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Android Auto/Carplay module, advice and experiences?

MarcusS212

MarcusS212

Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2025
Messages
33
Location
Sweden
Car
M-B S212 220 CDI 4Matic
Looking for a wireless Android Auto/Carplay module to modernize my 2016 S212. Plenty of them on the usual Chinese market platforms and elsewhere, probably made in the same Chinese factory anyway. I've zoomed in on two candidates:

1) Bavarian Automotive, UK based seller, £250.
2) Road Top, definitely Chinese, prices in USD only. $189.

Anyone have experience from any of those, or maybe another one I haven't found yet? I'm an Android user, would like to use my TomTom Go in the car and smoother operation with Spotify. No point in recommending Comand Online Ltd. I'm not taking my car all the way from Sweden to Surrey... 😉

There are Swedish and Danish suppliers too, but the modules look all the same and prices are at least twice as high. Why pay £500 for the same Chinese box I can find elsewhere for half or a third of the price?
 
Larkone said:
Does this help?

The Best Wireless Adapters for CarPlay and Android Auto for 2025

If your car includes Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, but you hate plugging in your phone while you drive, these dongles may do the trick.
uk.pcmag.com uk.pcmag.com

Those you have chosen are more expensive than the main field
Click to expand...

The adapters you linked above add wireless functionality to cars that already have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (I bought one of these devices myself), but my understanding is that the OP is looking to add Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to a car that does not currently have it at all.
 
MarcusS212 said:
My car doesn't have any Android Auto/Carplay built in. A wireless adapter won't do any good.
Click to expand...
Ah sorry misread it
 
As you may be aware, Integrated Automotive do these sort of things, but I don't know if they have a unit that works with a 2016 S212.

BTW, a 2016 S212 should have NTG5*1 (these replaced the NTG4.5 as of mid-2015), and NTG5*1 does have native support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto - did you look into it I.e. an official retrofit? The wireless adapter can then be purchased separately for £20.
 
markjay said:
As you may be aware, Integrated Automotive do these sort of things, but I don't know if they have a unit that works with a 2016 S212.

BTW, a 2016 S212 should have NTG5*1 (these replaced the NTG4.5 as of mid-2015), and NTG5*1 does have native support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto - did you look into it I.e. an official retrofit? The wireless adapter can then be purchased separately for £20.
Click to expand...
I've done my best to find all and any information, and as far as I understand my car can't be retrofitted/upgraded with native Android Auto and Carplay. I do have the NTG 5*1 but no Comand, only the basic Audio 20. All info I found states that Comand is required to code the car for Android Auto/Carplay.

I know about Integrated Automotive, but they're just as expensive as what I can find from Swedish and Danish suppliers. Don't like being a cheapskate but I don't want to pay 2-3 times more than necessary.
 
I ordered the Road Top box. It seems good enough, and the price is way better than other alternatives.
Guess I'll know for sure when it arrives.
 
Installed the Road Top MMI box yesterday, fairly easy job. Seems to be working as advertised, but I'll be doing some more extensive testing today.

Next step will probably be installing a rear view/back up camera, but getting all the wiring through the car isn't my favourite job.
 
MarcusS212 said:
Installed the Road Top MMI box yesterday, fairly easy job. Seems to be working as advertised, but I'll be doing some more extensive testing today.

Next step will probably be installing a rear view/back up camera, but getting all the wiring through the car isn't my favourite job.
Click to expand...
Hiya

I have installed a similar systems which is almost working well, but I cannot get any sound. Do you have a link to the PDF or video of audio setup please?

Many thanks
 
Gollom said:
Hiya

I have installed a similar systems which is almost working well, but I cannot get any sound. Do you have a link to the PDF or video of audio setup please?

Many thanks
Click to expand...
What audio system and NTG is your car equipped with?
 
Gollom said:
Thanks for the reply. I have an 2011 S204 (facelift) with NTG4.5. No aux in the glovebox
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure you'll need a physical AUX connection somewhere to make it work, and activate the AUX in your head units engineering mode.
 
MarcusS212 said:
Found a PDF here, hopefully it works.
Also some tips in this Reddit thread.


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Click to expand...

Many thanks. Think I have sorted it

Really appreciated
 
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