Audio 20 update firmware?

[mikrt]

Hi all, My 2013 W204 has Audio 20, not sure if it's NTG 4.5 or 4.7 (What's the difference?), I also have a Becker unit in the glove-box which has the latest Sat-Nav update on. Please see photos



I have seen photos of other units where the hardware all looks the same, but on the screen @ top right there's a globe icon. I guess this is to use to connect to 4G?

Is my unit able to be upgraded to have this, or will it not have the hardware required?

Please note mark/stain left of buttons where Mrs had a glass air-freshener type thingy clipped into the air vent above that leaked!!

Thanks all.

 

[jasons]

hi sorry to hijack your thread,i don't know the answer to your question,i have the same set up as you ive only had my car a week so still finding my way around it all I have no idea what the difference is between ntg 4.5 or 4.7 so would be interested to know as well but what I was going to ask you is what is that envelope icon that is displayed in the picture with the radio stations?

 

[400ixl]

Envelope is a text message from the bluetooth linked phone. Audio 20 and Command are both way behind the times on this era of car. The 2013 has NGT 4.5 but even 4.7 is way behind.

Personally I replaced the screen with a 10.25" Android unit which meant I could run all the apps I wanted natively there whilst retaining the old OEM systems (Radio basically for me) as well. It was an upgrade which stopped me selling the car.

 

[mikrt]

@400ixl, thanks for that.

I'm thinking along those lines myself about getting a 10.5" screen. And adding a reverse camera at the same time.

Where did you get yours from, I've seen some on Aliexpress from about £350.

 

[markjay]

As far as I am aware the globe symbol was only available on the COMAND Online unit (and not on Audio20) for the W204. The globe is the 'online' bit, I.e. it means that the unit can connect to the Internet. Connection was made by Bluetooth tethering to your mobile phone, i.e. the car did not have built-in hardware for a 3g data connection of its own. The built-in 3g KOM Module only came about mid-2013, was only available with COMAND Online, and was only used for the TomTom Live Traffic service (not for Internet connection which was still done via the phone).

NTG4.7 is the third generation of the NTG4.5 series first released in 2011. NTG4.7 came about from the 2014 MY. On the COMAND Online unit (but not Audio20), it meant that you could use either an iPhone or an Android phone for the Internet connection to the car. Earlier versions of NTG4.5 only supported Internet connection via Android, but not iPhone.

None of the above is applicable to your Audio20 though.

The Becker Map Pilot is a dated unit BUT has some nice features that COMAND navigation does not have, such as speed cameras database (purchased separately) or the fact that it can be set to sound a beep whenever the speed limit has been exceeded even if your Audio20 is not on the NAVI screen and no route was selected. Additionally the firmware on the BMP unit can be very easily upgraded, which can't be said for the COMAND (or Audio20) unit.

It is possible to replace the Audio20 unit and its low-res screen with COMAND Online and its hi-res screen, which makes the BMP redundant because COMAND has it's own internal Navigation system so has no use for the BMP unit, and www.comandonline.co.uk did just that for me when I bought the car back in 2017. I am very happy with the COMAND NTG4.7 unit they fitted, and with the excellent job they have done, but I am not sure that I would recommend retrofitting COMAND NTG4.7 in 2020 - after all this is a unit that was in production from 2011 to 2015 so will be dated now.

I can't comment on any of the Android head units because I don't have first-hand experience with them.

 

[mikrt]

Thanks @markjay, so I have 4.5?
As per earlier post I'll probably go for the 10.5".
The BMP is very good but I could do with live updates.
And with the darkened rear glass I can't see a lot when reversing at night, so a camera is on the cards too.

 

[markjay]

www.commandonline.co.uk also retrofitted a reverse camera (the original MB one - though there are cheaper after-market alternatives if you are not too fussed about keeping the original look). If attempting this DIY, keep in mind that you'll need to run a video cable form the boot to the head-unit meaning lifting the carpets. They also retrofitted heated front seats (which your car already has), and some other bits. They are a little far away from where you are, but if you are planning on DIY job then you can get most parts form them as complete kits. They do 'cheap' Android conversions though (as far as I know).