I am going to have my new CL integrated with the new Drive Kit Plus from MBZ. Has anyone had their S or CL installed with one yet? They have them now for the iPhone 5/6. Let me know how you like it please.

 

Never heard of it. What is it all about?

 

I looked into it. The kit (plus a free app) adds Siri Eyes Free capability to models including the W221, where you can activate Siri by voice thru the car's internal microphone and the interaction is all displayed on the COMAND screen. Siri can send emails and texts via voice command and post to social media.

The kit is $599 and labor is estimated at $400. Here's a promo video:

http://drive-kit-plus.com/en/#s/video/siri
and the website:

http://drive-kit-plus.com/en/#s/step

 

Pretty cool. I read about this a while ago. Would have to try it in a car to see how we'll it works. I think this was fitted by Mercedes for some of the cla's.

 

I believe its a retrofit for the system they're installing in all the 2014 up models.

 

Your are correct but they now have it for certain 2010-up CL and S Class vehicles with certain VIN's. They have to work with the NTG 3.5 Command. My VIN falls in the production numbers. There are three different units for the iPhone for 4-5-6

 

Found it on Ebay for iPhone 5 and will work with 6 as well, the display will be like the new generation MBZ cars with the new interface and it will use your I phone Garman 3D navigation. Everything interfaces with your command our use Siri. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-Ben...-/301230434369.

 

Will this work on a pre2010 year cars?

 

Ok, so it's for 10-13 w221 only.

More info:

http://www.arnoldclark.com/newsroom/...-to-install-it

This must have recently became avail for the w221?

I like how it will let you okay video from your phone! It says "only while stopped" need a hack to fix that.

 

A slick piece. If you do a lot of emails, texts and posts to social media on the road it might make sense, and I love the way the GUI looks, but if you're going to put $1000 into the infotainment system, I'd spend it on a nice set of replacement speakers for the front doors. Probably more bang for the buck in terms of enjoyment.

 

It will work for ANY S or CL from 2010 up (other models as well). There is another kit with a different part number for the 07-09 but from what I am understanding there are no more of those kits available. I did however find a European website that bought up the pre-2010 Drive Kit Plus's and they can be bought from them. As for watching videos, I have the Naviks VIM, which unlocks everything, so I have full functionality of using anything the command offers, while driving. As for installation,my dealer wants $200.00 more than I can get it for and they want 1048.00 to put it in, which I understand they can be installed in 2 1/2 hours (my dealer said 8 hours). I can do the install myself. Once you have the wood out of the way and the console wood out and the glove box door out the rest is pretty straight forward. I would however re-route the cable to come into the console instead of the glove box (as it is WAY to far to reach over and plug in). I was thinking of putting the docking pad on the top shelf of the center console and pulling the lightning cable there for easy access and charging.

 

I personally have no objection to the sound system on the CL. I wouldn't think the S Class wouldn't sound any different but they should have had the Bang and Olufsen as standard equipment on the S and CL 600 from 11-14. I personally have no issue with my sound quality. Now, possibly the 4 dr. is so large that it isn't powerful enough to carry the sound as the smaller cabin in the CL does.

 

The vast majority of 221s and CLs (being S550s and CL550s ) didn't get the B&O standard and the Harman Kardon system they did get is pretty sad.

For those owners, spending a grand on a nice piece of eye candy should probably be secondary to getting decent performance out of the system they have. But ultimately it's a matter of personal priority and there's no wrong answer.

I've never heard the B&O but by all accounts its a nice sounding system.

 

The B&O was and still is insane. Even the twitter in the A and B pillars lite up as well. It was an 11K option on the S class but never offered on the CL for some reason. Damn that system had what, 1100 watts! What a sound system!!!!!!!!!! I turned it up on the showroom floor with the doors closed with a demo CD and thought I was going to blow my mine (should have been high for that experience). I sure don't mind the Harman Kardon though. I wouldn't know if it really would make that much of a difference by changing the speakers but they would have to be matched, so not damage the amp. I have heard the 3d sound system in the new S and I think the B&O is a finer system. I know they have a much more reputable Moniker and more well known than the current system.


If I though changing the speakers would make a huge difference I would do it but I think it is probably pretty well matched to the amp.


