2009 W212 with COMAND really use DVD for the Maps? 5 digit

[TeddyRuxpin]

Hi,

Took my car to MB in Cardiff/Newport to get some stuff looked into - one of the things I asked for was for them to update the COMAND and maps. They said it was £100, then they said it was £150... then they said it was £100.

Anyway, I was informed that after doing some other work, they'd updated COMAND for free, but that my car (59 plate) used DVDs for the maps, and they didn't have it in stock, but they could order me one for £100.

The parts man kind of put me off because he said that there was only 5 digit Postcodes and currently mine supports 7 digit... so it may be completely pointless to upgrade.

On the bright side, at least I have bluetooth audio now...!

Anyway, is it true that some of the earlier cars use a DVD? I'm surprised because my dad's 60 plate W212 doesn't (according to him)!

Cheers!

 

[AMGeed]

The Comand fitted in your W212 was probably the earlier NTG4 version which uses a DVD to update the maps.
From model year 2011 the later NTG4.5 Comand was fitted which I believe is updated with a USB and a map Pin but I could be wrong about that.

Command Online can help with any queries you have with updating your Comand, but have your Vin# handy if you call so they can tell exactly which Comand model you have fitted.
E (W207/W212) 2009-

 

[markjay]

To clarify, if your COMAND system is NTG2.5, NTG4, or NTG4.5, then it would have an internal hard disk drive and this is where the navigation maps are stored.

The DVD is used only once, during the maps update process, i.e. to copy the new maps from the DVD to the internal hard disk drive.

This is why they said they would do it for free - in theory they are supposed to sell you the DVD, but since the update is a one-off process after which the DVD is no longer needed, they are probably going to update the maps then keep the DVD.

As AMGeed said, NTG4.5 also has the ability to upload maps update via USB, which is much faster. And also it requires a PIN code that must be purchased, so unlikely that you COMAND is NTG4.5 because if it was then they wouldn't have been able to offer you a free maps update for it.

With regards the post code... this is determined by the COMAND firmware (which is a separate update), and bot by the version of the maps update.

So if you have 7-digit post code now, you will also have it also after the maps update.

(And you can also ask them to check if there's a newer version of the COMAND firmware while they are at it)

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

Hi,

Sorry, just to clarify, I had the COMAND operating system updated for free while they did other work (Bluetooth audio, slightly different graphics etc), but the Maps DVD with the new map data would be £100, and they could order it for me.

The MB parts chap told me that it was not possible to search for addresses using more than 5 digits of the postcode with the new maps update (should I order the DVD), because the new maps update (or OS update, or the combo of both) is designed for a US market that only uses 5 number zip codes...

I’d love him to be wrong!

Thanks for the clarification on the 2.5/4/4.5, that’s really helpful!

Cheers!

Ed

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

I think I’ll go for the update as like you say, the postcodes are 7 digit now so should remain that way!

Strange that it’s £100 from MB and £150 from COMAND - perhaps it is indeed £150 from Mercedes. £100 is probably because they didn’t realise it was a DVD order. I’ll call soon to clarify. Thanks again for your help!