Mercedes-Benz introduces new iPhone integration kit

Mercedes-Benz's current iPod integration kit is pretty weak sauce, especially since the new COMAND nav / multimedia system is so well done, but it looks like the automaker's newest iPhone cradle will take steps to address some of the more glaring issues and also add some interesting new features. The cradle appears to finally integrate iPod controls with the main nav screen and COMAND controller instead of relying solely on the instrument display and steering wheel controls, and it will charge your phone while allowing you to make calls and listen to music. On top of that, plugging the phone in will apparently increase reception by using the vehicle's antennas as well as the iPhone's, and from what we can tell, you'll be able to access the contacts list as well -- something MB's current Bluetooth system doesn't allow. If you've already got the iPod kit or Media Interface kit, the adapters needed will run you €39 ($60), and the cradle itself is available now in Germany for €249 ($385). Lots more pics at the read link.

[Thanks, Ashley]

[Ryan Trevisol @ Jun 19th 2008 7:10PM]

That looks . . . inelegant. That clunky thing on top seems out of place. Does it have to plug into the headset jack? If so, won't the flush headset jack of the iPhone 3G break that functionality? Also, it looks like it's so snug a fit that any case wouldn't work. Maybe that's why the demo iPhone they used is so scuffed up.

[Flashpoint @ Jun 19th 2008 8:10PM]

My S550 has this but the connector refuses to work with my iphone.

Its in the gove compartment rather than the arm rest.

[Alex @ Jun 19th 2008 11:00PM]

Glad I just had my S550 delivered yesterday with the MHI Bluetooth module. Looks like I'll be forking over another $450.

The S550 DOES get my contact list via bluetooth from the iPhone btw.

And yes, the COMMAND interface for the iPod absolutely sucks, after a day of using it I'm disgusted, and just posted on the MB forums yesterday wishing for a S/W upgrade to integrate the interface with COMMAND. Looks like that wish came through, albeit at a price...oh well, lol!

[Andrew @ Jun 19th 2008 11:12PM]

Your Benz has an iPod cable in the glovebox not an iPhone cable - at best it can charge your iPhone and play music from it.

That glovebox cable is not going to have any of the phone capabilities this set up has since it was never intended for it.

[Justin @ Jun 20th 2008 1:05AM]

Exactly. They need to get Bluetooth right, as Audi has with their MMI Bluetooth interface. After pairing my iPhone with my A3, I can access the contacts list, call history and see signal strength from the Audi screen. Oh, and you can dial by voice and add voice tags to contacts as well.

Audi > all others.

[Mel @ Jun 19th 2008 7:17PM]

So...assuming someone uses this with a 3G iPhone...the cradle costs more than the phone? Wow. Then again if one can afford a Mercedes, this really isn't a big deal, eh. Now if only my bank account would cooperate...

[CraigJ @ Jun 19th 2008 7:25PM]

Exactly. The title isn't "Hyundai introduces new iPhone integration kit"

[austin @ Jun 19th 2008 8:04PM]

"if one can afford a mercedes."

comments like these piss me off.

i am one of those people and i wont pay $385 for a dock to make my phone compatible with my car.

[PCIV @ Jun 19th 2008 8:17PM]

Thing is, I'm not one who can afford a benz, and I would buy it on a corolla...

[Stellar Developer @ Jun 19th 2008 9:06PM]

exactly... just cause I have 90K to blow, doesn't mean Im gonna blow it on a car ( let alone waste it on a benz ). It just an adapter, not a eighteen year old virgin : )

[Mel @ Jun 19th 2008 9:49PM]

@austin
My apologies, I didn't mean that to be malicious at all. I just meant that the cost of the cradle is relatively insignificant when compared to the cost of the car; not that a buyer would automatically spend money for something they don't need or want. Didn't mean to offend.

[Sean O @ Jun 20th 2008 3:15AM]

With the right lease, you'd be surprised how many people can afford a Mercedes these days.

[J3 L U N T @ Jun 19th 2008 7:23PM]

BMW has this already too...

http://accessories.bmwusa.com/ItemView.aspx?modelId=217&categoryId=112&productCategoryId=&menuId=2&subItemId=2&productId=948

[Andrew @ Jun 19th 2008 10:37PM]

I like BMW's implementation more. It looks much cleaner. Then again... I'm probably biased. :P

The only problem with BMW's is that the drop in piece will basically eliminate all space in your center console. Still, all I ever put in there is a pack of gum, some change in the cup holder that's in there, and my phone.

