W221 Carplay
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Joined: Jul 2025
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2008 Mercedes S550 | 2007 Mercedes B200 Turbo
W221 Carplay
Hey guys,
I am interested in the mr12volt carplay box for my W221. My car is a Canadian model, 2008 Mercedes S550.
The reason I am interested in this particular model as it uses the MOST fibre optic loop and pretends it is a TV tuner, therefore should have the same audio quality as other OEM peripherals, such as the CD player. Other existing Carplay solutions uses the AUX interface, which I have used before with an aux cable and sounds okay, but does not have the clarity or dynamic range of the CD player in my opinion.
Firstly, has anyone used this unit in a North American car, with a North American command (NTG3.0)? Did it just work, or did it require additional modifications? I am concerned because the mr12volt requires the COMMAND to have TV enabled in some capacity, and as NA vehicles do not, mr12volt says they are not supported.
My other question, someone dependant on the first question - has anyone ever looked into enabling the TV tuner with XENTRY or vediamo? I'm thinking I might give it a try, as I am really interested in having carplay sound go over fiber-optic...
Thanks in advance! I look forward to contributing any insight I find myself in this venture, and hope others can lend a hand.
I am interested in the mr12volt carplay box for my W221. My car is a Canadian model, 2008 Mercedes S550.
The reason I am interested in this particular model as it uses the MOST fibre optic loop and pretends it is a TV tuner, therefore should have the same audio quality as other OEM peripherals, such as the CD player. Other existing Carplay solutions uses the AUX interface, which I have used before with an aux cable and sounds okay, but does not have the clarity or dynamic range of the CD player in my opinion.
Firstly, has anyone used this unit in a North American car, with a North American command (NTG3.0)? Did it just work, or did it require additional modifications? I am concerned because the mr12volt requires the COMMAND to have TV enabled in some capacity, and as NA vehicles do not, mr12volt says they are not supported.
My other question, someone dependant on the first question - has anyone ever looked into enabling the TV tuner with XENTRY or vediamo? I'm thinking I might give it a try, as I am really interested in having carplay sound go over fiber-optic...
Thanks in advance! I look forward to contributing any insight I find myself in this venture, and hope others can lend a hand.
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S500
TV in a car is the most pointless idea out there - mine has it I have used it for less than 1hr in last 9 years - the battery will be flat inside 30 mins unless its running - and with today's fuel costs you could pay someone to go where ever it was in the car whilst you stay home and watch on decent sized screen
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2008 Mercedes S550 | 2007 Mercedes B200 Turbo
Hey, Botus,
Firstly, I wanted to extend a genuine thank you for your contributions to this forum. I have lurked here for a couple years and have read countless of your posts, always managing to find your insight amusing or helpful in some way.
To clarify, my goal isn't to watch TV at all. I'm trying to install a CarPlay system that allegedly provides better audio quality than the typical Carplay units that use the standard AUX input. This specific "mr12volt" unit achieves that by using the car's fiber optic audio system.
To do this, the unit cleverly emulates, or "pretends to be," a TV tuner just to use that input channel for audio. So when I ask about enabling the "TV tuner," I'm really just asking how to open up that high-quality digital pathway for CarPlay. I have zero plans to watch actual television.
My question is purely for those who have experience with coding these cars (using XENTRY, etc.) to see if that specific input can be turned on. As my car is a North American vehicle, TV was not offered in this market - so I am not sure if it is possible to enable the function - just so the COMMAND head unit gives me the option to select it. If I had it in the drop down, I think this would work.
Firstly, I wanted to extend a genuine thank you for your contributions to this forum. I have lurked here for a couple years and have read countless of your posts, always managing to find your insight amusing or helpful in some way.
To clarify, my goal isn't to watch TV at all. I'm trying to install a CarPlay system that allegedly provides better audio quality than the typical Carplay units that use the standard AUX input. This specific "mr12volt" unit achieves that by using the car's fiber optic audio system.
To do this, the unit cleverly emulates, or "pretends to be," a TV tuner just to use that input channel for audio. So when I ask about enabling the "TV tuner," I'm really just asking how to open up that high-quality digital pathway for CarPlay. I have zero plans to watch actual television.
My question is purely for those who have experience with coding these cars (using XENTRY, etc.) to see if that specific input can be turned on. As my car is a North American vehicle, TV was not offered in this market - so I am not sure if it is possible to enable the function - just so the COMMAND head unit gives me the option to select it. If I had it in the drop down, I think this would work.