As for the Interface, its wicked sexy looking and the fact you can do so much with it and its really current makes a huge difference. I am getting my unit for 475.00 out the door and putting it in myself, so not to much to lose. The phone itself cost me the bucks, I bought mine out right, so I didn't have to be held down to a contract and I could sell it when I'm ready to upgrade for just about what I paid for it (when they have the iPhone 7 out next fall). Plus I hate that you are stuck with the MASSIVE bill each month. What 399.00 down and 27.99 a month for two years and the 60-80 a month for service. NO WAY! I have 35.00 a month for service out the door, on the AT&T servers with 1G of data and unlimited talk and text.

 

Not a big deal to change the H&K speakers. The ones that cause the most trouble are conventional sized, run of the mill 4 ohm car audio speakers. Harman used a metal speaker cone material that sounds really thin and overly bright. BMW's of the same era got the exact same speakers. Replacing those (two 4" in the front doors, two 6.5" in the rear doors) makes a night and day difference.

Focal makes a drop in replacement for the fronts, matched to the factory amp, for $750.

 

I like a huge amount of treble. I wouldn't mind a little more base though. My Bentley for a stock sound system was what I call a LOUD sound system. Really great when turned up and would blow your ears off but not very bright when on low. This HK is ok for me as it is. I would have to actually hear them before changing them. I spent 10K on a sound system for my 2000 CL and luckily the couple that bought the car from me paid me for it in full. I showed them the receipt were extremely happy to have it in the car. I was going to take it out and put back the stock system back and use the other system in my newer 03 but they wanted the car as is. I even put tweeters in the coat hooks and bough a door speaker cover and used a Dremel to cut them to fit, so they looked stock. They had a lot of work to do to get everything to work with the phone and the Command system. It had 3 amps and a 12" subwoofer. It was insane for the day. Only thing is now that I think about it is it was so Ghetto, me riding around at 30 years old in a 115K car with a 10K sound system, playing loud music like an idiot. When I look back to the day I think, what was I thinking. Now, Im happy with the factory stuff because they care more now than they used to, just like wheels. Remember when you had to buy wheels to make the car look better? Now, the factory give you better choices than aftermarket. The car companies are really making sure they cover all the bases. I mean some of the wheels on the BMW's, esp. the M series are some of the most beautiful wheels, I have ever seen on cars. Look at the Aston Martin wheels on the Rapide S ( the ones that look like spiders) or the Bentley GT Speed from 2013 until present 21" OMG they are insane.

 

I think the spacial dynamics are different in the W221 than the W216. I also think they are equalized differently as well. I haven't actually heard the W221 stock system, so I can't say. If I heard each side by side, I might be able to tell the difference. I personally am happy with the stock sound of my W216 but that could change with a new set of speakers and I might be even more happy. I just don't want to cut into a harness that still has 3 1/2 years left on warranty and then something go out and I am sitting holding the bag for something that I have to pay for. I do actually have a slight rattle with the base on the package shelf. I was going to go and stuff batting between the shelf and the metal to stop it but always forget that I need to do it until I'm in the car and on my way somewhere. For now, Ill keep it as is and if I still have the car after the warranty goes out, I might consider changing the speakers out. Who knows by them the new S Coupe dash and design may appeal to me. Who knows, sometimes it takes time for some of Mercedes designs to grow on me and then sometimes, they hit me and I'm in love, much like I am with the 11-14 CL 600. I just knew when I saw the refresh I had to have the car. I just haven't felt that so far with the S Coupe. It lacks elegance to me. Its more of a sports car. If I could have the full dash and interior of the S 600 and all the details put into the S 65 Coupe, I think I would be extremely happy. I just cant see a 250K car like the S 65 Coupe not having door end cap covers or the wood splashed everywhere like the S 600 sedan does. It isn't that the car isn't pretty, I just don't feel it is as elegant as a Mercedes of that price should be.


I also think the old 10-13 S Class is more beautiful on the outside than the new one.

 

Yes, and yes.

Looking forward to your install. When do you plan on doing it? Excited about the video from the phone to the screen which is hdmi quality. Very few reviews mention this feature, they just keep touting the social media aspects.

