A-Class [Official] Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W176)

[Wolfgang]

Mr. Mercedes, integration should work with the Drive Kit Plus for the iPhone which was just released. Hopefully it will be offered in Australia. http://drive-kit-plus.com/en/#s/start

Not sure the central display will be in color from the start. Might be added lateron.
http://www2.mercedes-benz.com.au/co...object-Single-MEDIA.tmp/A-Class_W176_0912.pdf

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

You're a legend Wolf. Does drive kit have to come on the vehicle from the factory? Can it be added after or is it just an App? I am thinking of placing an order for an A, but would want to have these features (even if it is just for the hell of it! lol). I'd feel my A was a little incomplete if it missed out. Imagine having the convenience of SIRI while you drive!!!

 

[Wolfgang]

Thank you. Comes from the factory with order code B56 starting with Q1 2013 production.
http://www.daimler.com/dccom/0-5-658451-1-1464474-1-0-0-0-0-0-8-7145-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.html

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Thanks Wolf, It appears in the genuine accessories brochure. This may indicate it can be fitted at the dealership?

http://www2.mercedes-benz.com.au/co...gle-MEDIA.tmp/A-Class_Accessories_Sep2012.pdf

 

[vios1]

 

[Wolfgang]

Thanks Wolf, It appears in the genuine accessories brochure. This may indicate it can be fitted at the dealership?

Good find. Agreed. If they list it, your dealer should be able to install it.

http://drive-kit-plus.com/en/#s/start

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

This is stupid. My dealer tells me:

" I've received information from Mercedes Benz this morning to inform me that the Drive kit has been deferred for the European market and has no confirmation at this time for the Australian market."

So why the hell are they making such a big deal about a feature that's NOT EVEN READY! The car has been on sale for almost 1/2 a year now.

 

[Wolfgang]

Suspected this would happen as the "Drive Kit Plus for the iPhone" is out for just a few days now in Europe, a bit earlier than the anticipated Q1 2013 release. There's likely a large order backlog. It works with the Audio 20 CD or COMAND in the A-Class, and is not the same as the "Drive Kit for the iPhone", a simpler connectivity kit for the Audio 5 radio.

A-Class deliveries started on September 19, 2012 and there's roughly a 70,000 units backlog now. If I were you, I'd just wait until the first generation has been thoroughly tested, and then place the order with your dealer, once their techs have successfully installed it in a few customer automobiles.

Also, don't expect SIRI to reply perfectly every time. Might be slow to respond at times, and some kinks are likely.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Wolf, the dealers quote seems to indicate that Drive Kit Plus it is not available in Europe yet and has been pushed back?

Are you suggesting I should defer my vehicle order (January build, March delivery as it stands), or just defer the installation of Drive Kit Plus?

I still haven't come across a definitive answer as to whether Drive Kit Plus will be able to be installed at the dealer at a later stage or if it has to come from the factory. If it's from the factory I will most definitely defer the vehicle. If you had a definitive answer on this that would be awesome.

Also still haven't been able to find out if the iPhone is now working with Command Online. Because apparently it didn't work at first because of some DAP protocol not being supported by the iPhone.

MB Australia is usually quite useless at this sort of information, though I have contacted them.

 

[Wolfgang]

True the "Drive Kit Plus for the iPhone" had been delayed. Ordering the vehicle with the kit might be more cost effective. The kit is dealer installable, but it depends on MB Australia if they want their dealers to do it. COMAND Online works with cable or Bluetooth, using the PAN profile.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Ok, so the iPhone does not support this PAN profile for bluetooth and needs to be plugged in?

Thank you again

 

[deity]

How anyone is able to call this ugly is beyond me.

 

[Wolfgang]

Ok, so the iPhone does not support this PAN profile for bluetooth and needs to be plugged in?

Thank you again

Mr. Mercedes, the iPhone supports PAN and so will COMAND Online, starting in 2013.

