Apple CarPlay upgrade for the E63
Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 230
Likes: 10
From: Chicago
2016 C63 S, 2011 C63 R.I.P.
If your car is 2015 w212 with ntg 5.* you have to change an oem usb block. Costs about (70$). Then you have to update your ntg to the latest firmware and it will work. If your car has old style ntg, there is no point in changing it. You will need new cameras, new blocks for usb and control knob. Ntg 5 has 1 more button at the control knob, 2 usb ports. It's not worth the hassle. We have activated car play on the following cars. Done about 30 cars already.
A — W176 (09/15- ) with NTG5s1 (NTG5.1) (09/2015-)
B — W246 (11/14- ) with NTG5s1 (NTG5.1) (11/2014-)
CLA — C117 (04/13- ) with NTG5s1 (NTG5.1) (11/2014-)
CLA — X117 (03/15- ) with NTG5s1 (NTG5.1) (03/2015-)
CLS — C218 (09/14- ) with NTG5s1 (NTG5.1) (09/2014-)
CLS — X218 (09/14- ) with NTG5s1 (NTG5.1)(09/2014-)
GLA — X156 (03/14- ) with NTG5s1 (NTG5.1) (09/2015-)
GLE — C292 (07/15- ) with NTG5s1 (NTG5.1) (08/2015-)
A — W176 (09/15- ) with NTG5s1 (NTG5.1) (09/2015-)
B — W246 (11/14- ) with NTG5s1 (NTG5.1) (11/2014-)
CLA — C117 (04/13- ) with NTG5s1 (NTG5.1) (11/2014-)
CLA — X117 (03/15- ) with NTG5s1 (NTG5.1) (03/2015-)
CLS — C218 (09/14- ) with NTG5s1 (NTG5.1) (09/2014-)
CLS — X218 (09/14- ) with NTG5s1 (NTG5.1)(09/2014-)
GLA — X156 (03/14- ) with NTG5s1 (NTG5.1) (09/2015-)
GLE — C292 (07/15- ) with NTG5s1 (NTG5.1) (08/2015-)
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From: Bainbridge Island WA
?
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2014 E63S; AMS 100 octane ECU dyno tune; EDOK TCU tune; BB intakes; sprintbooster
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Posts: 378
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From: San Francisco, CA
no MBs at the moment :(
Last edited by CliffJumper; Nov 25, 2016 at 10:13 AM.
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 8
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2016 CLS 350d SB
Was there ever any conclusion here? I also have a rather new car with NTG5.x (5.5 actually). CLS SB -16. I would also like to have CarPlay but I'm also unable to get any answers out of MB..
Strange. If it was a simple firmware/software upgrade you would suppose they just did it (and not said it couldn't be done, as I was told as well). Strangest thing..
Customer care used to be so good with MB but since IT became a bigger and bigger part of the car feature set the sales- and service people of MB seems more and more lost. Tragic for such nice cars (with such a price tag).
Strange. If it was a simple firmware/software upgrade you would suppose they just did it (and not said it couldn't be done, as I was told as well). Strangest thing..
Customer care used to be so good with MB but since IT became a bigger and bigger part of the car feature set the sales- and service people of MB seems more and more lost. Tragic for such nice cars (with such a price tag).
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 378
Likes: 29
From: San Francisco, CA
no MBs at the moment :(
Was there ever any conclusion here? I also have a rather new car with NTG5.x (5.5 actually). CLS SB -16. I would also like to have CarPlay but I'm also unable to get any answers out of MB..
Strange. If it was a simple firmware/software upgrade you would suppose they just did it (and not said it couldn't be done, as I was told as well). Strangest thing..
Customer care used to be so good with MB but since IT became a bigger and bigger part of the car feature set the sales- and service people of MB seems more and more lost. Tragic for such nice cars (with such a price tag).
Strange. If it was a simple firmware/software upgrade you would suppose they just did it (and not said it couldn't be done, as I was told as well). Strangest thing..
Customer care used to be so good with MB but since IT became a bigger and bigger part of the car feature set the sales- and service people of MB seems more and more lost. Tragic for such nice cars (with such a price tag).
