Review of 'New' MB Sat Nav system

[oldmovieguy]

There is a pretty fulsome review of the 'new' MB Satnav system fitted to an E class in yesterdays 'Sunday Telegraph'. It does not mention COMAND by name but does say it has the capacity to recognise full seven-digit UK post codes and says (quote) "This new E class system, tailor-made by Harman Becker, may be just about the most brilliant satnav set-up ever made".
My question is this, is this the COMAND system now fitted as standard or is it something you buy as an upgrade to the COMAND system?

 

[Alfie]

There is a pretty fulsome review of the 'new' MB Satnav system fitted to an E class in yesterdays 'Sunday Telegraph'. It does not mention COMAND by name but does say it has the capacity to recognise full seven-digit UK post codes and says (quote) "This new E class system, tailor-made by Harman Becker, may be just about the most brilliant satnav set-up ever made".
My question is this, is this the COMAND system now fitted as standard or is it something you buy as an upgrade to the COMAND system?

The new Comand systems are fitted to model year 2009 (mid 2008 build) cars onwards. The exception to this is the W204 which came out in late 2007. The new system has the much awaited 7 digit postcode support and birds eye view of the map. It is a huge improvement on the earlier systems with many of the newer units having built in DVD changers too.

If you order a car with comand you get the full system (DVd changer optional). This includes lingautronic, bluetooth and full european wide navigation with TMC.

I have retrofitted one to my pre facelift W169 A class. I have to say its great but then I would

 

[oldmovieguy]

Thanks for the info, I'll look forward to using it when we collect the new E class from Stuttgart.

 

[oldcro]

In an earlier post Mark92400 commenting on his new W212 said:

I have now had it for about a month and overall i am delighted. I have the 350cdi (avantgarde) engine which is great but a bit heavier on diesel than i would have hoped. I could have waited until October for the 250CDI (auto) but was worried that this was only available with a five speed auto. The comand navigation is very good but does not seem to support full post code entries that some have talked about. As mentioned earlier, you will love the car for its comfort looks and build quality. What model have you gone for ?

Now I am really puzzled as to how many digits the W212,s post code entry does allow. MB's web site does not give any information which makes me think it is still the old 5 digit entry (based on the assumption they would have bragged about it if 7 digit entries were now possible).

I would of course be delighted to be proven wrong.

 

[oldcro]

A check on the MBUK website gives the following information for each model regarding the COMAND postcode entry.

A,B,C,E,CLC,SL,SLK,CLS and Viano = no mention.

S,CL,CLK all 5 digit postcode entry.

GL,M,R all full postcode recognition.

 

[G8YTZ]

All,

The COMAND system in the W212 currently does not support 7 digit postcode entries. In fact you cannot enter some postcodes and then a street which is very annoying.

However the TrafficMaster traffic avoidance is a big step forward on the old ITIS system which gave unreliable information feeds and often the service was down on via the Classic FM/RDS network. So far TrafficMaster has shown to be very reliable.

COMAND navigator maps are two years out of date (and this is the latest version) and have some terrible errors... Instruction to drive southbound on the Tottenham Court Road! Better still making a turn from Holborn Viaduct onto the Farringdon Road (The word Viaduct should give you a clue!) and countless no right turn instructions, no sign of Terminal 5 or parts of the A2’s new route near Bluewater.

What's annoying is that the APS50 in my W211 had fully up-to-date maps, more up-to-date than the W212 and without significant mapping errors. ALso what has happened to the POI's looking for a restaurant, opk if youn want Burger Kink, at tit-bit at McBurgers or a Combine Harvester etc, but very little else is listed that was on the old APS50 system in the W211

However lest not loose sight that the basic nav system is very good, the voice recognition, display, ease of operation etc. The issues above can all be resolved in software, just when though?

Justin.

 

[wemorgan]

That's very interesting to read that the maps are out of date. I had previously read that there were only 2-3 'map makers' so had assumed OEMs just bought the latest maps off them.

 

[G8YTZ]

THe W212 Maps are Tele-Atlas/TRafficMaster, the W211 (at least the 03 COMAND and APS50) were Navteq/ITIS.

The C-Class NTG4 has new maps, so does the W212-APS50, but not the E-Class COMAND...

Justin.

 

[fuzzer]

Compared to the flash based system in my BMW , all MB systems are in the dark ages.

Ive got telematics integration and very good POI's , lightning fast recalculations and postcode entry.

Not to mention a free consierge service at the touch of a button! Brilliant. MB are at the catch up!

 

[James Rothwell]

Not to mention a free consierge service at the touch of a button! Brilliant. MB are at the catch up!

