Internet connection in new C Class with iPhone and LED light settings

[Gary-W]

Hi all,

I got my new 205 C-Class just before Christmas. Overall a lovely car and I'm very happy. There have been a few niggles which are (hopefully!!) in hand (a rattly speaker and a bit of damage to a trim from new) but I have a couple of questions that I'd appreciate an opinion on.

1. I cannot get the Internet to work in my car. Hardly a disaster but it should shouldn't it I have an iPhone 5 and neither myself nor the dealer can get it to connect. It bluetooths to the car just fine as far as phone calls go and it can 'see' a 3g or 4g connection but tether it will not. It tethers just fine to my iPad (which it does as a personal hotspot) but I gather the Merc will talk to it over bluetooth instead?? Any ideas? I've googled and all the info I can find is getting on a bit.... The dealer recons I need to speak with my phone provider as 'there is a setting you need to turn on'. But they were not very specific. Any ideas?

2. With the LED lights, there is a setting which says 'traffic on left' and 'traffic on right'. Please forgive me if this question is far less intelligent than the lights but..... Does it mean I should set it for 'traffic on left' because I'm part of the traffic on the left of the road in the UK or should I set it for 'traffic on the right' because of the oncoming traffic??

I've driven in the dark many times now and been happy. I then discovered this setting in the menus and it was set on 'traffic on left' so that's how it came from the factory. No-one has flashed me / complained and it *looks* ok. My dealer told me today that it should 'definitely be set to traffic on right'. But he wasn't absolutely 100% certain So what do the good folks here think?

It was also conceded that my parking assist thing does not actually work. Well, it does when it feels like it (see my other thread on that).

Many thanks

Gary

 

[grober]

FROM THE ONLINE OWNERS MANUAL
C-Class - Interactive Owner's Manual
ONBOARD COMPUTER AND DISPLAYS


Menus and submenus
Quick access
Light submenu
Switching the Intelligent Light System on/off
Use on the steering wheel to call up the list of menus.
Press the or button on the steering wheel to select the Settings menu.
Confirm by pressing on the steering wheel.
Use or to select the Lights submenu.
Press to confirm.
Using or , select the Intelligent Light System function.
If the Intelligent Light System function has been switched on, the cone of light and the symbol in the multifunction display are shown in white.
Press the button to save the setting.
If you switch on the Intelligent Light System function, the following functions are activated:

Motorway mode
Active light function
Cornering light function
Extended range foglamps

If you set the dipped-beam headlamps for driving on the right/left, the multifunction display shows the Inactive for left-side traffic or Inactive for right-side traffic display message in the Lights submenu instead of the Intelligent Light System function more. This display message will only appear if the setting for driving on the left/right is set opposite to your vehicle's country version.
Further information on the Intelligent Light System more.
Setting the dipped-beam headlamps for driving on the left/right
This function is only available on vehicles with the Intelligent Light System.
You can use this function to switch between symmetrical and asymmetrical dipped beam more.
Use on the steering wheel to call up the list of menus.
Press the or button on the steering wheel to select the Settings menu.
Confirm by pressing on the steering wheel.
Use or to select the Lights submenu.
Press to confirm.
Using or , select the Dipped beams Setting for function.
You will see the selected setting, right-side traffic or left-side traffic .
Press the button to save the setting.
If you change the setting, conversion does not take place until the next time the vehicle is stationary.
If you set the dipped-beam headlamps for driving on the right/left, then motorway mode and the extended range foglamps are unavailable. These are only deactivated if the setting for driving on the left/right is set opposite to your vehicle's country version.
A qualified specialist workshop can set the dipped-beam headlamps for driving on the left/right.

BLUETOOTH??have you tried http://www.mercedes-benz-mobile.com/gb/en/#passenger

 

[Gary-W]

Thanks for this - I appreciate it.

My concern is the ambiguity of left side traffic or right side traffic..... Is it talking about the side of the road that I drive on or the oncoming traffic?

The manual can, IMO, be interpreted either way unless I'm being slow on the uptake and I apologise if that's the case.

For UK driving, should I set it to left side traffic or right side? It was on 'left side' but my dealer said 'right side'....

Thanks also for the link re the Internet - I'll read up and see how I get on

 

[grober]

Pretty sure with the intelligent lighting system it refers to the "traffic side" you are driving on- which means you have the correct setting. It may also refer back to a " global" country setting in the menu system. If there was a clash the intelligent system would default to the symetric setting and possibly give you a warning. The symetric beam setting option would be the setting you would have to select when driving abroad -say in France but certain intelligent lighting facilities are disabled with that setting. I agree its not clear in the manual. I can only suggest you try out the various options and try to discern if there are any changes to the headlight pattern. Hopefully someone who has this system can comment from experience.

