iPhone 4 cradle update for iPhone 4S

[richard]

Many of you with iPhone 4S had discovered the iPhone 4 cradle wouldn't pair.

Mercedes have now issued a firmware update for the cradles which solve this. I just spent 2 hours updating the firmware in all of Comand Online's iPhone 4 cradles stock...

The problem to me looks like the 4S returns a different identifier over bluetooth and the MB cradle didn't understad it was an iPhone so disconnected the pairing, just like it does if you try and pair a Nokia to it.

The official line from MB is that this is not covered by warranty (as the cradle has been sold as an iPhone 4 cradle and 4S compatiblity has never been claimed). As it takes time and uses special (expensive) equipment to do the update and you need a vehicle also, i'd expect at least a 30 minute labour charge.

And of course, if you are buying a new one, make sure it has the latest firmware on it, which is 49/2011 (which could be shown as SW 4911 on the label on the back of the cradle) as i'd expect theres quite a stock of cradles with old firmware at dealers and Mercedes.

Cheers

Richard

 

[RichardM]

Thanks for the update Richard. One thing I've never understood, what would having the cradle give me over using the 4GS over Bluetooth on 2011 cars?

 

[npuk]

If you use the Iphone in a cradle it will charge the phone, it will use the cars antenna instead of the phones internal antenna, it will allow contacts transfer and also allow you to connect the cradle to the ipod or media interface if fitted for music function.

 

[RichardM]

Connecting the media interface to the iPhone via the supplied lead connects it as an iPod and charges the iPhone and the Bluetooth is showing all my contacts on the comand screen that's why I was asking.

The only thing I seem to be missing is the external aerial?

 

[richard]

Connecting the media interface to the iPhone via the supplied lead connects it as an iPod and charges the iPhone and the Bluetooth is showing all my contacts on the comand screen that's why I was asking.

The only thing I seem to be missing is the external aerial?

Yes. If you had a different vehicle (such as a 2011 W204) you wouldn't get contact transfer, and if didnt have media interface or iPod kit, no charging.

But, the external aerial is good - I pop my phone into the cradle when in low signal areas (the iPhone cradles use bluetooth too)

Richard

 

[schummerk]

Command / Media interface connections

Hi there, just joined when looking for answers on related topic. You have some great discussion on this site....
I can echo the external aerial part - using the cradle has this single biggest advantage. I have full signal in certain areas where I hardly had any before. The extarnal antenna is a big help - especially when you use the iPhone as in-car wifi hotspot.

I do have a related question though, while no Merc certified service (in the area) was able to provide good answers on Media interface related questions which is strange. I purchased the extension cable from Commandonline recently to connect the iPhone cradle (with cable) to the Media Interface in my S350 (04/2010). The cable connects to Media Interface box over a normal 8 way network plug. Are there other connection possiblities on the Media box / Command (other AUX input, etc.)?

My car does not have rear seat entertainment package but only front entertainment package with Splitview. We plan to install rear monitors with a hidden DVD unit and an XBOX360 in the trunk. I need audio of these two connected back to COMMAND but would like to spare the Media interface input in the gloves compartment.

Also, I did not find any possiblity to get the video feed of the factory installed DVD changer from the Command / Media Interface to the rear monitors, that's why I need a different DVD source to feed back monitors. Is there a video out possibility from Command that you know of ?
Thank you.
SK

 

[Scubaman31]

Some very useful answers here to a problem I've had since purchasing an iPhone 4S to replace my iPhone 4 back in October 2011. As others have noted, the iPhone 4 cradle (which I had installed along with the media interface in my 2005 CLK only in August 2011!!) won't sync with the iPhone 4S. To be honest I was worried that even the update to IOS 5 was going to be a problem for the iPhone 4 (as the earlier update to IOS 4.3 was!) but no, IOS 5 works fine on the iPhone 4 and the cradle.

According to my local dealer (Chelmsford) when I queried the 4S problem before Xmas, the answer was that it could be months before Mercedes would be able to provide a solution! As it happens this wasn't the only problem with IOS 5 as neither phone would sync my MS Outlook originated Contacts properly!! A situation that has only been resolved with the release of IOS 5.1 in March 2012.

Imagine my delight when I discovered today (13/3/12) that Mercedes has released an updated iPhone cradle for the 4S notwithstanding the stunning cost of £254!! However, my joy was short lived when I discovered that the new cradle DOES NOT SUPPORT the media connection ie you can make phone calls but not listen to your music! What idiot came up with that configuration??

So my question if anyone knows the answer:

(1) is there a version of the 4S cradle which includes the media connection?

