Comand NTG1 ?

[Jokuk]

Hi all thanks to this great forum I think i have found out info on the seemingly crazy Comand versions fitted but would like some help/confirmation if possible.

I have a W220 S Class 350 (9/2003)

looking at the info on here I believe I have a NTG1 COMAND-APS

In the boot I currently have DVD version 7 which works, if I want to upgrade to a later version (green striped disk) do I need a firmware upgrade (it looks like i don't?) If not presumably I can go for any version up to the latest?

Finally I have some really strange intermittent sound problems with radio/Nav/phone - would the best place to start investigating be the audio gateway (in the boot)?

sorry for the long post and any help appreciated

John

 

[AMGeed]

If the guys at Comand Online don't see this thread, get in touch with them. There is nothing they don't know about Comand.

Mercedes Comand Navigation and Audio Specialists

 

[Jokuk]

If the guys at Comand Online don't see this thread, get in touch with them. There is nothing they don't know about Comand.

Mercedes Comand Navigation and Audio Specialists

Thanks AMGeed, will see how post goes if not I will msg them !

 

[Jokuk]

anyone able to help with the above (even to point me to where the AGW is, so I can investigate that)

Thanks

 

[richard]

The AGW is in the boot on the left. A loss of sound could be the AGW, but it could also be another component on the MOST bus failing. When it is in this state does the head unit seem to work OK still, i,e you can select radio stations etc, or does it say something like 'Unavailable' ?

Yes, you can go to the latest nav disk. You can't go to some of the interim versions though, as around that time they forgot to put the new firmware on the map update disks

The AGW in a S, CL and SL, is different to the AGW in the E/CLS/SLK (and more expensive of course)

Why don't you pop in and see us if you are near (we are at M3 J3). We have things like spare AGWs to help diagnose these faults, although sometimes finding these can take some time (i.e cost a bit)

Cheers

Richard

 

[Jokuk]

Richard, many thanks for taking the time to answer, I will have to have a look (and listen) I don't recall getting an unavailable message, I think the radio station name etc remains but the sound goes. as soon as you stop the car and click the ignition back one turn (engine off) the sound comes straight back. it's the reason the last person sold the car !! I have the panels off on the right as I had lost satellite signals so will take off the left and see what I can see. I am near High Wycombe, so not too far away
John

 

[richard]

Does sound like the amp. Does your car have BOSE, because in that case the AGW is not the amp (it then just does the radio and the diagnostic functions), but there is an additional amp - all there on the left in the boot.

Richard

 

[Jokuk]

Hi Richard, no BOSE that I am aware of ?

 

[Jokuk]

The AGW is in the boot on the left. A loss of sound could be the AGW, but it could also be another component on the MOST bus failing. When it is in this state does the head unit seem to work OK still, i,e you can select radio stations etc, or does it say something like 'Unavailable' ?

Yes, you can go to the latest nav disk. You can't go to some of the interim versions though, as around that time they forgot to put the new firmware on the map update disks

Cheers

Richard

Hi Richard, I will be investigating at the weekend, if no luck will book in to see you guys. Do you happen to know which interim nav disks I need to avoid as I was going to try and get a genuine one off ebay but not the latest ( too expensive)

Thanks

John

 

[richard]

I can't quite remember, but if you avoid V7/V8/V9 all should be well. Do not use buy a copied disk by mistake - if the firmware upload into the nav processor fails (because of a read error) then you will have a brick in the boot instead of a nav processor. From MB £3k. We can get new ones for nearer £1K, but its an expensive mistake that we have seen more than once.

Just in April we've had one customer that disconnected power during an update and killed his nav drive (using a brand new genuine disk from us). We have also had 1 dead NTG4 comand (W204 C class) and two with stuck systems where updates have failed in the middle and it takes some work to recover the stuck ones, and the dead ones are dead for ever - these from copied disks that failed to read at some vital point.

Richard

 

[Jokuk]

Thanks Richard,

there is a V10 on ebay that I am interested in, I know to look at the disc to see if it's a copy with the back having write lines not all the way to the edge, I just can't justify paying £150 + for a three digit sat nav , when I can stick my Garmin on the screen that has lifetime updates and cost £80 but that said i dont want an expensive brick in the boot. Imay take th erisk in buying it then examining it carefully before going further !!!

 

[richard]

Hi

You need to get a bit newer than that. V12 was released in July 2011, so V10 as released in 2009 or 2010. Thats a long way out. V13 was released in 2012, V14 in 2013 and V15 is new.

Theres someone claiming to be selling used V15 for half price - i'd take a guess they are fake since he has lots and it seems unlikely there are any used V15 available !

Richard

 

[Jokuk]

The AGW is in the boot on the left. A loss of sound could be the AGW, but it could also be another component on the MOST bus failing. When it is in this state does the head unit seem to work OK still, i,e you can select radio stations etc, or does it say something like 'Unavailable' ?


Richard

Hi Richard (and all) had a chance to have a look at the weekend, the radio when working displays the station name (ie Capital) but when sound goes station name changes to frequency (95.8) will try and see when i get get it down to you.

John

 

[richard]

Hi Richard (and all) had a chance to have a look at the weekend, the radio when working displays the station name (ie Capital) but when sound goes station name changes to frequency (95.8) will try and see when i get get it down to you.

John

Hi

Well, that could also point to a radio reception issue, but unlikely if you are actually losing sound when on phone or other sources - which points back to AGW

Star Diagnosis next step ... and possibly swopping the AGW

Richard

 

[Jokuk]

Hi Richard, hopefully I have sent you a PM but not sure if it has gone through?

 

[Jokuk]

Finally booked into Comand online, hopefully may have some tunes soon !!

 

[Jokuk]

A quick 30 minute journey over to Comand HQ , wallet slightly lighter but I now have sound - Wow.

Thanks to all for their assistance but epecially Richard at Comand who certainly knows his stuff and is highly recommended