Update firmware costs!!!

[gangnam007]

I paid a visit to my mercedes dealer yesterday and wanted to know how much to update the firmware on my car. The cost they wanted was £160! they charge £100 for the license of the disc and then £60-100 for the engineers labour. I have tried specialist garages but they don't have a copy of the disk, plus I've been told they must contact mercedes for a pin number when they update the firmware....does anyone know who can get it done cheaper in the west midlands.

 

[Gledsyc63]

Have you tried msl on stratford road they updated all my software on my car as they have live like the dealers.


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[FateSynchro]

I paid £120 at the dealers to have my software updated....

Gearbox
Radio
Ventilation system
And a few others i cant remember, took them 45mins.


Was worth the cost as there wont be any more updates now i wouldnt have thought, not really anyway... all the major ones will have been done.

 

[DSM10000]

I paid a visit to my mercedes dealer yesterday and wanted to know how much to update the firmware on my car. The cost they wanted was £160! they charge £100 for the license of the disc and then £60-100 for the engineers labour. I have tried specialist garages but they don't have a copy of the disk, plus I've been told they must contact mercedes for a pin number when they update the firmware....does anyone know who can get it done cheaper in the west midlands.

It does not sound expensive for a Main dealer provided upgrade. It is less than the price of a tyre for your car.

 

[bob6600]

Ask Jay at Mercland, he might be able to do it

 

[Luke-BITURBO]

I paid £120 at the dealers to have my software updated....

Gearbox
Radio
Ventilation system
And a few others i cant remember, took them 45mins.


Was worth the cost as there wont be any more updates now i wouldnt have thought, not really anyway... all the major ones will have been done.

Hi mate did they have any trouble doing the updates with your msl tune just got mine back from the dealers and they couldn't update the transmission apparently because of the tune

 

[bob6600]

Hi mate did they have any trouble doing the updates with your msl tune just got mine back from the dealers and they couldn't update the transmission apparently because of the tune

Bit surprised as I would have thought it would overwrite the remap and return it to a stock (updated) tune.

Probably better it didn't work if you have the TCU remapped

 

[FateSynchro]

Hi mate did they have any trouble doing the updates with your msl tune just got mine back from the dealers and they couldn't update the transmission apparently because of the tune

My TCU is stock so they updated it fine...


The ECU had an update but i asked them to refrain from updating the ECU due to a remap, they were really good.
Teesside Mercedes are actually pretty good, thats the second time i've dealt with them now and its been good.

 

[PhilT]

Had mine done under warranty but I know the Nav/Radio update takes 4-6 hours alone so £160 doesnt seem bad.

 

[bazzabear]

Did they check that your firmware was definitely in need of updating before giving you a quote? How can you tell when it was last done?

 

[SLKGirl]

I've just had mine done under warranty, stealer was reluctant to do it but I forced the issue and after a few firm words they did it

 

[Lit91]

Surely it should be done as part of the service routine, never fails to amaze me of how many things they find to charge for.

 

[Chrishazle]

OP, how old is your car? New MB's come with 3 years free updates (since about 2011 IIRC) so if your car is less than 3 years old it should be a freebie.

 

[C43AMG]

Yes, how can you check the date when it was last done ?

 

[njkmr]

Yes, how can you check the date when it was last done ?

You can check what version maps are by looking in the menu.
Had mine done on last service and it shows 2016/2017 on the menu

 

[markjay]

On a general note, on Infotainment/SatNav systems you can update the firmware ('software'), which provides bug fixes and additional functionality but does not alter the maps data, and you can update the maps data which will give you new maps but not new firmware ('software').

The former (firmware/software update) is done via STAR diagnostic computer and is usually free, bar the labour charges which shouldn't normally be for more than half hour to an hour.

The maps data update is almost always chargeable. On older MB COMAND system, youl'd just buy the latest maps DVD and update the maps data yourself.

On newer COMAND units, in addition to the maps DVD, you also need to purchase a PIN code from MB, but then you can still carry-out the maps update yourself. Just be aware that it can take a couple of hours to complete.

If you ask the dealer to update the maps DVD for you they will, but again a labour charge will apply.

In recent years COMAND systems on new cars came with 3 years free maps updates, though not all dealers bothered to actually apply these at service time (see SLKGirl's post above).

Interestingly, I had an email exchange with MB regarding this issue, and they said that for the first 3 years there's also an option to set COMAND Online units to automatically receive regular map updates every 3 months over the car's Internet connection, presumably to relieve some pressure off the dealers. After the first 3 years though, the 3-monthly automatic updates option is no longer available (and it can not be renewed either) and the only way to receive map updates is by purchasing the MAPs DVD and PIN code from MB.

If in doubt, talk to www.comandonline.co.uk, they can carry-out both firmware and maps data update in any COMAND unit, and will be better and cheaper than main dealers.

 

[FateSynchro]

The only way to find out what needs updating is to have it plugged into STAR and then it will just reference the newest firmware vs your version.

Just like when your PC updates.

They updated 5 modules and it's she told me they charge 1hr to 1.5hrs labour charge.
So thats where your 120-160£ comes from.

My updates took around 6hrs, the gearbox and infotainment one being particularly long.

 

[gangnam007]

firmware update

anybody know if i do update the software ill be able to change the settings from the yellow to the red and silver theme?

if possible check the link with image to give you an idea what I'm talking about.

Thanks

 

[Luke-BITURBO]

My TCU is stock so they updated it fine...


The ECU had an update but i asked them to refrain from updating the ECU due to a remap, they were really good.
Teesside Mercedes are actually pretty good, thats the second time i've dealt with them now and its been good.

My TCU is stock also

 

[Luke-BITURBO]

anybody know if i do update the software ill be able to change the settings from the yellow to the red and silver theme?

if possible check the link with image to give you an idea what I'm talking about.

Thanks

I can go into settings and do that on mine as far as I can remember