DB11 with CarPlay Preparation

[xnetco]

Hello

I see a number of dealers are saying Car Play prep on used DB11s.

Any idea what that means?

[BlackTails]

I think - but I am not certain - it means that the hardware and software is in place, so that all you have to do is plug in an iPhone and you’ll get CarPlay on the screen.

These cars also usually say they have Bluetooth prep, which means you just need a phone, so...

[pschlute]

Yes I have just been setting up Apple CarPlay on my Range Rover. Connect an iphone to the car with a USB cable and you can use the car's info screen as well as Siri to play music and make calls/texts etc. You use the iphone's voice controls (Siri) rather than the car's.

[Rob F]

Not sure this is true as I’ve had my iPhone plugged into the USB on the DB11 and it definitely doesn’t come up with CarPlay. Aston Installations seem to offer retro fit so that would suggest that technically it’s possible but not available as factory? Unless some kind of software update has been released to unlock it.

[awg454]

I don’t think Apple car play is available from the factory on any DB11s as yet,if it’s on Autotrader adds I think it’s maybe auto filling the information or the dealers are not looking at the buttons they are clicking

[silverspeed]

awg454 said:

I don’t think Apple car play is available from the factory on any DB11s as yet,if it’s on Autotrader adds I think it’s maybe auto filling the information or the dealers are not looking at the buttons they are clicking

Agree - my understanding is DBX will be first to have it standard fit as it uses the new S Class hardware/software . Aston Installations can fit Apple CarPlay to existing and some previous models . They supply hardware to make it work however it fully integrates in to the Aston system which begs the question why Aston don’t do it .

[xnetco]

silverspeed said:

Agree - my understanding is DBX will be first to have it standard fit as it uses the new S Class hardware/software . Aston Installations can fit Apple CarPlay to existing and some previous models . They supply hardware to make it work however it fully integrates in to the Aston system which begs the question why Aston don’t do it .

My dealer told me licensing but I don't believe that.

The Aston Installations is very good, I have it myself, however I think the integration could be slightly better. Taking phone calls could be slicker.

[BlackTails]

awg454 said:

I don’t think Apple car play is available from the factory on any DB11s as yet,if it’s on Autotrader adds I think it’s maybe auto filling the information or the dealers are not looking at the buttons they are clicking

This seems strangely retrogressive, because it was available factory fitted (at least AIUI) on the 2017 MY onward V12VSs, which had AMi III. And it can be fitted by an AM dealer as an AM hardware and software upgrade to Vantages which have AMi ii (MY16, I think). Presumably AM are stuck with the functionality that the Mercedes systems offer in the DB11.

[awg454]

BlackTails said:

This seems strangely retrogressive, because it was available factory fitted (at least AIUI) on the 2017 MY onward V12VSs, which had AMi III. And it can be fitted by an AM dealer as an AM hardware and software upgrade to Vantages which have AMi ii (MY16, I think). Presumably AM are stuck with the functionality that the Mercedes systems offer in the DB11.

Yes a real backward step I had it on my 2017 Rapide S with Ami 111,I understand it’s something to do with the Mercedes not releasing there latest spec hardware (until the DBX)

[AWV12]

It indeed has to do with the "old" MB infotainment system. In the DB11/DBS/new Vantage a system even older(!) than COMAND 5*2 is used. My previous S63 had COMAND 5*2, without Carplay, my current one has COMAND 5*5 and INCLUDES Carplay/Android Auto, and the new DBX will have the even newer MBUX (COMAND 6), so let's hope this comes though to the other models asap!

(the new 2021 S class will have MBUX COMAND 7, as it seems)