(2) is it possible to upgrade the s/w in my existing iPhone 4 cradle and media interface?

(3) given that the cradle communicates phonecalls via Bluetooth, is it possible to buy a cable that would connect an iPod to the media connector currently adjacent to the cradle?

Many thanks for any help.

Regards

 

[Scubaman31]

Ah ha - I can now answer my own questions:

(1) is there a cradle with a media interface for the iPhone 4S? According to Mercedes UK YES there is you need to contact your Dealer although cost is likely to be £250 ish!

(2) Is it possible to upgrade s/w in an existing iPhone 4 cradle with media interface? Again YES it is and it's only going to cost about £34! Speak to Unique Car Sound & Security 58 Guildford Rd, Lightwater, Surrey GU18 5SD (01276 474900). Visit or post your existing unit to them for the patch shown here: Comand Online Ltd :: Mercedes Phone/Bluetooth :: Repairs & Upgrades :: Firmware Upgrade for Mercedes Benz Phone Cradles

(3) Is it possible to get a media interface to Apple connector? I haven't been able to find anything but maybe someone else has an idea?

Regards

 

[npuk]

1. Comand Online have been selling the cradle for over a year. Comand Online Ltd :: Mercedes Phone/Bluetooth There is no new cradle for 4S, it is the Iphone 4 cradle with interconnecting lead, firmware has just been updated to support 4S.

2. Obviously, that is what this whole thread is about.

3. Media interface already has a lead that has an apple connector for ipod / iphone? Comand Online Ltd :: Mercedes iPod solutions :: Media Interface cable set for A/B/C/CLS/E/GLK/SL/SLK

 

[Scubaman31]

Ah ha - I can now answer my own questions:

(1) is there a cradle with a media interface for the iPhone 4S? According to Mercedes UK YES there is you need to contact your Dealer although cost is likely to be £250 ish!

(2) Is it possible to upgrade s/w in an existing iPhone 4 cradle with media interface? Again YES it is and it's only going to cost about £34! Speak to Unique Car Sound & Security 58 Guildford Rd, Lightwater, Surrey GU18 5SD (01276 474900). Visit or post your existing unit to them for the patch shown here: Comand Online Ltd :: Mercedes Phone/Bluetooth :: Repairs & Upgrades :: Firmware Upgrade for Mercedes Benz Phone Cradles

(3) Is it possible to get a media interface to Apple connector? The one question yet to be addressed but I fear not. I haven't been able to find anything but maybe someone else has an idea?

Regards

 

[richard]

Just some history.

MB initially (within a very short gap between) released the iPhone 4 cradle with and without cable. (without cable came first) They then added one with a 30CM cable.

About 6 months ago they released a firmware update to make it behave better with a previous version of IOS (i.e to make address book transfer work with IOS4.<something>, but IOS4.<next> had come out and started working. They didn't change the part number, just added an 0028 at the end on some of the cradles.

Then came iPhone 4S and the 4 cradle didnt work. This I think is because the 4S returned a different 'phone' id than the 4 and the cradle didn't recognise it as an iPhone so didn't maintain the pairing.

They then released a firmware update to address this problem, which we spotted and updated all our stock and any new stock that came in. So we had a solution months before the dealers really knew they had one. You need Star Diagnosis and a very expensive cradle update tool to do the updates. We decided to offer the update service as most dealers go "huh, whats that".

Then MB have now issued a (more expensive by the looks of it) set of part numbers for cradles that work with the 4S. But the 4 cradle with the firmware update does exactly the same job. I havent checked to see if the iPHone 4 cradles are still available to order or whether they are all superceeded to the 4S cradles.

As to question 3, have you tried the Media Interface iPod cable ? It *may* work, but as you have an iPod kit rather than a Media Interface at the other end, it may not.

Richard

 

[richard]

PS. For those who didn't know.

Unique Car Sound & Security is Comand (Europe) Ltd's place, and it sells Comand Online's Ltd products "over the counter" since its basically the same owners who own both. We do the updates in batches every couple of days as needed.

R

 

[Alfie]

......................................................So my question if anyone knows the answer:

(1) is there a version of the 4S cradle which includes the media connection?

(2) is it possible to upgrade the s/w in my existing iPhone 4 cradle and media interface?

(3) given that the cradle communicates phonecalls via Bluetooth, is it possible to buy a cable that would connect an iPod to the media connector currently adjacent to the cradle?

Many thanks for any help.

Regards

1). Yes. There always has been since the iphone 4 and 4S cradles came out.

2). Yes. see Richard's post

3). Yes. However it connects to a media interface or ipod interface in the car not directly to an ipod.