Map updates W212 MY2016

[tpwuk]

Just a quick update.

I managed to get my cars datacard updated with the three smartphone integration codes and my COMAND units software updated. I now have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto working!

 

[Bendo]

Good stuff. Did you go to MB Tech?

I'm still undecided on whether to do it or just get an android head unit. Not sure how intuitive the carplay experience will be with the wheel input system.

Have you noticed any other benefits with the command software being updated. My lack of certain dab stations is bugging me and wondering if that's a software issue.

 

[tpwuk]

Good stuff. Did you go to MB Tech?

I'm still undecided on whether to do it or just get an android head unit. Not sure how intuitive the carplay experience will be with the wheel input system.

Have you noticed any other benefits with the command software being updated. My lack of certain dab stations is bugging me and wondering if that's a software issue.

Yes indeed, MB Tech did a good job for me. Was £140 plus VAT, took approx 2 hours and they even sid a first class valet on my car. The chaps there are very friendly and very knowledgeable, so I do recommend them.

As for the update, well it's early days yet, but so far it's seems very worthwhile. Spotify and Google Maps integration alone makes it worth it for me.

 

[Bendo]

Thanks for the update. Probably am leaning to doing this rather than spending £600 on an Android unit and having the faff of fitting it.

 

[markjay]

Keep in mind that this update is only possible on some models. It works on COMAND NTG5*1 but not on COMAND NTG5*2.

 

[Bendo]

Mines 5*1 as it has the keypad. Its a premium+ though with HK sound so hopefully that doesn't complicate things.

Going to check some vids of how carplay works with the wheel and try to finally decide one way or the other whether to get it enabled or whether to go Android.

In Androids favour is that fact that some buffoon has rubbed off some of the screens coating whilst cleaning it before I bought it. But then it would probably block the view of the parking sensors.

 

[tpwuk]

Mines 5*1 as it has the keypad. Its a premium+ though with HK sound so hopefully that doesn't complicate things.

Going to check some vids of how carplay works with the wheel and try to finally decide one way or the other whether to get it enabled or whether to go Android.

In Androids favour is that fact that some buffoon has rubbed off some of the screens coating whilst cleaning it before I bought it. But then it would probably block the view of the parking sensors.

Mine is also 5*1 and Premium Plus with HK sound. All works really well so far. Operation using the wheel is quite intuitive.

 

[Bendo]

Mine is also 5*1 and Premium Plus with HK sound. All works really well so far. Operation using the wheel is quite intuitive.

Sounds like no issue for me then.

I'll probably just go ahead with it on account of being too lazy to get the screen out.

 

[Bendo]

Had mine done this morning. Seems more intuitive than I thought it would be so glad I got it done.

Also happy to report that the issues I had with lots of missing DAB+ stations has now gone.

Dated infotainment was the biggest weakness of this car but this has pretty much sorted that.

 

[Tony7Bear]

Rather than start yet another map update thread I'm going to hijack this one instead

My C220d was in for a service last week and I asked them to do the final free map update. When I collected the car they said that my system is in two parts and they only had the operating system update to hand and so were ordering the map component from Germany, the car is booked in for the update next Friday.

Two years ago I managed to download a map using the Comand software and I wangled a PIN for free from one of the dealers, I then updated the map myself. At no stage did it ask for the o/s to be updated and there have never been any problems using the navigation system.

So when you buy a map update from places like Comandonline does it come with both parts or was I merely fed a story from the dealership regarding there being two parts?

 

[Harrythedog]

Rather than start yet another map update thread I'm going to hijack this one instead

My C220d was in for a service last week and I asked them to do the final free map update. When I collected the car they said that my system is in two parts and they only had the operating system update to hand and so were ordering the map component from Germany, the car is booked in for the update next Friday.

Two years ago I managed to download a map using the Comand software and I wangled a PIN for free from one of the dealers, I then updated the map myself. At no stage did it ask for the o/s to be updated and there have never been any problems using the navigation system.

So when you buy a map update from places like Comandonline does it come with both parts or was I merely fed a story from the dealership regarding there being two parts?

Same happened to me today. They said they didn’t have the software and will call me when they do have it !

 

[markjay]

The OS update is in fact firmware update (or software update), this needs to be done via STAR so it's a dealer-only job (or specialist with STAR). The firmware itself is free, but some dealers will charge between half-hour and one-hour for labour (some don't). On later models the firmware update for the infotainment system is done by MB remotely 'over the air'.

There were very few cases where the new maps required a firmware update as a prerequisite, but as a rule the maps can be updated any time and do not require the firmware to be updated first.

With regards the free maps update, please ask the dealer to provide you with the PIN code for the latest version asap. After the 3 years laps, the dealer will no longer be able to generate free PIN codes on MB VeDOK.

The maps can be downloaded from MB, but it's a ~50gb dowoad and dealers prefer to order it from MB on USB media rather than download it themselves.

If you prefer, you can download it at home then copy it to USB media and install it yourself (using the PIN code provided by tbe dealer).