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 8
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2016 CLS 350d SB
Well... I'm told that if you did not order that from start it cannot be retrofitted. I "thought" I ordered it (based on the fact that I ordered Command Online and "Smartphone integration") but it turned out I didn't. Strangest thing. We I look at my build sheet it also does not include U14 (which is the code for CarPlay) as it should have if had ordered it.. I think the list you refer to is simply a list of models in which it is offered (possible to order the feature). Not necessarily a list of cars that will all have it..
Someone at MB said it could be retrofitted but with new, additional hardware (some "box", cable kit etc.), the car in the shop for 3 days and with a hefty price tag (which made me disappointed) but surely not with a software upgrade (I was "told", true or not, I cannot determine).
Never the less, I'm still waiting for a "final" answer from MB. I'll let you know when that comes in. I'm in Europe (if that matters, which I assume it does not) and it seems that all questions about this has to be forwarded to Germany for proper answers (my dealer has no clue, literally speaking).
Someone at MB said it could be retrofitted but with new, additional hardware (some "box", cable kit etc.), the car in the shop for 3 days and with a hefty price tag (which made me disappointed) but surely not with a software upgrade (I was "told", true or not, I cannot determine).
Never the less, I'm still waiting for a "final" answer from MB. I'll let you know when that comes in. I'm in Europe (if that matters, which I assume it does not) and it seems that all questions about this has to be forwarded to Germany for proper answers (my dealer has no clue, literally speaking).
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 378
Likes: 29
From: San Francisco, CA
no MBs at the moment :(
Well... I'm told that if you did not order that from start it cannot be retrofitted. I "thought" I ordered it (based on the fact that I ordered Command Online and "Smartphone integration") but it turned out I didn't. Strangest thing. We I look at my build sheet it also does not include U14 (which is the code for CarPlay) as it should have if had ordered it.. I think the list you refer to is simply a list of models in which it is offered (possible to order the feature). Not necessarily a list of cars that will all have it..
Someone at MB said it could be retrofitted but with new, additional hardware (some "box", cable kit etc.), the car in the shop for 3 days and with a hefty price tag (which made me disappointed) but surely not with a software upgrade (I was "told", true or not, I cannot determine).
Never the less, I'm still waiting for a "final" answer from MB. I'll let you know when that comes in. I'm in Europe (if that matters, which I assume it does not) and it seems that all questions about this has to be forwarded to Germany for proper answers (my dealer has no clue, literally speaking).
Someone at MB said it could be retrofitted but with new, additional hardware (some "box", cable kit etc.), the car in the shop for 3 days and with a hefty price tag (which made me disappointed) but surely not with a software upgrade (I was "told", true or not, I cannot determine).
Never the less, I'm still waiting for a "final" answer from MB. I'll let you know when that comes in. I'm in Europe (if that matters, which I assume it does not) and it seems that all questions about this has to be forwarded to Germany for proper answers (my dealer has no clue, literally speaking).
i'm on my phone, so I can't see your location. Are you anywhere near San Francisco?
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Joined: Nov 2016
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2016 CLS 350d SB
No, Europe (as in the continent on the other side of the Atlantic).
I wonder what that "box" does? Do you know how much your SA charged for that upgrade (just curious). Since the cost of adding the option "CarPlay" is $0 for my car I assume that if I'd ordered it from the very beginning the feature would not have required a "box" (as MB typically is not in the business of giving away "boxes" for free.
I wonder what that "box" does? Do you know how much your SA charged for that upgrade (just curious). Since the cost of adding the option "CarPlay" is $0 for my car I assume that if I'd ordered it from the very beginning the feature would not have required a "box" (as MB typically is not in the business of giving away "boxes" for free.
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 8
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2016 CLS 350d SB
Got word back from MB today!
(for the current CLS, at least) the following seems to be the case. Cars built before 2015-11-30 with option 531 (Comand Online) the CarPlay feature U14 can be retrofitted. It's a "box" (I suspect mostly a cable set) that comes at the price of about $100 (or €100, same thing nowadays). Some additional cost for the "job" will also apply. Any MB shop should be able to do this. He (the MB man researching this) said it probably was a new "system" (which I believe translates to software in the world of technology) for the Comand unit.
If you have a car built post that date with option 531 you will have CarPlay automatically (its included). Option 531 translates to "Comand Online" and NGT5.5 (according to my build sheet) so it has to be the "facelifted" C/X218. The first C/X218 (up till 2014-06 or close) seems to have NGT5.1 which cannot be upgraded by MB. For those folks there seems to be some kind of aftermarket upgrade though (from 3rd party, but still "integrated" and nice).
