Latest firmware Upgrade for 211 COMAND

[Ferrycraigs]

Hi folks, I have been trying to get the red and yellow icons onto the correct side of the road for ages. Am I right in thinking the AGW upgrade solves this as well as giving the option to show ETA on the main screen? My 53 plate W211 going in for a D service at the end of this week, so this may be really timely. Can someone confirm this is the way to get the yellow peril back onto the correct side??

 

[Diesel Benz]

How fast would you need to drive in 3D view so that the refresh was not fast enough ? A rough calculation tells me something like Mach2 at 6G.

The innovation is driven by Audi because the RNS-E already had 3D since 2004.

Well, you have the advantage over me that you know the graphics capabilities of the concerned navi and I don't. My experience includes an old Symbian phone that still runs navi applications, it was slow for calculating the display data update, and it is slower in bird's eye mode. It does not look nice and smooth if the map updates once per second or so. This is why I thought the concern on the HW capabilities might not have been a totally dumb idea. But if it was, I'm fine with that too, one learns so many different things from these forums (I do have high respect on miro's technical info).

Considering the comment that the W211 navi is DVD video capable, I actually did not take that into account, have not had any DVD on a W211. I guess the graphics accelerator HW requirements are a bit different for DVD video and vector graphics but I agree that it sounds sufficient, not my expertise in any case, should not have posted in the first place, sorry.

 

[DieselE]

Hi folks, I have been trying to get the red and yellow icons onto the correct side of the road for ages. Am I right in thinking the AGW upgrade solves this as well as giving the option to show ETA on the main screen? My 53 plate W211 going in for a D service at the end of this week, so this may be really timely. Can someone confirm this is the way to get the yellow peril back onto the correct side??

That's what everyone has been saying. I've installed the upgrade but haven't come across any traffic jams yet (not that I'm looking for them ) so I can't verify it from personal experience.

 

[steve.link]

Hi folks, I have been trying to get the red and yellow icons onto the correct side of the road for ages. Am I right in thinking the AGW upgrade solves this as well as giving the option to show ETA on the main screen? My 53 plate W211 going in for a D service at the end of this week, so this may be really timely. Can someone confirm this is the way to get the yellow peril back onto the correct side??

Updating the COMAND Head Unit software will fix this - I have just had it done to my car.

SW Rel 15.130 Build 51/05 - Part No W211 589 10 22 00 is the release that first had the fix

The latest version is SW Rel 21.090 30/06 Part No W211 589 13 22 00 which will fix the icons and install ETA on the front screen. They only cost a few pounds from a dealer.

I think the AGW update is a "red herring"

If you do use the engineering menu/video in motion this functionality will be lost if you apply either of the upgrades above

 

[Ferrycraigs]

DieselE, blimey, where do you live?? perhaps the update has killed your yellow cars! Steve, thanks also for the specifics. This is really useful and I'll print it off for my poor service technicians!

Regards

Iain

 

[Ferrycraigs]

Well just got it back from a D service, having asked them to ugrade the COMAND head unit software. Interesting bill. £185 for service, plus the usual add-ons (filter, seal ring, washer, battery fluid) plus a whopping £72 for oil!! 7.3 something (litres) at 9.95 per litre. Ouch. Suddenly it was £273!

I asked if the software upgrade had been done. They said yes. Charged a nice round £21.36 (+VAT = £25.09) (remember someone saying the disc was £8.50 + VAT?). I asked what version, but they couldn't tell me, but promised to get back to me later.

When I picked up the car, I switched on and tried to access the engineering menu, with no success, so a good sign. Had a look on the map for either yellow or red cars, but it was mid afternoon, so no traffic jams just yet. I then thought I would try and set the ETA on the front screen, only to find that all my saved Destinations had been wiped. Also, my automatic seat settings had also been set - I pressed 1 to get my settings and ended up being sandwiched between the seat back and the steering wheel. Not sure why either of these should have disappeared.

Not put off, I went into the Nav settings, but the list down the left hand side of the screen read System/View/GPS/Auto/Zoom. The example earlier in this thread showed the screen as System/View/Map/Auto/Zoom. So I can't get the ETA screen up. Immediate thought, have I been sold a pup here?

Can anyone help? Does the screen setting mean anyone can identify the software version, even a Not Before estimate would work. Obviously I will be going back to them, but any info/ammo I can take with me would help.