 

Ill keep you posted. I am a little trepidatious because then I wont be in the cars command but the phones. Its to bad the command cant control the phone and Siri, instead of the other way around.

 

hey i have a e class audio 20 ntg4 with media interface kit and wanted to get the drive kit plus installed but when i called my dealer he told me that as media interface is already present in my car then i cannot get the drive kit plus installed is he telling me the truth ??

 

No, it will not work unless you have a 2013-14, just as the Media Interface Plus will not work with the S an CL correctly and other models of certain years ( call and talk with MBZ customer service, they will get you in touch with the correct Dept. Also, call any dealership and talk with a parts guy, give him your VIN and he will tell you whether it will work on your particular application. I have been getting a huge run around with MBZ. I would rather have the MIP, so I can stream iPod music videos but it will not allow that. The DKP for me is not really something I am excited about because, I have all voice commands through the Command system. Why would I want to go into a sub menu and use a different system which isn't my cars actual system. I would be using Siri and she doesn't understand me like the cars command does. I love the Garmin full 3D Navigation ( but they don't tell you, that you have to spend 50.00 for that app) and I love the Google earth 360 street view) but the rest is ridiculous. Id rather see my smart phone be mirrored on the screen and use the steering wheel or toggle or voice to move to different things on the phone, while it is charging. I see those junky little Nissan's for under 20K do it why cant a 200K MBZ do it???? It baffles me to no end. MBZ over engineer their cars, yet they cant get even the most simple of things in like the cheapest cars on the road can. I also have no idea why they would have so many different systems for all the cars. My thought is one system for all with different displays for each application ( only for fitment reasons). Huge waste of money if you ask me.

 

Hey thanks for replying. I have a 2014 Facelift E class, are you sure that the drive kit plus cannot be installed in my car ? Also i have been searching a lot about the media interface plus. Can you please tell me the basic features i will get if i get the media interface plus for my audio 20 ntg 4 and is it possible to stream video to my cars screen from my iphone 6 if i get the mip. Is media interface plus an addition to the media interface in my car or is it something else ?

 

Then you are a lucky man, the E class will work with the MIP and OR the DKP you can not have both. You have to decide which one you want. If you have the MIP then you will get the video but have to do a VID in Motion to get the watch videos while driving. I am unfortunate that owning a 200K new CL 600, that I can not use the MIP and it work as was supposed to. I can however go with the DKP for my new iPhone 6 but it will not stream music videos and that is my main desire. I burn disc's and watch them through the stack and the audio and video are true HD. I like it but it takes me forever to convert and prepare the disc's. As for TEXT and SMS, my Bentley does that but I find it annoying, when I am driving, I do not want to be distracted by having to read out the text. On the MBZ, the MIP only lets you respond with about 12 canned responses. Nothing actually personal. So, if you want to do SMS and Text the DKP is what you need but no video streaming. You cant have both as there is only one plug and you have to remove the harness to the command to exchange it for the DKP harness. There are pros and cons to both but neither makes me very happy. I want my cake and eat too. Now, on the E it might be different since they just released a lightning cable but I was told it only works with the new S series. It could possibly work. I have seen other posts where it was incompatible. Especially since you have moved up to the iPhone 6. So, what I wanted to do was buy a dedicated iPod 4, for use with the MIP but when I went to play a music video, it kept saying," change to AUX to watch videos through this device" Well what do you know, it was grayed out, not capable just like the disclaimer says. Some say it works, some say's it doesn't. Mine doesn't and its the latest and last of that gen. of architecture. So, for me I will have to live with spending time making my own disc's and charging my phone through the interface in the glove box via a 30 pin to a lightning connector convertor. If I get the notion, Ill spend an hour or so and move the cable to the center cooler and route the cable to the upper console and have it plug straight into the console. Keep us posted to what you do and what happens.

 

the drive kit plus is available for c classes now also, but does the kit include a new screen as well? or is it gonna work with my simple audio 20 screen in the 2010 pre facelift model, because i don't know how a new and bigger screen would fit there anyways. or do they fit the new screen in somehow? its a 1000$ after installation here in vancouver

 

It will use your existing screen.