Mercedes' audio and navigation have been highly proprietary since at least the early 2000s. Some Chinese manufacturers have introduced limited aftermarket replacements for the MB audio/ navigation, but they have many quirks and are often a massive undertaking to install/ get working.
Well … while all the drama was going on here - I read Google Maps would be free plus other Google things … for 8 years on GM …Mercedes' audio and navigation have been highly proprietary since at least the early 2000s. Some Chinese manufacturers have introduced limited aftermarket replacements for the MB audio/ navigation, but they have many quirks and are often a massive undertaking to install/ get working.
One of many big complaints about MB is they stop supporting navigation updates not far after a vehicle was manufactured, and there are no aftermarket alternative since the system is proprietary. With these latest designs from MB, I speculate no aftermarket or third-party solutions will be feasible, because the proprietary technology is doing more than ever.
It either won't be possible ( Ford- sync three that controls just about everything in the vehicle) or will be prohibitively expensive.I suppose the car will also complain mightily if an aftermarket stereo is installed.
Metra does make dash kits for many newer GM/Ford/FCA products. They even make dash kits for the newest Toyotas - since the new Toyota deck is made by Pioneer or Denso Ten based off a 1DIN head, but a “tablet” display. Someone was able to install a new Pioneer “modular” display deck into a current RAV4 - and even used the stock Toyota trim around the Pioneer.I'm not sure how practical, or possible, in most cars built in the past ~10 years.
Toyota’s been dropping support for their navigation systems after 10 years, the gen 1-6 systems were obsolete when they debuted but are no longer supported for maps, and there’s a good change gen 7-10 will lose map support in the next 4 years or sooner. There’s Chinese Android replacements for some models, others have a hacked sidecar system that will interface via the GVIF pins and MD/CD emulation if a 2DIN deck can’t be installed easily - BeatSonic had a dash and RGB interface for some Lexus models.Mercedes' audio and navigation have been highly proprietary since at least the early 2000s. Some Chinese manufacturers have introduced limited aftermarket replacements for the MB audio/ navigation, but they have many quirks and are often a massive undertaking to install/ get working.
One of many big complaints about MB is they stop supporting navigation updates not far after a vehicle was manufactured, and there are no aftermarket alternative since the system is proprietary. With these latest designs from MB, I speculate no aftermarket or third-party solutions will be feasible, because the proprietary technology is doing more than ever.
Or maybe some still have a betamax player in their basement and will use that as a reminder of what not to do.I think you will find all the OEM's moving in this direction, they smell the $$$
Some will, but it will be a very low percentage of buyers and they're likely to know this change/limitation ahead of time. Most buyers will find out later, after they're taken the vehicle home, and they start setting things up. They won't know where the capless-fuel funnel is (from reading the manual) but they'll dig into how to connect their phone !People will buy other vehicles for this reason alone
I very respectuflly disagree. Maybe for us old farts, and maybe for the very small percentage of the population that are "car people".Some will, but it will be a very low percentage of buyers and they're likely to know this change/limitation ahead of time. Most buyers will find out later, after they're taken the vehicle home, and they start setting things up. They won't know where the capless-fuel funnel is (from reading the manual) but they'll dig into how to connect their phone !
Not one salesman ever showed us infotainment - they helped us setup OnStar on the GM’s and did nothing more than spit shine the other brands … Or, try to sell aftermarket crap …I very respectuflly disagree. Maybe for us old farts, and maybe for the very small percentage of the population that are "car people".
Most under 30 has no care in the world what car they drive - other than color - but they sure care about what phone they carry. The first thing sales people show you is infotainment, and the first thing the modern reviews talk about is infotainment, so if GM thinks they can keep up with Google and Apple - well best of luck.
They don't need to keep up with Google, they're using Google. If the phone connects, they can make calls, use navigation, and some audio streaming apps, most buyers will be happy.so if GM thinks they can keep up with Google and Apple - well best of luck.
They don't need to keep up with Google, they're using Google. If the phone connects, they can make calls, use navigation, and some audio streaming apps, most buyers will be happy.
I am curious how Google will implement text ability with iPhones though. And before anyone rants about this, using this is nowhere near the same as "texting and driving".
As long as it works, is updated frequently, etc, no one will care. It will be Google Maps anyway.You'll be stuck with the map you get from chevy.
The map I got from Chevy is already Google …Thats just it - you wont get to use the navigation on your big screen.
You'll be stuck with the map you get from chevy.
It will be restricted to the phone and Bluetooth connectivity vs native.
Several years for free is what I read …As long as it works, is updated frequently, etc, no one will care. It will be Google Maps anyway.