I want to upgrade my Car Radio to add navigation

[Alfie]

Will ask yet regardless of that fitness and suitability of the unit is my main question at the moment befoee I go to next steps and getting a surprise. Any answer would be appreciated. Thanks again.

That NTG 5 unit will not work in your car. It WILL be anti theft protected aswell.

 

[markjay]

spoke to my cousin he said he had it pulled from a car he had and none needed.

This is what the unlocking process looks like on Audio20 NTG5*1 (COMAND is similar):

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EDIT: Just saw Alfie's post.

 

[mustapha]

Thanks Mark
I will reiterate my priority being fitness and suitability. My cousin pulled it from a 2014 or 2015 car he had earlier. I am not bothered by the locking topic. That will come once I confirm the suitability of the wiring. My question is if by purchasing different wires for the new unit it will work in my car. I expect new wires to be needed but wanr to confirm that would be enough outside the programming topic... I wouldnt jumpt to locking as not an issue can work it out qith my cousin who lives amile away from my place. Appreciated.

 

[Deleted member 149005]

Several people, including recognised experts on these systems, have told you it won’t work.

Clearly, given that, it is not suitable nor fit for your intended purposes.

You cannot “hack”, these systems to bypass the Pin locking..


If you persist, good luck.

 

[markjay]

Several people, including recognised experts on these systems, have told you it won’t work.

Clearly, given that, it is not suitable. , You cannot “hack”, these systems to bypass the Pin locking..


If you persist, good luck.

I think that the anti-theft protection isn't the issue here, the OP said he still has access to the donor car, so should be able to connect the COMAND unit back in the original car and obtain the anti-theft code.

However, the issue appears to be the upgrade path. I am guessing that the pre-facelift W212 had either NTG2.5 or NTG4, and there's no upgrade path from these to NTG5*1.

If the OP had a post-facelift car with NTG4.5, then I believe he would have have been able to upgrade to NTG5*1.

My understanding is that the key issue is that if the infotainment unit isn't an option for your car, then it may physically fit, but you won't be able to SCN code it.

 

[mustapha]

Several people, including recognised experts on these systems, have told you it won’t work.

Clearly, given that, it is not suitable nor fit for your intended purposes.

You cannot “hack”, these systems to bypass the Pin locking..


If you persist, good luck.

Hi

No single statement suggested clearly this is not suitable or wouldnt fit from upgradability perspective not I suggested hacking bypassing steps. you have to get wiring sorted, the unit on, screen display, before you worry about locking. So no steps skipped rathee prerequisites not answered and hence keeping focus on the ask.
If you are suggesting this wouldnt work happy to take that aa a formal answer. Mark tried to help bringing awarenes to othee things to consider which is appreciated. Yet even thd fitness wasnt clearly articulated in a combined statement made oncd in this thread with locking where it wasnt clear the "no fitness" is due to "locking" which is not my issue nor my ask.
I am sn IT architect and unfortunately One of the issues I typicaly face is scoop creep statements which is providing an answer not to the question asked or feeding an issue I didnt suggest is an issue on my side.
While all help and insight was appreciated, I am not sure your statement is accurate and this continued to be an open unanswered question.
Regards
Mustapha

 

[mustapha]

I think that the anti-theft protection isn't the issue here, the OP said he still has access to the donor car, so should be able to connect the COMAND unit back in the original car and obtain the anti-theft code.

However, the issue appears to be the upgrade path. I am guessing that the pre-facelift W212 had either NTG2.5 or NTG4, and there's no upgrade path from these to NTG5*1.

If the OP had a post-facelift car with NTG4.5, then I believe he would have have been able to upgrade to NTG5*1.

My understanding is that the key issue is that if the infotainment unit isn't an option for your car, then it may physically fit, but you won't be able to SCN code it.

Exactly Mark what I was asking clarity about. No sure who is talking about "Hack" as I was clear

I think that the anti-theft protection isn't the issue here, the OP said he still has access to the donor car, so should be able to connect the COMAND unit back in the original car and obtain the anti-theft code.

However, the issue appears to be the upgrade path. I am guessing that the pre-facelift W212 had either NTG2.5 or NTG4, and there's no upgrade path from these to NTG5*1.

If the OP had a post-facelift car with NTG4.5, then I believe he would have have been able to upgrade to NTG5*1.

My understanding is that the key issue is that if the infotainment unit isn't an option for your car, then it may physically fit, but you won't be able to SCN code it.