Another connectivity option for COMAND Online (I'd choose with what the dealer phone tech is most comfortable with -- that's what I do), is MB order code 386 comfort phone. MB Accessories released a Bluetooth module recently which one just sticks onto the connector in the center armrest. The module then connects via Bluetooth to COMAND Online and also your iPhone; and also has an optional SIM card slot, in case one doesn't want to use the phone for data traffic. Here's a pic:

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Wolf you're information is MUCH appreciated, but now I'm just getting confused. lol. I simply want to know the answer to two questions:
1. Will my January build A-class connect to my iPhone for command online to work?
2. Will I be able to have the dealer install Drive Kit Plus on my A-class when it becomes available in Australia or does the vehicle have to be made compatible from the factory.

I'm honestly thinking about deferring production until I can get proper Yes answers to these question. I think I will actually end up keeping this car for some time, so I want it to be 'up to date' from the onset.

 

[Wolfgang]

1. Will my January build A-class connect to my iPhone for command online to work?
2. Will I be able to have the dealer install Drive Kit Plus on my A-class when it becomes available in Australia

1. Yes.
2. Probably yes.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Let me just thow another two out there.
1. For 2011 and 2012 built cars (not necessarily the A-Class but also C Class), will their command online systems be upgradable (software) to work with the iPhone?
2. For 2011 and 2012 built cars (not necessarily the A-Class but also C Class), will the dealer be able to install Drive Kit Plus or is the Command Online system in these cars too old?

 

[Wolfgang]

MB's Johann Jungwirth may have answered your questions in a recent FAZ interview.


Anyone who has just bought an E-Class with COMAND Online is now jealous of the A-Class with their better iPhone integration?
Our apps and Drive Kit Plus will soon be offered in other model series. Not only in the A-Class, but also in the B-, C- and E-Class.

COMAND Online is then on its way out?
Not at all. COMAND Online is extremely important for us, it is our high-end system, it provides more content and features, it can be expanded flexibly via the cloud. We have recently introduced two new apps with news and online parking space.

But all this can not be use with the iPhone?
You can use COMAND Online starting next year with the iPhone and the Bluetooth PAN profile. This means that then all smartphones are on board.



Added for APP developers only:

Can independent developers participate in Mercedes-Benz Apps, or does it remain a closed project?
We are working hard in our lab in Palo Alto on this subject, but have not yet communicated officially on which platforms we will open us. Ultimately smartphones and Web-based apps live from the developer community. We will find ways in which we can flexibly take these SDKs or templates on board, where once again driver distraction needs to be considered.
Recommended blog: http://www.transportationtechnologyventures.com/blog/?page_id=286

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

You're really an endless supply of information Wolf! I'd buy you a drink if you were here (even though I don't drink )

The way the questions are answered though:

'Our apps and Drive Kit Plus will soon be offered in other model series. Not only in the A-Class, but also in the B-, C- and E-Class.'

'You can use COMAND Online starting next year with the iPhone and the Bluetooth PAN profile. This means that then all smartphones are on board.'

Doesn't really confirm if current Command Online systems will be software upgradable and Drive Kit Plus upgradable, or if will only be available on new (January 2013 onwards) Command Online systems in new C's, E's etc. I've been searching online about this issue and all I'm finding is hundreds and hundreds of customers completely angry that their supposedly state of the art Command Online system does not work with a iPhone and numerous other smart phones.

 

[Wolfgang]

I've been searching online about this issue and all I'm finding is hundreds and hundreds of customers completely angry that their supposedly state of the art Command Online system does not work with a iPhone and numerous other smart phones.

Not surprising as MB has been heavily advertising COMAND Online, including the keynote at the Computer Electronics Show in January, while at the time the cars did not support the features and are just now slowly rolled out, possibly to ensure reliability, while others may be delayed to 2013 or even later. Such delays are pretty normal for MB phone connectivity. Here's a site to keep track of available options, but Australia is not listed. If unsure of what works and what not, suggest to talk with the phone tech at your local dealer.

http://www.mercedes-benz-mobile.com

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

So do you know the definitive answer? Old command online systems will be upgradable or only January 2013 onwards.

I wish MB Australia were that helpful and well informed. They usually know nothing or say nothing to avoid liability. The dealers are the same.