[Justin Foster @ Jun 19th 2008 7:25PM]

Looks great...but it is not clear to me if this can be used with existing MB cars or is the cradle and the improved interface only available for new models?

[Daniel @ Jun 19th 2008 7:27PM]

Just the new interface on the new cars.

[scurvy @ Jun 19th 2008 7:30PM]

I'm not really a fan of these in the armrest, in the glovebox "integration kits." Seriously, who's going to flip it open and plug everything in every single time they get in their car? Not many. Offer something up front and more accessible.

[Geno Endicott @ Jun 19th 2008 7:36PM]

I do this every time I get in or out of my car.

[johnmc @ Jun 19th 2008 9:02PM]

Um, me?

[Flashpoint @ Jun 19th 2008 10:08PM]

ME TOO !

S550 with ipod integration in glove compartment.

[sjcmiami @ Jun 19th 2008 7:40PM]

FYI

Your statement that current MB Bluetooth kits don't allow access to contact lists is absolutely incorrect. I have two different Benzes and the iPhone contact list works flawlessly in either one.

[cjh6793 @ Jun 19th 2008 9:10PM]

False.
I have two MBs as well- C350, GL450. Neither import contacts.

[sjcmiami @ Jun 19th 2008 9:37PM]

cjh6793:

It's not false. Iphone contact lists work perfectly in my Mercedes Benz S550 and CL600. Perhaps you have the older version bluetooth adaptor. The adaptor that ends in "5878" works perfectly in those two vehicle models and provides full and complete access to the contact list in the iPhone.

Therefore, my previous post was correct. Engadget's report that "accessing contact lists is something MB's current Bluetooth system doesn't allow" is NOT correct.

Current MB Bluetooth kits (P/N B6-7-87-5878) do allow access to iPhone contact lists (in two different model cars with two different iPhones I might add).

You stand corrected. Check with your dealer.

[me @ Jun 19th 2008 9:45PM]

Or just check with http://www.wireless4mb.com/

They make the modules.

[merritt @ Jun 19th 2008 10:49PM]

yep- it totally works in ours as well. you need to get the bluetooth "cradle" for about $300

it can handle mine and my wife's iPhones. i can leave it in my pocket and the bluetooth is great!

i'm sure when we upgrade cars the new cradle will be worth the purchase. if you are trying to hook the iPhone into the iPod connector in the glove box... that won't work. it will only charge the phone. only iPod's work.

[Nilay Patel @ Jun 20th 2008 12:39AM]

I have a brand new C300 with the new-style COMAND package and contacts do not import from any Bluetooth phone, including the iPhone.

[Craig @ Jun 20th 2008 9:25AM]

I have a 2008 C300 with the standard Comand system and iPhone contacts lists are definitely NOT supported via Bluetooth.

[vdogg89 @ Jun 19th 2008 7:57PM]

the last thing i want is my phone inside a console

[Neebs @ Jun 19th 2008 8:03PM]

Anyone else see Darth Vader in the picture first?

[Low Ranked @ Jun 19th 2008 8:11PM]

You either have a good eye, or a horrible fascination with Star Wars.

[THJ @ Jun 19th 2008 10:32PM]

I thought Krang from TMNT.

[gad get @ Jun 19th 2008 10:59PM]

You've got a good imagination.

[Reid @ Jun 19th 2008 8:09PM]

When it says that the MB can't integrate contacts into its onboard Bluetooth-connected system, does that mean the system doesn't support contacts *at all*? Or does it mean it just doesn't support them on the iPhone (yet)?

Is COMAND really that great? I've never used it. I have used BMW's iDrive for a bit, and it is a bit clunky but I get the problem it's trying to solve. COMAND has been criticized for being too button-intensive, but once you get over the interface, is it a pretty good system?

... looking forward to the day when the German automakers get their acts together and realize the Japanese-style touchscreen systems are where it's at... Or better yet, get Apple to design the touchscreen i/f.

