troybarwick

Can the Voice Control option be added via the dealer, or does it only come from the factory?

btshep

No, you cannot add it. On the the ML and GL the buttons for the voice control mounted on the steering wheel with the other COMMAND buttons. It is for this reason that it is a factory only option and cannot be performed as a dealer install. On the other mercedes vehicles the controls for the VC are a steering wheel mounted yoke. The cars that have this type of control can have it added afterwards by the dealer but not the SUV's. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news

troybarwick

My ML350 has the buttons already on the steering wheel, so why wouldn't I be able to have it added?

btshep

where i am here in nj. if a ML is not provisioned with the voice control based on what i have seen in dealer inventory the sterring wheel does not have the voice control buttons. It only has the four standard COMMAND buttons on both the left and right side of the wheel. If your ML does indeed have the 5 buttons on both sides of the wheel perhaps it could be added

Wolfgang

There's a picture of those two extra buttons in the online manual:

buttons 6 and 7

http://www4.mercedes-benz.com/e/cars...iensystem.html

btshep

These are taken directly from the MBUSA website. Hopefully they help. The first one is with no voice control provisioned and the second is with it.

Without:


With:

SUNILP

either way, It can be added after replacement of the steering wheel buttons.

btshep

Not according to Ray Catena Motor Car. It is only a factory option on the SUVs according to their service manager. The SUVs without the 5th and 6th button supposedly do not have the prewiring for it

carpersn

Sunman obviously means you can ALSO REPLACE THE WHEEL.

Wolfgang

Or switch the switch?

carpersn

if the remainder of the wiring is in place, i guess that would work too...
i guess bottom line is, as always, you can add anything you want if you got the dough to do it.

btshep

i guess it comes down to whether the steering column has the prewiring in it or if the suv itself does ? does anyone know if the steering column has the wiring in it to simply change the 2 parts ?

SUNILP

The VCS system is based on the CAN network so extra wires are not necessary to install it. Just the switches, main harness (usually with phone harness) VCS unit.

cogtooth

Does anyone have voice control and can tell us if it works? Voice activation on a computer needs a quiet room or errors occur. Voice activation in a car with ambient noise and passengers speaking just doesn't strike me as a good environment to have it. It is easier to push a control button than to remember maybe dozens of commands. One ends up needing a cheat sheet to see all of the commands, which is more dangerous when driving.

e500

Yes I have it in my 3 week old 320 CDI. It works very well. The car, as you probably know, is very quiet inside. Never had a problem when it didn't understand a voice command. It also had a voice training function so if it has trouble understanding your voice, you can read a list it gives you. After you tell it what you want to control, telephone, radio or navigation, it displays on the command screen the most commonly used commands. I disagree with it being easier to push buttons than using voice commands. How much do you have to take your eyes off the road to enter a destination in navigation? You don't when using the voice commads.

cogtooth

Thanks for the reply. If my life was more complicated and I travelled often to places that I constantly needed the use of navigation, I would get it. Right now, I'll just program the 200 locations in the memory. I was actually not told about it when I first reserved a build date 6 months ago.

carpersn

It's actually pretty phenomenal how well it works...my wife's 2000 E has it, as does my father's new diesel...it's well worth the $500 but i wouldn't hold out for it if yours is in transit.

btshep

This is incorrect. here is an excerpt taken from benzworld:


If the vehicle was not ordered w/ voice control then it does not have a voice control wire harness i.e. not pre-wired for the installation. This is how M.B building them now, all models are not including pre-wiring for optional Telematics equipment unless specified on window sticker. Some retrofits have been released for certain items/models (nothing on the 164 yet)
A voice control harness is not available as a separate component at this time. If you want it added at this point you will have to find someone to make you a wire harness, purchase the connectors, possibly replace the steering column module, wire the vehicle as nec. and version code the vehicle. It would not hurt to have a M.B technician inspect your vehicle for possible pre-wiring sometimes it is there on mid range production vehicles.
Hope this helps,
Sam

Wolfgang

Here's a diagram showing the CAN B and the MOST fiber ring with the VCS voice control. This is from the E-Class but the ML is similar.

The part number for the Voice Control Operating Manual for the 07 ML, R and GL is T-6515-9720-13. If the automobile has the option it should have been included.

An older version of the manual is available online here: http://www.whnet.com/4x4/vrm.html

SUNILP

As wolfgang's image shows, it's CAN controlled. Steering wheels electronics DO NOT need to be changed. YOu will need to add steering wheel buttons. You have to understand the buttons on the steering wheel are not hardwired individually. They are all CAN controlled via 3 wires. A phone harness with vCS harness (as stated earlier) can be installed in the w164.

benzibabu

We just got 07 GL450 and I have buttons on my steering wheel but VCS doesn't work. So do we solution now? can i add on VCS now?