Thanks Mark and exactly is the clarification point I was seeking. There was no conclusive statement made in the thread by anyone about the ask and some additional insight provided such as locking could take the topic a direction outside the original ask and point missed. Thanks again and appreciated

 

[Deleted member 149005]

Hi

No single statement suggested clearly this is not suitable or wouldnt fit from upgradability perspective not I suggested hacking bypassing steps. you have to get wiring sorted, the unit on, screen display, before you worry about locking. So no steps skipped rathee prerequisites not answered and hence keeping focus on the ask.
If you are suggesting this wouldnt work happy to take that aa a formal answer. Mark tried to help bringing awarenes to othee things to consider which is appreciated. Yet even thd fitness wasnt clearly articulated in a combined statement made oncd in this thread with locking where it wasnt clear the "no fitness" is due to "locking" which is not my issue nor my ask.
I am sn IT architect and unfortunately One of the issues I typicaly face is scoop creep statements which is providing an answer not to the question asked or feeding an issue I didnt suggest is an issue on my side.
While all help and insight was appreciated, I am not sure your statement is accurate and this continued to be an open unanswered question.
Regards
Mustapha

That NTG 5 unit will not work in your car. It WILL be anti theft protected aswell.

Reads as a pretty clear statement to me.

It is not clear from your postings what your requirements are - perhaps you can restate them?
Sat nav - y/n
DAB - y/ n
Bluetooth connectivity - y /n
USB post for iPod/ iphone / USB sticks?
Retain steering wheel controls?
Lingatronic (voice activation?

Does your current car have a cd multi chnager?

Other?

Do you have the PIN code for the replacement unit you have acquired?

BTW “scoop creep is” new requirements after the initial scope is signed off, not answers you dont like or that are “off topic”...

 

[mustapha]

Reads as a pretty clear statement to me.

It is not clear from your postings what your requirements are - perhaps you can restate them?
Sat nav - y/n
DAB - y/ n
Bluetooth connectivity - y /n

Other?

BTW “scoop creep is” new requirements after the initial scope is signed off, not answers you dont like or that are “off topic”...

Actually speaking about scope creep statements is more fuzzy ask leading to fuzzy answer. So not questioning people's answers rather keeping focus on clear ask avoiding it going out of track.
The clear answer you refer to states no suitability combined with locking as an issue. not clear for me if we suggest no suitability due to locking as that wasnt the ask. Mark clarified my point about that. if we suggest no suitability due to being a pre-facelift, it puzzles me to see another unit dating June 2012 reference A2129005816 having the same wiring as this unit. What I was after is clarity if the unit is not suitable to go for a Pre-facelift model assuming you are suggesting wiring is an issue. the pre-facelift unit screenshots attached suggest the same wiring as the one I have. more puzzling. I didnt see an expert feedback from you on this. So appreciate your insight and related rationale as well. Thanks and Regards
Mustapha

 

[Deleted member 149005]

Actually speaking about scope creep statements is more fuzzy ask leading to fuzzy answer. So not questioning people's answers rather keeping focus on clear ask avoiding it going out of track.
The clear answer you refer to states no suitability combined with locking as an issue. not clear for me if we suggest no suitability due to locking as that wasnt the ask. Mark clarified my point about that. if we suggest no suitability due to being a pre-facelift, it puzzles me to see another unit dating June 2012 reference A2129005816 having the same wiring as this unit. What I was after is clarity if the unit is not suitable to go for a Pre-facelift model assuming you are suggesting wiring is an issue. the pre-facelift unit screenshots attached suggest the same wiring as the one I have. more puzzling. I didnt see an expert feedback from you on this. So appreciate your insight and related rationale as well. Thanks and Regards
Mustapha

Alfie answered with 2 separete statements:
1 - it will not work in your car
2 - whatever car the replacement unit is fitted to will require official MB software to unlock it and code it to the new car.

 

[mustapha]

Thanks.

 

[mustapha]

Thanks.

Wasnt for me. Added clarification requested rather than "not liking the answer and wanting to hack bypass steps". We shouldnt speculate.

 

[markjay]

Alfie's firm retrofitted COMAND to my car.... he knows everything there is to know about these things, so if he says it won't work, then it won't work.

From what I understand, the pre-facelift W212 was originally fitted with NTG4. This means that you should be able to retrofit COMAND NTG4 from another pre-facelift W212 (2010-2013), replacing your Audio20.

(I don't know when MB started using anti-theft protection, so not sure if NTG4 can be transferred to another car or not)

That said, NTG4 is an outdated system in today's standards, so you might want to consider an after-market Android unit instead, e.g.:

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(I am not recommending this particular brand, this is just an example).

Personally, I decided that I preferred the original feel and look of COMAND, so had that retrofitting, but I am aware that there are those who prefer the Android unit.

(One advantage of the non-MB unit for DIYers, is that it does not require coding, so no need for STAR).

 

[mustapha]

Thanks Mark, Alfie, and the others who commented. I am not disregarding the antitheft point. it is well taken. yes for those thinking about steps, witing, getting the unit on, screen displays, then locking.... From beginning of the thread, you and I agreed on our preference for the original MB look and feel. Yes other non MB units are more advanced, I m old school if an MB unit gives me the basic happy with it. This unit has a hard drive, a slot for a memory stick, Navigation, and streaming... Cant be any happier...