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

Final update from me on this. I gave in and handed back my beautiful 17promax and swapped for a 16. The 16 works perfectly on a 2017 an A class Mercedes - the 17 pixelated badly and was unusable for CarPlay. The 16 is a great phone and I just didn’t want to wait for a fix that may never arrive.

Same exact issue on a 2018 GLC300 with Iphone 17 Pro. Was previously using iPhone 13 Pro with IOS 26.0.1 and there was no issue. I am outside my return window so cannot even return this phone and go to a iPhone 16 like so many others have. Nothing has changed in the Mercedes - the only change is going from a 13 Pro to a 17 Pro so it looks like this is an issue with how the 17 Pro is sending video to the the car. A fix needs to come soon otherwise Carplay becomes useless.

It is an Apple issue. I was at the dealership for something different and they told me they have been fielding calls and walk-ins concerning this. They told me the same thing seems to always happen for the first month or two after the new iPhone comes out. Apple needs to come up with an update.

Same Issue with Iphone 17 Pro with my B class from 2018 W246 connected via wire but also wireless using a dongle. However using the same phone in my wife's Hyundai Kona no problems at all so it must be the combination Iphone 17 with Mercedes media centre.

Update: I tested my iPhone 17 Pro Max (iOS 26.1) with 2018 Audi Q5 (wired connection). No rendering issues. CarPlay works perfectly. Using the same phone and the wire with 2020 Mercedes-Benz SLC 43 AMG, the rendering issues have NOT been resolved.

What is happening to us owners of the new iPhone already happened with the iPhone 15 and with Mercedes. They fixed it with an iOS update. I hope they do the same again this year and fix it for the iPhone 17.

For now, the best way to go is to use Android AI boxes like Ottocast or GetPairr. Just a heads-up: the device needs to have an Android interface, not just a wireless carplay adapter—that’s the main thing. Basically, you’ll need to act like you’re using Android. For me the GetPairr Go 2.0 fixed the problem.

Problem occurs also with the iPhone 17 Air. First noticed this on my 2019 GLC 300 with my iPhone 17 Pro Max. So I tried my wife’s 17 air. Same problem. Switched multiple cables and adapters to no avail. Finally today went out with my older iPhone 16 Pro Max, and everything was fine. Apple has some work to do.

Same problem, 2018 Mercedes-Benz C300.

Apple, shame on you. This is clearly an iOS 26 issue.

I had a long chat about it with Gemini, which thinks that iOS 26 is sending H.264 video at a higher bitrate than the Mercedes hardware supports (which is why a new car firmware doesn't help). The car might also be at fault by claiming it supports something that it doesn't, but still, Apple should add a compatibility setting.

I just bought the Ottocast U2 Air Pro, and it didn't fix it - same issue. Boo.

I've not read all twelve pages of this, but if you and everyone else here with this hasn't informed Apple of this then they are unlikely ever to do anything about it and unless a lot of people report it then it won't be high up the priority list.

You're not talking to Apple here, we're just a bunch of users.

Let apple know by filing a bug report at

Product Feedback - Apple

I’m experiencing the same issue with my 2018 GLC43. CarPlay worked perfectly with my iPhone 12; however, after “upgrading” to the iPhone 17, the display became pixelated.

I believe it’s an iPhone 17 hardware / chip problem as I have tested several other iPhone models (ex. 12, 14, and 15) all running the same iOS version, and none of them have this issue.

Same here on my Gla 2019 , even bought new apple lightening cable .

apple support blame the IOS update for iPhone 17 pro max

Ottocast play2video or Getpairr Go 2.0 will solve your problems, it’s sorted my Merc 2017 out!

Android car boxessuch as ottocast or Getpairr solve this problem, it’s a small investment that will sort you out until either merc or apple decide to sort out a proper solution!

remember to report it to apple. Posting here would not help making them fixing it.

This is a community portal - not a support portal :-)