 

[Roger Bill]

1. I cannot get the Internet to work in my car. Hardly a disaster but it should shouldn't it I have an iPhone 5 and neither myself nor the dealer can get it to connect. It bluetooths to the car just fine as far as phone calls go and it can 'see' a 3g or 4g connection but tether it will not. It tethers just fine to my iPad (which it does as a personal hotspot) but I gather the Merc will talk to it over bluetooth instead?? Any ideas? I've googled and all the info I can find is getting on a bit.... The dealer recons I need to speak with my phone provider as 'there is a setting you need to turn on'. But they were not very specific. Any ideas?

Hi Gary

My C200 W205 isn't due until May/June so I've no actual hands on experience but based on what I've read I think the problem might lie with the type of contract you have with your phone provider. Not all allow tethering of phones to other devices. This web page might help: https://www.cable.co.uk/guides/whats-the-best-network-for-tethering/

Would be interested to hear what you think of your new car.

Best regards
Roger

 

[Gary-W]

Thanks Grober and Roger,

I've played more this morning and still no dice with the Internet connection. Out of fairness to the dealer, I called 02 (my provider) who told me to phone Apple. They were on the phone to me for 20 mins whilst they checked everything out and said there was no issue..... Tethering is tethering and, as my iPhone quite happily talks to my laptop and iPad for tethering then the only issue can be the car.

On the website link that Grober sent, it claims that the iPhone 5s works for data connection to the car providing it's at a certain software level (7 point something works as does 8.1). My iPhone 5s is at 8.1. It's offering me an update to 8.1.2 but, as Mercedes clearly state that 8.1 works I'll put the ball back in their court before I do anything else.....

As to the car, I'll give it another week or two and then write a full review for anyone that is interested. But my feelings so far are that I love it, despite the small niggles. My main 'wants' in a car are comfort, the best audio I can get and economy so I guess I'm not 100% typical On those fronts it's fabulous although I do need the dodgy speaker sorting (basically it's fine on 90% of material and does a great job but the door panel farts if you feed it the wrong frequency). My profile should say that I play guitar / write songs / listen to music as main hobbies. I'm a sales rep who spends hours and hours and hours on motorways so my main needs is something that doesn't kill my back and keeps me entertained whilst eating the miles. The person who throws the car around the country lanes is not me..... so when I do review it, keep in mind that I'm not a high performance speed addict.... I do enjoy putting the foot down occasionally but it's all about the seats and the music for me

But I even have a glitch here in that my profiles seems to be mixed up with another chap whose handle is Garyw who lives in Chester and likes golf..... So for anyone clicking on my profile that sees a golfer? That isn't me and I've written to admin about it to ask for a divorce between me and my alter ego who joined here long before I'd even driven a Merc.

Hoping for all gremlins to leave the building as soon as possible

 

[Mr.B]

For the internet in the car, you need to switch on both bluetooth and personal hotspot

 

[Gary-W]

Thanks Mr B.

Both Bluetooth and personal hotspot are on.

When you get in the car and try the Internet on Command, it says that it is 'establishing Internet connection'. You get the blue banner comes up on the iPhone and it says it has a connection.

The car, however, still says it's searching.....

And then the blue banner goes and the car still says it's searching.

 

[Jonobigblind]

I'll pop out and have a look with mine and my iPhone 6 now. Will report back shortly.

 

[Jonobigblind]

Ok so it took me a minute to find the Internet option as haven't explored that before. I have my phone bluetoothed to the car for calls and when I activated my personal hotspot the car found it all ok. Took about 60-90 seconds to connect up and it started downloading the apps etc. No issues to report and all worked amazingly smoothly really (not gloating I promise).

Didn't realise I could get internet radio on it so may be able to salvage Absolute 90s now it has dropped off the national DAB network.

You probably need to find the YTS trainee at the dealership as he'll be he only chap that can sort it for you nowadays.

Good luck!

 

[grober]

It would appear an essential part of the setting up proceedure is to get the access data settings correctly for your ISP/service provider Command will remember these and use them everytime you connect your particular phone. What's the betting these haven't been set up correctly? See the online COMMAND MANUAL under ONLINE AND INTERNET FUNCTIONS /SETTING UP AN INTERNET CONNECTION
C-Class - Interactive Owner's Manual

 

[Gary-W]

Thanks Jono and Grober - it's good of you both to take the time to respond

I've been snowed today but I'll see if I can find this mystical menu tomorrow. Neither me nor the sales chap at the garage did anything remotely like that in the car!

It's booked in next week anyway for:-

Speaker rattle
Damaged centre console (it arrived like it)
Automatic parking thing doesn't work as it should
Internet connection

So if I can cross one thing off their list I will

 

[Gary-W]

An update.....

The car went in yesterday. They replaced the broken trim and the left hand speaker.... I'll see how that goes. Worrying thing is that the November built 205 c class with Burmeister that I had as a loan car had the exact same rattle except on the right front speaker!! I am pretty convinced it's sympathetic resonance, not the actual speaker but we shall see. I'm getting the term 'known fault' in my near future

They said there was a software update which has sorted the auto parking. Slightly odd as the car was brand new delivered on 19th Dec but there we are. I shall try it later.

