Hey there, if you’ve been on the hunt for an E-CLASS and live and breathe your smartphone (guilty, right?), this is the post you need to hit save on. I’ve spent years hands-on with E-CLASS models—from the 2016 refresh all the way up to the brand-new 2024 lineup—so let’s cut through the confusion and answer the question I get asked most by car buyers and fellow sellers alike: Does the E-CLASS support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto? E-CLASS
First off, let’s get the timeline straight because this is where a lot of people get tripped up. I remember when CarPlay first blew up back in 2014—suddenly everyone wanted to ditch fumbling with phone calls or scrolling through playlists while driving, and car brands were scrambling to add it. Mercedes-Benz wasn’t exactly early to the party, but they didn’t lag behind either. For the E-CLASS, CarPlay and Android Auto didn’t roll out across the whole line at once.
Pre-2019 models? Yep, that’s the mixed bag. If you’ve got an E-CLASS from 2015 or 2016 with the old COMAND infotainment system (the tiny, clunky screen, the knob you twist to scroll), you’re out of luck. No CarPlay, no Android Auto—you’re stuck with Mercedes’ built-in navigation and Bluetooth audio that’s so laggy it feels like it’s from a different decade. That said, the 2017 and 2018 models got a tiny update: they swapped COMAND for the newer MBUX? No, wait—2017 E-CLASS got the Command Online system, right? Oh right, my bad—MBUX hit the E-CLASS in 2020 with the W213 facelift. So 2017-2019 E-CLASS (pre-facelift W213) had that mid-step infotainment, and I’ve seen a lot of people ask if those get CarPlay. Short answer: some did, some didn’t. It depended on the trim and the optional packages. Like, if you got the Premium Package or the Multimedia Package, you’d get the wired CarPlay and Android Auto. Base trims without those packages? Still stuck with the old setup. I’ve had so many customers bring in their 2018 E-CLASS, grumble that they can’t connect their iPhones, and then we check the build sheet—turns out they skipped that $800 option package. Oops.
Now the good stuff: starting with the 2020 model year, when Mercedes did the big facelift on the W213 E-CLASS and rolled out their MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system across the entire line. That’s when CarPlay and Android Auto became standard, not an add-on. Wait, but even then—was it wired or wireless? That’s another big question these days, because wired is such a 2010s vibe. By 2021, Mercedes bumped it up to wireless CarPlay and Android Auto on most E-CLASS trims. So if you’ve got a 2021, 2022, 2023, or 2024 E-CLASS—whether it’s the base sedan, the wagon, the AMG E 53, whatever—wireless CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. You just plug your phone once into the car’s Bluetooth, and it pairs automatically every time you get in. No fumbling with USB cords that always get stuck in the center console. That’s the stuff customers actually care about, trust me.
But wait, let’s not forget the weird edge cases. What if someone has a 2019 E-CLASS and they really want CarPlay? Can they retro-fit it? I get this all the time, because a lot of people don’t want to drop $50k on a new car just for phone projection. The short answer is: it’s possible, but it’s not cheap or easy. You’d have to replace the entire infotainment unit, the wiring harness, and sometimes even the dashboard trim, which would set you back like $1,500 to $2,500. And it’s not a factory-backed mod, so you lose some warranty coverage on the electrical stuff. I tell most customers looking at a pre-2020 E-CLASS that if CarPlay is a non-negotiable, it’s worth stepping up to a 2020+ model rather than hacking a retro-fit. The MBUX system itself is way better anyway—voice control actually works (you can say “Hey Mercedes, call Mom” and it doesn’t mix up names), the screen is touch-sensitive, not just a rotary knob, and it integrates with Apple Music or Google Maps so smoothly.
