Retrofitting Comand in a W203.

[R2D2]

Today with the encouragement of Alfie, I ventured to install Comand APS (Yes I know my car is already wired with Smartnav!) . Anyway photos below!
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=500439#post500439

 

[tudu]

Today with the encouragement of Alfie, I ventured to install Comand APS (Yes I know my car is already wired with Smartnav!) . Anyway photos below!
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=500439#post500439

Well done, very nice job. As you know i am probably the least technical person on the forum hence, i trusted my Comand installation in the very expert hands of Alfie and Richard. I use mine all the time and the plus is it doesn't interfere with my iPod, although the traffic reports can be a pain in the xxx sometimes.

 

[gbjeppm]

Any issues with wiring, speed pulses etc, or was everything already available on the existing loom in right place?

I assume as yours is a facelift all the wiring is in place. Also where did you put the GPS receiver?

Looks great, as does the rest of your car.

 

[R2D2]

The GPS aerial goes to the right of the top airvent on the underside of the dashboard. The wiring was in place and the unit didnt need coded. I was exceptionally lucky that it recognised my changer and phone kit OK. The cluster will need coded and I will need to update the software and explore video next. Still it looks and sounds nice and its a laugh! Thankyou for your encouragement!

 

[whitenemesis]

Linguatronic next then R2D2?

I use my COMAND every trip and I love controlling it by voice commands

 

[R2D2]

Linguatronic next then R2D2?

I use my COMAND every trip and I love controlling it by voice commands

My wife casually said "oh does it video". I said does it do reversing camera, you say does it do Linguatronic......I guess the answer is not yet!

 

[whitenemesis]

My wife casually said "oh does it video". I said does it do reversing camera, you say does it do Linguatronic......I guess the answer is not yet!

:bannana:

 

[fuzzer]

no no no no , ive got smart nav.. i don't need comand.

Im not installing comand. " it will look good" no no , ive got smart nav ..

ah well told ya lol

 

[robert.saunders]

Nice write-up thanks

 

[HughJarse]

Today with the encouragement of Alfie, I ventured to install Comand APS (Yes I know my car is already wired with Smartnav!) . Anyway photos below!
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=500439#post500439

SHHhhhhh I get paid from Alfie for fitting these inthe North East - Dont tell people how easy it is !!

Well done - it always feels good when you power it up, it sees the sats and then works.

Funny you counted the torx rotations though

 

[High-Lo]

Looks great R2 well done. Good write up too

 

[Alfie]

Well done

Come on Greg admit it, comand is beter than smartnav...

 

[kjay]

Congrats. :bannana:

Looks really good. And thanks for the step by step guide!!

 

[R2D2]

Well done

Come on Greg admit it, comand is beter than smartnav...

I think that Smartnav is the Delia Smith of Sat Navs. It does it extremely well and the end result is perfect and timely.

Comand is the Kiera knightly (Sp?) of Sat Navs. Looks great and you'd enjoy the dinner a whole lot more with her.

I'm of course now in the perfect position of having Delia making dinner and Kiera to enjoy the meal with.

I think comand is good because it:

1. Looks great
2. Adds value
3. Looks great
4. Adds a better interface for all the bits like aux in, CDC etc
5. Looks great


I think smartnav is:

1. Fantastic at getting you somewhere quickly and avoiding congestion.
2. Is safer to use on the move as you can press the one button without taking your eyes of the road.
3. Doesn't have anything to look at therefore nothing to steal
4. a useful tool but doesn't add value despite Mercedes charging £550 for it.

Both are great and I don't have to choose now-I can use both:bannana:

 

[GrahamC230K]

Nice one Greg.

 

[R2D2]

I think that Smartnav is the Delia Smith of Sat Navs. It does it extremely well and the end result is perfect and timely.

Comand is the Kiera knightly (Sp?) of Sat Navs. Looks great and you'd enjoy the dinner a whole lot more with her.

I'm of course now in the perfect position of having Delia making dinner and Kiera to enjoy the meal with.

I think comand is good because it:

1. Looks great
2. Adds value
3. Looks great
4. Adds a better interface for all the bits like aux in, CDC etc
5. Looks great


I think smartnav is:

1. Fantastic at getting you somewhere quickly and avoiding congestion.
2. Is safer to use on the move as you can press the one button without taking your eyes of the road.
3. Doesn't have anything to look at therefore nothing to steal
4. a useful tool but doesn't add value despite Mercedes charging £550 for it.

Both are great and I don't have to choose now-I can use both:bannana:

Today I drove a test route with Comand and Smart Nav going at the same time. The result is that the comand lady has a nicer voice but she leaves her directions quite late and the roundabout instructions are variable! Smart Nav's lady is grumpier but her directions are clearer and more timely....she is better than Comand but Comand is very cool. I think I would use Smart nav for routes and avoiding traffic jams but with Comands map on!

 

[v_j_r]

Nice job R2D2 can we expect the video soon......... ohhhhh BTW how much do these command units cost?.

Best Regards.

 

[R2D2]

According to MB £1850!!! LOL -Cheaper at Alfie's, cheaper still if you manage it yourself without damaging anything like trims or gearknob etc.

 

[Alfie]

Today I drove a test route with Comand and Smart Nav going at the same time. The result is that the comand lady has a nicer voice but she leaves her directions quite late and the roundabout instructions are variable! Smart Nav's lady is grumpier but her directions are clearer and more timely....she is better than Comand but Comand is very cool. I think I would use Smart nav for routes and avoiding traffic jams but with Comands map on!

Have you had the unit flashed with the latest firmware yet? What version disk are using and is it an original?

 

[R2D2]

Have you had the unit flashed with the latest firmware yet? What version disk are using and is it an original?

No I haven't had it flashed yet and the disk is version 4. (still can't play MP3s through it-my wifes kia can!)