CarPlay Screen for Mercedes CLS W218 (2009-2015): how to install Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

The Mercedes-Benz CLS W218 is still one of the most elegant cars the brand has ever built: four-door coupé lines, an interior full of wood and leather, and a build quality that is still enviable today. The problem shows up the moment you switch on the infotainment: the Comand NTG4.5 display has aged badly, the original sat-nav maps are out of date and, above all, the car never had Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. A premium cabin with an interface from more than a decade ago.

The answer is not to change car or to stick a phone holder on the air vent. There is a model-specific screen for the CLS W218 that replaces the original display, respects the dashboard and adds wireless CarPlay and Android Auto without losing the Comand controller or the steering wheel buttons. In this guide we explain exactly what changes, what doesn't, how it is fitted and what it costs.

Does the Mercedes CLS W218 have CarPlay as standard?

No. Every CLS of this generation left the factory with Comand Online NTG4.5 (or with Audio 20 on entry trims), and neither supports phone projection. What they offer is:

• Comand Online NTG4.5: hard-drive navigation, rotary controller on the console, Bluetooth for calls, music playback and a screen with low resolution by today's standards.
• Audio 20 CD: radio with Bluetooth and a small display, without built-in navigation.
• Maps on card or hard drive whose official update costs several hundred euros and still gives you no live traffic or speed camera alerts.

Mercedes only introduced CarPlay with later Comand generations. Whatever phone you own, the original W218 system will never mirror it. That is why the logical route is to replace the display while leaving the rest of the system untouched.

The solution: an Android screen for the Mercedes CLS W218

Our model-specific screen for the CLS W218 replaces the original NTG4.5 display using the model's own harness and frame, with no cut wires and no universal adapters.

• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, connecting automatically when you start the car.
• Two sizes to choose from: 10.25" for a discreet, factory-faithful integration, or 12.3" for a Widescreen Cockpit-style panoramic look that fills the whole opening.
• Keeps the original Comand system: you can still use the rotary controller on the console and switch between the Mercedes menu and Android.
• Steering wheel buttons, parking sensors and the original reversing camera keep working thanks to the Mercedes-specific CAN Bus.
• Built-in GPS with Google Maps or Waze and offline maps so you can navigate without mobile data.
• WiFi, Bluetooth, hands-free, 2 USB ports and built-in DSP to fine-tune the sound.
• Android with the Play Store and OTA updates: Spotify, YouTube Music, internet radio or whatever app you use daily.
• Reversing camera included with the unit.

Compatibility with the CLS W218: supported versions

The kit is intended for the whole CLS family of this generation fitted with Comand NTG4.5:

• Mercedes-Benz CLS W218 / C218, the four-door coupé body.
• Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake X218, the estate variant.
• AMG versions from the same period, including the CLS 63 AMG and CLS 63 S AMG.
• Any engine: CLS 250 CDI, 350 CDI, 350 BlueTEC, 400, 500 and AMG.
• Pre-facelift and post-facelift cars (the trim detail changes, the installation does not).

If you are not sure which Comand version you have, the quickest route is to send us a photo of the screen and the centre console: within a couple of minutes we'll confirm the right harness and size.

What is the installation like?

It is a Plug & Play installation with a model-specific connector: 30 to 60 minutes, without cutting or splicing any of the car's wiring. A fitting guide is included.

1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal. On a Mercedes with this much electronics, it is not a step to skip.
2. Carefully remove the upper dashboard trim with plastic pry tools, releasing the clips without straining the wood or aluminium mouldings.
3. Remove the original NTG4.5 display by undoing its screws and lifting it out.
4. Unplug the video and power connector from the original display.
5. Connect the specific harness and CAN Bus module from the kit between the Comand unit and the new screen. Every plug is unique, so there is no way to get it wrong.
6. Route the microphone cable to the mirror area and, if you are fitting the included camera, run its cable down the side trim to the boot lid.
7. Reconnect the battery and check before closing up: Comand controller, steering wheel buttons, parking sensors, sound and phone pairing.
8. Fix the new screen to its bracket and refit the trim.

From · free shipping · reversing camera included · support before and after your purchase.

The 10.25" is the choice if you want the cabin to still look factory; the 12.3" is for those after the panoramic effect of current Mercedes models. Both fit the same way and share the same features.

Frequently asked questions

Do I lose the rotary Comand controller on the console?

No. The screen keeps the original Comand NTG4.5 system: you can still browse the Mercedes menus with the rotary controller and switch to the Android environment whenever you want.

Do the parking sensors and factory camera still work?

Yes. The Mercedes-specific CAN Bus preserves the parking sensors, the original reversing camera if your car has one, and the steering wheel buttons.

Which size should I choose, 10.25" or 12.3"?

The 10.25" respects the dashboard's original proportions and goes almost unnoticed. The 12.3" fills the whole opening for a more modern panoramic look. It is purely an aesthetic decision: the features are identical.

Does it also fit the CLS Shooting Brake?

Yes, the kit is compatible with the Shooting Brake X218 body and with the AMG versions of the same period.

Will it pass the roadworthiness test?

Yes. It is a model-specific screen fitted into the original opening, without altering the structure or lighting, so no type approval is needed. We cover it in Do Android screens pass the Spanish ITV test?

See the CarPlay screen for the Mercedes CLS W218

➡️ See the product: CarPlay and Android Auto Screen for Mercedes-Benz CLS W218 (2009-2015) · all Mercedes screens.