New Mercedes iPhone Cradle Allows full Vehicle Integration

[partsspecialist]

we have had a couple in our showroom, and being the resident tech geek i get time to play with stuff and make sure i know how it works!!

 

[tudu]

Yes but dont update the S/w on your original iphone as if you do, you will get the same problem.

Thanks as i said in other iphone thread as my old iphone is unlocked i never use itunes to update software so i am okay but will await the fix on 3G before connecting.

 

[Colin10086]

Hi guys i can confirm that the 3G iphone works fine with the iphone cradle, phonebook works etc, as does the 2.5G iphone with latest software.
The lead on the cradle is for ipod funcionality on NEW cars fitted with a new option, universal media interface. it is a socket inside the armrest.

Does the cradle allow text message access with Comand?

 

[sijones]

OK, I have had a bit more time to try out my iPhone 3g in the new iPhone cradle. On a couple of occasions today the audio from the iPhone has not been muted during the call. I haven’t managed to work out what causes this as it seemed to be a bit random.

EDIT: I think the above issue was due to the fact that the iPhone needed to be reset as it was not functioning correctly when I removed it from the car. I have not had the issue since.

I have also noticed that the cradle locking mechanism has been designed for the original iPhone and not the iPhone 3g. The shape of the back of the iPhone 3g is subtly different to the original and this means that the back of the iPhone 3g doesn't cause the locking trigger button to be pushed in and the automatic lock doesn't function. You have to move it manually into the locked position or push down extremely hard on the iPhone to get it to engage.

Kind regards,

Steve

 

[sijones]

Does the cradle allow text message access with Comand?

Hi,

There is no text message access via COMAND. However, it is possible to look at the text messages on the iPhone when it is in the cradle. That is providing you are not trying to drive at the time!

Kind regards,

Steve

 

[t-bone]

Does the iPhone cradle charge the iPhone 3G? I know some older connections don't charge the new iPhone 3G. And are you still able to control the iPhone's iPod capabilities through the steering wheel?

 

[sijones]

Does the iPhone cradle charge the iPhone 3G? I know some older connections don't charge the new iPhone 3G. And are you still able to control the iPhone's iPod capabilities through the steering wheel?

Hi,

The cradle charges the iPhone 3g and control of the iPod functions are available through the steering wheel controls.

A problem I reported earlier regarding the audio from the iPhone not being muted on some occasions when making a call, appeared to be due to the fact that the iPhone needed to be reset as it was not functioning correctly.

Kind regards,

Steve

 

[Diesel Benz]

Hi,

The cradle charges the iPhone 3g and control of the iPod functions are available through the steering wheel controls.

A problem I reported earlier regarding the audio from the iPhone not being muted on some occasions when making a call, appeared to be due to the fact that the iPhone needed to be reset as it was not functioning correctly.

Kind regards,

Steve

I guess the complexity of modern high-end phones is so high that all go confused every now and then, a bit like with modern car electronics even if MB has been improving with electronics lately.

 

[ckember]

Interestingly, the iPhone cradle uses a bluetooth connection to pass the iPhone's contacts list to the telephone system. This must be because the contact data is not available through the data port on the iPhone.

Steve

Hi Steve, I am not sure this is correct. I connected my 3g phone to a work mates bmw 118d and the contact list missed calls etc all came up on the display;. this uses a cable to connect the iphone to the usb port in the centre console. interestingly the bmw splits the data and the audio to the head unit but still displays the song info. the bmw cables have usb and audio plugs. only problem the cable didn't charge the iphone

 

[Alfie]

Does the iPhone cradle charge the iPhone 3G? I know some older connections don't charge the new iPhone 3G. And are you still able to control the iPhone's iPod capabilities through the steering wheel?

Yes and yes if you have the adapter cable to connect the ipod kit to the iphone cradle.

 

[Jasper Blue]

I am probably being thick but am I right in thinking you need the iPod kit AND the phone pre-wire before this new cradle is any use? (ie not just the pre-wire.)

