zitsky

So I see that without CarPlay I can still select music on my phone. Is it because it’s downloaded? And change tracks etc. But if I use Siri on the same connection it doesn’t work. I can see a list of music but can’t change it.

2012 merc amg

For siri you need apple car play active as far as I know.

zitsky

Well I think it’s impressive that the S class can browse an iPhone library WITHOUT a CarPlay connection. Just over Bluetooth. I’ve never seen a car that can do that. It could be because I download all my music and it treats it like an iPod.

Sometimes I want to use CarPlay. Usually when the BMW driver is in the car. Sometimes I don’t.

mercedesbuff

I use Siri frequently in my 2017 W222 (non-CarPlay), connected via Bluetooth. It's important to note, however, that "HEY SIRI" does not work without CarPlay. This is fine with me, since I have "Hey Siri" disabled on my phone anyway... (it came on loudly during a funeral once, and that was that).

So when I say I use Siri, I mean that I press the button on the right side of my iPhone (which I always keep in the cup holder, so it's easy to reach). This initiates Siri, which I then usually use for dictating text messages while driving.

For example, I press the right iPhone button for about one full second to initiate Siri, then I say something like "Text David Jensen." Then Siri responds through the car with "What do you want to say to David Jensen?" Then I can dictate whatever I want, and once I stop speaking, Siri will send the message!

This same procedure will work for anything else that Siri can do.

Hope that helps!

zitsky

You can press the voice button on the steering wheel an extra 3-5 seconds to talk to Siri on my 2020 S560.