Head Unit Question

[E55BOF]

I'm still looking for a head unit for the W164, but I don't entirely understand what to look out for. My mobile 'phone is an iPhone, and virtually certain to be replaced with a newer model rather than a Samsung or anything else. Can anyone enlighten me, in simple terms, on what is the difference between Android and Apple Carplay, and what are they used for?

Secondly, if I want to use Waze from my phone, controlled from the new head unit and ideally wirelessly so, do I need a head unit with Apple Carplay, or can an Android-only head unit do the job?

 

[Trickythemerc]

Android would do all that for you.

 

[E55BOF]

Would it be simpler with Apple Carplay?

 

[Trickythemerc]

My Pioneer set up will run either apple or android .

 

[fabes]

Modern units will run Apple Car play (which is what you want) and Android Auto.

Any of them

Ersin ones are well regarded by a few on here aren't they?. Some have wireless Apple car play

Ersin for W164

 

[E55BOF]

That link goes to a 'Gonfen'. I won't be buying anything Chinese, though; the dud in the car now is Chinese.

I've been looking at Trustpilot reviews and reading up, and it looks as though the problem with Chinese stuff is not the software, but poor-quality components that don't last. On Ebay Essgoo is everywhere now; I remember when it was Erisin (not Ersin). Xtrons are still around, Joying hardly at all, Eonon is a newcomer (with lots of fake five-star reviews) and of course there are plenty of 'No Name Crap In A Box'-branded units from manufacturers you've never heard of, and probably never will again once you've bought the unit.

(The one in the car now is one of those, branded 'Joyx' {probably meant to be Joy X]. It has two reviews on Amazon, both in French; one, soon after purchase, basically saying "so far, so good", and the other that it overheats and randomly defaults to the wrong function. Just like mine, then. The Trustpilot reviews for Joyx are for a Czech company which retails 'Men’s underwear, swimwear, sportswear, party, sexy and fetish clothing'. Yes, but does it play music? Come to think of it, neither does mine; I think I'd get more Joy X out of some fetish clothing...)

The problems are mostly reliability, and (usually) rotten if any customer support or service; even the best scores 20% of one-star reviews. No thanks. Once I fix something, I expect it to stay fixed for a reasonable time at least. I'm not willing to regard solid-state electronic head units as components requiring routine replacement.

I'd wager Chinese consumers who buy expensive foreign cars don't fit cheap Chinese ICE in them. Chinese is out, I'm afraid.

 

[SpikyMikey]

Dynavin?
9-inch Android Car Radio D9-DF432 Premium for Mercedes ML 2005-2013

 

[E55BOF]

On my list of brands to look at now, along with mainly Pioneer, Kenwood, Alpine and Clarion. Doubtless there are others that will come to mind too...

 

[m80]

Erisin, Dynavin, Xtrons and many more are all peddling the same Chinese kit.
Some specifically made or branded for them.
I see their prices are down, you can get a good spec, 4gig ram 32gig (or more) internal storage, octo core, for less than £200.

I've been using this stuff for years. Both the 211 and 639 have such, there can be Gremlins. You have to accept the risk, but imo the price makes that worth while.
I buy from UK stock through ebay, faulty it goes back. I think paid for by paypal can give 6months support. The sellers promises shouldn't be relied on.

The named stuff must be 4x the cost, and imo doesn't look or integrate as well.

The Hu will do all your phone can do and more. you download the apps you want.
Your phone becomes the internet supply to the HU by it's Hotspot function.
Waze, or Google Maps (as I use) is in the HU.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

That link goes to a 'Gonfen'. I won't be buying anything Chinese, though; the dud in the car now is Chinese.

I've been looking at Trustpilot reviews and reading up, and it looks as though the problem with Chinese stuff is not the software, but poor-quality components that don't last. On Ebay Essgoo is everywhere now; I remember when it was Erisin (not Ersin). Xtrons are still around, Joying hardly at all, Eonon is a newcomer (with lots of fake five-star reviews) and of course there are plenty of 'No Name Crap In A Box'-branded units from manufacturers you've never heard of, and probably never will again once you've bought the unit.