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S500
I don't know the unit you mention.... most take one of two routes
the entire screen is replaced with an awful widescreen thing and much of the electronics involved in everything becomes Chinese budget junk
or
they fit a box of tricks that goes inline with the wiring and the fibre optics and you keep all the original functionality and the parts the car came with - and if you want can swap to a box of tricks that jumps in and takes over but retains the Amp, correct height screen and controls of the stock car
many makes out there - some stupidly cheap - they are most different between early 221 and the NTG3.0 - and a later version as the higher res screen of the NTG3.5 cars has a different connector and bluetooth set up
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006144189459.html? I guess it depends how they send the audio around... it any digital audio signal is process in the unit does it transfer back to the car via analogue - they don't bother to say
here's the one you mention
kills std TV which is utter rubbish
retards call android auto - AA, since when was that an acronym no one had ever heard of
and looks like it steals the std mic - so does that mean any features of the car that use the mic get messed up - that could be an issue as SDV is controlled via ambient noise the car hears via its mic !
https://www.mr12volt.com/en-gb/products/p2000-ntg30mm
this sounds odd
how do I activate TV function with Mr12volt??
After installing Mr12volt, simply press "Disc/Radio" + "Return" buttons together for 5 secs, "TV" selection will pop up on video menu
.
the entire screen is replaced with an awful widescreen thing and much of the electronics involved in everything becomes Chinese budget junk
or
they fit a box of tricks that goes inline with the wiring and the fibre optics and you keep all the original functionality and the parts the car came with - and if you want can swap to a box of tricks that jumps in and takes over but retains the Amp, correct height screen and controls of the stock car
many makes out there - some stupidly cheap - they are most different between early 221 and the NTG3.0 - and a later version as the higher res screen of the NTG3.5 cars has a different connector and bluetooth set up
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006144189459.html? I guess it depends how they send the audio around... it any digital audio signal is process in the unit does it transfer back to the car via analogue - they don't bother to say
here's the one you mention
kills std TV which is utter rubbish
retards call android auto - AA, since when was that an acronym no one had ever heard of
and looks like it steals the std mic - so does that mean any features of the car that use the mic get messed up - that could be an issue as SDV is controlled via ambient noise the car hears via its mic !
https://www.mr12volt.com/en-gb/products/p2000-ntg30mm
this sounds odd
how do I activate TV function with Mr12volt??
After installing Mr12volt, simply press "Disc/Radio" + "Return" buttons together for 5 secs, "TV" selection will pop up on video menu
.
Last edited by BOTUS; Jul 29, 2025 at 07:09 AM.
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2008 Mercedes S550 | 2007 Mercedes B200 Turbo
Yeah, I also concluded I didn't want an awful widescreen thing.
Most units I have found don't actually connect to the fibre-optic bus, but rather just intercepts the LVDS lines between the COMMAND brain and the screen. For audio most of these units just connect to the factory aux channel and send an analog signal over it. The Mr12volt was the only example I found that actually used fibre optic to digitally transmit the audio, that is why I am interested....
Regarding the "TV enable" function that the listing discusses, it appears the box can enable TV functionality in car without TV... But apparently only in vehicles where TV was offered in that region. That "TV enable" functionality apparently doesn't work in NA cars, leading me to seeing my options in doing it myself.
I hope that was clear, I know it's a bit convoluted.
Most units I have found don't actually connect to the fibre-optic bus, but rather just intercepts the LVDS lines between the COMMAND brain and the screen. For audio most of these units just connect to the factory aux channel and send an analog signal over it. The Mr12volt was the only example I found that actually used fibre optic to digitally transmit the audio, that is why I am interested....
Regarding the "TV enable" function that the listing discusses, it appears the box can enable TV functionality in car without TV... But apparently only in vehicles where TV was offered in that region. That "TV enable" functionality apparently doesn't work in NA cars, leading me to seeing my options in doing it myself.
I hope that was clear, I know it's a bit convoluted.
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S500
adding menus in comand is 5 min job - but like doing anything the easy way - or even just in a way that works - one needs xentry (merc dealer tool)
I'm not convinced the audio MUST be junk from other parts working after the fibre... sure likely lots of cretins doing a nasty job - but eventuality the signal goes round the amp and to the speakers on a normal wire
DACs inside anything could be dire trash
I'm not convinced the audio MUST be junk from other parts working after the fibre... sure likely lots of cretins doing a nasty job - but eventuality the signal goes round the amp and to the speakers on a normal wire
DACs inside anything could be dire trash
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2008 Mercedes S550 | 2007 Mercedes B200 Turbo
I will update and share what I can / cannot do when I receive XENTRY. I am going to be a test dummy to see what a Tactrix Openport 2.0 + questionably sourced XENTRY can accomplish.
