W204 Navigation Upgrade - First time poster

[itsjiggy]

Hi guys,

My first post so go easy on me

Now, I have read a few threads regarding upgrading the audio 20 in the c class and I have tried researching for the past couple of weeks after recently purchasing a 2007 model saloon.

I have now purchased a system from ebay and am awaiting of arrival of the unit. This includes the middle section with the numbers on it and the monitor that goes above the fans.

Now, after reading some older threads, it seems that people are persistent that all sorts of work needs to go into installing these untis...

However, I have spoken to a couple of people who have done this themselves on their own car and also the ebay sellers who insist the unit is plug and play - at most with some wiring modification.

Now, I am not technically very savy, so will employ a local audio place to do the work, and they seem to think it will not be problem.

My main question is - are the additional fans, ducts, etc really necessary and has anyone had experience of not installing these and their unit overheating and failing? I am thinking perhaps all the talk on forums is just over the top and it is not really 100% necesary to add the additional cooling - like I say, I have spoken to people who have done the job without and haven't had problems.

Alternatively, I have called MB local dealer and have been quoted £45 +vat for the fan unit itself. (part no. a2048300708). Now, this would allow me to use the button on the fan unit to close the screen when in use, thus if just listening to radio or stereo etc and not needing the screen itself for navigatoin I could close it away, especially on a hot day to prevent overheating...is my thinking correct here or am I missing something?

Final point I wanted to clarify...I currently have DAB on my car and was wondering if I install a new unit, will this also continue to allow me DAB reception? As I believe the DAB receiver is separate to the main unit, is this true? I believe bluetooth for example is built into the unit itself and would therefore function on the new unit.

SORRY for the essay guys but hoping somebody out there can offer some MUCH NEEDED advice.

Thanks.

 

[itsjiggy]

Anybody...?

 

[richard]

Hi

That part number you mention is just the fan which is hidden behind the dashboard - however they have given you the LHD part number and not the RHD one - you also need a load of ducts (different between LHD and RHD), a new set of centre vents, a switch for that (to make the display open and close), 2 wiring looms. One between display and COMAND, and one for power.

Comand Online sell a retrofit kit with fitting instructions.

If your unit doesnt come with a GPS antenna, you will need one of those too and it can be put above the instrument cluster but under the dashboard (i.e out of sight)

If you don't bother with the fans, the unit is likely to overheat in the summer months (even here in UK !!) Mercedes wouldn't waste money fitting it if it didnt have a function (and they don't fit it unless you have COMAND..)

DAB is indeed an extra, it can be fitted after you've fitted that unit. but it is expensive :-( - it needs DAB tuner (thats the expensive bit), wiring and antenna amplifier.

Richard

 

[npuk]

He says he already has DAB and wants to know if it will still work with the Comand. I guess that answer to that is yes but the Comand unit will need to be reprogrammed to tell it DAB is present.

 

[richard]

Thanks npuk.
Yes, dab will work, but comand will need scn coding and so will the cluster, after the data card has been updated to show the audio 20 is gone and comand is added. Datacard updates can be done by nice mb dealers and by independents with genuine star diagnosis like Alfie.

Richard

 

[richard]

Ps. The fan cools the comand unit not the display unit. Cool air from drivers footwell is blown into the front right of the comand unit.

Thus on rhd cars the vents are less complicated than lhd cars

R

 

[itsjiggy]

Thanks for the replies guys...
The option I have opted for is the modified vent so that I can integrate the screen lowering / tilting switch. But I have decided to risk not installing the additional ducts blowers internally.

The part number I posted earlier appears wrong, but I believe that the correct one is:

20483041549116

I was either planning to get the installation done by one of these specialist places who fit comand for a living. They are charging a lot more and it only seems 1-2 hrs work. Or alternativaly was thinking of letting the local audio place do the installation wiring, etc. and then having it coded by local specialist as Richard mentions. Only concern with this option is that if the coding did not work, then the coding guy would probably blame the installer and installer blame the coding guy. Doing it from two seperate people would likely save me £70-80 though.

Can anyone confirm the above part number is correct?

Also, can anyone tell me if the actual units come in different colours?
I was under the impression that they were all black, but suddenly have a horrible feeling that the one I ordered may be grey! Can't quite tell from the pic but it doesn;t look 'as black' as some other pictures I have seen of other units!