(The one in the car now is one of those, branded 'Joyx' {probably meant to be Joy X]. It has two reviews on Amazon, both in French; one, soon after purchase, basically saying "so far, so good", and the other that it overheats and randomly defaults to the wrong function. Just like mine, then. The Trustpilot reviews for Joyx are for a Czech company which retails 'Men’s underwear, swimwear, sportswear, party, sexy and fetish clothing'. Yes, but does it play music? Come to think of it, neither does mine; I think I'd get more Joy X out of some fetish clothing...)

The problems are mostly reliability, and (usually) rotten if any customer support or service; even the best scores 20% of one-star reviews. No thanks. Once I fix something, I expect it to stay fixed for a reasonable time at least. I'm not willing to regard solid-state electronic head units as components requiring routine replacement.

I'd wager Chinese consumers who buy expensive foreign cars don't fit cheap Chinese ICE in them. Chinese is out, I'm afraid.

Any Western branded unit will be made in China or nearby. (Just like your iPhone / iPad / laptop / router / home alarm system )

As we discovered back in 2020/21, Porsche, Mercedes, VW, and BMW are full of Chinese infotainment and control systems which went out of stock as a result of Covid shutdowns.

The issue is not the country of manufacture, it's the quality / price decision.

And, apart from the quality of the unit, many are fitted by owners who don't have a clue what they're doing, so are well on the path to failure.

If I wanted to fit one, I'd be asking my favourite car electrician what he would recommend and fit. (Not an Audio specialist with retail store overheads to cover, a car electrician)

.

 

[m80]

And, apart from the quality of the unit, many are fitted by owners who don't have a clue what they're doing, so are well on the path to failure.

Correct to a degree.
The Chinese stuff is generally plug and play, w/o need for adapters to match HU to car wiring, as the HU will be supplied model specific.
The HU will integrate to all canbus functions.

It gets more confusing for some come the time they want reverse cam's, dash cam's, DAB+.......
For wifi and GPs you just site the plug in (well screw in) antenna discreetly.

Some say that a Kenwood will give superior audio, I wouldn't know, And certainly in the 639 I wouldn't tell, even if my hearing was 40 years younger.
But most agree that it's the speakers that make the real difference anyway.

 

[E55BOF]

Any Western branded unit will be made in China or nearby. (Just like your iPhone / iPad / laptop / router / home alarm system )

The issue is not the country of manufacture...

And that is precisely my point. I'm not saying Chinese-made head units cannot be good quality. However, a well-known UK company has a name and a reputation to protect, and a vested interest in having its product made, whether in China or somewhere else with low labour costs, up to a standard, using decent quality parts, not as cheaply as possible, and a vested interest in decent customer service as well; Gonfen, to name but one, does not. Trip Advisor is your friend here.

I'd rather not risk it; buy cheap, buy twice...

 

[E55BOF]

Correct to a degree.
The Chinese stuff is generally plug and play, w/o need for adapters to match HU to car wiring, as the HU will be supplied model specific.
The HU will integrate to all canbus functions.

It gets more confusing for some come the time they want reverse cam's, dash cam's, DAB+.......
For wifi and GPs you just site the plug in (well screw in) antenna discreetly.

Provided the OE wiring on the car hasn't been butchered (I haven't looked yet...), since the European standard stuff will all have ISO connections, adapters are readily and cheaply available.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Provided the OE wiring on the car hasn't been butchered (I haven't looked yet...), since the European standard stuff will all have ISO connections, adapters are readily and cheaply available.

And provided that the “fitter” has the gynaecological skills to pull the existing set up apart cleanly and the wit to work out how to slide it all back in cleanly.

Which many amateurs fiddling with R230’s and W211’s clearly don’t.

Another point about Kenwood, Alpine, Pioneer et al, they have an evolving architecture which gives them some economies of scale in build and customer understanding

 

[m80]

Which many amateurs fiddling with R230’s and W211’s clearly don’t.

