The GCH CarPlay and Android Auto OEM Smartphone Integration Kit for 2014-2019 Mercedes-Benz with NTG 5.0/5.1/5.2 is a Mercedes NTG 5 CarPlay integration kit: a plug-and-play module that connects an Apple or Android phone to the factory display and the factory radio controls. This article looks at one design decision behind it: the kit works through the radio the car already has, rather than replacing it.
What the kit does
According to the product listing, the kit lets a driver connect and control an Android or Apple phone through the vehicle's original LCD and radio controls. The listing summarizes the behavior in four points: plug and play, integrates with the OEM radio, uses the factory radio controls, and gives an OEM-like experience.
In practical terms, the phone's navigation, calling, messaging and music appear on the screen already in the dash, and the same knob, buttons or touch surface the driver uses for the radio operate the phone interface. No second screen is mounted and no separate remote is needed.
Why integration with the factory radio matters
Single set of controls
A phone holder or aftermarket display introduces a second place to look and a second way to interact. Routing the phone through the original head unit keeps attention on one display and one control layout, which is the layout the car's designers positioned for use while driving.
Factory appearance is preserved
Because the original radio stays in place, the dashboard trim, steering-wheel controls and screen remain as the manufacturer built them. For owners of newer or higher-value vehicles, or for those who plan to sell, an unmodified dash is often a deciding factor.
What it depends on
An integration module can only work with the radio generation it was designed for. This kit is listed for vehicles with NTG 5.0, 5.1 or 5.2 infotainment. NTG is the designation Mercedes-Benz has used for generations of its COMAND head units. If your car carries a different generation, this is not the matching kit, and GCH lists separate kits for earlier systems.
Background: when Mercedes began offering CarPlay at the factory
Mercedes-Benz did not offer CarPlay on every model at the same time. A December 2015 report on a dealer memo described CarPlay becoming available on select CLA, CLS, GLA, GLE, E-Class and B-Class vehicles built after December 1 of that year, sold either as a stand-alone option or inside larger multimedia packages. The same report noted that the system was wired, with the phone plugged into a dedicated socket, and that CarPlay and the factory navigation could not run side by side. Cars built before then, and cars built without that option, had no factory CarPlay, which is the gap an integration kit addresses. Option availability varied by model and package, so check your own vehicle's options rather than assuming.
Which vehicles the listing covers
The listing gives a 2014-2019 range and names these Mercedes-Benz model families: A, B, C, E, V, CLA, CLS, GLC, GLE and GLS. The listing does not break fitment down by trim, body style or individual model year within each family. Before ordering, confirm fitment with GCH, and have your radio generation (NTG 5.0, 5.1 or 5.2) and model year ready. The same listing text also contains a line that refers to other brands; GCH should confirm the exact vehicle list when you ask.
Price and availability
The kit is listed at $999 and shows as in stock at the time of writing. Installation steps are not described in the listing, so for questions about the install or about a specific vehicle, contact GCH support with the part number rather than relying on general assumptions.
FAQ
Does the kit replace my Mercedes radio?
No. The listing describes it as integrating with the OEM radio and using the factory radio controls, so the original head unit stays in the car.
Will it work on any 2014-2019 Mercedes-Benz?
The listing is for vehicles with NTG 5.0, 5.1 or 5.2 within the model families named above. It does not confirm every trim, so confirm with GCH before purchase.
Does it support both iPhone and Android?
Yes. The listing refers to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and to connecting an Android or Apple phone.
Next step
If you own one of the listed models and want to confirm fit, contact GCH product and technical support with your model, year and radio details, or review the full product page.