 

[npuk]

Comand Online Ltd :: Mercedes SatNav/COMAND :: COMAND Retrofit parts :: W204 C & GLK Class, W212 new E class, W207 E class coupe :: Retrofit Kit for NTG4 in W204 C Class - Right Hand Drive

 

[richard]

There are 2 colours (possibly 3 with MY2011) and thus 3 vent part numbers for the different colours.

From memory, black is the early colour (and the 9116 at end of the part number you state, but I havent checked, is black) - then there is at least 1 grey for units from MY2010, and slightly different vents for MY2011 so I imagine there is a new colour unit too - but I havent really looked

Richard

Richard

 

[itsjiggy]

Thanks Rishard, I will get the vent ordered as per part number i mentioned.

Thanks guys for the numerous links to command online, I know they sponsor this forum, but I think their retro-fit kit is over the top and not required. Of course this would make it as per factory, but having spoken to many fitters who do this for a living, this extreme is simply not required.

I will take the risk and save the £300. If the unit does fail I will have to bite the bullet and do it properly next time around.

Will let you guys know how the fitting goes.

There are 2 colours (possibly 3 with MY2011) and thus 3 vent part numbers for the different colours.

From memory, black is the early colour (and the 9116 at end of the part number you state, but I havent checked, is black) - then there is at least 1 grey for units from MY2010, and slightly different vents for MY2011 so I imagine there is a new colour unit too - but I havent really looked

Richard

Richard

 

[glennbalsam]

Comand

Hi my first post as well. I have been reading your posts with interest as I to have the comand on order from Ebay (just turned up) I am also interested to know if your unit has overheated.
As a matter of interest I seem to have been duped by the seller as the unit is incomplete. First he says it is shipped from lincolnshire and arrived from Lithuania. he said it would be complete with new GPS antenna which did not arrive. I emailed to find out what the problem was and he simply said that he made a mistake in the listing and there is no GPS antenna! Also the picture of the unit is not what turned up so look out guys if you are bidding for one on Ebay!! I think the problem with this guy is that all the other units were going for £500 plus and I managed to bid last minute and get for £200. He probably thought sod that and tried to make it up by not sending the GPS!
Any one have any ideas how much a GPS antenna is and where can I get one.
Glenn

 

[tonymurphy30]

http://www.comandonline.co.uk/W204-W207-W212-Comand-Retrofit/

Should help!

 

[glennbalsam]

Thanks Tonymurphy. I have just looked at the kits but now confused even more. The arial (short dumpy one on top of my car) say's in their description that it is GPS as well as a lot of other things. Then listed is other GPS leads. Do I have one already installed for the phone or do I need another contraption?

 

[richard]

Your car will have nothing related to GPS or phone installed unless it has those options already. Thus the antenna on your car is a dummy if your car does not have COMAND or DAB or Comfort Phone options.

Fitting a new roof antenna involves dropping the head lining down, and thus I recommend using a Mercedes retrofit antenna if just installing GPS, which goes above the cluster but under the dashboard. If installing comfort phone then you need the roof antenna !

Thus you will need
a) retrofit kit for RHD cars (assuming you have a RHD car!) which includes all the wiring looms you need and fans and instructions
b) GPS antenna. use this one and put it above the cluster; - Comand Online Ltd :: Mercedes SatNav/COMAND :: COMAND Retrofit parts :: Genuine MB GPS Antenna and adapter for DVD and Hard Disk COMAND APS

You are better off with the genunie MB retrofit antenna in the link then whatever the lithuanian would have sent you ..

It is not an easy job though. (not like the A/B/ML/GL/R)

Richard

 

[itsjiggy]

I have mine all fitted and working 100%
I think mine was also from Lithuania, they guy I fitted from says that most are these days from ebay anyway.
Works absolutely great no overheating issues so dont bother with the links you are bound to get on this forum.
Of course one of the sponsors of this forum are going to do nothing but tell you that you need the kit as that is the way they would do it themselves, but in fact you don't and I have been told this by many other people. Why whould you buy a £300 kit if your whole unit cost £200? It makes no sense. The only thing I would suggest, if you want to go an additional step, is to add the modified central vent that allows you to put the button in that then allows you to tilt the screen. This is something I did, but in hind sight, probably wasn't necessary. If you haven't been sent the actual button as part of your unit that you received then don't bother.
Second issue, tell the guy you bought from that if he does not offer you the gps antenna as adveruitsed, then you will take this issue up with ebay/paypal. If you do not get somehitng as part of the package that was advertised, then the item is significantly not as described. SNAD they call it. Obviously it is SNAD if you do not have the antenna you cannot use it. Best of luck with resolving this with the seller, if he doe snot help then I would pursue with Paypal.
You got a lot cheaper than I did so well done on a great deal! (In worst case I think you can buy the antennas off ebay, around £60 if I remember correctl, but why should you!)
Let me know how it goes...

