Can a W205 C class owner help me please.

[Bonecho]

Can someone do me a favour who has a C Class W205 with call pilot mapping via an SD card and who has the latest version software which should be version V6.0 SW 28.18 Build 16/03.00.


Can they zoom in on junction 10A of the M1 which is the turn off for Luton Airport and tell me if this roundabout has been removed by London Road?

I downloaded this software 3 times today and each time it just sat there saying activating after the download and installation ended at 100%. I now have allegedly the latest version but I never got a message that the upgrade was complete, in fact I first got a message that I had stopped the installation.

As this roundabout was removed around 18 months ago I would have expected it to have disappeared from the mapping particularly as my portable Garmin with its lifetime of free updates lost this roundabout around 10 months ago.

 

[philsmerc]

Hi

My S205 (Dec 2014) has the SD Card Garmin Map Pilot 2014.

From the system menu, Device Info: NTG5E, Software v16.15, other info: n5 A V1
Maps info: 2014 (v2.3)

And yes, on mine, that roundabout still exists.

Having only had the car since late May, and not really used the Nav in anger, my impression is that it's pretty poor!

I had the command setup on my S204 which was much quicker and user friendly, although being a 2010 vintage, much of the mapping was out of date and even if you paid stupid money for updates, was still lagging behind road updates (often resorted to Navmii on my iPhone.

As I don't do many long distance journeys these days, it's no big deal but I find it bemusing, given that this is the latest model of C-Class, how bad the MB navigation is. I know the higher spec models are relatively better, but for what are supposed to be prestige cars, MB seem to short-change its customers (IMHO).

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Regards
Phil

 

[Bonecho]

I have had my car since last October and everyday the sat nav tells me to take the second exit of a roundabout that does not exist. This is the first map update the car has seen as every time in the past the Mercedes download manger has told me the software was up to date but not today. So I download the latest version and the roundabout is still shown on the software.

I am not convinced the maps have been downloaded so this is why it would be great if someone could check for me who does have the above version.

 

[OldTimer66]

You have the latest map and software versions. Unfortunately Mercedes are in charge of the map updates, not Garmin. The Merc updates are useless, and as you have found, sometimes do not reflect reality. They are also well out of date. I know from another forum (in connection with problems with user defined Points of Interest) that Garmin have issues with Merc about this as it is getting them a bad name. However they say there is little they can do about it. You may find all sorts of odd anomalies with the Garmin. For example I have a situation near me on a major A road where going South a roundabout does not exist, but it does exist when I do a return journey travelling North! The Garmin is just about OK for me, but I think users who rely on Sat Nav will find it unsatisfactory on a number of grounds.

 

[philsmerc]

Following this post, I rang Canterbury Mercedes (where I bought the car from in May) to ask about procedures for updating the software/maps. The reception chap spoke to his parts person who said that this is a Garmin system, so nothing to do with Mercedes!

He said to plug the SD card into a computer and follow the instruction (not informing me about any MB download App). I found the information after asking Mr Google - along with comments on various fora postings from owners who followed MB advice to regularly check for updates, only to find their Navi no longer works!!

I'm therefore a bit reluctant to try? If the infotainment system had half decent mirroring functions, I'd be more than happy using the Navmii app on my iPhone. (like you get on even some bargain basement superminis?)

Phil

 

[OldTimer66]

Following this post, I rang Canterbury Mercedes (where I bought the car from in May) to ask about procedures for updating the software/maps. The reception chap spoke to his parts person who said that this is a Garmin system, so nothing to do with Mercedes!