What can they do for you?

 

[fuzzer]

What can they do for you?

unlock your car , lock your car . Give information based on your location. Call the emergency services if the airbags are deployed if they cannot talk to you on the incar system. Do remote diagnostics on your car should they need to. IVe never used them to book stuff for you but im sure they do that too.

The car also has an internet browser and you can go to google on your computer and send a route to the car from google maps.

its brilliant , im very pleased with it all. Comes free for the first 3 years and then 120 a year after.

 

[G8YTZ]

Guys and Gals,

Just been speaking with Mercedes Tech about the W212 COMAND map updates, about 3-4 weeks time there will be a new release, but this release will not include 7-Digit postcodes, but this is penned in for the release after next.

Any MB insiders got a software release/feature roadmap?

Justin.

 

[Mudster]

Also any information on Navigation 20 people?

Shocking that a £2000 + system still can't do 7 digit postcode entry.

 

[mbenz76]

The dealer where I ordered my W212 (Mercedes Sheffield) assured me it would have full post code entry. Wish I had tried on the demo car now.

Have to wait until March to find out I guess when the car arrives.

So should I expect out of date maps too?

 

[G8YTZ]

Did he mention a delivery date for 7-digit postcode? Or is he saying that your new toy will be delivered on March 1st (but is that 2011, 2012, 2013...) ;-) If you can try and get it in writing, or at least make a careful note of what he said and when. This way at least you'll get the update free as that would consitute a verbal contract.

Anyone tried retrofitting a BMW system in the MB ;-) MB do offer the Google Map thingy and other stuff in the USA though, but they know how to charge for it!

Justin.

 

[Diesel Benz]

Anyone tried retrofitting a BMW system in the MB ;-) MB do offer the Google Map thingy and other stuff in the USA though, but they know how to charge for it!

Justin.

Doesn't MB support everythng fuzzer talks about in the US through Tele-Aid? And it has been available almost forever. Includes the option to download the destination for the next trip from a web based navigation application (Google maps should do it).

I guess it is more about the limited interest in Europe for this kind of services. Now that E-call support is becoming mandatory in the EU, some of the Tele-Aid services may be brought along.

 

[mbenz76]

How do I find out how old the maps in my W212 are?

Had it 3 weeks now and have to say the sat nav is very good indeed, much better than in my previous car.

7 digit post code is available in some areas but not others (Nottingham seems to have most 7 digit codes for example, but not Sheffield where I live, where only a few are in). No real problem though as I got used to not having it in the last car, would be nice to get it at some point though.

Noticed that the new (final part) of the Sheffield Ring Road which was completed about 2 years ago is not on the maps though. Now I know a lot of people with a variety of models (including TomTom) have complained to the local paper about it not being covered, and the council replied to say they had sent plans to all the map providers but they would take time to filter through, but 2 years and not on the map in a new car seems a bit odd, so I wonder what the date of my maps is.

 

[hawk20]

The new Comand systems are fitted to model year 2009 (mid 2008 build) cars onwards. The exception to this is the W204 which came out in late 2007. The new system has the much awaited 7 digit postcode support and birds eye view of the map.

Alfie, a lot of the posts after yours say that 7 digit postcodes not yet available on the E212 series. Can you confirm the current position?

As for 7 digit postcodes on BMW's I was with a BMW dealer only two days ago and he said they do not have full 7 digit postcodes yet -only for some towns. Incredible how difficult it is to get the true picture. meanwhile my £200 Garmin has had 7 digit coes for several years now, and speed cameras and the location of mobile speed units. So far ahead.

 

[Alfie]

Alfie, a lot of the posts after yours say that 7 digit postcodes not yet available on the E212 series. Can you confirm the current position?

As for 7 digit postcodes on BMW's I was with a BMW dealer only two days ago and he said they do not have full 7 digit postcodes yet -only for some towns. Incredible how difficult it is to get the true picture. meanwhile my £200 Garmin has had 7 digit coes for several years now, and speed cameras and the location of mobile speed units. So far ahead.

Yep. When I posted that we hadnt seen a W212 (August 2009).

The W212/W207 does not yet have 7 digit postcode support. Ditto W204.

The navigation-20 upgrade for the W204 with Audio20 does have it. the Navigation-20 upgrade for W212/W207 has not yet been released.

As yet we do not know when or even if there will be an update for comand in the W204/W212/W207 that will provide 7 digit postcodes.

 

[Mudster]

So in short, if navigation is your sole reason for wanting COMAND, save the £2000 and buy a tomtom.

If you want COMAND for all the other bits and pieces, go for it.