Regards

Iain

 

[steve.link]

Iain,

Almost certain they have applied SW disk version Rel 15.130 which was issued in January 2006.

The latestversion with the front screen ETA is SW Rel 21.090 issued in Jan 2007.

You don't need to pay the dealer to install them - simply order from the parts department and follow the instructions on the box.

Once you lost the engineering menu the way to find the SW version (I think) is via star/DAS.

I don't think the COMAND update effects any other settings so it seems you have had other sw upgrades done as part of the service

 

[Ferrycraigs]

Steve,
good man. I'll fire off something to them tonight!

 

[SargeBenz]

Well just got it back from a D service, having asked them to ugrade the COMAND head unit software. Interesting bill. £185 for service, plus the usual add-ons (filter, seal ring, washer, battery fluid) plus a whopping £72 for oil!! 7.3 something (litres) at 9.95 per litre. Ouch. Suddenly it was £273!

I asked if the software upgrade had been done. They said yes. Charged a nice round £21.36 (+VAT = £25.09) (remember someone saying the disc was £8.50 + VAT?). I asked what version, but they couldn't tell me, but promised to get back to me later.

When I picked up the car, I switched on and tried to access the engineering menu, with no success, so a good sign. Had a look on the map for either yellow or red cars, but it was mid afternoon, so no traffic jams just yet. I then thought I would try and set the ETA on the front screen, only to find that all my saved Destinations had been wiped. Also, my automatic seat settings had also been set - I pressed 1 to get my settings and ended up being sandwiched between the seat back and the steering wheel. Not sure why either of these should have disappeared.

Not put off, I went into the Nav settings, but the list down the left hand side of the screen read System/View/GPS/Auto/Zoom. The example earlier in this thread showed the screen as System/View/Map/Auto/Zoom. So I can't get the ETA screen up. Immediate thought, have I been sold a pup here?

Can anyone help? Does the screen setting mean anyone can identify the software version, even a Not Before estimate would work. Obviously I will be going back to them, but any info/ammo I can take with me would help.

Regards

Iain

Iain,

I get the ETA screen to display (when Navigating) by having the map on the comand screen, then hitting DISPLAY/MAP. If you have the ETA enabled it will give you an option to display the ETA, Sat Position, or nothing (if memory serves me correctly).

Hope this helps.

SargeBenz

 

[Ferrycraigs]

Thanks Sarge, but still the same. I don't get MAP I get GPS. So looks like Steve is right, and MB getting a letter!

Iain

 

[fred_raven]

firmware disc

Thanks to Saorburst, I have the update disc here ready to pass on to someone. Just pm me and I'll forward it to you..on condition that you then pass it on to someone else.

I did the install last night with no problems, and it looks to have resolved the issue of the TMC cars being displayed on the wrong side of the road, aswell as showing ETA etc.

A big thank you to Saorbust :bannana:

wondering who has the disc now !! looking to upgrade mine , eta would be a great improvement , but need to keep sat nav i/p om the move. pm'd plgibson - he had a disc and passed it on to bartonman ! anyone know of its whereabouts ??

 

[glojo]

If this disc goes AWOL (absent without leave) then please give me a shout.

Regards
John

 

[fred_raven]

Aren't forum members great!!

Many thanks to Glojo - offered his services and sent me update software - took him a while - LESS than an hour !!!! ETA & dist to dest now available! can even update on the move....

Thanks John :bannana: :bannana: :bannana: :bannana:

 

[Aviator]

Looks like a good result.
Is there any chance of borrowing the disc to update my software.

 

[glojo]

Looks like a good result.
Is there any chance of borrowing the disc to update my software.

What is it you want to update? We are not discussing the mapping software.