I am not convinced that necessarily the AUX channel is inherently "bad" either. I am going off the contributions of other forum members which do say Aux notably sounds worse then other audio channels. This does also align with my experience, because whether there are other variables at play or not - my CD changer does sound notably better then music I play through aux.
I even tried to eliminate all external causes of reduced audio quality via Aux:
Even with all this, I am still left with the CD changer boasting much better dynamic range, and low end / bass is much less muddy and punchier. Something in the car's aux analog chain is poor quality. Whether it's just an inadequate ADC or noise coupling to the unshielded aux cables - I am not entirely sure. Might be an interesting tear down, but I am a little hesitant to do that given the cost of these command units. Nevertheless, for some reason, Aux just doesn't have the clarity that other channels in the car have. I mean, if push comes to shove - I will live with it. I'll get a CarPlay box that just uses the Aux channel. But I do wonder, if the mr12volt box offers a superior solution and if so, might it be worth the effort.
I am not convinced that necessarily the AUX channel is inherently "bad" either. I am going off the contributions of other forum members which do say Aux notably sounds worse then other audio channels. This does also align with my experience, because whether there are other variables at play or not - my CD changer does sound notably better then music I play through aux.
I even tried to eliminate all external causes of reduced audio quality via Aux:
- I am using a high quality USB-C CX31993 DAC (Most people in the audio community say this has excellent output power and low THD - comparable to the Apple DAC but plays better with Android devices)
- Playing relatively high bit rate files (320kbit) from my device. Most people really into audio would say that this is the point which the quality is indistinguishable from lossless formats or what is encoded on CDs.
Even with all this, I am still left with the CD changer boasting much better dynamic range, and low end / bass is much less muddy and punchier. Something in the car's aux analog chain is poor quality. Whether it's just an inadequate ADC or noise coupling to the unshielded aux cables - I am not entirely sure. Might be an interesting tear down, but I am a little hesitant to do that given the cost of these command units. Nevertheless, for some reason, Aux just doesn't have the clarity that other channels in the car have. I mean, if push comes to shove - I will live with it. I'll get a CarPlay box that just uses the Aux channel. But I do wonder, if the mr12volt box offers a superior solution and if so, might it be worth the effort.
Last edited by anthony6118; Aug 1, 2025 at 09:09 AM.
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S500
I have the merc ipod box of tricks on my aux port the sound is easily as good as a CD - and its light years better then the MP3 junk you can abuse your ears with from a memory card
just read about Tactrix Openport 2.0 - mixed results - seems OK for engine and box - then things start to get more complex - so sounds like a dodgy idea to attack your comand
just read about Tactrix Openport 2.0 - mixed results - seems OK for engine and box - then things start to get more complex - so sounds like a dodgy idea to attack your comand
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2007 S550 / 2017 GLS450
Hi anthony6118, I am also thinking about ordering the mr12volt box, but have the same concerns as you. The website is a little ambiguous if the TV viewing option is incompatible with North American cars (which I couldn't care less about), or if the whole unit won't work at all.
)
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Jap spec Mercs are just different - so much rewired to use local Japanese hardware on the infotainment system - its a nightmare to get back to a std car
even BenzNinja says its not worth the fight
even BenzNinja says its not worth the fight
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From: London
2011 w221 S63
My thought process is as follows:
1. I’ve already installed a standard CarPlay module for NGT 3.0. It’s not specifically designed for the Japanese market and simply integrates with all NGT 3.0 commands.
2. The only noticeable difference between the standard CarPlay module and Mr12Volt is the presence of a MOST optical output. This is included in my command.
Honestly, I don’t understand why it wouldn’t work. I think it’s related to TV activation, as mentioned in this thread. However, I believe I either have a TV option in the menu or I can easily activate it. Therefore, it should work, but I’d appreciate some additional confirmation.
1. I’ve already installed a standard CarPlay module for NGT 3.0. It’s not specifically designed for the Japanese market and simply integrates with all NGT 3.0 commands.
2. The only noticeable difference between the standard CarPlay module and Mr12Volt is the presence of a MOST optical output. This is included in my command.
Honestly, I don’t understand why it wouldn’t work. I think it’s related to TV activation, as mentioned in this thread. However, I believe I either have a TV option in the menu or I can easily activate it. Therefore, it should work, but I’d appreciate some additional confirmation.
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S500
if the Japanese MOST uses different info (which is quite likely) then you many never be able to toggle the system on to the new add-on box of tricks
you'll have to buy it and find out - the entire comand in Jap cars gets a million more wires
you'll have to buy it and find out - the entire comand in Jap cars gets a million more wires