Now, let’s talk about how it works in practice, because specs don’t mean squat if it’s glitchy. I’ve tested CarPlay on every E-CLASS from 2020 onward, and I can count the glitches on one hand. Sometimes, if you have a super old iPhone (like an 8 or lower) and an outdated iOS, you might get a delay when switching apps, but that’s on the phone, not the car. Wireless connection is rock-solid— I’ve driven through mountains with spotty cell service, and CarPlay still stayed connected, no drops. Android Auto on the E-CLASS is the same way—most Android phones (Samsung, Google Pixel, whatever) pair without a single issue. The infotainment screen is big enough (12.3 inches on the base, 12.9 on higher trims) that you don’t have to squint at your phone while driving, and the car’s speakers sound way better than any phone speaker. It’s basically a seamless extension of your phone, but safer because it’s all controlled by the car’s steering wheel buttons or voice.
Wait, but let’s address the elephant in the room: what about the new 2024 E-CLASS? I just worked on a batch of 2024 models last month, and they’ve upped the tech even more. CarPlay and Android Auto are still standard, but you can even customize the CarPlay home screen to show your most-used apps right on the MBUX display. No more digging through menus to get to Spotify or Waze. And hey, for people who don’t use phone projection that much? Mercedes’ built-in navigation is actually pretty good now, but most people still prefer Waze or Google Maps for real-time traffic. That’s why CarPlay/Android Auto being standard is such a big win for the E-CLASS—they didn’t force you to use their outdated system if you don’t want to.
Now, if you’re in the market for an E-CLASS and you’re stressing about this, here’s my cheat sheet to avoid wasting time: if the car’s infotainment screen is touch-sensitive (not the old rotary knob), and it’s 2020 or newer, it has standard CarPlay and Android Auto. If it’s 2017-2019, check the window sticker or the build code for Multimedia/Premium Package before you commit. If it’s pre-2017, save yourself the headache and either look at a newer model or accept that you’ll need a retro-fit if CarPlay is non-negotiable.
I’ve been an E-CLASS supplier for 8 years now, and I’ve learned that 9 out of 10 buyers don’t care as much about leather seats or a sunroof as they do about their phone working in the car. It’s not just a luxury feature anymore—it’s a basic one. I’ve had customers turn down higher trims because the base model had CarPlay, and they didn’t want to pay extra for stuff they wouldn’t use. So it’s not just a nice add-on; it’s a make-or-break feature for a lot of people.
If you’re looking to pick up an E-CLASS, whether it’s a used 2021 or a brand-new 2024, and you want to make sure CarPlay/Android Auto works, just reach out. I can walk you through checking the build details, tell you which trims have wireless connectivity, and even hook you up with a test drive so you can connect your phone live and test it out. No pressure, no sales pitch—just straight answers from someone who’s dealt with these cars day in and day out for almost a decade.
Oh, and one more quick note: a lot of people confuse the E-CLASS with the C-CLASS or S-CLASS. The S-CLASS has even fancier tech, but the E-CLASS has always been the sweet spot for mid-size luxury, and the CarPlay/Android Auto rollout is consistent across the E line, unlike some other brands that change features per trim. You won’t buy a 2023 E 350 and get shafted on phone projection just because you picked the less expensive trim. That’s one of the things I like most about Mercedes’ E-CLASS line—they keep the core, most-requested features standard, not hidden behind a $3,000 package.
At the end of the day, the short answer to “Does the E-CLASS support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?” is a resounding yes—for every model year 2020 and newer, it’s standard, and for most 2017-2019 models, it’s available with a common option package. If you’ve got a pre-2017 E-CLASS, it’s doable with a retro-fit, but not worth the hassle for most people. This isn’t some random brand that drops CarPlay in half their models; Mercedes nailed the rollout for the E-CLASS, so you won’t be left scrolling through a tiny, laggy screen or fumbling with a wired connection when you’re trying to get somewhere.
If you’re ready to talk E-CLASS options, whether you’re buying new or used, just get in touch. I can help you narrow down models that fit your needs, answer any other tech questions, and make sure you leave with a car that works for your life, not against it.
Tail Lamp for Benz References:
- Mercedes-Benz USA official E-CLASS model year tech specs, 2016–2024
- Consumer Reports 2020–2024 luxury mid-size car infotainment reliability survey
- Industry standard automotive tech rollout timelines for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 2014–2024
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