As to the Internet. They said they are waiting for a disk from Germany which will make it work. Got to go in for a couple of hours once it's there.

 

[mgooda]

An update..... The car went in yesterday. They replaced the broken trim and the left hand speaker.... I'll see how that goes. Worrying thing is that the November built 205 c class with Burmeister that I had as a loan car had the exact same rattle except on the right front speaker!! I am pretty convinced it's sympathetic resonance, not the actual speaker but we shall see. I'm getting the term 'known fault' in my near future They said there was a software update which has sorted the auto parking. Slightly odd as the car was brand new delivered on 19th Dec but there we are. I shall try it later. As to the Internet. They said they are waiting for a disk from Germany which will make it work. Got to go in for a couple of hours once it's there.

Do you notice the resonance on the speakers is very prominent when on the telephone? I'm finding there is significant vibration/resonance in all four door mounted speakers pretty much I all sources depending on volume and content.

Clearly we have similar issues, mine was an August build and I have had no joy with the net connection either

 

[Gary-W]

Do you notice the resonance on the speakers is very prominent when on the telephone? I'm finding there is significant vibration/resonance in all four door mounted speakers pretty much I all sources depending on volume and content.

Clearly we have similar issues, mine was an August build and I have had no joy with the net connection either

Yes, the telephone sets it off for sure. It's also possible to get resonance when you use the voice assist thing..... Ask it to dial a number and, when it fires a question back at you using it's internal voice, that'll do it!

I can kind of live with it on the phone - it's not ideal but if it were only that I'd get over it. It's just that certain music which has notes that cross those frequencies also gets it going and that I can't put up with in a car with an upgraded, premium system.

Have you raised these with your dealer? And if so, how did you get on?

 

[mgooda]

Yes, the telephone sets it off for sure. It's also possible to get resonance when you use the voice assist thing..... Ask it to dial a number and, when it fires a question back at you using it's internal voice, that'll do it! I can kind of live with it on the phone - it's not ideal but if it were only that I'd get over it. It's just that certain music which has notes that cross those frequencies also gets it going and that I can't put up with in a car with an upgraded, premium system. Have you raised these with your dealer? And if so, how did you get on?

Taking it in next week. I'm with you, it could be possible to live with it but not when the premium plus upgrade was for the high end hi fi, and the online benefits of COMAND-neither of which are in perfect working order. I'll let you know how I get on.

 

[jurassicpark]

Your internet connection problem is because you are on O2, I had the same problem on my new W205.

I'm on O2 using an iPhone 5 with iOS 8.1.2

Took car back to dealer who was able to connect his iPhone 6 with iOS 8.1.2 on EE via Bluetooth and comand connected first time to the Internet.

Took my car down to the local O2 phone shop. Had their tech guru with an iPhone 5 , iPhone 6 and Samsung Galaxy tethered and none could connect to the Internet. The guru phoned O2 technical support who were really not much use, simply said if it doesn't work something on O2 network is barring it! Terrible customer service.

Was at Meadowhall shopping at Christmas and EE shop had a free android tablet on a 2gb per month 4G data only tariff for £10 per month. Bought one, connected via usb to my W205 and can surf Internet and use online navigation with satellite maps and passengers can share the car's wifi.

W205 c250 Sport premium plus estate
Airmatic
Diamond silver
Privacy glass

 

[grober]

What are APN Settings and How Can They Fix Data Issues on Your Prepaid Phone?

O2 APN Settings | Geek Squad

 

[mgooda]

Your internet connection problem is because you are on O2, I had the same problem on my new W205. I'm on O2 using an iPhone 5 with iOS 8.1.2 Took car back to dealer who was able to connect his iPhone 6 with iOS 8.1.2 on EE via Bluetooth and comand connected first time to the Internet. Took my car down to the local O2 phone shop. Had their tech guru with an iPhone 5 , iPhone 6 and Samsung Galaxy tethered and none could connect to the Internet. The guru phoned O2 technical support who were really not much use, simply said if it doesn't work something on O2 network is barring it! Terrible customer service. Was at Meadowhall shopping at Christmas and EE shop had a free android tablet on a 2gb per month 4G data only tariff for £10 per month. Bought one, connected via usb to my W205 and can surf Internet and use online navigation with satellite maps and passengers can share the car's wifi. W205 c250 Sport premium plus estate Airmatic Diamond silver Privacy glass

Bit of a pattern appearing here. I too am on O2 and had started to question whether it was the network. Right up until dealer lent me a non COMAND W205 C220 when my car went in for the steering recall. It connected to the net via my phone at the first attempt.

 

[mgooda]

What are APN Settings and How Can They Fix Data Issues on Your Prepaid Phone? O2 APN Settings | Geek Squad

Problem seems to be primarily iPhones. I've checked my APN settings on my 5s and they are what O2 suggest they should be.