Jakeu

Is there a way to add carplay to a 2008 W221?

superpop

No.

Jakeu

that sucks, i just got F150 for work and its has carplay, now i want it in my s class. there has to be away

superpop

As luxurious and expensive as these cars are the music option and interface in them sucks and is way behind. You have to buy a 2014 S Class to get bluetooth audio from the factory.

Jakeu

In my F150 carplay works with lighting plug. so I don't even use Bluetooth functionality.

I think I may have found a carplay solution for my car. I emailed the company to see if it can be used in our w221.

superpop

Be careful, there are troll companies out there that promise this on the W221 and it is a scam to get a lot of money out of unsuspecting buyers. This has been exhaustively researched on this car and because of the closed nature of the system, there is not much you can do.

Mike5215

There are no actual CarPlay retrofit modules for the 221 that I'm aware of. CarPlay requires the car's head unit to run Apples CarOS. The 221 does not and can not. At best there may be something that lets you mirror your smartphone screen via a video aux, although there would be no control via the car. You'd have to control it from the phone itself.

Jakeu

carplay ordered today, let see how it works. It should work on the factory screen and controls via factory comand idrive

superpop

From who?

belanger

I'd prepare to be disappointed. Good luck and let us know how it works out.

Mike5215

Jakeu joined the forum four days ago. My guess is he's a shill for yet another fake CarPlay retrofit scam, or a very gullible new owner.

Jakeu you need to post a link and clear this up.

DaveW68

Probably hails from the the former Soviet Union.

Jakeu

I'll share the info if it works. I don't like recommending products that i personally haven't used.

Mike5215

We're not asking you for your recommendation. We'd like to evaluate the product independently. Please post a link. Thanks!

https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...play-scam.html

Mike5215

Post #1: Can I get CarPlay in my S Class?
Post #2: That sucks. There must be a way!
Post #3: Found a vendor!
Post #4: Ordered CarPlay. I'll only share if it works.

Pretty sure Post #5 will be "Works great! Here's a link to order one!"

DaveW68

Holy crap Mike! You're the modern day Nostradamus!

Jakeu

WTF

DaveW68

You are either a recycled troll who spent a good chunk of his life somewhere in the Eastern Bloc or somebody who just gave a nice sized donation to another troll and will get nothing in return.

Do you happen to have the name of this company who supposedly produces this unit and a website address? Maybe I can donate some money to them for their "development costs".

This could end up being the most fun thread we've had around this place in months. BRB, I'm going to grab some popcorn and enjoy this show.

Mike5215

Sorry man, but this forum almost got burned on a CarPlay scam. Not saying that has anything to do with you necessarily but we need to see a link to the W221 CarPlay retrofit module you found. Nobody here is looking to hold you accountable for it's suitability.

Jakeu

I would insult you back but Mother Natures has already done such a fine job

Jakeu

I'm not selling here, read the first one "Is there a way to add carplay to a 2008 W221?"

DaveW68

No need to be so sensitive here. If you are the first of who I mentioned, then you're just a douche bag. If you happen to be the latter, then it wasn't an insult. It will just be an expensive learning experience about why the "search" function can be your friend. Many of us who've been around this place for a while have watched this story play out a couple of times. Mike can probably tell you a good story or two about it.

Jakeu

Don't Count Other People's Money, what's so complicated about carplay? my F150 has it already form the factory

DaveW68

I really don't care how you spend your money. Many have tried, but nobody has found a solution for integrating Apple Carplay or Google into our old COMAND systems. It doesn't exist. But there are companies out there who are more than willing to tell you they've done it, take your money, and deliver nothing.

Your F150 isn't running a stereo system that was developed 15 years ago.

Mike5215

It's really complicated. COMAND runs a proprietary MB OS. It's a closed system. Apple CarPlay requires that COMAND also be imbedded with Apple's proprietary OS, "CarOS". The COMAND version in the 221 does not support CarOS. So there's that.

In order to have control from the COMAND wheel and steering wheel buttons the device needs access to the CAN bus in a way that allows the OEM system to be repurposed. Not impossible but probably not happening either.

In short the engineering hurdles necessary to overcome the 221's limitations are probably too great to make CarPlay happen and too expensive to figure out for a small subset of owners who want it.

But if you've found something that proves me wrong I'll have a look and reconsider. Just need a product name or a link from the vendor you sourced yours from. And if it's "*******" do yourself a favor and quit now.