 

[npuk]

 

[richard]

I see where you are coming from, but I ask you this question, why on earth did Mercedes bother with it if it was not necessary. They don't put it on the Audio-20 but do with the COMAND. You can be sure they would not have put it in if they could have saved money not doing so. The counter argument (which may be valid for the poster) is that its only needed in hot countries and a car sold in UK may well go to Spain in the summer so they install it for those cases.

If your £200 "extra cheap" comand unit blows up and it then costs you £500 for a new one, its worth bothering with. (or £2000 for one from a Mercedes dealer).

If we didn't think the fans were important we'd create a cheaper kit without the fans.

And, yes we do regularly tell people not to bother with buying stuff. Chap with a 2 year old map disk the other day (in a lovely ML63), I told him not to replace it because he never actually left London.

Richard

 

[glennbalsam]

Thats great thanks for your help. I have opened up a case on Ebay and now he says he is going to send it! I am with you on that one- why is the ducting unit £300. That is a joke surely. A 12 volt fan from RS and some ducting only costs around £25. Any way not sure if the unit works at all yet so lets wait and see. Once you connected it did your guy then calibrate it. i.e get it to talk to your dash. How much did he charge you? I notice there are a few different GPS atennas for this unit on the comand site. The mercedes one is £119 the other which looks bulky is on £40. Which one did you get or go for! Just wandering in case mine doesn't turn up.

 

[richard]

The fan/ducting is not £300. The main wiring loom, centre vent, display switch, antenna coupler, video wiring loom, fan, ducts, instructions, technical support and some profit for the supplier are £300.

Yup, a 12v fan and ducting from RS is £25. But you try that argument with Mercedes benz I have tried it.

Do threaten bad feedback on eBay for bad service - it affects the power-seller fee discounts so it is a threat with a decent stick

 

[Alfie]

I have mine all fitted and working 100%
I think mine was also from Lithuania, they guy I fitted from says that most are these days from ebay anyway.
Works absolutely great no overheating issues so dont bother with the links you are bound to get on this forum.
Of course one of the sponsors of this forum are going to do nothing but tell you that you need the kit as that is the way they would do it themselves, but in fact you don't and I have been told this by many other people. Why whould you buy a £300 kit if your whole unit cost £200? It makes no sense. The only thing I would suggest, if you want to go an additional step, is to add the modified central vent that allows you to put the button in that then allows you to tilt the screen. This is something I did, but in hind sight, probably wasn't necessary. If you haven't been sent the actual button as part of your unit that you received then don't bother.
Second issue, tell the guy you bought from that if he does not offer you the gps antenna as adveruitsed, then you will take this issue up with ebay/paypal. If you do not get somehitng as part of the package that was advertised, then the item is significantly not as described. SNAD they call it. Obviously it is SNAD if you do not have the antenna you cannot use it. Best of luck with resolving this with the seller, if he doe snot help then I would pursue with Paypal.
You got a lot cheaper than I did so well done on a great deal! (In worst case I think you can buy the antennas off ebay, around £60 if I remember correctl, but why should you!)
Let me know how it goes...

The ducting, looms and fans are there for a reason. Thats how the factory supply them.

W204 comand units run hotter than the audio-20 units. If you dont at least fit the correct cooling then you run the risk of the unit overheating. This may cause the unit to fail prematurely. At worst it may cause a fire. So you pay £200 for the comand (question the source) and £300 for the correct kit to keep it cool and installed properly. You have comand then installed for £500. Some £1500 less than factory. Is it worth the £300? I would suggest yes.

Comand Online are not a forum sponsor either. They are an approved trader. there is no financial involvement.

Ask yourself this; When you sell the car on the new owner has a fire. Insurance comapny investigate and find the unit wasnt installed properly. suddently they ask why this wasnt declared. And guess what, they dont want to pay up. If I were the new owner, i'd come after you through the courts.

I dont care where the loom/vent parts come from at all I really dont. but if you are going to do the job - do it properly.