays in order. When I look at the physical ipod screen the setting for shuffle was somehow turned to 'OFF'. This is frustrating as on some playlists I have over 2000 songs and it is annoying to always hear the same song order every time. The dealer suggested I just use the shuffle library feature but I don't always want to listen to my entire library and really want to shuffle my personal playlists. My workaround is to stop my vehicle, disconnect the iPod, reset the ipod setting back to 'shuffle by song', press play and reconnect to the harness. There must be an easier way. Does anybody have any suggestions?

Ron Weiss
Cave Creek, AZ
2006 ML350, Alpine Rain, Ash Alcantara Inserts, Appearance Package with Chrome wheels, Comfort Package, Entertainment Package, DVD Navigation

Dieter

Hi,

You should be able to change iPOD menus using steering wheel buttons

i.e. use page up/down for main menus and arrow up/down to 'go' through menus.

Works fine for me (although need to increase sound level as much lower than radio/CD).

Cheers,

Dieter

Ron Weiss

The iPod is controlling just fine on the steering wheel. Unfortunately it is not full integration as described. On my integration kit, the actual iPod settings can only be changed on the iPod itself. The steering wheel controls are only allowing me to select Songs, Artists, Albums, Playlists, Genres, Composers and Shuffle Songs. I am unable to access the system settings from the steering wheel. The Shuufle Songs shuffles the entire library. When I select Playlists it plays the playlist in the exact same order every time. This is frustrating with 2000 song playlists. There must be some way to shuffle the playlist without having to stop the car, disconnect the iPod, reset ipod settings to Shuffle by Song, press play on my playlist, reconnecting and then not touching the steering controls. If I touch the steering controls the iPod is reprogrammed not to shuffle. Do other Mercedes owners have this same problem, is there a fix or did the dealer substitute a kit with less abilities? Help!

chinhster

You've come across a big limitation of the ipod kit. AFAIK, there's no way around it and it is annoying. If you think about it, it would seem that MB did this intentionally which is pretty bizarre.

You might also notice that the pressing the arrow buttons on the steering wheel for next/previous track for the ipod go the complete opposite directions as the CD player/changer. Makes you think MB didn't think it out very well.

Ron Weiss

I received a phone call back from a technical specialist at the 1-800-FOR-MERCedes number which I had called to investigate further the iPod shuffle limitation. He acknowledged that the Mercedes Benz iPod integration kit does not offer full integration with the iPod and that it will not shuffle your personalized playlists. He did not give a reason why it is the way it is. He said that he will pass on my concern to management and that if they receive enough complaints it may be addressed with possibly a software upgrade.

Please, if you have the Mercedes installed iPod integration kit, call the above number, ask to speak to a technical specialist, confirm your issue and ask the specialist to forward your concern to their management. If enough of us complain they may address this with a simple software fix.

After you complain feel free to give feedback of your experience here to share with everyone.

William Steward

Anyone know if this is a problem with the 2007 models? I have a 2007 320cdi which will soon come as we say in the Caribbean!

mhh

I just picked up my wife's e500 wagon from the dealer after getting the MB ipod kit installed. It took them longer than expected (most of the day) - apparently the wagons are trickier to install.

Anyway, I'm still working out what it can and can't do. I don't get the tracks showing on the Comand screen - is that right? Only on the miniscreen on the dash.

I don't know what I was expecting (considering I've read the limitations of the Ipod as a source many times) but the sound isn't much good. With the HK, the CD and radio work fine - Ipod sound is definitely worse. It wasn't the biggest mistake I made this week, but I wouldn't bother if you are thinking of one.

cogtooth

Some Ipod owners have posted that there are different methods of plugging in an Ipod, some having much better sound than others, by using different cables.