I suppose the same (or very similar) goes for all cars with NGT5.5 built after (about) 2014-06 up till 2015-11-30. Form that time and on CarPlay seems to be standard with the Comand Online. Can't image this differs much between models.
Just my 2 cents. Getting my CarPlay upgrade in 2 weeks.
(for the current CLS, at least) the following seems to be the case. Cars built before 2015-11-30 with option 531 (Comand Online) the CarPlay feature U14 can be retrofitted. It's a "box" (I suspect mostly a cable set) that comes at the price of about $100 (or €100, same thing nowadays). Some additional cost for the "job" will also apply. Any MB shop should be able to do this. He (the MB man researching this) said it probably was a new "system" (which I believe translates to software in the world of technology) for the Comand unit.
If you have a car built post that date with option 531 you will have CarPlay automatically (its included). Option 531 translates to "Comand Online" and NGT5.5 (according to my build sheet) so it has to be the "facelifted" C/X218. The first C/X218 (up till 2014-06 or close) seems to have NGT5.1 which cannot be upgraded by MB. For those folks there seems to be some kind of aftermarket upgrade though (from 3rd party, but still "integrated" and nice).
I suppose the same (or very similar) goes for all cars with NGT5.5 built after (about) 2014-06 up till 2015-11-30. Form that time and on CarPlay seems to be standard with the Comand Online. Can't image this differs much between models.
Just my 2 cents. Getting my CarPlay upgrade in 2 weeks.
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Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 378
Likes: 29
From: San Francisco, CA
no MBs at the moment :(
No, it unfortunately is not that easy. At least, no one has actually done it successfully and my dealer says you cannot do that for an E63 yet (maybe never).
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From: Bainbridge Island WA
?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 378
Likes: 29
From: San Francisco, CA
no MBs at the moment :(
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Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 21
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2015 AMG 63S wagon
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Joined: Dec 2015
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From: Charlotte, NC
2014 E350 4M Diamond Silver
May be wrong question, but, I'm taking my w212 for comand update again, as it is skipping my audio streaming via Bluetooth, from iOS, again(only music app is running, rest of the apps are closed too).
This time, there is a chance, they might replace the unit, or atleast I'll try to persuade them.
Can I ask them to upgrade me for CarPlay for some low fee? Will they do that?
If so, what and how should I ask?
Vehicle is still under factory warranty and I have MB ELW.
PS. I recently got my COMAND firmware upgraded, a month ago, but not the maps/nav, as it involves $250..!
PPS. I have E350 LUX, not AMG.
This time, there is a chance, they might replace the unit, or atleast I'll try to persuade them.
Can I ask them to upgrade me for CarPlay for some low fee? Will they do that?
If so, what and how should I ask?
Vehicle is still under factory warranty and I have MB ELW.
PS. I recently got my COMAND firmware upgraded, a month ago, but not the maps/nav, as it involves $250..!
PPS. I have E350 LUX, not AMG.
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Joined: Mar 2017
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Mercedes Benz E300 (W212)
W212 Android Auto / Carplay / Mirrorlink
If you have a W212 2016 with COMAND, you can get Android Auto / Carplay / Mirrorlink, although for commercial reasons, MB do not officially support the option for the W212, and it may invalidate your warranty.
I have a 2016 E300 (W212) Face Lift, Built March 2015, with HU5S1 Head Unit.
What I did:
0. This only works with the HU5S1 Head Unit.
1. Update firmware to High_CY15_9
(The dealer has to be coaxed to do this with a complaint about intermittent problems with the system)
2. Change the "Connection Unit" which is the USB socket in the centre console to Part # A 172 820 20 00 (which has the phone & tablet logo on USB 2)
3. Get the Crux CAPMB-51 which will activate Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Mirrorlink through the ODBII port. This is the easy way in case you do not have access to Vediamo, Star Diagnostics etc., and your MB dealer is not helpful (like mine).
Note: The Crux CAPMB-51 stores your car VIN, when used the first time and cannot be used with any other car after that. If used a second time on the same car, it will deactivate Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Mirrorlink. If used a third time it is supposed to reactivate the three, but I had trouble with this reactivation, and it took about 5 tries before it was successful.
