Mercedes COMAND NTG4.5 in Mercedes C350 coupe 2011

[MercC350Coupe2011]

Hello everyone,

Yesterday I fixed the common command controller rotation problem and I decided to look into newer versions of built-in GPS. My vehicle is a Mercedes c350 coupe 2011 (c204).

I currently have version 6.0 Europe 2012 which was probably the factory version. It's the NTG4.5 system and I have found a version 19 from 2019/2020 Europe. It costs 99 pounds.

Does it worth the update? Has anyone tried it? Can I find it maybe cheaper?

Mercedes COMAND NTG4.5/4.7 Europe V19 2019/2020 sat nav map update via USB SD | eBay

USB update. Next you’ll have to put the flash drive into your car’s SD/USB port and wait till the update dialog is shown asking you wherever to start the update. Map data version: EU 2019/2020. Model series A-Class W176 (09/12-08/15).

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[jasonh]

Apparently some dealers will do the update for £100

 

[Deleted member 149005]

That looks like a map update, not an updated operating system (ie no new functionality).

Make sure you generate the correct PIN code to be able to install in your car.

 

[MercC350Coupe2011]

That looks like a map update, not an updated operating system (ie no new functionality).

Make sure you generate the correct PIN code to be able to install in your car.

Oh I didn't know I could update the operating system. Can I update the maps and the operating system at once on the dealer?How expensive is this?

 

[geoffus]

It would be nice to have the update but £100 is too much, spend your money on something else and use Google maps or Waze.
Thats what I do.

 

[markjay]

The firmware update needs to be done via STAR and therefore a dealer job, or better still go see a specialist such as www.comandonline.co.uk.

It will update the COMAND operating system and the navigation software, but obviously not the maps data.

It might also be possible to change the background theme from the old brown/yellow Papyrus to the newer silver/red theme, if you prefer it.

The firmware itself is free, but the dealer will charge for time/labour (half hour to one hour).

 

[MercC350Coupe2011]

The firmware update needs to be done via STAR and therefore a dealer job, or better still go see a specialist such as www.comandonline.co.uk.

It will update the COMAND operating system and the navigation software, but obviously not the maps data.

It might also be possible to change the background theme from the old brown/yellow Papyrus to the newer silver/red theme, if you prefer it.

The firmware itself is free, but the dealer will charge for time/labour (half hour to one hour).

I don't know if the current hardware can support newer versions of the software. Do you know if this is possible?

 

[MercC350Coupe2011]

It would be nice to have the update but £100 is too much, spend your money on something else and use Google maps or Waze.
Thats what I do.

Yes I know that's it is very expensive and not any better than google maps and maze. That's why I am asking to investigate the prons and cons.

 

[AMGeed]

I had my map updated two weeks ago. Same NTG 4.5 and the cost was £99 from the dealer. I forgot to ask for the firmware to be updated but I don't think I'm missing anything.
No idea if it was worth it until I do a few trips with new roads on the map. The old map was the original 2014 map so I think ii was time to update it.

 

[geoffus]

Yes I know that's it is very expensive and not any better than google maps and maze. That's why I am asking to investigate the prons and cons.

Let me know how you get on as everyone likes to keep updated.

 

[markjay]

With regards updating the maps to 2020 v19.0....

a. v19.0 was released in Nov 2019. So it's likely that a new version will be released soon. That said, as the model becomes older, at some point MB will start scaling-down the maps update frequency, so unfortunately there's no way of telling when the next version is due...

2. MB introduced the live traffic data option in late 2013 (the service is provided by TomTom), but earlier cars have only the free TMC service. It works reasonably well on motorways, but it's useless in city driving (when compared to mobile phone SatNavs e.g. Wage / Apple Maps / Google Maps). So if considering updating the maps, try and evaluate first if you are likely to actually use the COMAND SatNav given that it has only TMC but not live traffic.

3. One other option, which may or may not be of interest to you, is to fit Apple CarPlay / Android Auto. This will allow you to use the navigation software from your phone on the COMAND screen.

 

[markjay]

I don't know if the current hardware can support newer versions of the software. Do you know if this is possible?

There were three versions of COMAND NTG4.5.

NTG4.5 Gen1 was introduced in 2010, Gen2 in 2012, and Gen3 (aka NTG4.7) in 2014.

It is possible to upgrade Gen1 to Gen2 using firmware, because both Gen1 and Gen2 use the same hardware.

Gen3 uses different hardware to Gen1/Gen2 and has a different firmware.

So yes, it is possible to update the firmware on your COMAND unit to the latest version available for your hardware.

