COMAND NTG2.5 Update Check

[E55BOF]

Good afternoon all. On my NTG2.5 I have the 'economical route' option in the Navigation menu. Am I right in thinking that this indicates that the last map update, V.16, has been installed?

 

[markjay]

Good afternoon all. On my NTG2.5 I have the 'economical route' option in the Navigation menu. Am I right in thinking that this indicates that the last map update, V.16, has been installed?

The maps update do not add features to the navigation software. Its purely maps data.

The navigation software is being updated separately, via a firmware update to the COMAND unit (requires STAR).

You should be able to tell the maps version from the NAVI menu.

The firmware level can be determined from the Engineering Menu (aka 'secret menu').

 

[E55BOF]

I've been into the Engineering menu. Couldn't find the firmware anywhere, or at least, nothing I recognise. The data is presented as acronyms and strings of numbers, which mean nothing to me. The mapping data may be V.14 -'GPSLib.R14', followed by a string of numbers, was there.

The reason I asked the question the way I did is because I have found information that implies, though does not categorically state, that if you have the 'Economical' route option in the Nav menu the firmware is as up to date as it can be.

Is anyone able to answer the question for me, please?

 

[markjay]

I've been into the Engineering menu. Couldn't find the firmware anywhere, or at least, nothing I recognise. The data is presented as acronyms and strings of numbers, which mean nothing to me. The mapping data may be V.14 -'GPSLib.R14', followed by a string of numbers, was there.

The reason I asked the question the way I did is because I have found information that implies, though does not categorically state, that if you have the 'Economical' route option in the Nav menu the firmware is as up to date as it can be.

Is anyone able to answer the question for me, please?

From memory, the maps data version (not the COMAND firmware version) is in the line below NAVTEQ, after 'vol':

(In this case, it's 4.1).

There's an indirect link between the firmware version and the maps data version, I.e. you needed to bring the firmware up to a certain level before you could update the maps to the latest version. But, as said, these are two separate updates.

 

[markjay]

The reason I asked the question the way I did is because I have found information that implies, though does not categorically state, that if you have the 'Economical' route option in the Nav menu the firmware is as up to date as it can be.

This is correct as far as I know as well. However, in your first post you were asking about the maps data version, not the firmware?

 

[markjay]

As far as I remember, the firmware version of the COMAND unit is displayed under HW/SW, the two sections before last:

(In this case, 09/34/09/29/00)

The latest firmware version is: 01/2010 09.29

 

[markjay]

BTW, the photos that I posted above are from the COMAND NTG2.5 unit on my W203 (retrofitted by Comand UK), however the car was sold a few years ago ans so I had to do some digging in my photo archive and also refresh my memory.....

 

[Chrishazle]

The last ever maps update for NTG2.5 was 2018-19, and to install that you had to have had a 2009 firmware update installed. Comand.co,.uk installed the firmware for me on my 2008 SLK280 as MB North Wales had omitted to do it, and I bought a set of "second user" DVD's and updated the maps myself. No longer have the maps DVD's so don't know which update number they were, nor the appropriate number for the 2009 firmware update. Also have never looked for the Economical Route option, have it set to quickest!

 

[E55BOF]

This is correct as far as I know as well. However, in your first post you were asking about the maps data version, not the firmware?

My understanding is that both firmware and software had to be up to date to permit loading of the last (2019) map update, and it was only that map update which gave you the 'economical' routing Nav option, which I have,
and the (audio) 'fade' option, which I also have. It looks as though we both believe that that is correct; anybody think otherwise?

 

[markjay]

My understanding is that both firmware and software had to be up to date to permit loading of the last (2019) map update, and it was only that map update which gave you the 'economical' routing Nav option, which I have,
and the (audio) 'fade' option, which I also have. It looks as though we both believe that that is correct; anybody think otherwise?

Firstly, the firmware update includes the navigation software updates. The eco route and radio fade features were added when the 09.29 firmware update was carried out (and regardless of the maps data update).

Yes, you needed to have firmware 09.29 in order to install new maps data from a certain version of the maps onwards - but not the other way around.

