Contacts in Comand

[Palmball]

Before I lose my sanity this evening, is there actually ANY way to transfer my contacts from my iPhone to the Comand system?

I have tried pairing my phone (iPhone 5) - I can make and receive calls but no way to see or import contacts.

After reading online, I have transferred my contacts to vCards in my laptop (both a windows and a MAcbook) but, despite suggestions that it's possible, I can't pair either of my laptops to the car.

On my previous Merc I had a phone module which my iPhone 4 plugged into - this was the only way I could get the contacts into the car. I had hoped things had moved on but it appears not

So, given what i have tried, is there any way to get my contacts across other than type them all in (or, advice on how to pair my laptop if this is indeed possible would be much appreciated).

These things don't normally beat me but this afternoon it has somewhat taken the shine off my new car! I was even contemplating buying a pcmcia card tomorrow as this looks like a surefire way of doing it....but it seems most pcmcia cards (or at least the one available in Maplin) aren't compatible with Comand

Help

 

[GSEH88]

My iPhone 5 is linked to COMAND by Bluetooth (without the cradle) and I have access to my contacts soon after a connection is established. I'm not sure if the contacts are actually transferred onto COMAND or if it just reads them off my phone but I don't actually have to do anything.

 

[rob_miller]

Have you checked the Bluetooth settings on the iPhone to see if the 'Sync Contacts' is set to 'on'?

 

[developer]

I don't mean this how it's going to sound, but what does the book say.

It doesn't know your phone is an iphone, just a bluetooth device.

My COMAND 2.5 has an import contacts button in the tel menu .

 

[pos.k]

What car?
What COMAND?
New? or just new to you?

 

[sspeed]

If its the COMAND NTG 2.5 then I can confirm that the contacts from an iPhone 4 WILL transfer to the COMAND unit...
I didnt need to transfer anything to a laptop.
My car in hardwired for a mobile phone BUT I choose to use the Blutooth method...


If you have the COMAND NTG 2.5 then look on page 114

If you havent got the book then basically you do the following..
1. Press the TEL function button
2. Select telephone / Import contacts / From Mobile phone
3. Select Add or Overwrite

The "Import procedure Succesful" message will appear when the data has been imported.

 

[Simon_M]

I had no end of trouble with mine, if you are using the built in Bluetooth and not the full phone prep then no, the iPhone will not send contacts.

If you want the Maplin PMCIA adaptor I can send it to you as I have no use for it now.

I used an old blackberry to send all mine across.

Trouble comes when you update your phone contacts and then need to update the COMAND again as they never stay in sync.

S

 

[Palmball]

Have you checked the Bluetooth settings on the iPhone to see if the 'Sync Contacts' is set to 'on'?

This option doesn't exists - all I get is 'forget this device' so I guess it's just not iPhone 5 compatible

I don't mean this how it's going to sound, but what does the book say.

It doesn't know your phone is an iphone, just a bluetooth device.

My COMAND 2.5 has an import contacts button in the tel menu .

If its the COMAND NTG 2.5 then I can confirm that the contacts from an iPhone 4 WILL transfer to the COMAND unit...
I didnt need to transfer anything to a laptop.
My car in hardwired for a mobile phone BUT I choose to use the Blutooth method...


If you have the COMAND NTG 2.5 then look on page 114

If you havent got the book then basically you do the following..
1. Press the TEL function button
2. Select telephone / Import contacts / From Mobile phone
3. Select Add or Overwrite

The "Import procedure Succesful" message will appear when the data has been imported.

I don't think I have 2.5 (where to find out?) as I don't have the options described above. I can only import external data from the convenience phone

What car?
What COMAND?
New? or just new to you?

SLS, it's 2011 MY but appears to have esactly the same Comand as my 2009 C63! They appear to have updated the system in the rest of the range and left out their flagship!

New to me....but it's only done 3k miles so barely run-in!

I had no end of trouble with mine, if you are using the built in Bluetooth and not the full phone prep then no, the iPhone will not send contacts.

If you want the Maplin PMCIA adaptor I can send it to you as I have no use for it now.

I used an old blackberry to send all mine across.

Trouble comes when you update your phone contacts and then need to update the COMAND again as they never stay in sync.

S

Thanks - I wouldn't mind trying the adaptor to see how that works (I might need it next week....see below!). I did read online somewhere that the Maplin (30 in 1??) didn't work with Comand as the adaptor is a V2 and the Mercedes system requires it to be V1....I trust you had no trouble getting it to work then?


I've got to say, this is a ball ache....why Mercedes can't do like BMW and others and just sync contacts with your phone each time it pairs rather than this silly importing business is beyond me. Maybe they do now, but even my one-year old car can't do this - it frustrated the hell out of me last time I had a Merc, and it's done so this weekend again!