My W169 has nothing but the standard APS20 so if I bought a new iPhone, what would I need to get full use of phone and iPod? (And a rough estimate of the cost if you're reading this please Richard or Alfie!)

 

[richard]

You are right that you need an iPod kit, you also need the interconnecting cable.

This is because there is a different cable for the W204 Media Interface and the UCI interface, and the normal iPod kit in other cars so you have to pick the right cable. Just to add pain, there is a global shortage of the iPod version of the cable .....

However, you have a bigger problem then that, the iPhone cradle is too wide for the W169/W245 pop out drawer :-(

Richard

 

[Jasper Blue]

Thanks Richard - I had read that the cradle was too wide for the drawer but understood it could be mounted on the side of the stereo console. If this is the case do you have a rough idea of the likely cost involved?

By the way, let say I wanted one in my W203, which has an iPod kit and pre-wire - how would the cables be connected since my iPod kit is in the glovebox and the phone kit in the arm rest?

Is it just me being slow again?






(probably) :bannana:

 

[Alfie]

Thanks Richard - I had read that the cradle was too wide for the drawer but understood it could be mounted on the side of the stereo console. If this is the case do you have a rough idea of the likely cost involved?

By the way, let say I wanted one in my W203, which has an iPod kit and pre-wire - how would the cables be connected since my iPod kit is in the glovebox and the phone kit in the arm rest?

Is it just me being slow again?





(probably) :bannana:

The cable runs from the ipod kit along under the centre console to the phone cradle. It basically connectes the iphone phone cradle to the ipod kit.

 

[t-bone]

The cable runs from the ipod kit along under the centre console to the phone cradle. It basically connectes the iphone phone cradle to the ipod kit.

Have you actually confirmed that this is true by trying to connect the cable as you describe?

 

[Alfie]

Have you actually confirmed that this is true by trying to connect the cable as you describe?

Yes. We have installed a few of these now. They work well.

The awkward bit is getting the cable up into the centre armrest neatly.

 

[t-bone]

Yes. We have installed a few of these now. They work well.

The awkward bit is getting the cable up into the centre armrest neatly.

So this will allow the iPod cable in my 2004 W211 to connect to my iPhone cradle?

I don't need to have the newer COMAND for this to work?

This is great news then.

 

[richard]

Yes. but cabling up to that upper drawer for the phone on the W211 is a big job and involves cutting and general man-handling, which if you ask me is a bit messy. It works much nicer on the MY08 W211 where they dropped the split level centre armrest and mounted phone plate vertically at the back of the centre console box

Richard

[edit, and for anone else reading, its pretty much impossible on everything with the phone cradle in a seperate upper compartment except the W203 and the W211 where the cables are exposed and not hidden in the armrest hinge.]

 

[johnd]

I have just had the 3G iPhone cradle and an iPod Integration kit fitted to my 2005 CLK convertible. It was a big job for my dealer as they had to route a new media cable from the centre armrest where the cradle is mounted,to the COMAND control unit in the centre console.

The phone features are great and are fully integrated into the COMAND system. The address book sync works perfectly and numbers with the + symbol for international dialing are supported (unlike with some 3rd party iPhone bluetooth adaptors like Viseeo).

I was a little disappointed to find however that the iPhone audio features/controls are only available from the multi-function steering wheel with information displayed in the instrument cluster. i.e. the COMAND screen is not used and remains blank. I've asked the dealer to clarify that this is the way it is supposed to work. They believe that this is the case because it is the way the iPod integration kit works when it is installed into the glovebox on its own. I had assumed that when used with the iPhone cradle, it would work with the COMAND system screen as this is what all the promo material from Mercedes indicates. My dealer believes that this is only supported on the Media System fitted to the new C class and this is not retrofitable to other Mercedes models.

Does anyone know if this is the case, or should the equipment I have had installed display the audio features on the COMAND screen?

 

[richard]

Does anyone know if this is the case, or should the equipment I have had installed display the audio features on the COMAND screen?

Yes the behaviour you have is correct, see fuller answer in the other thread you asked in.

R