You don't have to clutter up your dash with unnecessary cords designed to bring music from a smartphone to the radio when you can play tunes wirelessly with Bluetooth. Some Mercedes-Benz vehicles have Bluetooth compatibility built in, so that you merely have to connect your Bluetooth device to your car to stream content.
Bluetooth connectivity in a Mercedes-Benz makes it easier to use your phone without your hands. If you want to make a phone call, it isn't necessary to unlock the screen, dial the number and hold the phone to your ear. Instead, you can activate the call with voice commands or by using console buttons. Bluetooth also can be used to stream music from your mobile device to the radio. You connect the Bluetooth device through the settings menu in the console.
Bluetooth isn't available in every model of Mercedes-Benz. Whether you're shopping for a car or trying to find out more about one you already have, you can use the online Bluetooth compatibility checker to determine which Bluetooth devices work with different Mercedes-Benz models (link in Resources). Once you've located the models that work with your vehicle, you can click "Compare Phones" to see the recommended volume at which it works, what telephony features it supports via Bluetooth and whether it supports SMS messaging.
If you're trying to choose a phone to pair with your car, look for one that supports as many features as possible. Even if you don't want to use a certain feature today, your needs could change while you own your car. Look at the limitations on SMS messages listed on the phone comparison charts, because not all Bluetooth-connected phones offer the same features when paired with your Mercedes. For example, only new incoming text messages can be read with iPhones connected to the Bluetooth module. Some phones offer all the features of an MP3 player when connected via Bluetooth, but others will only stream audio, not display information or offer the shuffle function.
If you notice interruptions in your streaming audio, check to see whether your mobile device is completing another function. If another program is running, close it and see whether the audio connection improves. Make sure the Bluetooth device isn't looking for other connections, because searching can impede audio streaming. Being in the range of different Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connections also can cause problems.
