What's the difference between NTG 4 and NTG 4.5

[Tsenov]

Audio20 is the entry level unit. It's is referred to as Audio20 NTG4.5 (the NTG bit signifies the product line, and is used by MB for both Audio20 and COMAND).

COMAND has built-in navigation, with the maps residing on an internal 100gb HDD. Audio20 does not have navigation, but you can add it by fitting the optional Becker Map Pilot unit in the glovebox. However, the Becker Map Pilot navigation software isn't as good as that of COMAND.

Audio20 has smaller low-res display, while COMAND has a larger high-res display.

Audio20 has very basic sound, COMAND has a much better amplifier (though to hear the difference you'll need to upgrade the original speakers to something better, the factory speakers are very poor).

You can tell whether it's Audio20 or COMAND in several ways:

- COMAND has an SD-Card slot, Audio20 doesn't.

- COMAND has a larger screen, Audio20 has a smaller screen (and a larger black bezel).

- When switching on the car, COMAND will say "Don't let COMAND distract you...", Audio20 will say "Don't let the SYSTEM distract you..."

- Run the VIN in an online VIN decoder, and check the codes in the 5xx region.

So basically the audio on the COMMAND is better than the Audio20, but since the factory speakers are poor it wont make much difference?

Also does any code with 5xx from the VIN means COMMAND?

For example the screenshot.

Also could the Audio20 be upgraded to Gen2, like the COMMAND can?

I'm currently using phone on my old car with AUX and just want to know if it's worth it to have more options from the NTG or should just install Carplay at some point.

Also does bluetooth work on the Audio20?

Sorry for asking so many questions . I'd just like to know what I'm getting into first than being sorry or disappointed in the future. Many thanks again for everything!

 

[markjay]

So basically the audio on the COMMAND is better than the Audio20, but since the factory speakers are poor it wont make much difference?

Correct. Funnily enough, Audio20 has a hidden menu that is a graphic equaliser, a feature which COMAND does not have. But COMAND is the better unit audio-wise.

Also does any code with 5xx from the VIN means COMMAND?

For example the screenshot.

5xx is where you'll find the codes for the infotainment system.

503 is COMAND with built-in optical drive changer

523 is Audio20 with single-unit optical drive

527 is COMAND with single-unit optical drive

Also could the Audio20 be upgraded to Gen2, like the COMMAND can?

I have no idea, and I don't think that anyone bothers... it's a basic unit and people don't usually muck about with it. The firmware can certainly be upgraded (as is the case with other ECUs in the car), but what it will achieve I don't know.

I'm currently using phone on my old car with AUX and just want to know if it's worth it to have more options from the NTG or should just install Carplay at some point.

Apple CarPlay can be added to both Audio20 and to COMAND, because it's an external hardware box that connects to the aux port and so it works with whatever unit is in the car. However, it will look nicer with COMAND, simply because COMAND has the bigger high-res screen. And no, you can't take the screen from a COMAND unit and install it in a car that has Audio20, this doesn't work - the small screen works only with Audio20, the bigger screen works only with COMAND.

Also does bluetooth work on the Audio20?

Bluetooth for hands-free voice calls and for audio streaming works just the same on both Audio20 and COMAND. The only difference is that with COMAND you can use the Bluetooth to provide Internet access to the unit via your mobile phone, while with Audio20 (In the W204) an Internet connection is not possible.

Sorry for asking so many questions . I'd just like to know what I'm getting into first than being sorry or disappointed in the future. Many thanks again for everything!

No problem. Go for a car with COMAND over Audio20, everything else being the same (model/spec/condition etc).

 

[Tsenov]

Apple CarPlay can be added to both Audio20 and to COMAND, because it's an external hardware box that connects to the aux port and so it works with whatever unit is in the car. However, it will look nicer with COMAND, simply because COMAND has the bigger high-res screen. And no, you can't take the screen from a COMAND unit and install it in a car that has Audio20, this doesn't work - the small screen works only with Audio20, the bigger screen works only with COMAND.

I guess Android is compatible as well?

 

[Chrishazle]

Isn't 512 the code for Comand with the internal 6 disc CD/DVD changer? It is on my 2008 S204!

 

[markjay]

Isn't 512 the code for Comand with the internal 6 disc CD/DVD changer? It is on my 2008 S204!

See below :

It varies based on model years. For the facelift, there was no code 512.

 

[markjay]

I guess Android is compatible as well?

If you are referring to the external box, then yes, it supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

 

[Chrishazle]

Another wrinkle about Code 512 on early 204's (pre abhput 11/2008) is that the nav partition on the HDD is too samll for nav updates later than 2015, and sorting that is an expensive HDD upgrade from the likes of comand.co.uk - and even then the last update issued is 2018-19. I speak from experience - comand.co.uk did the HDD upgreade for me in about 2019 (at a discounted cost of £400 as they were doing other things to both cars at the time) and told me at that time that MB were still issuing NTG4 nav updates - which has not happened. Bloody annoying and both the S204 and the 2008 SLK NTG2.5 have 2019 nav and cannot be updated, so I have bought a windscerrn mount for the SLK so I can use Google Maps on my phone in that car to get to daughter's in-laws new-build.