W204 -Adding Contacts...

[Benzadrine]

Hi - I have connected my iPhone to the telephone system in my W204, but can't seem to add any contacts/address book empty/ any suggestions please?( I saw the box come up saying 'import contacts' etc...)

 

[DSM10000]

Is your phone set to allow contacts to be shared?

 

[st13phil]

What year is the car and does it have the Audio 20 or COMAND head unit?

 

[markjay]

Also, up to the 2011 facelift, the W204 was equipped with NTG4 (Audio20 or COMAND). The facelift had NTG4.5/4.7.

 

[Benzadrine]

Sorry folks - thought the W204 would be enough/forgot about year ...It's a C 200 Kompressor 2008

 

[DSM10000]

As before, have you got contact sharing turned on in your 'phone setting?

In Android there is a setting in the connected Bluetooth devices section to allow contacts sharing. Is there a similar option Apple?

 

[AMGeed]

Make sure the contacts are on the sim card, ensure contact sharing is authorised and press OK when you see the Import Contacts message.

 

[st13phil]

It's a C 200 Kompressor 2008

Ok, and does it have COMAND or (more likely) the basic Audio 20 head unit?

 

[Benzadrine]

As before, have you got contact sharing turned on in your 'phone setting?

In Android there is a setting in the connected Bluetooth devices section to allow contacts sharing. Is there a similar option Apple?

Yes it's on as far as I know...

 

[Benzadrine]

Ok, and does it have COMAND or (more likely) the basic Audio 20 head unit?

Not too sure -looks like this...

 

[st13phil]

OK, it's an Audio 20.

That means it won't "read" your phone's contacts via Bluetooth and maintain them dynamically, but it will import contacts details as vCards over Bluetooth.

It's almost 12 years since I had my own 2008 W204 with that head unit so my memory is hazy as to the detail of how to do it, but the gist is:

1. You need to create a file containing your contacts in vCard format on your phone
2. With your phone paired to the car, set the head unit to receive contacts
3. Send the contacts file from your phone to the car

Note that if you add or update any contacts on your phone, these changes will not be reflected on the car unless you repeat the sending process.

A search of the forum may turn up more info.

 

[Benzadrine]

OK, it's an Audio 20.

That means it won't "read" your phone's contacts via Bluetooth and maintain them dynamically, but it will import contacts details as vCards over Bluetooth.

It's almost 12 years since I had my own 2008 W204 with that head unit so my memory is hazy as to the detail of how to do it, but the gist is:

1. You need to create a file containing your contacts in vCard format on your phone
2. With your phone paired to the car, set the head unit to receive contacts
3. Send the contacts file from your phone to the car

Note that if you add or update any contacts on your phone, these changes will not be reflected on the car unless you repeat the sending process.

A search of the forum may turn up more info.

Thanks a lot -I'll try tomorrow

 

[AMGeed]

OK, it's an Audio 20.

That means it won't "read" your phone's contacts via Bluetooth and maintain them dynamically, but it will import contacts details as vCards over Bluetooth.

It's almost 12 years since I had my own 2008 W204 with that head unit so my memory is hazy as to the detail of how to do it, but the gist is:

1. You need to create a file containing your contacts in vCard format on your phone
2. With your phone paired to the car, set the head unit to receive contacts
3. Send the contacts file from your phone to the car

Note that if you add or update any contacts on your phone, these changes will not be reflected on the car unless you repeat the sending process.

A search of the forum may turn up more info.

Good memory recall Phil. Now you have reminded me how I added my contacts to my Audio 20.

 

[st13phil]

@AMGeed Haha!

ISTR that each contact has to be in its own vCard file for the transfer to work. At the time I had an old Nokia that would happily transfer contacts to the car, but it wasn’t possible with my iPhone.

A search of this forum for “vCard” turns up a few threads that detail methods of getting contacts to a W204 Audio 20 of that era, but it was certainly a PITA compared to what we now enjoy with later COMAND and MB-UX head units.

 

[AMGeed]

@AMGeed Haha!

ISTR that each contact has to be in its own vCard file for the transfer to work. At the time I had an old Nokia that would happily transfer contacts to the car, but it wasn’t possible with my iPhone.

A search of this forum for “vCard” turns up a few threads that detail methods of getting contacts to a W204 Audio 20 of that era, but it was certainly a PITA compared to what we now enjoy with later COMAND and MB-UX head units.

I had a few head scratching moments before I took a chance on downloading contacts to a vCard. Nothing to lose as nothing else had worked and it was the answer. I don't recall now whether the contacts were saved individually or bulk saved.

 

[Neiltodd]

You probably need the blue tooth adapter to allow your car phone system to see your contacts. Without it you can make and receive calls but dont get access to your phones contact details or call logs etc

 

[Benzadrine]

You probably need the blue tooth adapter to allow your car phone system to see your contacts. Without it you can make and receive calls but dont get access to your phones contact details or call logs etc

Sorry, I'm not technical as you've probably guessed...What is a BlueTooth adapter & where can i get one...eBay/Amazon?

 

[Neiltodd]

Sorry, I'm not technical as you've probably guessed...What is a BlueTooth adapter & where can i get one...eBay/Amazon?

Ebay would be your best bet, search for "MB bluetooth adaptor" should bring one up, they vary in cost from £80 to £140 second hand. Just sold mine for £80.

 

[st13phil]

You don't need a Bluetooth adapter.

You need your contacts in vCard format and a device to send them one-by-one to the head unit. An iPhone cannot do this; not sure if an Android device can.

See this thread for more info.

 

[AMGeed]

You don't need a Bluetooth adapter.

You need your contacts in vCard format and a device to send them one-by-one to the head unit. An iPhone cannot do this; not sure if an Android device can.

See this thread for more info.

I transferred mine with a Samsung Galaxy A5 6 year old Android phone.