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Map Updates (NTG4.5) and activiation PIN

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deletedmember130310
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Deletedmember130310

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I had my map updated c2 years ago so I am pondering another update as we might be off for a European jaunt.

I know the activation PIN is tied to my car - but is it one time use, for the map I purchased, or can I use the same pin to install a new (later) map?

Also, can my map be installed in another car, with a new (different) PIN?
 
I know the activation PIN is tied to my car - but is it one time use, for the map I purchased, or can I use the same pin to install a new (later) map?
Yes, and no in that order.
Also, can my map be installed in another car, with a new (different) PIN?
Why would you want to do that if it's 2 years old?
 
Yes, and no in that order.

Why would you want to do that if it's 2 years old?

thanks!

re in another car
because a mate has even older maps.....and doesn't want to pay full RRP ;)
 
As st13phil said.

The latest maps are 2019 v18.0 released in November 2018.

The PIN is specific to both your the VIN of your car AND to the maps version.

You can use the same PIN as many times as you like.... but only when applying the specific version (e.g. v18.0) to the specific car. So in reality it is only applicable if you need to reinstall the same maps again for whatever reason.

As for the maps media, you can either purchase it online and update the maps yourself (it takes around one hour if done from the USB slot), or, if you ask the dealer to update the maps for you, then they will just use their own media and you won't be charged for it (though they might charge you for their time...).

So your mate will be able to reuse your USB media (if you purchased it), but he will need to purchase his own PIN code.
 
Also, if you purchase the PIN from an official outlet (e.g. from an MB Dealer, or from www.comandonline.co.uk), then
it will be registered on the MB central computer.

However, if you purchase a cheap 'dodgy' PIN from eBay (or otherwise obtain an unlicensed copy etc etc), then this might work fine on your COMAND system, but the MB central computer will still show the last version that was legally purchased. So if you have the car serviced at an MB dealer, then they will be able to see that the car has a version of the maps that is later than the one the it is licensed to have, though what/if they will do about it, I do not know.

But in short, it's best to have a proper VIN that works and that will be registered in the MB central computer :thumb:
 
As st13phil said.

The latest maps are 2019 v18.0 released in November 2018.

The PIN is specific to both your the VIN of your car AND to the maps version.

You can use the same PIN as many times as you like.... but only when applying the specific version (e.g. v18.0) to the specific car. So in reality it is only applicable if you need to reinstall the same maps again for whatever reason.

As for the maps media, you can either purchase it online and update the maps yourself (it takes around one hour if done from the USB slot), or, if you ask the dealer to update the maps for you, then they will just use their own media and you won't be charged for it (though they might charge you for their time...).

So your mate will be able to reuse your USB media (if you purchased it), but he will need to purchase his own PIN code.


thanks - that was my understanding (that the PIN really only has value if I need to reinstall)
 
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thanks - that was my understanding (that the PIN really only has value if I need to reinstall

How does the dealer reuse their media in multiple installs?

The media is just a USB flash drive... you can use it to install as many times as you want.

At the beginning of the installation processes, you will be asked for a PIN, which you need to input manually. The PIN is unique to your car, but the USB media is the same for all cars.

(You can also download the contents of the USB media from some some file-sharing websites, but I can't recommend it because it's probably not legit, the contents are unverified, and it's 17gb of data so will take some time and effort to download... :) )
 
Also.... on systems like the Garmin Map Pilot, the navigation software and the maps data are both included on the SD-Card. So when you purchase a new version, you get both the latest navigation software and the latest maps data in one go.

But with COMAND, the USB media only contains the maps data, but not the navigation software itself.

So if you wanted to also update the navigation software to the latest version, then you will need to update the firmware on your COMAND unit, which isn't straight forward because it need to be done via STAR and so requires a visit to the dealer or to Comand UK.
 
Just for info really, I had my ntg4.5 updated with latest map last week at my local dealer for less than £105, they also updated the engine ecu foc to at the same time.
 
nice map
 

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