The 639 is obvious and straight forward, so as the same unit is for the A, B and sprinter they may be too.
The 211 is more involved, with hidden fastenings that Google can help out with.

Another point about Kenwood, Alpine, Pioneer et al, they have an evolving architecture which gives them some economies of scale in build and customer understanding

Does this result in a nice discount or a healthy profit?

My gut tells me that if the Chinese units can save a cent during manufacture then that's how they make it.
Certainly in the early days these units were more of a nuisance. They have evolved and the units are now better all round. But the standards and consistency may not be checked as thoroughly as the likes of Kenwood (for eg) might require.

The Viano HU is nearly 5 years in now.
The 211 is more recent. the 1st fitted had issues with the canbus, so went back.

If I need replace a HU it isn't so inconvenient for me as it would be for someone needing to return to a shop. So the risk for me is lesser anyway.
I might even consider one of the 10.1" units, with 6g of ram, if I can find UK stock at the right price.
But so far the 9" unit serves purpose,
although one of the reverse cams can be iffy (Chinese cr*p).

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Does this result in a nice discount or a healthy profit?

it results in a Western consumer brand that can just about survive despite being forced to follow EU manufacturing and quality standards, paying ridiculous tariffs, 20% VAT, absurd European salaries, health & social insurance bills, bonkers local property taxes, heavy advertising bills, and onerous high street retail overheads.

And why do those brands still exist after more than four decades? Because consumers, retailers and installers like them.

No different to the big car manufacturers really.

The best discounts? Just like car manufacturers. When the model changes, they clear last year's stock.

(From memory a friend got £55k off a £135k SL63 in 2018 when they were clearing out last year's model. £50k off !! )

 

[m80]

(From memory a friend got £55k off a £135k SL63 in 2018 when they were clearing out last year's model. £50k off !! )

Blimey, if that was the Missus she would have bought 2, to save even more.

I think Womanmath works a bit different to Manmath.
But all that might depend on if you identify as a millionaire/ess.

 

[E55BOF]

And provided that the “fitter” has the gynaecological skills to pull the existing set up apart cleanly and the wit to work out how to slide it all back in cleanly.

Which many amateurs fiddling with R230’s and W211’s clearly don’t.

Another point about Kenwood, Alpine, Pioneer et al, they have an evolving architecture which gives them some economies of scale in build and customer understanding

I've changed over COMAND head units on the W164 before; piece of piss. You don't even need to take any horizontal trim off the centre console, because there's no gear lever in the way.

Regarding that DF432 that SpikyMikey[ posted, there's also this on Ebay: Dynavin D9-MC2000 Premium Flex - Autoradio für Mercedes | eBay UK

The MC2000 is stated to be vehicle-specific for the G-class, X203, W209, Vito and Viano, but I presume that refers to the mounting arrangements, because it is also specified for the X164 2007-2013 GL elsewhere on their website.

It has a lower-resolution 7" screen, but more than adequate for my needs; nothing there I can't live with. Both will require a MOST adapter (and so will any other aftermarket unit I fit).
SECOND THOUGHT: The car has a Harmann Kardon setup, so there may be a MOST adapter already fitted.

The MC2000 will cost c. £270 including carriage. So that's c. £560 for the DF432, or £400 for the MC2000 including a fitting kit. Hmmmmm...

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Blimey, if that was the Missus she would have bought 2, to save even more.

I think Womanmath works a bit different to Manmath.
But all that might depend on if you identify as a millionaire/ess.

Here's the good news: The same car for £100k off.

OK, the mileage is a bit higher but who cares? £100k saved is a LOT of money. And it makes a lovely noise.

 

[m80]

Regarding that DF432 that SpikyMikey[ posted, there's also this on Ebay: Dynavin D9-MC2000 Premium Flex - Autoradio für Mercedes | eBay UK

Since you're thinking of Chinese now,

Pardon our interruption...

With the advantage that you're not dealing with an import, or return, to the eu.
Tbh there are loads of other Chinese kit on the bay, that can very this way or that.