Phil

Its no good asking a dealer they haven't got a clue. The system is based on Garmin. But it has been severely customised (by Garmin on MB's instructions). There are various examples where MB have asked for normal Garmin functionality to be crippled or removed. This is most apparent to the end user when considering POI functionality. Ever wondered why you cannot modify/add custom POIs easily? And why you get third rate hotels such as Best Western appearing as a POI? Its because MB have promotional deals with the companies involved. MB also instructed Garmin to cripple their normal Speed Cam functionality. However one determined user has found a method of getting it to work on the MB version of Garmin, and he has had discussions with Garmin over this system. He was told that Garmin just modify and maintain the Sat Nav as MB instruct and all the evidence indicates this is probably true. The maps are also way behind the normal Garmin versions. MB control both the sequence and age of the maps releases via their own website and not Gamins. The reason for this is they want to screw you for the updates after the initial 3 years are up. So for MB to stand back and say "nothing to do with me guv" is more than a little disingenuous. As I'm not a big sat nav user I'm not overly bothered, but I can see why some people get exercised over this.

 

[SG94]

Its no good asking a dealer they haven't got a clue. The system is based on Garmin. But it has been severely customised (by Garmin on MB's instructions). There are various examples where MB have asked for normal Garmin functionality to be crippled or removed. This is most apparent to the end user when considering POI functionality. Ever wondered why you cannot modify/add custom POIs easily? And why you get third rate hotels such as Best Western appearing as a POI? Its because MB have promotional deals with the companies involved. MB also instructed Garmin to cripple their normal Speed Cam functionality. However one determined user has found a method of getting it to work on the MB version of Garmin, and he has had discussions with Garmin over this system. He was told that Garmin just modify and maintain the Sat Nav as MB instruct and all the evidence indicates this is probably true. The maps are also way behind the normal Garmin versions. MB control both the sequence and age of the maps releases via their own website and not Gamins. The reason for this is they want to screw you for the updates after the initial 3 years are up. So for MB to stand back and say "nothing to do with me guv" is more than a little disingenuous. As I'm not a big sat nav user I'm not overly bothered, but I can see why some people get exercised over this.

That person is me.
It's been a long 18 months I can tell you. Garmin are less than pleased at having their rep tarnished by MB's trashing of their system.
The sat nav is poor, very poor., the traffic is useless and custom POI tricky to get working and only 90% when you do. It is embarrassing that the sat nav in a 'premium' make car is outperformed in every way by an Aldi Thursday 19.99 special buy.

Sony have just released details of a CarPlay compatible touch screen that can be used to replace the screen in most cars and made to run the cars software as well. The minute this hits the shelves in November I'm having it.

Up to now all the CarPlay aftermarket systems have been double din units, this is the first screen only (that I know of) that will simply replace your existing screen but add CarPlay and continue to run the cars normal software and use the existing CD player etc.

MB have had a few software updates now since this was released, they haven't made anything better, in fact it's much worse. There is photographic evidence on the net of V2 of the Garmin software displaying any and all custom POI exactly as Garmin PSN's do, including cameras.

Fantastic car, love driving it, love the way it looks, love how it feels, embarrassed pulling up to a red light next to a reliant robin with a screen mounted sat nav, because I know and he knows it's better than mine....

:fail

 

[c63chris]

Can someone do me a favour who has a C Class W205 with call pilot mapping via an SD card and who has the latest version software which should be version V6.0 SW 28.18 Build 16/03.00. Can they zoom in on junction 10A of the M1 which is the turn off for Luton Airport and tell me if this roundabout has been removed by London Road? I downloaded this software 3 times today and each time it just sat there saying activating after the download and installation ended at 100%. I now have allegedly the latest version but I never got a message that the upgrade was complete, in fact I first got a message that I had stopped the installation. As this roundabout was removed around 18 months ago I would have expected it to have disappeared from the mapping particularly as my portable Garmin with its lifetime of free updates lost this roundabout around 10 months ago. http://s1320.photobucket.com/user/nospamuk/media/P1070022_zpsicbrs48m.jpg.html

When I updated mine I just put the SD card in my laptop and used the Mercedes software to download the new maps. Bit of a faff finding the right software on the site and then registering but all I remember is it installed on the card and then I put the card back in the car. Maps have some of the new road layouts now but still some errors.