Level 1

51 points

Pixelated Apple CarPlay screen on iPhone 17 Pro Max with Mercedes BClass W246

Here we go again….Upgraded to iPhone 17Pro Max and apple carplay seems to have an issue. This seems to be a recurring issue when the new iPhone and new IOS comes out. When i connect directly with the cable in my Mercedes BClass W246 the screen blurs and pixelates like the picture below. I have tried removing the device from the car and car play and yet the issue persists. This makes apple car play unusable with without constantly exiting the app and going back in, to which the screen refreshes and works for less that a minute. The apple side bar continues to be blurred. This happened when the apple 16 came out and 13. My previous iPhone 16pro did the same until and update from apple. Same as the iphone 13pro previously. Any assistance would be greatly received…

[Edited by Moderator]

Original Title: Apple Carplay Issue..Again (2025)

iPhone 17 Pro Max, iOS 26

Posted on Sep 27, 2025 1:22 AM

Top-ranking reply

iPhone13unlockissues

Level 1

43 points

Posted on Dec 18, 2025 1:34 PM

Following advice from others I purchased this new - Ottocast TV Mate- from eBay UK, for £37. Plug the ottocast unit into the CarPlay USB A port in the car and connect once using WiFi. IPhone connects to CarPlay seamlessly and is wireless. Amazing and very easy. All functions work. HMDI

port not needed. This is only

required if you want to mirror an app from

your iPhone but does not provide CarPlay functionality. Thanks all.

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194 replies

Feb 9, 2026 7:21 PM in response to olgun65

2026 Jeep Gladiator here. Same issue as described above

chrmol

Level 1

32 points

Feb 11, 2026 3:25 AM in response to Zurarczurx

Done! :-)

Ehawkes

Level 1

42 points

Feb 11, 2026 4:12 AM in response to olgun65

Mercedes said it will never be fixed !!

that’s why I’m asking who had success with 2 phone 17 and ottocast ?

Feb 23, 2026 3:07 AM in response to chrmol

Thanks, done :)

Mar 3, 2026 1:42 PM in response to olgun65

Not the ottocast mini?

Pkwiatko

Level 1

8 points

Mar 5, 2026 2:09 AM in response to olgun65

Anyone was able to fix the issue?

flymo40

Level 1

37 points

Mar 5, 2026 4:33 AM in response to olgun65

Been in contact with apple who said” they weren’t aware of any issues “

Ggst

Level 1

8 points

Mar 17, 2026 2:03 AM in response to olgun65

Using iPhone 17 with iOS 26 and it’s causing my W176 a class to have the pixelated screen. My iPhone 15 running iOS 18 had no issues

Mar 20, 2026 8:27 PM in response to KeenMachine

Appreciate the insight here. Do you think it will be fixed in 26.4? It def wasn't in 26.3.1.

Mar 24, 2026 11:18 AM in response to nebo28

Did you end up finding a solution

flymo40

Level 1

37 points

Mar 24, 2026 1:44 PM in response to olgun65

Mercedes want £1000+ to “diagnose “ and no guarantee

lim3ra2

Level 1

20 points

Mar 24, 2026 2:21 PM in response to olgun65

Tested on iOS 26.4

still broken

badtzmaru

Level 1

106 points

Oct 14, 2025 9:14 PM in response to olgun65

Having the same issue here.

Car: 2020 Mercedes-Benz SLC 43 AMG (tested with wired and two wireless adapters)

Adapters: Ottocast Mini Cube 3.0 + CPlay2Air

Phone 1: iPhone 17 Pro Max (iOS 26.0.1) → CarPlay rendering glitches (wired & wireless)

Phone 2: iPhone 15 Pro Max (iOS 26.0.1) → works perfectly

After switching to iPhone 17 Pro Max, Apple Maps and other CarPlay apps stutter or partially refresh on-screen; audio and controls OK. Same result with two wireless adapters and even wired connection, so it seems to be a compatibility issue between iPhone 17 Pro Max and CarPlay, not the adapters or the MB system.

Oct 24, 2025 4:57 AM in response to olgun65

Same situation for me on my Mercedes a class 2018. Tried new wires even tried wireless and all the same. I went out of my way to see another Mercedes a class 2018 and it doesn’t work either. My previous iPhone 11 worked perfectly fine everything up till the 16 not sure about pro max looks fine. Just the 17 pro max seems to be the issue. Went to Mercedes to ask about this and they are asking for £252 just to check for a problem not even to fix it just to check it. I even went to return my current 17 pro max and get a new one on the spot and even that doesn’t work. Hopefully an iOS update fixes this issue or might have to downgrade to 16 pro max if it’s available

Oct 29, 2025 3:19 AM in response to olgun65

I have the same problem, iPhone 17 with iOS 26.0.1.

Mercedes A180d (2018).

With the iPhone 16 and iOS 26 I didn’t have any problems.

This issue started with the iPhone 17.

In my opinion, there are compatibility problems between Mercedes and the iPhone 17, because CarPlay works fine with my iPhone 17 in another car.

Pixelated Apple CarPlay screen on iPhone 17 Pro Max with Mercedes BClass W246