 

[MercC350Coupe2011]

With regards updating the maps to 2020 v19.0....

a. v19.0 was released in Nov 2019. So it's likely that a new version will be released soon. That said, as the model becomes older, at some point MB will start scaling-down the maps update frequency, so unfortunately there's no way of telling when the next version is due...

2. MB introduced the live traffic data option in late 2013 (the service is provided by TomTom), but earlier cars have only the free TMC service. It works reasonably well on motorways, but it's useless in city driving (when compared to mobile phone SatNavs e.g. Wage / Apple Maps / Google Maps). So if considering updating the maps, try and evaluate first if you are likely to actually use the COMAND SatNav given that it has only TMC but not live traffic.

3. One other option, which may or may not be of interest to you, is to fit Apple CarPlay / Android Auto. This will allow you to use the navigation software from your phone on the COMAND screen.

That would be awesome but it is really expensive..

Mercedes Benz. (2009-2015) NTG 4.5/4.7 Retrofit CarPlay and Android Auto Upgrade Kit – Integrated automotive UK

integratedautomotive.co.uk

 

[MercC350Coupe2011]

I had my map updated two weeks ago. Same NTG 4.5 and the cost was £99 from the dealer. I forgot to ask for the firmware to be updated but I don't think I'm missing anything.
No idea if it was worth it until I do a few trips with new roads on the map. The old map was the original 2014 map so I think ii was time to update it.

I am going to ask for both of them on the dealer and let you know.

Ps my maps are from 2011 so I think they are quite outdated..

 

[MercC350Coupe2011]

Let me know how you get on as everyone likes to keep updated.

Of course I am going to keep you updated when I find out what are the benefits and if I am going to do it or keep using my mobile.

 

[MercC350Coupe2011]

I had my map updated two weeks ago. Same NTG 4.5 and the cost was £99 from the dealer. I forgot to ask for the firmware to be updated but I don't think I'm missing anything.
No idea if it was worth it until I do a few trips with new roads on the map. The old map was the original 2014 map so I think ii was time to update it.

Since your car is 2014 reg has already the latest gen 2 version. No need to update the OS.

 

[markjay]

The advantages of mobile phone SatNav apps (whether used directly on your phone, or via Apple CarPlay), are that you get always up-to-date maps, speed limits, speed camera alerts, and speeding alerts.

The advantages of COMAND are that it's a more powerful navigation processor, with an external GPS SatNav on the roof, and better integration with the car (showing SatNav info on the LCD screen in the instrument cluster).

Also, it is my personal opinion that the navigation software on NTG4.5 is one if the best there is, in terms of timing of announcements, clarity of information provided, and the graphic display and instructions.

 

[MercC350Coupe2011]

There were three versions of COMAND NTG4.5.

NTG4.5 Gen1 was introduced in 2010, Gen2 in 2012, and Gen3 (aka NTG4.7) in 2014.

It is possible to upgrade Gen1 to Gen2 using firmware, because both Gen1 and Gen2 use the same hardware.

Gen3 uses different hardware to Gen1/Gen2 and has a different firmware.

So yes, it is possible to update the firmware on your COMAND unit to the latest version available for your hardware.

I have got gen 1 so I could update to gen 2 to change the background colours. In the picture below you could see the gen1 and gen2 screen colours.

Getting the updated COMAND colors on 2012 C300 - MBWorld.org Forums

C-Class (W204) - Getting the updated COMAND colors on 2012 C300 - We have a 2012 C300 with the nav package. I set today in 2013 and noticed the colors now look much better on both the COMAND screen as well as the round cluster screen. Is there anyway to get 2012 updated? Has anyone done it?

mbworld.org

 

[markjay]

Since your car is 2014 reg has already the latest gen 2 version. No need to update the OS.

A 2014 car will likely have Gen3 (aka NTG4.7).

The latest firmware for Gen3 was released in late 2016.

So if the firmware was never updated since new, there will be a newer firmware available.

That said, I am not sure if there will be any noticeable changes with the new firmware.

I had my Gen3 unit retrofitted in 2017, and www.comandonline.co.uk supplied it with the latest firmware already installed, so I can't really say if there are any noticeable differences from earlier firmware (some firmware updates include bug fixing or performance enhancements, but not necessarily any new features).

 

[markjay]

I have got gen 1 so I could update to gen 2 to change the background colours. In the picture below you could see the gen1 and gen2 screen colours.

Getting the updated COMAND colors on 2012 C300 - MBWorld.org Forums

C-Class (W204) - Getting the updated COMAND colors on 2012 C300 - We have a 2012 C300 with the nav package. I set today in 2013 and noticed the colors now look much better on both the COMAND screen as well as the round cluster screen. Is there anyway to get 2012 updated? Has anyone done it?

mbworld.org

This is correct.