[PsychoClown @ Jun 20th 2008 1:52PM]

I have a 2006 ML350 with COMMAND and it's rubbish. I actually wrote a letter to MB about how counterintuitive it is, its lack of features (no RDS in a 2006 vehicle?!) and the unnecessary button pushes to do basic features - not to mention the inconsistent interface from car model to model.

Did they make major improvements to it since then?

[neiliii3 @ Jun 19th 2008 8:10PM]

Who doesn't see Darth Varder in this pic.

[Jubei @ Jun 19th 2008 8:10PM]

Thats very nice of MB to integrate the iPhone with their entertainment systems. Does anyone know if the excellent Zune players will be included in the near future?

[inteller @ Jun 19th 2008 10:08PM]

no kidding. The Zune UI blows iPuds away.

[LJKelley @ Jun 19th 2008 10:28PM]

Ya, I also want something that allows the Zune to hookup to MB COMAND.

[Flashpoint @ Jun 19th 2008 8:11PM]

I do too.

[Flashpoint @ Jun 19th 2008 8:12PM]

I do too.

[szamot @ Jun 19th 2008 8:35PM]

@ Flashpoint - I think what you have is an iPod dock very much different from this.

I think these things run about $350 in Canada, for what it is I think it is a good value. Don't forget that this is not just a dock it is also the software that the dock works with and Command system is actually very cool unlink iDrive which really bites.

[KilgoreTrout @ Jun 19th 2008 9:13PM]

It seems that you can get it for nearly every phone on the market.
Not long ago I bought a saab (cabrio) and the dealer asked me:
"what cell phone do you have?"
"A nokia N95 why?"
He checked a list and then said "yes, your phone can be integrated with the car's electronics if you' re interested."
"How much is that gonna cost me?" I asked.
And he read out a price + tax+ assembling+ something else.
"That's twice what I paid for the bleedin' phone!" said I;
But then somehow I bought it anyway.

[Gavin V. @ Jun 19th 2008 9:31PM]

I wonder how many people will give cash at this car just for this.

[JoeSmack @ Jun 19th 2008 9:33PM]

I'd want mine near the dash so I could mess with it and drive at the same time.

[me @ Jun 19th 2008 9:42PM]

Contacts are imported via bluetooth if you have the new module. I have an 07 E350 and at the time the module only supported hands free for my phone. The new module fixes that.

www.wireless4mb.com

[raider @ Jun 19th 2008 9:50PM]

I can't believe they can't just bluetooth this to and from the car without the whole dock thing .. my crappy motorola and my excellent garmin nuvi sms, music, phonebook access and voice dial daily, and in any car, and without taking the phone out of my briefcase !

[Flashpoint @ Jun 19th 2008 10:13PM]

Raider


Bluetooth doesn't solve the "charging" problem and it also would be much too slow to stream music from a DAP to the car without some extravagantly expensive media extender.

plug - charge - play wires for mp3 players/mp3 player phones are the ONLY solution.

Since ipod's are so popular it makes sense to target ipod owners with such kits. I for example bought an iPhone and I'd want an iPhone integrator that allows me to charge-play and voice calls through my Benz's speakers.

My S550 came with a Mercedes Benz cellular phone but I never used that. In fact, its in the garage.

[raider @ Jun 19th 2008 10:46PM]

Yeah I'm hearing you, but, I still think there has to be a more 'elegant' solution, cradles and car kits just seem so _yesterday_

[Joe Anstine @ Jun 19th 2008 10:25PM]

ooh boy, now we can have a navigation system/whatever 10 million other needless things were put on it just so maybe it would sell better(internet, mp3 player, video player with various codec compatibilities, ect), dvd player, random game console, bluetooth, mp3 player hookup for your iPod touch AND now a cradle for your iPhone. Oh my god, how ever did we manage to survive before? Thank you Steve Jobs for using your sub par products that only really appeal to those who need a brand name object that instills the thought that you are a cut above everyone else because you have it to make yet another useless add-on to a already overpriced line of cars that will only serve to give the user a inflated sense of self-esteem and possibly give the car salesman some sort of add on bonus for managing to sell one of these things to an actual human being who has a functioning brain.

[Joe Anstine @ Jun 19th 2008 10:26PM]

and yes I know that the second sentence is not exactly grammatically correct. don't care.