I use Android Auto a lot, (have faced connection issues on a couple of occasions, where COMAND says no Android Auto device is connected, but a re-start generally sorts it out). I do not use the Apple ecosystem, and have not as yet tried CarPlay, or Mirrorlink.
I have a 2016 E300 (W212) Face Lift, Built March 2015, with HU5S1 Head Unit.
What I did:
0. This only works with the HU5S1 Head Unit.
1. Update firmware to High_CY15_9
(The dealer has to be coaxed to do this with a complaint about intermittent problems with the system)
2. Change the "Connection Unit" which is the USB socket in the centre console to Part # A 172 820 20 00 (which has the phone & tablet logo on USB 2)
3. Get the Crux CAPMB-51 which will activate Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Mirrorlink through the ODBII port. This is the easy way in case you do not have access to Vediamo, Star Diagnostics etc., and your MB dealer is not helpful (like mine).
Note: The Crux CAPMB-51 stores your car VIN, when used the first time and cannot be used with any other car after that. If used a second time on the same car, it will deactivate Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Mirrorlink. If used a third time it is supposed to reactivate the three, but I had trouble with this reactivation, and it took about 5 tries before it was successful.
I use Android Auto a lot, (have faced connection issues on a couple of occasions, where COMAND says no Android Auto device is connected, but a re-start generally sorts it out). I do not use the Apple ecosystem, and have not as yet tried CarPlay, or Mirrorlink.
Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 76
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From: Finland
2016 E250 BT, 2021 EQC 400
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 56
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2014 CLS63 AMG S
Got word back from MB today!
(for the current CLS, at least) the following seems to be the case. Cars built before 2015-11-30 with option 531 (Comand Online) the CarPlay feature U14 can be retrofitted. It's a "box" (I suspect mostly a cable set) that comes at the price of about $100 (or €100, same thing nowadays). Some additional cost for the "job" will also apply. Any MB shop should be able to do this. He (the MB man researching this) said it probably was a new "system" (which I believe translates to software in the world of technology) for the Comand unit.
If you have a car built post that date with option 531 you will have CarPlay automatically (its included). Option 531 translates to "Comand Online" and NGT5.5 (according to my build sheet) so it has to be the "facelifted" C/X218. The first C/X218 (up till 2014-06 or close) seems to have NGT5.1 which cannot be upgraded by MB. For those folks there seems to be some kind of aftermarket upgrade though (from 3rd party, but still "integrated" and nice).
I suppose the same (or very similar) goes for all cars with NGT5.5 built after (about) 2014-06 up till 2015-11-30. Form that time and on CarPlay seems to be standard with the Comand Online. Can't image this differs much between models.
Just my 2 cents. Getting my CarPlay upgrade in 2 weeks.
(for the current CLS, at least) the following seems to be the case. Cars built before 2015-11-30 with option 531 (Comand Online) the CarPlay feature U14 can be retrofitted. It's a "box" (I suspect mostly a cable set) that comes at the price of about $100 (or €100, same thing nowadays). Some additional cost for the "job" will also apply. Any MB shop should be able to do this. He (the MB man researching this) said it probably was a new "system" (which I believe translates to software in the world of technology) for the Comand unit.
If you have a car built post that date with option 531 you will have CarPlay automatically (its included). Option 531 translates to "Comand Online" and NGT5.5 (according to my build sheet) so it has to be the "facelifted" C/X218. The first C/X218 (up till 2014-06 or close) seems to have NGT5.1 which cannot be upgraded by MB. For those folks there seems to be some kind of aftermarket upgrade though (from 3rd party, but still "integrated" and nice).
I suppose the same (or very similar) goes for all cars with NGT5.5 built after (about) 2014-06 up till 2015-11-30. Form that time and on CarPlay seems to be standard with the Comand Online. Can't image this differs much between models.
Just my 2 cents. Getting my CarPlay upgrade in 2 weeks.
For those looking into aftermarket options, this is the only one I'm aware of: ******* - http://*****************/mercedes-be...e-carplay.aspx
However it doesn't look like it integrates with the MB joystick; you would need to use an additional one.
Are there any better aftermarket solutions out there?
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 31
Likes: 5
E63s
This link has some useful information from Mercedes. It seems CarPlay is only available on builds from 1-2015 for the e class.
http://www.mercedes-benz-mobile.com/...15-01:2016-02/
http://www.mercedes-benz-mobile.com/...15-01:2016-02/
