Mercedes CarPlay retrofit: from NTG 4.0 to MBUX — which COMAND do I have?

Mercedes names its infotainment generations NTG — New Telematics Generation — and there are six of them relevant to CarPlay retrofitting: NTG 4.0, NTG 4.5, NTG 4.7, NTG 5.0, NTG 5.1, NTG 5.5 and NTG 6 (MBUX).

Like BMW and Audi, Mercedes never put that name anywhere the owner can see it. Unlike BMW and Audi, Mercedes also sold the same chassis with two entirely different head units — COMAND with navigation, or Audio 20 with a bolt-on Becker navigation module. Those need different parts.

This guide gets you to the right NTG generation and the right module.

Quick answer by chassis

Your Mercedes	Years	System	Module
W221 S, W212 E, W204 C, X204 GLK	2008–2012	NTG 4.0	NTG 4.0 — €259
W204, W212, W221/W222, W218 CLS, X204, W166, W176, W246, CLA, GLA	2011–2016	NTG 4.5 / 4.7 COMAND	NTG 4.5 / 4.7 — €219
W204, W212, W176, W246, GLA, CLA with Audio 20 + Becker	2011–2016	NTG 4.5 Becker	NTG 4.5 Becker — €209
W205 C, W253 GLC, W213 E, W222 S	2014–2018	NTG 5.0 / 5.1	NTG 5.0 / 5.1 — €299
W213 E, W222 S, X253 GLC, W166 GLE	2016–2018	NTG 5.5	NTG 5.5 — €319
A, B, C, GLA, GLB, GLE with MBUX	2018+	NTG 6 / MBUX	NTG 6 / MBUX — €359

COMAND or Audio 20 + Becker? Check this first

Before anything else, establish which of the two head units your car has. This is the Mercedes-specific trap.

COMAND Online — the full system with built-in navigation. Maps are stored in the unit itself. The menu says COMAND on start-up.

Audio 20 + Becker MAP PILOT — the entry system with no built-in navigation, to which a separate Becker navigation module was added. You will see the Becker logo on screen or in the menu, and the module itself is often a small cartridge in the glovebox.

Same chassis, same years, same dashboard — different modules. COMAND takes the NTG 4.5 / 4.7 module; Audio 20 with Becker takes the NTG 4.5 Becker module.

W204 C-Class: the most searched Mercedes

The W204 spans 2007 to 2014 and covers two NTG generations, which is why it causes the most confusion.

• 2008–2011 (pre-facelift) — usually NTG 4.0. Older COMAND menu with hard buttons arranged around the central controller.
• 2011–2014 (facelift) — usually NTG 4.5. Cleaner interface, smoother map.

Then apply the COMAND-versus-Becker check above. A facelift W204 with Audio 20 and a Becker cartridge needs the Becker module, not the COMAND one.

If in doubt on a W204, send the VIN. This chassis generates more wrong orders than any other Mercedes.

NTG 4.5 versus NTG 4.7

NTG 4.5 runs roughly 2011–2014, NTG 4.7 is the updated version from roughly 2014–2016. Visually they are near-identical and both take the same module, so this distinction does not change what you buy.

It is worth knowing only because you will see both names used, and people assume they need different parts. They do not.

NTG 5.0, 5.1 and 5.5

These are the COMAND Online generations of the W205, W213, W222 and GLC/GLE era.

NTG 5.0 / 5.1 (2014–2018) — one central display. 5.1 is the mid-cycle update; both take the same module.

NTG 5.5 (2016–2018) — the last COMAND Online generation, and the one with two separate screens side by side under a single glass panel. Takes the NTG 5.5 module. CarPlay appears on the central display; the digital instrument cluster is unaffected.

Many of these cars have factory CarPlay already — wired only. The module makes it wireless.

NTG 6 / MBUX (2018 onwards)

MBUX is the current generation: unified widescreen, tile interface, and the "Hey Mercedes" voice assistant.

MBUX ships with wired CarPlay. The NTG 6 / MBUX module (€359) makes it wireless and adds wireless Android Auto. "Hey Mercedes" keeps working, Burmester sound is unaffected, and the digital cluster is untouched.

"Can't I just have CarPlay coded/unlocked?"

This comes up often and deserves a straight answer, because sometimes the answer is yes.

On some Mercedes models CarPlay is present in the software but not activated, because the original buyer did not order the option. In those cases a workshop can enable it via coding — no hardware required. That applies mainly to NTG 5.x and NTG 6 cars built after CarPlay existed as a factory option.

Coding cannot help if:

• the car predates factory CarPlay entirely (NTG 4.0, NTG 4.5, most NTG 4.7) — there is nothing in the software to unlock;
• you want wireless CarPlay on a car whose factory implementation is wired-only;
• you want Android Auto on a car that never offered it in your market.

In those three cases a module is the only route. If you are not sure which situation you are in, send us the VIN — we will tell you if coding would be cheaper, even though that means we do not sell you a module.

What stays and what changes

Kept: COMAND navigation, radio, DAB, Bluetooth, vehicle settings, reversing camera and 360° system, parking sensors, steering wheel controls, "Hey Mercedes" on MBUX cars, Burmester and Harman Kardon sound.

Added: wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Google Maps and Waze on the factory screen, Spotify through the factory speakers.

No cable is cut and no Star Diagnosis session is required.

Common questions

Is Burmester or Harman Kardon sound affected?
No. Audio from CarPlay plays through the factory amplifier and speakers at full quality.

Do I keep the COMAND controller?
Yes. You navigate CarPlay with the factory rotary controller and touchpad. No touchscreen required.

Does the 360° camera still work?
Yes. Every factory camera and parking sensor stays functional. Select reverse and the screen switches automatically.

How long is the warranty?
24 months on every module.

Not sure which NTG you have?

Mercedes is the brand where the COMAND-versus-Becker distinction catches people out most. Send your VIN to info@oemcarplay.com and we will confirm in writing which NTG generation and which head unit your car has. Free, usually within 30 minutes.

Or use the vehicle check, or browse all Mercedes CarPlay modules.