Install Android Auto on a GLA that already has Carplay?

[kkudi]

Hi

I have a an April 2016 reg GLA which already has CarPlay and Comand Online.

However, as much I like the integration with CarPlay, I hate Apple Maps.

The built in Tomtom maps I have are good, but sometimes they don't get it quite right, as Google Maps does. Sometimes they're better than Google, in that they take you from less residential roads which I prefer, but sometimes they're bad.

On a long stretch of a motorway, if there's a some traffic, the built in sat nav will tell me to take the exit at a junction, only to join a few minutes later, which most of the times doesn't make sense.

I read in other forums that some people have have success retrofitting Android Auto onto their cars, especially those who already have CarPlay. However, most of these people are based in the US and I'm not sure I heard anyone having success from someone who is UK based.

My spec says I have 14U and 16U, but obviously I'm missing 17U.

Does anyone, definitively know, whether this is just a software upgrade or a hardware + software upgrade?

 

[Riva811]

Dont you get navigation with comand online?
I personally find the MB navigation great on my Comand APS in comparison to most systems.

 

[kkudi]

Dont you get navigation with comand online?
I personally find the MB navigation great on my Comand APS in comparison to most systems.

Yes I have Navigation with TomTom with live traffic updates.

I don't think it's bad at all, I just think Google Maps is better or can be better at times.

E.g a route to go to my uncles house, the satnav takes me through a main road that always has traffic.

Google takes me through a route that I prefer so much more and has a lot less traffic.

 

[Riva811]

Yes I have Navigation with TomTom with live traffic updates.

the GLA 2017 model supports both systems. You can ask your dealership if its a firmware update you can have or whether you can retrofit it.

 

[kkudi]

It's been incredibly hard to speak to someone at my dealership who is remotely technical enough to give me a solid answer.

I'm being put through from receptionist to receptionist.
The get my details down for a callback and then I just never hear back.

So I thought I'd ask here if anyone's been successful before I go ahead and book an appointment with them.

 

[MancMike]

Speak to comandonline.co.uk

They retrofit Mercedes options and oem ICE systems and so are probably your best bet for technical discussion on the subject.

 

[kkudi]

Speak to comandonline.co.uk

They retrofit Mercedes options and oem ICE systems and so are probably your best bet for technical discussion on the subject.

my car's still in warranty for another year and a half. will this not void warranty?

 

[MancMike]

A chat on the phone certainly won’t. At least you’ll find out what’s possible.

 

[Riva811]

I am having the same issue with my dealership as well. Best thing to do is call MB UK and go from there.
You can also call the mercedes me team, seems to be the new telematics team

 

[kkudi]

I am having the same issue with my dealership as well. Best thing to do is call MB UK and go from there.
You can also call the mercedes me team, seems to be the new telematics team

I managed to speak to someone in my local dealership in North London. He said he's heard about this before and that he will speak to a technician and he will call me back. I'll let you know what he says.

I specifically said that I already have Carplay and codes 14U and 16U and I'm missing code 17U.

If this doesnt work, then I'll book the car for something in and mention again. If that doesnt work either, I'll revert to having it installed outside of the dealership.

also, slightly out of topic...is shipment date the same as the build date?
e.g if shipment is 11th of February, does that mean that the car was built in February? or January? or could it be long before that?

 

[Riva811]

I managed to speak to someone in my local dealership in North London. He said he's heard about this before and that he will speak to a technician and he will call me back. I'll let you know what he says.

I specifically said that I already have Carplay and codes 14U and 16U and I'm missing code 17U.

If this doesnt work, then I'll book the car for something in and mention again. If that doesnt work either, I'll revert to having it installed outside of the dealership.

also, slightly out of topic...is shipment date the same as the build date?
e.g if shipment is 11th of February, does that mean that the car was built in February? or January? or could it be long before that?

No not at all. Basically MB cars have Mercedes Year e.g. MY2017 which probably means something between july 2016 to june 2017.
You can look up the year it was built using the VIN code and an online VIN decoder

 

[kkudi]

So a quick update, I have spoken again to the dealer, and they confirmed it is possible. I mentioned that I'm bringing the car in a few weeks time and he said it should be done and that if there's any issues to tell the service advisor who I spoke to.
so Fingers Crossed.. Will keep you all posted!

 

[Riva811]

So a quick update, I have spoken again to the dealer, and they confirmed it is possible. I mentioned that I'm bringing the car in a few weeks time and he said it should be done and that if there's any issues to tell the service advisor who I spoke to.
so Fingers Crossed.. Will keep you all posted!

So as in firmware update?

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

 

[kkudi]

So as in firmware update?

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

yes, I believe so. He didnt tell me all the specifics, but he said it's possible.

I will be taking the car in on the 22nd of Feb. I booked this appointment yesterday for something else..and yes it's a month long wait but I will keep in touch.

 

[markjay]

I have called and emailed the Mercedes Benz help line (based in the Netherlands) on several occasions regarding issues relating to COMAND and in all cases received prompt response.

 

[Riva811]

yes, I believe so. He didnt tell me all the specifics, but he said it's possible.

I will be taking the car in on the 22nd of Feb. I booked this appointment yesterday for something else..and yes it's a month long wait but I will keep in touch.

You can also check the lector service provided by Mercedes Me as I believe new cars will update firmware over the Internet

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

 

[kkudi]

You can also check the lector service provided by Mercedes Me as I believe new cars will update firmware over the Internet

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

How do I check this?

 

[richard]

OK the reason for this is normally that the Android Auto specification requires a 7" screen, so unless you have the larger screen Mercedes is not allowed to sell Android Auto in the car.
I imagine it is likely there may have been a time where the hardware supported it but the software was not ready (this was true with CarPlay) also, as I thought the GLA did have the larger screen if you have NTG5 COMAND.

Saying that it is possible to make it work with the smaller screen !! We can do it at www.comand.co.uk

It is also possible to add it to the early NTG5*1 COMAND (i.e NOT on C/GLC/S/Vito/GT-S which has NTG5*2) but you have to add some hardware to licence it and avoid breaking the warranty (Mercedes explicitly remove the warranty on the stereo if you do not add the hardware to early cars) - we do these quite regularly.

Cheers

Richard

 

[Riva811]

How do I check this?

Lector=level.
Call up mercedes me team and ask for the services your car will get via Mercedes me.
Most models are just basic diagnostic data but it looks like the new Sony class can unlock remotely, get software updates etc.

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

 

[kkudi]

OK the reason for this is normally that the Android Auto specification requires a 7" screen, so unless you have the larger screen Mercedes is not allowed to sell Android Auto in the car.
I imagine it is likely there may have been a time where the hardware supported it but the software was not ready (this was true with CarPlay) also, as I thought the GLA did have the larger screen if you have NTG5 COMAND.

Saying that it is possible to make it work with the smaller screen !! We can do it at www.comand.co.uk

It is also possible to add it to the early NTG5*1 COMAND (i.e NOT on C/GLC/S/Vito/GT-S which has NTG5*2) but you have to add some hardware to licence it and avoid breaking the warranty (Mercedes explicitly remove the warranty on the stereo if you do not add the hardware to early cars) - we do these quite regularly.

Cheers

Richard

As far as I know and see on the spec, the car has got Comand Online which means it's got the 8 inch screen and not the 7 inch screen.

Any other way I can verify this? Is there a specific code I should look out for?

I can see Code 531 which says
"Comand APS NTG5/NTG5.5
And it has code 14U and 16U too.