CarPlay Interface for Mercedes A-Class W177, CLA, GLA and GLB (2018-2023): How to Install Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

The Mercedes A-Class W177 and its platform siblings — CLA, GLA and GLB — introduced MBUX (NTG6.0), one of the sharpest and fastest interfaces ever fitted to a car. The catch appears when you find out that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were not standard on every version: they depended on the smartphone integration package the first owner ticked (or didn't) on the options list. If they didn't, you are left with two beautiful screens on which you cannot use Google Maps, Waze or Spotify the way you have them on your phone.

The good news is that you don't need to replace the screen. There is an interface that connects behind the original system and adds wireless CarPlay and Android Auto while keeping MBUX untouched: same graphics, same touchpad, same factory navigation. Here is how it works and what to expect from the installation.

Does the Mercedes A-Class W177 have CarPlay as standard?

It depends on the specification. Every W177, CLA C118, GLA H247 and GLB X247 left the factory with MBUX, but in different configurations:

• 7" + 7" screens: the entry-level combination, very common on fleet cars and basic trims. On many of these units smartphone integration is simply not enabled.
• 10.25" + 7" or 10.25" + 10.25" screens: the premium packages. They usually include CarPlay, but wired, not wireless.
• With or without MBUX navigation: factory navigation is a separate option, and its maps age badly over the years.

In other words: even on well-equipped cars, CarPlay means keeping your phone plugged into the USB-C port, with the cable in the way and the phone heating up. And if the car left the factory without the option, enabling it at the dealer means coding and, in many cases, replacing the control unit hardware.

The solution: a CarPlay interface for Mercedes with MBUX NTG6.0

The interface is a module the size of your palm that sits between the multimedia unit and the screen. It replaces nothing: it adds an extra video source that you select from the car's own menu. This is what it brings:

• Wireless Apple CarPlay: your iPhone connects on its own when you start the car, stays in your pocket, and the car's screen shows maps, messages and music.
• Wireless Android Auto: the same for Android phones, with Google Maps, Waze, Spotify or YouTube Music.
• MBUX untouched: the radio, the original navigation, "Hey Mercedes", the comfort menus and the car settings all stay exactly where they were. You switch between them like changing a radio station.
• Control via the touchpad and steering wheel: it works with the centre console touchpad, with the touchscreen (if your version has one) and with the steering wheel buttons.
• Phone screen mirroring for content CarPlay does not allow natively.
• Extra camera input: if you want to add a front or additional parking camera, the interface has an input for it.
• External microphone included, so calls and voice assistants come through clean.

Compatibility with A-Class, CLA, GLA and GLB: supported versions

This interface is designed for Mercedes models with the MBUX NTG6.0 system, which in practice means:

• A-Class W177 (5-door) and A-Class Saloon V177, 2018-2023.
• CLA C118 and CLA Shooting Brake X118, 2019-2023.
• GLA H247, 2020-2023.
• GLB X247, 2019-2023.

It works with both the 7" and the 10.25" screens, with and without factory navigation. The only thing worth checking before you buy is that your car actually has MBUX (horizontal screens under a single hood) and not the older A-Class W176 system, which is different electronics and needs a different product. If in doubt, send us a photo of your dashboard on WhatsApp and we will confirm it before you place the order.

What is the installation like?

It is a clean installation that does not cut a single one of the car's wires. A professional installer does it in under an hour; with patience and the right tools it can be done at home:

1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal and wait a few minutes before touching anything.
2. Remove the centre console trim and get to the multimedia unit, located behind the screen or in the glovebox depending on the version.
3. Unplug the LVDS connector (the video cable running from the module to the screen) and insert the interface's two leads into it. It is a plug & play connection: it only fits one way.
4. Connect the power and CAN Bus harness. The CAN Bus is what lets the interface "understand" the touchpad and steering wheel commands without altering the car's programming.
5. Route the microphone along the headliner or the pillar up to the rear-view mirror area.
6. Reconnect the battery and test: open the source menu, select the new input and pair your phone over Bluetooth. From then on it connects automatically.
7. Refit the trim, making sure no cable rubs against moving parts.

There is no need for Xentry coding or a dealer visit: the interface does not modify the car's software, and if one day you want it back to standard, it unplugs in ten minutes and leaves no trace.

How much does it cost to add CarPlay to a Mercedes A-Class?

At an official dealer, enabling smartphone integration on a car that did not come with it is rarely a simple coding job: it usually means replacing the communications module and paying diagnostic labour, with a quote that adds up fast. And even then, the resulting CarPlay would still be wired.

The interface we sell solves the same problem for a fraction of that, adds the wireless version of CarPlay and Android Auto, and leaves no trace in the car's electronics. Check the current price and available options directly on the product page, which is always up to date.

Frequently asked questions

Do I lose the factory navigation or "Hey Mercedes"?
No. The interface adds a new input; everything original keeps working exactly the same, including the voice assistant, the radio, the profiles and the car settings.

Does it work with the small 7" screen?
Yes, it is compatible with both screen configurations. On the 7" you still get CarPlay full screen.

What if my A-Class already has wired CarPlay?
It is still worth it: you move up to wireless and gain the camera input and screen mirroring. The original system is untouched.

Does the armrest touchpad still work?
Yes. The interface translates touchpad and steering wheel commands so you can move around CarPlay and Android Auto without reaching for the screen.

Does it affect the reversing camera or the parking sensors?
No. The original camera and parking sensors still appear as normal when you select reverse.

See the CarPlay interface for Mercedes A-Class, CLA, GLA and GLB

You can see all the details, installation photos and customer reviews on the product page for the wireless CarPlay and Android Auto interface for Mercedes A-Class W177, CLA, GLA and GLB with MBUX NTG6.0. If you would rather be certain about compatibility first, message us on WhatsApp with a photo of your dashboard and we will tell you exactly what you need.