Did you ever get any answers to the above?
I'm considering MIP if I can't get Bluetooth audio streaming working directly through COMAND (which is supposedly possible by making a change in the Engineering menu and having updated firmware).

 

Media Interface Plus gets returned

I really wanted the Media Interface Plus to work for me. After much monkeying around and in consideration of the alternatives, it was returned to the dealer for a refund. It did stream both iPhone resident songs and Pandora internet radio but as you can read for yourself in other posts on this topic (for example one initiated by member wngs02 in the Audio & Telematics Forum) the ~$300 price tag just didn't deliver on its promises in a way that met my expectations. My previous Mercedes (1997 E320) cost me $1,000 to have a 6-CD changer live in the trunk, so to have such high expectations from the wealth of music delivery potential in my 2010 E550 might seem unreasonable. You can make your own choice but here's how my thinking -- and experience with the situation -- evolved.

- 32GB iPhone connects to the end of the Media Interface cable just fine and works perfectly. Don't enjoy having to open the glovebox and connect my phone onto the end of a cable every time I get in the car. If I didn't need the phone in my pocket when leaving the car (for phone calls) it would be fine to just leave it connected permanently.
- No USB connector exists on the end of my stock Media Interface cable to connect (and leave permanently connected) an MB-approved hard disk, solid state disk or high capacity USB Flash memory device (see their web site for the list of devices). I could either purchase a new cable (which provides that USB connector but eliminates the other iPhone and AUX connections) OR . . . here's a thing called a Media Interface Plus that not only streams iPhone tunes and Pandora internet radio, but includes a USB connector as well. My thinking was to do this cool streaming AND have a permanent USB music store on the end of that USB cable as well.
- Verified the firmware and other 'updates' were current in the MIP as delivered. Went on to find that although the bluetooth streaming technially worked, it's clearly an add-on that just isn't ready for prime time (read other posts on this topic referenced above). To add insult to expectation injury, the USB cable coming out of the MIP doesn't do what I had hoped. It can't see the hard disk drive I plugged in, a garden variety USB stick or anything else. I conclude the only reason the USB cable is hanging off the MIP is to deliver its firmware updates that it might need in the future.
- Took the MIP back for my ~$300 refund, plugged the stock Media Interface cable back in and purchased a three-foot $6.99 AUX cable with male connectors on both ends.
- Drilled a tiny hole in the bottom rear of the glove box and now connect my iPhone to one end of this AUX cable and the other end of the cable to the AUX connector that lives in the permanently closed glove box. Sure it's not super clean since there's a cable meandering up to my phone which sits in the cup holder or passenger seat. But Pandora works great, tunes on the iPhone work great, connection is very quick and simple, and the sound quality is as good as it can be. Tunes are available instantly once the connector is plugged in. Note that with an AUX connection the interface is with the phone and not the steering wheel controls which is an acceptable compromise for me.
- I still wanted a giant music store available so with the purchase of a $7.50 PCMCIA adapter (PPA Int'l see their web site) and a variety of CF memory capacities the in-dash "Music Card" capability works really, really well. You can do the same thing with SD memory cards if you prefer that adapter instead of the one for CF memory. I have 6 or 7 cards available ranging in capacity from 2GB up to 32GB and I've got the holiday music isolated on one card, classical on another, road trip playlists on another, etc. This is a great supplement to all the other music delivery options that is probably underutilized by all of us that have this memory card slot in the Command system.

- Down sides of my chosen solutions to the music topic. 1) iPhone still gets plugged in but at least I don't have to open the glove box to do it. 2) AUX cable scenario isn't as clean as some of us would demand but it's acceptable to me. 3) Interface for Pandora and iPhone music selection is on the phone, not the Command system. Fine with me. 4) iPhone is not connected in a way that keeps its battery charged which means that on long trips the battery might deplete.

If the satellite radio provider hadn't gotten so greedy with their plans, rates and consumer unfriendly policies, I'd have the satellite radio subscription in this Mercedes I'd prefer, my phone would be for phone calls and this entire thread and topic would be simplified or absent. I guess they are in some kind of denial about the competition they face for commercial-free music that didn't exist when they were pre-merger XM and Serius. I hope they're able to stay in business long enough so I can enjoy the lifetime XM radio subscription I enjoy in my 2010 Prius. Sure we purchase and drive these wonderful works of art and pleasure from Mercedes, but just like the rest of you, I'm a cheapskate at heart. I refuse to pay Serius satellite radio $18 or $19 per month forever -- do the math on the life expectancy of your car.

 

If you want a hard drive for music and to use Pandora
1. Buy an Ipog 80G and leave it in the car plugged in at all times ($150)
2. Enable Bluetooth for through Engineering Mode...you can use Pandora and listen to any songs on your Iphone
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w212-e-class/1497374-engineering-mode-w212-comand.html

 

PeterPeter - thanks for the very detailed reply.
fishninja - thanks for the link to the info on enabling BT streaming.