Regards
John

 

[Aviator]

Its a long story.
So will try to enlighten you. The car an E320 cdi avantgarde Sep 2003 has always been serviced by MB main dealer. On first service they said they had an upgrade for the comand unit. Picked up the car but it had not been done. They said they would do it at next service. Same thing happened. At third service just before the warranty ran out I asked them to ensure the updates had been done. On picking up the car they said they did not have the update disc and could not get it as it was now obsolete but it did no matter anyway as the changes were minor.
I had already queried why the TMC did not work to be told it was not available in the UK.
Up until this point I believed them but a freind with BMW was able to get TMC. Queried again with MB main dealer to be told all updates on maps disc.
Next service was carried out in Italy by MB dealer in San Remo ( much cheaper as labour charges on 41 Euro per hr)
I asked them to install latest maps. Picked up the car to find version 3 maps issued in 2004. Why would I pay for maps that were 3 years out of date?
Took car back to San Remo and they discovered version 6 maps were avail and got me a copy. They then discovered that they would not work as the firmware had not been updated. They order updated firmware discs but I had to leave Italy before they arrived. Original maps were re-installed.
I then complained to MB in the UK and in Germany that nobody within the MB empire seemed to know how to update the maps and software in the system. I also asked two questions
1) What software/firmware did I need
2) What were the latest maps
3) Who could I talk to in the UK that knew and understood the comand system and how to update it.

Their response was mind blowing. They suggested that I should contact MB in Italy ask them waht they would have done if I had been able to leave the car with them and then tell my local MB dealer how to do it.
I told them that this was a totally unaceptable response from a prestige brand company.

I then got a call from the service manager at the local MB dealer. He promised to make it his task to get the latest disc and to sort out the problems. By this time I had educated myself on the system thanks to this website and knew that there was a version 7 maps available and I gave them the part numbers.

They subsequently advised that they had the maps for installation. I asked what version to be told version 6. I asked them to get version 7 to which they responded by saying that they are not available in the UK.
Why they think I would pay nearly £230 for out of date maps I cannot understand.
I have ordered the version 7 maps from MB in Germany.

You may well have detected my frustration at the totally inept way that MB deal with their customers. I have paid nearly £2K for the comand system and then have to pay £230 for the maps when I could buy a complete Tom Tom system with updates for a fraction of the cost.
I am now trying to update the system myself as I could not possibly do a worse job then the MB main dealers.

Any help or suggestions would be most warmly appreciated

 

[glojo]

Its a long story.

It certainly is and I feel for you.

I can certainly forward you the latest upgrade BUT it is not an all singing all dancing bells and whistle service bulletin. I am extremely concerned that if you install this upgrade without having the earlier ones carried out it might make a bad situation worse.

I have read through your post but cannot find any mention of your vehicle being serviced recently here in the UK? I only ask this because it is usual to apply the latest service bulletin upgrades to the car whilst it is being serviced? This does NOT usually include this latest 'patch' although a few dealers have done it.

The mapping software is a completely different issue and these DVD's have to be purchased.

My personal advice is to get the TMC issue resolved before even thinking about this latest upgrade which I will tactfully refer to as a patch

Please don't think I am ducking out of this, I'm not. It is just that I don't want you to make a bad situation any worse.

Yours sincerely
John

 

[DansSlk]

What i'd do mate is get the latest mapping DVD something you appear to have on order anyways, load that then get the headunit upgrade disk (we have them knocking about if you need to borrow one) and also the navigation processor upgrade disk (again we have one you can borrow).

You should then be up to date.

Of course normal disclaimer applies any updates you do by yourself its your responsibility and all that stuff but its so simple to do it's almost impossible to mess up.

 

[glojo]

Of course normal disclaimer applies any updates you do by yourself its your responsibility and all that stuff but its so simple to do it's almost impossible to mess up.

Hi Dan,
I hope my post came over in the way it was meant. I have contacted Aviator via pm and offered to send him the CD, and I'm merely being catious with my observation.

Tis easy to make a hasty decision and I bow to you on this very specialist subject.

Regards
John

 

[masqueraid]

TMC is activated by the installation of the map disk (5.0 or later) in the boot DVD player. Your '03 W211 should have been supplied with a version 4.x map which was pre TMC in the UK.

If you are running a map DVD that is 5.0 or above and you do not have TMC enabled I don't think using the software release 21.090 disk from John is not going to improve matters (any of the COMAND devices updated by the disk will move directly to the most recent version bypassing any stages that should have been installed earlier - the issue is with any other devices in the chain, such as the audio gateway, that should have been upgraded by your dealer at servicing and are consequently "left behind" in the updating process).

If you don't have TMC (and you can simply test this by pressing the TMC soft button in Map mode) you shoud press for this from your dealer as it will probably involve a Star based firmware upgrade.

As I've posted before, I am an amateur at this and still learning every day. COMAND is a very complex piece of kit and it is disheartening to read again of dealers' apparent lack of knowledge of an integral part of their product.