Also, make sure they generate the PIN for the latest version - the system on your 2018 W205 (pre-facelift) is COMAND Online NTG5*2:

Current COMAND Map Versions | Electronics and Audio

NTG5*2 Maps V15.0 released on 08.06.2021

forums.mbclub.co.uk

 

[Harrythedog]

The OS update is in fact firmware update (or software update), this needs to be done via STAR so it's a dealer-only job (or specialist with STAR). The firmware itself is free, but some dealers will charge between half-hour and one-hour for labour (some don't). On later models the firmware update for the infotainment system is done by MB remotely 'over the air'.

There were very few cases where the new maps required a firmware update as a prerequisite, but as a rule the maps can be updated any time and do not require the firmware to be updated first.

With regards the free maps update, please ask the dealer to provide you with the PIN code for the latest version asap. After the 3 years laps, the dealer will no longer be able to generate free PIN codes on MB VeDOK.

The maps can be downloaded from MB, but it's a ~50gb dowoad and dealers prefer to order it from MB on USB media rather than download it themselves.

If you prefer, you can download it at home then copy it to USB media and install it yourself (using the PIN code provided by tbe dealer).

Also, make sure they generate the PIN for the latest version - the system on your 2018 W205 (pre-facelift) is COMAND Online NTG5*2:

Current COMAND Map Versions | Electronics and Audio

NTG5*2 Maps V15.0 released on 08.06.2021

forums.mbclub.co.uk

MJ is the pin code only relevant to that particular update or can it be used fir future updates ?

 

[markjay]

MJ is the pin code only relevant to that particular update or can it be used fir future updates ?

The PIN code is specific to the maps version.

Each map version will have a different PIN code.

Dealers have been known to - on occasion - generate the PIN code for the previous maps version, because they didn't have the USB media for the latest version, and didn't want to download it. At least in this instance the dealer was honest about it.

 

[markjay]

Same happened to me today. They said they didn’t have the software and will call me when they do have it !

As long as they generate the PIN before the 3 years are up.... it will be fine. Once generated, the PIN is stored on VeDOK.

 

[Harrythedog]

As long as they generate the PIN before the 3 years are up.... it will be fine. Once generated, the PIN is stored on VeDOK.

My 3 years is up on the 11/07/21 and they won’t be doing the update until after then so I’ll have to wait and see if they can generate it.
Thanks fir you helpful reply MJ

 

[Tony7Bear]

The OS update is in fact firmware update (or software update), this needs to be done via STAR so it's a dealer-only job (or specialist with STAR). The firmware itself is free, but some dealers will charge between half-hour and one-hour for labour (some don't). On later models the firmware update for the infotainment system is done by MB remotely 'over the air'.

There were very few cases where the new maps required a firmware update as a prerequisite, but as a rule the maps can be updated any time and do not require the firmware to be updated first.

With regards the free maps update, please ask the dealer to provide you with the PIN code for the latest version asap. After the 3 years laps, the dealer will no longer be able to generate free PIN codes on MB VeDOK.

The maps can be downloaded from MB, but it's a ~50gb dowoad and dealers prefer to order it from MB on USB media rather than download it themselves.

If you prefer, you can download it at home then copy it to USB media and install it yourself (using the PIN code provided by tbe dealer).

Also, make sure they generate the PIN for the latest version - the system on your 2018 W205 (pre-facelift) is COMAND Online NTG5*2:

Current COMAND Map Versions | Electronics and Audio

NTG5*2 Maps V15.0 released on 08.06.2021

forums.mbclub.co.uk

Very informative and helpful, thanks for that MJ.

With regards to the PIN the dealership had insisted that if I wanted the free update then I had to book the car in when I did as the 3 year warranty ran out on that day. They told me that they had to book in the hours with MB in order to do the work but it had to be on the system before the warranty expired so I'm guessing/hoping that the PIN will be for the NTG 5*2 V15 software.

 

[Bally12345]

I bought the maps from ebay for £90 and it was sent on a usb. It really doesn't need any dealer involvement as they still have to apply for the pin which is apart of the licence.

Does take an hour but its literally plug USB in click accept enter pin and leave it running. Luckily our car gets OTA updates so didn't need any firmware upgrade unless it was baked into the maps update?

 

[markjay]

My 3 years is up on the 11/07/21 and they won’t be doing the update until after then so I’ll have to wait and see if they can generate it.
Thanks fir you helpful reply MJ

They can now

I bought the maps from ebay for £90 and it was sent on a usb. It really doesn't need any dealer involvement as they still have to apply for the pin which is apart of the licence.

Does take an hour but its literally plug USB in click accept enter pin and leave it running. Luckily our car gets OTA updates so didn't need any firmware upgrade unless it was baked into the maps update?

The maps update does not include a firmware update (not for the past 15 years, anyway...).

What I understand from Tony7Bear's comment that the dealer said they needed to "book in the hours with MB", is that the dealer gets to charge MB for the time when carrying-out a free-to-the-customer maps updates, perhaps this is why they insist on doing it at the workshop rather than just giving the PIN code to the customer.

 

[Headhurts]

Had mine done this morning. Seems more intuitive than I thought it would be so glad I got it done.

Also happy to report that the issues I had with lots of missing DAB+ stations has now gone.

Dated infotainment was the biggest weakness of this car but this has pretty much sorted that.

Hi Bendo, I have missing DAB+ stations for instance ‘TalkRadio’ could I ask what update fixed the missing stations?

I cannot message you until you have a few more posts.

Many thanks,
Robin