After much messing around with this last night, I got streaming and phone functionality to work at the same time on my iPhone 4s. However, it is flaky in that the device does not reconnect automatically and when BT streaming is active, the phone functionality often fails to pair. I guess this is expected otherwise the BT option would be enabled by default. Certainly, the functionality behaves properly on a 2012 C-class I drove as a loaner before getting my 2010 E-class.
From what I'm reading, it sounds like the the MIP only allows the phone to be connected as a phone or as a BT audio streaming source - but not together!
I wonder if a device like this Belkin Bluetooth Music Receiver connected to the 3.5mm aux input might be a better solution? (Except it requires an external power source... Argh!)
By the way, the reason I'm hung up on the BT thing is because my kids enjoy being able to control what is playing from the back seat and I'd rather not have wires dangling around... besides I was spoilt with the new COMAND head unit in the 2012 C-class!

 

The BT audio pairing with iPhone seems to be an issue with many people (not so much Android phones) but there seems to be an upgrade for that COMMAND (or they may just replace the whole COMMAND)...read this post

Firmware update for BT audio? - MBWorld.org Forums

For my HTC Thunderbolt I can be connected as my phone and audio Streaming. I expect you should be able to do the same, so keep trying

 

Thanks! Going to the dealer tomorrow to get remaining bits for my car - picked it up yesterday but sales guy was out. I've emailed the service advisor to let he r know what I want done and have included the COMAND update for intermittent BT audio. Fingers crossed!

 

Don't want to spam this useful and informative thread (I've read all the posts on getting into the engineering menus, setting BT audio streaming to ON, needing to rediscover the phone once the ignition is cycled, etc.) but I'm left without a complete fix. I've gotten as far as all of you have gotten meaning that BT audio streaming works, except that I've got a 2010 E550 and virtually all of the posts, comments and successful dealer firmware upgrades are for MY11 W212s.

So member dsaved it sounds like you have a 2010 and are going to the dealer for your bit fix please let all of us with MY 2010 E550s know your result. Thanks in advance for all the pointers and tips thus far.

 

Yup it is going in tomorrow. It is an E550 coupe MY2010 but I'm guessing that the COMAND unit is identical.
I'll update the thread when I have more info.


Sent from my Autoguide iPhone app

 

Just got off the phone with the service advisor. Apparently the COMAND unit is being updated with new firmware.
I'll update once I get it back!

 

I'm pleased to report that after its visit to the dealer and having had COMAND updated, I am now able to reliably connect to my iPhone 4s as a phone and at the same time use it as a Bluetooth audio source for streaming. It continues to work this way after being away from the car and restarting the ignition. I do have to select BT Audio in the Media menu (or press the DISC button to select the BT Audio source) and select "Reconnect to last used device" but that's fine with me.
I'm not exactly sure how to read the version numbers on the COMAND system since there are so many of them. If it is at all helpful, before the update my HU Version was 11.12.00 and it is now 11.14.00. This information is accessed from the Engineering Menu (Hangup+#+1) and going into section 3.19.
Note that after this update, I lost all my traffic menus and Sirius went back to preview mode. Dealer found that getting Sirius to resend the activation signal to both the traffic and the radio receivers fixed it.
Below is a copy of the service work description, which may be useful to others.
To reconfirm, this is in a 2010 E550 coupe with a build date of 05/09.

Hope this is helpful to others!



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

If it is at all helpful, before the update my HU Version was 11.12.00 and it is now 11.14.00. This information is accessed from the Engineering Menu (Hangup+#+1) and going into section 3.19.
To reconfirm, this is in a 2010 E550 coupe with a build date of 05/09.

Hope this is helpful to others!

Very helpful dsayed.
I just checked my HU version (MY2011 E550 sedan, 8/10 build) and the version is 10.05.00. Seems pretty old compared with yours.
I'll see if I can get an upgrade next time I'm at the dealer.

 

Thanks for taking the time to put this on the forum. I have an appointment on Thursday for my 11' C63 to have the media interface plus put in. I've requested that they try to put it in center console if possible. Now I can also ask them to update firmware for Command thanks to your post.

 

Could you please tell us if you already have the cable and plug in your glovebox or the dealer will indtall a brand new connection. Also, how much it cost you. Thanks

 

I have an iPhone 3GS running iOS 5. I have had no issues with these functions. I have an 80GB iPod Classic in the glove box connected to the iPod interface, and can stream bluetooth audio from my iPhone, and place a call. Kinda cool when you think about it. Is there a way to play iPod movies through the command system?

 

I think I read somewhere that there's an iPod video cable that lets you view video while stationary. This is a hardwire connected and not via Bluetooth.

 

Hi,

I just activated the BT audio and i have the problem of where to find the firmware version to check if i can update it. There are lots of versions and i'm not sure which one it's the right one.

Also, did the MB dealer charged you anything for updating the firmware? is there any way of DIY?

Cheers