The Mercedes Viano and Vito W639 is one of those vans that simply refuses to retire. Many are still working every day as taxis, hotel shuttles, delivery vans or seven-seat family cars, and mechanically they take whatever you throw at them. The problem is the dashboard: the original radio in a W639 was designed when a mobile phone was still mainly for making calls. No decent navigation, no Spotify, no voice messaging and, of course, no Apple CarPlay and no Android Auto.
If you spend many hours behind the wheel of your Viano or Vito, you notice it every single day: phone holders stuck to the windscreen, cables everywhere, navigating on a six-inch screen in your hand and losing signal at exactly the wrong roundabout. The good news is that the W639 has a very accommodating radio slot and there is a direct solution, with no cutting of wires and no stripping half the dashboard.
Does the Mercedes Viano and Vito W639 have CarPlay as standard?
No. No version of the W639 left the factory with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Depending on the year and trim, your van may have one of these original units:
- Audio 10 CD / Audio 15: basic radio with CD, a one or two line monochrome display and little else.
- Audio 20 CD: small colour display, Bluetooth for calls (not always for music) and an AUX input.
- Comand APS NTG 2.5: hard-disk navigation with maps that are now out of date and an interface that feels painfully slow by today's standards.
- Sound 5 / pre-wiring: in many commercial Vito versions, simply an empty slot or an entry-level radio.
Not even updating the Comand maps will give you CarPlay: it is a hardware limitation, not a software one. Mercedes only brought CarPlay to this range with the next generation, the W447, and even then only on specific versions. For a W639 the only realistic route is to replace the original unit.
The solution: Android radio for the Viano and Vito W639
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Talk to an expert on WhatsAppOur screen radio for the W639 is a 9-inch Android unit that fills the original radio slot and plugs into the factory connector. As soon as you switch it on, the vehicle behaves like a new one:
- Wireless Apple CarPlay: your iPhone connects on its own when you start the engine, with no cable.
- Wireless Android Auto: Google Maps, Waze, Spotify or YouTube Music on the big screen.
- 9" IPS touchscreen, far easier to read in bright sunlight than the tiny original display.
- Bluetooth 5.0 for hands-free calls with real quality and an external microphone included.
- Reversing camera input: essential in a van with a blind tailgate or a load partition.
- FM/RDS radio, USB, video playback with the vehicle parked, and built-in GPS with offline navigation.
- Keeps the steering wheel controls thanks to the CAN Bus decoder included.
- WiFi and the option to install apps from Google Play, just like on a tablet.
There are three memory configurations: 1 GB + 16 GB for basic use, 2 GB + 32 GB (the one we recommend to most people, for its balance of price and smoothness) and 4 GB + 64 GB if you want maximum speed with several apps open at once.
Compatibility with the Viano and Vito W639: supported versions
This unit is designed for the radio slot of the Mercedes family of those years:
- Mercedes Vito W639 (2003-2014), in all lengths and roof heights.
- Mercedes Viano W639 (2003-2014), including the 7, 8 and 9-seat versions.
- Mercedes Sprinter W906 (2006-2014).
- Mercedes A-Class W169 and B-Class W245, which share the same slot format.
It works both in vehicles with the basic radio and in those fitted with Audio 20 or Comand, with manual or automatic gearbox, CDI diesel (109, 111, 113, 115, 116, 120 CDI) or petrol. If your Viano has a premium sound system or an additional amplifier, let us know when you order: in those cases we add the matching adapter so you do not lose any channels.
If you are not sure which unit your van has, send us a photo of the dashboard on WhatsApp and we will confirm it before you buy anything.
What is the installation like?
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Message us on WhatsApp with your make, model and year and we will tell you exactly which screen fits your car. We reply in minutes.
Talk to an expert on WhatsAppIt is a plug & play installation: there is no need to cut or splice any of the vehicle's wiring. Most of our customers do it at home in under an hour.
- Disconnect the negative battery terminal before you start.
- Remove the original radio using the extraction keys or by gently levering the trim, depending on the version.
- Unplug the Quadlock connector and the aerial from the factory unit.
- Connect the CAN Bus decoder included between the original connector and the new radio: this is the part that translates the vehicle's signals and keeps the steering wheel controls, the vehicle information and correct ignition behaviour.
- Run the external microphone to the A-pillar or the mirror and the GPS aerial to the base of the windscreen.
- Fit the screen into the slot, screw it in and reconnect the battery.
- Switch on, pair your phone over Bluetooth and let CarPlay or Android Auto set themselves up.
At PantallasPremium the price is transparent:
- 2 GB + 32 GB version, the one we recommend for everyday use.
- Up to for the 4 GB + 64 GB version, the fastest one.
The price includes the screen, the specific wiring, the CAN Bus decoder, the external microphone and the GPS aerial. It also includes 3 years of warranty and shipping. In other words: for less than a service costs, your van's dashboard is brought right up to date.
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose the steering wheel controls in my Vito?
No. The CAN Bus decoder included keeps them: volume, track change, phone and mode all work exactly as with the original radio.
My Viano has Comand APS with navigation. Can it still be replaced?
Yes. When you remove the Comand you lose its hard-disk navigation, but in exchange you gain Google Maps and Waze with real-time traffic, which today are considerably better. The installation is the same.
Does CarPlay work without a cable?
Yes, both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work wirelessly. You can also use a USB cable if you prefer your phone to charge while you drive.
Can I add a reversing camera?
Yes, the screen has a video input for a rear camera and switches to it automatically when you select reverse. In a panel van Vito with a blind tailgate it is the first thing we recommend.
Does it look odd in the dashboard?
No. The screen fits into the original slot with its specific fascia, with no cutting and nothing added. The finish looks like a factory unit.
See the CarPlay radio for the Mercedes Viano and Vito W639
Still have questions? Talk to an expert
Message us on WhatsApp with your make, model and year and we will tell you exactly which screen fits your car. We reply in minutes.
Talk to an expert on WhatsApp
You can see every option, real photos and customer reviews on the product page for the CarPlay screen radio for Mercedes Viano, Vito W639, Sprinter W906, A-Class W169 and B-Class W245. If you have any doubts about your particular version, message us on WhatsApp with a photo of your dashboard and we will tell you exactly which model you need.