DrFox1969

When the dealer did my vehicle handover, he told me that the internet in COMAND is not working in Australia as there are problems with the system. Apparently MB are working on it and I would be notified.

Has anyone else had this problem/got any information?

benzmodz

The dealer is a knucklehead. There are 3 different aspects to this.

a) Blackberry works as an internet router.
b) Mercedes sells a hotspot for the car which gives internet to the COMAND from any country using a 3G data sim.
c) iPhone routing comes out as an update at the same time as the new A-Class.

Depending on which preference you have those are your choices.

DrFox1969

Thanks for the quick reply benzmodz.

I probably should have specified that i am an iPhone user (4S) which seems to tie up with your item c) above, which i beleive is March 2013. I am sure I can hang on for then.

Thanks again.

sp00ky

Where on earth have you got that from?

Bike Rider

Nice post Dr Fox, I'm in the same situation.. can't get the iPhone to work.

Any updates as yet?

iankayem

My Android (4G) has a hotspot for the iPad etc. But my dealer advises it will not work with the ML.

How do you obtain this hotspot? What is the part number?

Other threads suggest it cannot be done. Do you have special information?

fabbrisd1

In the US Mercedes offers a "service bundle" which includes the Autonet Mobile router + 5GB mobile service at $60 per month. The router is USD$500, not including install (can be self-installed) and 6 months free service.

http://www.autonetmobile.com/service/

However, many of my customers use their personal Android phone for in-vehicle hotspot.

Keep the beat !

DrFox1969

Other threads over the last few weeks have suggested that previous advice was incorrect, and MB are not planning an update for the iPhone.

Funnily enough I spoke to my tame dealer yesterday (whilst he was offering me A-Class launch VIP tickets!!...) and asked him to check out the current situation. I'll let you know if i hear anything concrete.

iankayem

$60 per month = $720 per year for every year! How much do you reckon an iPad costs nowadays.

And it would be quicker to use rather than the MB thumbwheel.

I will consider that the onboard internet connection is a total waste for now, and use the iPad with the phone hotspot as required.

But being realistic, I bought the car to drive!

sp00ky

So you would no doubt be happy if the radio didn't work then. It is advertised as having internet connectivity but not with what is one of the most popular smartphones on the market, and they have no plans to fix this after it being pointed out to them for several years. Quite poor really.

jellies

it would really burn me if the internet feature was actually worth it but everything I have read says it as lame as you'd expect (from the rest of the COMMAND system). With glacial slow speed, a browser that would embarrass a games console, and a few nearly useless apps of which I believe only the weather one is vaguely useful.

But what REALLY annoys is the smarmy way all sales people from 3 dealerships reassured me during pre-purchase pondering that Mercedes are sure to update it soon to get everything working right. When they must be aware that Mercedes have made no move to improve things for years now.

Of course - they have to cover for MB on this wrinkle. Who on earth would believe that the premier luxury car isn't willing to get their act totally together on phone/data connectivity! It would make one wonder about how an argument with MB Germany over a tricky warranty issue would go.

mthien

If you have an android phone, look for an app called "blue dun". You'll need to re-pair your phone with Blue Dun on.

You will also need to manually set the dns server to 8.8.8.8.

That's the only way I've got command online to work.

But anyway, you're not missing out on much at all.

It's slow as hell which makes the user experience horrible. And there really isn't that many apps at all.

P.S. I'm from Aus as well.

iankayem

Was that "dun" or "dung".

DrFox1969

Definately "dun" as in we all have been.....for listening to what we were told by MB dealers!!!!

jellies

Just to dump a bit more aggro into this topic, has anyone else noticed the charge rate for the media cable is terrible?

for example: plugged in, with engine not on but phone playing thru radio, the phone indicates it is charging BUT actually loses capacity.

Driving with phone plugged in and playing (internet radio in my case): 20 minutes of driving and barely 4% capacity gained by phone battery.

Don't rely on the car media cable (or USB port) to fast charge your phone! if you leave home with 10%, chances are you're not going to have much more power by your arrival time

sp00ky

You mean like a lifetime anti-rust guarantee that they decided actually meant only 8 years once they discovered that panels would rust after this period of time...

Their in-car media offering is appalling.

iankayem

The 12v sockets workfine, if you have the adaptor.

DrFox1969

A quick update on this topic. Spoke to my dealer yesterday about iPhone internet connectivity and I will summarise response below (FYI - i have become good friends with my salesman so he's fairly to the point with me):-

1. Still no update from MB on a solution....pretty much equates to its not happening.
2. Dealers are getting told it is an Apple problem....i.e. Apple havent produced a software interface and wont play along.
3. "Dont bother with it anyway......its too slow and cumbersome to use and you will be better off using your smart phone. If you really insist on having in-car internet connectivity......BUY A BLACKBERRY".

So there you have it.....after hearing all that I cant really be bothered pursuing it anymore....its not really a deal breaker for me anyway. However it is disappointing that my overall impression of the COMAND in a new more advanced MB, is that I much prefer the iDrive in my BMW (boo hiss!!). Granted the COMAND is intuitively easier to use, but it is simply not as advanced and has lower functinality than the iDrive.

Overall i really love my ML and it is much better IMO than my old W164, but for a brand new advanced vehicle, some (stress only some!!) of the technology is a bit disappointing.

jellies

I know it is pointless but ask how apple manages to know you are in a new a class, where it does work, but plays dead in an ml (and other) classes, where it does not work.
Companies or their reps lying about technology in order to avoid awkward questions really make me furious.