I.e., having the latest maps data installed is proof that the firmware update has already been done, but having the latest firmware (with the eco route and radio fade features) is not in itself proof that you have the latest maps data. The firmware update could in principle have been done while retaining the previous (old) version of the maps data - in which case you would have the eco route and radio fade features added, but still have the old maps.

At the time when I sold the car, the latest maps data was 2016-2017. I believe it later went up to 2019-2020 v16.0. However, the 09.29 firmware prerequisite already existed when I had the car, so it's not a recent thing.

And so, even assuming that the 09.29 firmware update was indeed done in order to support the installation of a newer maps data version (which makes sense, because otherwise why would the owner bother upgrading the firmware for no reason), this may have happened in (say) 2016 etc, while newer maps data were later released.

In short, having the eco route and radio fade features means that you have the latest firmware (which also includes the navigation software), but it does not mean that you also have the latest maps data.

 

[Chrishazle]

Thanks markjay, it was indeed the 09/29 firmware update that was required to install map for NTG2.5 updates later than about 2015, if the main dealer omitted the free installation (as the original supplier and servicer of my 2008 SLK280 did) then it's still available to install, but will cost - I won't post what comand.co.uk charged! However, what's not in question is that MB have decided to not issue map updates to NTG2.5 (and, for that matter, NTG4) after the 2018-19 updates despite having purchased the company that provided the map updates!! Bloody annoying when you have 2 2008 cars, one with Comand NTG2.5 and another with NTG4 - guess how I know!!

 

[markjay]

Thanks markjay, it was indeed the 09/29 firmware update that was required to install map for NTG2.5 updates later than about 2015, if the main dealer omitted the free installation (as the original supplier and servicer of my 2008 SLK280 did) then it's still available to install, but will cost - I won't post what comand.co.uk charged! However, what's not in question is that MB have decided to not issue map updates to NTG2.5 (and, for that matter, NTG4) after the 2018-19 updates despite having purchased the company that provided the map updates!! Bloody annoying when you have 2 2008 cars, one with Comand NTG2.5 and another with NTG4 - guess how I know!!

I think that part of the issue here is the ease with which pirated copies of NTG2.5 and NTG4 maps DVDs can be made and distributed on eBay, perhaps to a point where MB could not justify commercially spending money on preparing new maps.

 

[Chrishazle]

I have no idea, the second user set I used were genuine MB, but I made the mistake of buying them in association with another member who paid 1/2, sent them to him after I'd used them, then without a word to me he PX'd them to his mechanic!

 

[E55BOF]

Right, getting somewhere. Does anybody know for sure where in the engineering menu I will find the information on which map update is installed, and therefore when the map info was last updated?

 

[markjay]

Right, getting somewhere. Does anybody know for sure where in the engineering menu I will find the information on which map update is installed, and therefore when the map info was last updated?

See post #4 above, showing the location of the maps data info in the Engineering Menu.

 

[E55BOF]

Yes, I saw that too, but from what you said you're not sure. I've got no idea, of course, but if you are correct, what I need to know is what the identifier for the last update is, so I'll know whether to buy the discs to do it.

 

[markjay]

Yes, I saw that too, but from what you said you're not sure. I've got no idea, of course, but if you are correct, what I need to know is what the identifier for the last update is, so I'll know whether to buy the discs to do it.

I am sure that "v4.1" is indeed the maps version in the photo I posted above. What does it say on your COMAND unit?

 

[E55BOF]

Fair enough; thank you. I've just checked mine; 5.0. I wonder if that was the last? Do you recall when your mapping data was last updated, by any chance? I m ight not bother to update mine.

 

[Gollom]

Amazes me that what is considered a major luxury brand (MB) have such poor navigation systems

 

[markjay]

Fair enough; thank you. I've just checked mine; 5.0. I wonder if that was the last? Do you recall when your mapping data was last updated, by any chance? I m ight not bother to update mine.

This is where it gets complicated....

The 'Vol' figure is a unique identifier for the maps data version, but it does not necessarily go up sequentially....

You need to look at the first digit of the line below that, where it says 'HDD Contents'.

In this case, '10.001.2301' means that the maps data is version 10.

The latest I had installed was 2016/2017 v14 P/N A2198271300, but I don't have a photo of the Engineering Menu from after this maps update.