chris1800

I've called my Mercedes dealer in Switzerland today and he told me that the internet connextion with an iPhone is only available on Class A and B and soon with E.
Only the next generation of ML restyled (2014, avaliable since spring 2013) will be provived with this software modification and they will be no possibility to obtain this modification on ML 2012 and 2013...
Bad news....

jellies

I am not very happy to hear it if true. But it is puzzling.

Is the head unit in the ML specific to the ML ? I thought the same command head units were used in a number of model lines.

chris1800

Yes, it's a very bad news..
I believe that the same command units are used in class E and S. But there wille be a new one with new maps on the next restyled ML he told me.

Masterbuyer

The 2014 ML will be 'restyled?" They just did the restyle in 2012! Does anyone have more information about this? Will it look different, or will it just be some internal changes, like to the COMMAND system, and probably the addition of the 360 surround view camera.

fabbrisd1

Mercedes 3rd year "facelift" for 2014 ML plus introduction of the 2-door ML "cross-over".

jellies

Funny, because my australian salesman told me not to expect a facelift till mid cycle, which he said would be 2015 at the earliest, and if I planned to keep the car 3 years selling just before then would be a good plan.

Of course he was trying to convince me this wasn't a bad time to buy the ML from a depreciation perspective..

iankayem

I expect to find every manufacturer will come out with a "revised" model every year, and a new model every 4~10 years.

The ML now has had 3 "new" models, W163, W164, W166.
Each of these has had annual revisions which have included things like new options, extra standard equipment, even new engines and transmissions. The external differences have been limited to grill or bumper variations and wheel options.

jellies

back on topic though
I find it quite arrogant of mercedes to drag their feet so long over needed functionality for internet connectivity.

As I understand it, there are two bluetooth data connection standards. A modern one, and a superceded one. That blackberry supported the superseded one is just luck. Apple does not support it, and tends to resist being forced into making software mistakes by the mistakes of others (eg: flash plugin).

So this situation has been outstanding since the first iphone and someone in mercedes has known this but they choose to persist with the clunky "DUN" method - which reportedly is extremely slow, and ignore the largest single model user-base of smart phones out there?

Now mercedes want to appeal to the younger generation and know that not offering seamless connectivity to all smart phones is a deal breaker so they make the effort and do it for the new A class - you can twitter from the car dashboard, etc etc.

But apparently _choose_ (because it can't be a technology barrier that stops them) to simply screw everyone who has bought or is buying brand new vehicles in other model lines?

For shame.

fabbrisd1

Get a grip, interactive internet connectivity for the driver is a issue similar to DVD movies, and text on your cell phone.

In today's age where most US states ban text messaging from cellphones, and from Federal; safety level ban video-in-motion ... how long do you think it will take a car manufacturer to have a lawsuit claiming contributory negligence by providing the exact text and/or browsing experiences you think you want ?

Better viewed as customers wanting a beer keg dispenser in the front dash !

jellies

I don't know man, I look back in this forum and people have returned cars under the lemon law for having pretty (in my view) minor issues, such as unexpected pressure thrumming at a very specific speed, or a bit of stumbling during the first 30 seconds of driving.

Internet connectivity is not there to distract the driver, it can be used to lookup points of interest accurately, pull traffic information and who knows what else they might add in future. The car is heavily marketed as offering it and sales people (at two different dealerships) waved their hands to say don't worry if it isn't working right at the moment - support will come with a firmware upgrade.

I don't think it is anything remotely similar to complaining about lack of TV on the move, or bugs in a specific function with a particular cellphone model that has a 0.1% market share. Giving the car a data connection is sort of fundamental nowadays which is why they are making such a big deal about it in the new A-class.

sp00ky

To be fair, MB can't be expected to cater for every little obscure phone on the market, and it's only been available for 5 years.

Seriously... using an outdated Bluetooth profile and ignoring this issue even though it could quite easily be fixed by software changes is rather ridiculous.

sp00ky

That's ridiculous. People are talking about data, not texting while driving. You're over 50, right?

DrFox1969

Reading this thread seems to suggest things have changed from information i was given in December.

I was told when i picked up my car that MB were releasing a software upgrade in March 2013 to fix the problem. This may only be available for the MY13 models with new head unit.

Are people saying this information is rubbish??

fabbrisd1

To fix what problem exactly when say....... "I was told when i picked up my car that MB were releasing a software upgrade in March 2013 to fix the problem. This may only be available for the MY13 models with new head unit."

DrFox1969

The software upgrade to fix the iPhone routing problem...........also see attached thread.

Australia Internet connection

jellies

there was a news article in Telematics (some kind of web news site for vehicle systems) in 2011 that had mercedes benz tell them they'd release the appropriate firmware for iphone/android <--> command connectivity using bluetooth pap, in 2nd half of 2012.

http://telematicsnews.info/2011/08/2...online_ag2223/

Since it is now 2013 and there hasn't been any further announcements I can find, and the A-class now has a new system with proper connectivity I think this idea that mercedes are interested in solving the problem for existing (and some future) owners looks increasingly shaky hence the Swiss dealer that the OP mentioned might be reporting the actual situation while most dealers keep saying "soon" as a kick the issue down the road tactic.

it has just been too long. It seems to me to be something they'd have done already, if it was ever going to happen.

jellies

I asked the local office here is the reply: no way, no plan:

We are not sure where xxxxxx at MBS has sourced his information however what your customer is enquiring about is the next generation of the NTG 4.5 COMAND APS HU.

When we launch the face-lift E-Class models later in 2013 the NTG 4.5 COMAND APS HU will be the new Generation 3 version. This version, we understand, will offer greater functionality such as internet connectivity with Apple devices and will be progressively introduced to other model classes depending on the product life cycles.

Whatever functionality is introduced with Generation 3 NTG 4.5 COMAND APS will not be backwards compatible with earlier versions and this has always been the case. To my knowledge MBAuP have never communicated any information which contradicts this position, especially into the public domain.

sp00ky

Is that a serious question?

sp00ky

It is quite ridiculous. They really need to up their game in terms of in-car technology and in particular with regard to their commitment to recent models and updates.