In the end, I remembered how I did it on my last C63 by using the phone cradle, plugged into the telephone pre-wire. Luckily, my SLS has the telephone prep option so I went on eBay today and won an iPhone 3GS cradle....so desperate was I to sort this, it was only 30 miles away so I went and collected it this evening. I thought I was going to need to power up my old 3GS, transfer my contacts to it and then pair this with the cradle and car to get my contacts in. Well, it was bit simpler....once I'd paired the cradle to Comand (not easy in the SLS as the button you need to press is largely inaccessible when the cradle is in place ), my iPhone 5 actually paired with that cradle successfully and I managed to import the data :bannana:

It was a dogs dinner if I'm honest but it did the trick - my car now has contacts in it and good news that my iPhone5 pairs with the cradle, even though it doesn't fit in it!

I've also got a new E350CDi coupe coming this week and that doesn't have telephone pre-wire - it's brand new so I'm hoping that it has an improved Comand system that works more like bluetooth does in other brands! If not, I really don't know how I'm going to do it other than buy another phone (like Blackberry) just to move my numbers across!

 

[GSEH88]

It was a dogs dinner if I'm honest but it did the trick - my car now has contacts in it and good news that my iPhone5 pairs with the cradle, even though it doesn't fit in it!

Strange, my understanding is that iPhone cradles are specific to individual iPhone models. My iPhone 5 certainly wouldn't connect to my iPhone 4S cradle so it looks like you've got lucky

 

[Palmball]

Thats what I thought - certainly, the 5 doesn't fit in the cradle but it does pair to the cradle via bluetooth, including it seems, the ability to read the contacts list.

The cradle then pairs to Comand and of course, you can import contacts from the cradle. I just tried it on the off chance and was as surprised (and delighted) as you when it worked!

God I hope the E Class one works better than this though.

 

[richard]

Your SLS has NTG4 system (like pre MY2012 C and earlier current shape E/CLS) . The Bluetooth in that does not do address book transfer over bluetooth :-(
As you have found, that means you have to have the Comfort Phone option, and use a phone cradle in that which supports contact transfer, then the head unit will import contacts from that.

MY2012 C and newer E/CLS (from somewhere in 2011 or late 2010, I need to check to be sure) switched to NTG4.5 - this has phonebook transfer protocols built in to the head unit's bluetooth. NTG4.5 also gives 7 digit postcode in COMAND (and the online functions).

I don't know if/when the SLS goes from NTG4 to NTG4.5 - but yes, it is very strange that their premium vehicle is behind.

Richard

 

[richard]

Strange, my understanding is that iPhone cradles are specific to individual iPhone models. My iPhone 5 certainly wouldn't connect to my iPhone 4S cradle so it looks like you've got lucky

iPhone 4 cradle initially wouldn't pair properly with 4S - a fimrware update is available and then Mercedes also released cradles with new part numbers with that firmware that work with the 4 and 4S. Firmware update needs Star Diagnosis and a special (expensive) update tool. Comand Online can do this for you though (Firmware Upgrade for Mercedes Benz Phone Cradles)

iPhone 3GS cradle seems to be a bit more flexible, I guess it just checked for the string "iPhone" in the phone name, rather than "iPhone 4".

(What happens with all the MB "tied" cradles, is they pair, realise it is not the correct phone and drop the connection)

No indication of when the iPhone 4 cradle will come yet..

Richard

 

[Palmball]

Hi Richard and many thanks for the information. I'm just happy that my car now has contacts in it, however it managed it! And, going by your information, it seems my 2012MY E-Class should have the latest system.

Quick question (noting your signature and what you do ), am I able to retrofit the latest Comand into the SLS (for the improved functionality, full postcode input etc etc), bearing in mind my car has Bang and Olufsen so the audio functions are (only slightly) different to the norm?

 

[richard]

Hi

Send your VIN to us (via contact form on the website in my sig) and i'll work out whether they have put NTG4.5 in the SLS yet, and whether it is possible

There is an issue with putting NTG4.5 in older cars, because the map updates use a PIN code, and we need to be sure that the PIN system will accept it is possible to generate a PIN code for an older car

Richard

 

[Palmball]

Thanks Richard - I have now supplied the information as requested.

I think I've provided the right number - I read it off the AMG certificate you get with the car (it's too cold to go outside ) but it's in German so provided the number that most looks like a chassis number (starts WMX)

 

[richard]

Hi

I have checked, and NTG4.5 has not (yet?) been fitted to the SLS - which if you ask me is a poor show by Mercedes.

This means that even if another NTG4.5 unit (for instance from a W204 - which I doubt) could fit, and there was a screen that could fit, we still couldn't get a map PIN for your car, and thus unit would be useful

Sorry :-(

Richard

 

[After Shock]

So shouldn't you be walking into your showroom saying "hi. Make this work whilst I get a coffee" Is MB a "prestigious" mark or not?