Methods to install Android Auto on the 2017 S205 (before the facelift)

[BenTrevor]

My 2017 C350e S205 equipped with Audio 20 NTG5 has me researching how to install Android Auto. Any feedback from those who have installed it in a comparable vehicle would be greatly appreciated.
In no particular sequence, here are my current thoughts:

You may get a new head from AliExpress, but there are a lot of choices and people have different opinions on them.
I haven't found any information on how to do this or where to purchase the parts, so I'm going to have to replace the head (and what other bits, maybe?) with later ones that enable Android Auto.
Install the integrated automation box; nevertheless, I am unsure that the car's DAB radio and the satnav directions can coexist.
Using another AliExpress purchase, install a standalone Android Auto screen. • The quickest solution, however it would be visually strange to have two dashboard displays.
Put the phone in a standby mode alongside the original head and make do with the reduced display.
Something I haven't considered yet...?

[BenTrevor]

Oh, I see! A 6a has just occurred to me:
6a: supplement the phone's screen with an inexpensive portable monitor

[BenTrevor]

Many views, but no replies so far... some other ideas:
6b: I stumbled into an old Galaxy TAB3 T365 in a drawer not long ago. 6c: I found an app called "Head Unit Reloaded" that seems to provide an Android Auto experience on a tablet by utilising the phone, thus supporting all the newer navigation apps. It's old, but it seems to run GoogleMaps, AlpineQuest, and an old version of "Here!" so I'm wondering if I should use it standalone.I would greatly value feedback or accounts from others who have been through this process earlier.

[spiezen]

If I had to choose, I'd choose option 3 since it restores the vehicle to its factory condition. I am unsure about the DAB problem, however you might ask Integrated Automotive or Command UK about it.

Additionally, after five years of driving a Mercedes with the wheel-shaped interface and the same amount of time behind the wheel of a car with a touchscreen, I can say with confidence that the latter is far more convenient, particularly when behind the wheel. In my opinion, touchpads are more efficient than touchscreens.

[Matt865]

For my S212, I opted for a screen from Icebox Auto. Though it took me three hours to install, I am satisfied with how it communicates with the rest of the car's features, especially the parking sensors.
I now have the option to use either the car's original NTG4.0 system maps, Waze installed independently on the new screen, or Google Maps when I connect it to my phone using Android Auto for sat nav. A replacement screen measuring 10.25" mounted on a custom frame was installed in lieu of the original, and it blends in seamlessly.

I've got FM radio and CD on the old menu, DAB and music via SD and USB sticks on the new screen menu, and Spotify and Internet Radio through Android Auto. It's easy to go back to the traditional functionality. It cost around £500, which is more than the Temu and AliBaba deals but far less than the most expensive alternatives.

[CyberNinja]

I would love to upgrade our 2017 GLC with Apple CarPlay, however I am unsure about making a selection due to my lack of knowledge in this area. 🫎

[ML350_Colin]

But you have all the cartoons in your brain 😂

[AMG33D]

Were you able to

[AMG33D]

https://www.autoretrofits.co.uk/carplay/mercedes-benz-apple-carplay-and-android-auto-activation/

[AMG33D]

Limited time offer: £110. I used NTG5.5 to fix my E220d.
They merely turned it on, since the functionality was pre-existent. On AliExpress, I spent pennies on a wifi dongle (really, I got two because the first one overheated on lengthy journeys) and sixty pounds on a wireless charger that fits perfectly in the ash tray slot.