CarPlay Screen Radio for Mercedes ML W164 and GL X164 (2005-2012): how to install Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

The Mercedes ML W164 and its bigger brother, the GL X164, are the kind of SUVs you buy once and keep for many years. Sturdy engines, all-wheel drive, a roomy cabin… and a centre console frozen in 2006. The original display is small, the navigation depends on a DVD nobody updates any more and the factory Bluetooth is good for phone calls at best.

With a screen radio built for the W164/X164 opening you get back everything it lacks in one go: wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, always up-to-date navigation, music streaming and a big touchscreen. And best of all: without touching the car's wiring. In this guide we explain what your SUV had as standard, how the new unit is fitted, what to do if you have Harman Kardon sound over fibre optics, and how much it all costs.

Do the Mercedes ML W164 and GL X164 have CarPlay as standard?

No. Neither the ML W164 (2005-2011) nor the GL X164 (2006-2012) ever left the factory with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto: these generations are far older than those systems within the Mercedes range. What you may have fitted is one of these:

• Audio 20: radio with CD and a small display; in later years, basic hands-free Bluetooth.
• Audio 50 APS: adds DVD-based navigation, with maps that are now badly out of date.
• COMAND APS: the premium option of the era, with a hard drive and a better screen, but no way of mirroring a phone.

None of the three can be updated by software to add CarPlay: the limitation is in the hardware itself. The only real route is to replace the unit with a modern screen radio prepared for the W164/X164 connector.

The solution: Android radio for the ML W164 and GL X164

The CarPlay screen radio for Mercedes ML GL W164 is made for the original opening in these SUVs, with its own frame and harness. This is what it brings:

• Wireless Apple CarPlay: your iPhone connects by itself when you start the car.
• Android Auto, wired or wireless.
• Android with the Play Store: Waze, Spotify, YouTube, online radio or whatever app you use daily, installed on the screen itself.
• Built-in GPS navigation with maps of Spain and Europe, usable without mobile data.
• Steering wheel controls kept working thanks to the Mercedes-specific CAN bus.
• HD touchscreen, far bigger and sharper than the original.
• DSP, hands-free Bluetooth and two USB ports.
• Free rear camera, very useful in a car this size, activating automatically in reverse.

It comes in three memory configurations: 1 GB + 16 GB, 2 GB + 32 GB and 4 GB + 64 GB. If you are mainly going to use CarPlay and navigation, the basic version does the job; if you want several apps open and everything especially smooth, the 2 GB or 4 GB RAM versions are the comfortable choice.

Compatibility with the ML W164 and GL X164: supported versions

• Mercedes ML W164 (2005-2011): ML 280 CDI, 300 CDI, 320 CDI, 350, 420 CDI, 500 and variants, including the 2008 facelift.
• Mercedes GL X164 (2006-2012): GL 320 CDI, 350 CDI, 420 CDI, 450 and 500.
• Cars with Audio 20, Audio 50 APS or COMAND from the factory.

Important note about the sound system: many MLs and GLs from these years had an amplified sound system (Harman Kardon Logic7) connected over fibre optics. On those cars, in addition to the screen you need a fibre optic decoder for Mercedes ML / GL / R-Class () so the amplifier and speakers keep working with the new radio. If you are not sure which system your car has, send us a photo of the radio and of the boot on WhatsApp and we will confirm it for free before you buy.

What is the installation like?

Fitting is plug & play: no cutting, no splicing. A professional will have it done in 30-60 minutes.

1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal.
2. Carefully remove the centre console trim on the W164/X164 using plastic tools so you do not damage the finishes.
3. Undo the screws on the original unit and pull it straight out.
4. Unplug the factory connectors and the aerial.
5. Connect the model-specific harness of the new screen. This is where the CAN bus module lives, keeping the steering wheel controls, the parking sensors and the dashboard warnings.
6. If your car has fibre optic sound, wire the decoder in following its diagram before closing everything up.
7. Route the rear camera cable to the tailgate if you are fitting it.
8. Slot the screen in, screw it down, reconnect the battery and switch on. Pair your phone once and CarPlay will connect on its own from then on.

The unit ships with the most recent version of Android available and receives OTA updates.

At PantallasPremium the screen radio for the ML W164 / GL X164 starts at for the 1 GB + 16 GB version, for 2 GB + 32 GB and for 4 GB + 64 GB, always with a rear camera included, free shipping across Europe, warranty and support. If your car needs the fibre optic decoder, add .

By comparison, updating the maps on the original navigation leaves you exactly where you were in terms of connectivity: still no CarPlay, no Waze and no Spotify. And a generic high-street solution means buying frame, harness and steering wheel interface separately, with more points of failure. If you prefer a workshop to fit it, ask for a labour quote: being a direct installation, it is usually less than an hour's work.

Frequently asked questions

My ML has Harman Kardon. Can I fit the screen?
Yes, but you will need the fibre optic decoder so the amplifier keeps receiving a signal. Without it, the speakers would stay silent.

Do I keep the parking sensors and steering wheel controls?
Yes. The included CAN bus module keeps the controls, the car's warnings and the sensor signal.

Which memory version suits me?
For CarPlay, navigation and music, 1 GB + 16 GB is plenty. If you are going to install lots of apps or want maximum smoothness with split screen, choose 2 GB + 32 GB or 4 GB + 64 GB.

Does it also fit the 7-seat GL?
Yes, the GL X164 shares its console and connector with the ML W164, so the installation is the same.

Do I need mobile data to navigate?
Not necessarily: the built-in GPS works with offline maps. With data you also get live traffic in Google Maps or Waze.

See the CarPlay radio for the Mercedes ML W164 and GL X164

You will find all the photos, specifications and reviews on the product page for the CarPlay and Android Auto screen radio for the Mercedes ML W164 and GL X164. Unsure about your trim or your Harman Kardon system? Message us on WhatsApp with a photo of your current radio and we will confirm compatibility for free.