Which W203 Comand?

[shockingmoment]

I need some help and no better place than here!

I've just bought my 1st Merc - A 2007 (March) C220 CDI Coupe, and I'd like to swap the current radio / cd display unit for an inbuilt Satnav Comand system.

I have read a number of posts on the forum, however, I'm totally confused by all the options / part numbers available.
Could someone tell me what to look for, and how to tell if the unit will fit? I'd like a 7 character postcode entry, with Safety Camera warnings if possible. Its currently got a Smartnav system installed, which is ok, but not great.

VIN available if required (Can I post it in full?)
WDB2037.......

Many thanks,

SM

 

[Alfie]

I need some help and no better place than here!

I've just bought my 1st Merc - A 2007 (March) C220 CDI Coupe, and I'd like to swap the current radio / cd display unit for an inbuilt Satnav Comand system.

I have read a number of posts on the forum, however, I'm totally confused by all the options / part numbers available.
Could someone tell me what to look for, and how to tell if the unit will fit? I'd like a 7 character postcode entry, with Safety Camera warnings if possible. Its currently got a Smartnav system installed, which is ok, but not great.

VIN available if required (Can I post it in full?)
WDB2037.......

Many thanks,

SM

The part you need can be found on richards site at www.mercupgrades.com

There isnt a comand system suitable for your car that gives 7 digit postcodes or speed camera locations although word has it that Mercedes are going to release a new disk which does have 7 digit postcodes!

 

[davidjpowell]

That would be very nice! - Hopefully they will also catch the new A1 junctions, might have to go shopping then!

David

 

[pos.k]

although word has it that Mercedes are going to release a new disk which does have 7 digit postcodes!

Is this facility going to come from a new DVD map disk, or a system update disk or a combination of both? i.e. is the degree of postcode functionality a function of the map disk or the system?

Also, is there any news regarding the inclusion of cameras?

 

[Alfie]

Is this facility going to come from a new DVD map disk, or a system update disk or a combination of both? i.e. is the degree of postcode functionality a function of the map disk or the system?

Also, is there any news regarding the inclusion of cameras?

AFAIK it will be a new Map disk. Its a function of the disk apparently.

No word at all on camera locations though.

 

[Diesel Benz]

Also, is there any news regarding the inclusion of cameras?

Are you seriously considering a car manufacturer would start providing that king of information? Speed camera info is by no means a safety feature, more like encouragement to violate traffic laws. The best I could think of is personal POI data that could cover speed camera info but even that alone would not really help without an option to alert on an approaching POI above a set speed. So far no other need for such functionality(?).

Also since speed cameras are about to be changing to include average speed measurements, it would not help a lot to have this info. You would get caught even if you were passing slowly each camera if your average speed in-between is too high.

 

[Muppetz]

Are you seriously considering a car manufacturer would start providing that king of information? Speed camera info is by no means a safety feature, more like encouragement to violate traffic laws.

In your opinion. - In my opinion it is a great selling point for a sat nav system. Information is power.

Also since speed cameras are about to be changing to include average speed measurements, it would not help a lot to have this info. You would get caught even if you were passing slowly each camera if your average speed in-between is too high.

We already have this on many many stretches of UK roads, and being alerted about it is very useful from both a safety point of view and a speed awareness point of view.

For the OP - I recommend combining the Comand Sat Nav with a GPS device such as Road Angel Plus - which will alert you to speed cameras, common speed van sites, average speed camera zones, and school areas.

 

[Diesel Benz]

In your opinion. - In my opinion it is a great selling point for a sat nav system. Information is power.

Yes, I should have stressed it is only my personal opinion, not backed up with any MB in-house information. I agree it would be some sort of a selling point, not that significant among MB owners as it would be for other cars but in the plus/minus arguments, in my opinion MB would lose and will never do it (provide it from factory). The same with BMW or any company that has reasonable respect for laws.

 

[pos.k]

Diesel Benz - I am dissapointed at your narrow view. Mercedes (and BMW etc) are all commercial organisations, and if the inclusion of speed cameras in their POI list was a factor in determning additional sales for an extra like COMAND (at £2k a throw!) - or whether you stick with your 150 quid TomTom or Garmin or whatever which lets you have the functionality that you want (rightly or wrongly).

The key difference is that COMAND is a fixed system - i.e you cannot add in your own POI's - be they speed cameras or KFC's. They have to balance a minimum manageable level of functionality, with a product that is attractive in the market when considered against the competition.

If everybody said that COMAND was rubbish and didn't give a decent level of functionality - we would all ditch it and stay with the stick on's. I accept that the development is long, tortuous and expensive, and the end product is different - integrated, phone, video, audio etc, but at the end of the day it is a gadget to fulfill a task.

The reality may be that teleatlas or Navteq (?) or whoever manages this for MB could impact the availability of such a facility.

I for one would like to see this facility available. I am not professing to be 'holier than though' - either as an individual or as an MB driver - I speed on occasion - I like to think that it is with a degree of being sensible - traffic, weather conditions, road etc - but on occasion Plod might disagree - that is the risk we take.

rant over

 

[whitenemesis]

If one adhere to the speed limits there is no need for "safety" camera location information.

Now if COMAND were to advise the speed limit for the road one is on, that would be different. I feel the scope for litigation in such a system would be far to high for any major company to contemplate introducing it (technically it would be simple, legally it would be a mine field)

 

[Diesel Benz]

Diesel Benz - I am dissapointed at your narrow view. Mercedes (and BMW etc) are all commercial organisations, and if the inclusion of speed cameras in their POI list was a factor in determning additional sales for an extra like COMAND (at £2k a throw!) - or whether you stick with your 150 quid TomTom or Garmin or whatever which lets you have the functionality that you want (rightly or wrongly).

The key difference is that COMAND is a fixed system - i.e you cannot add in your own POI's - be they speed cameras or KFC's. They have to balance a minimum manageable level of functionality, with a product that is attractive in the market when considered against the competition.

If everybody said that COMAND was rubbish and didn't give a decent level of functionality - we would all ditch it and stay with the stick on's. I accept that the development is long, tortuous and expensive, and the end product is different - integrated, phone, video, audio etc, but at the end of the day it is a gadget to fulfill a task.

The reality may be that teleatlas or Navteq (?) or whoever manages this for MB could impact the availability of such a facility.

I for one would like to see this facility available. I am not professing to be 'holier than though' - either as an individual or as an MB driver - I speed on occasion - I like to think that it is with a degree of being sensible - traffic, weather conditions, road etc - but on occasion Plod might disagree - that is the risk we take.

rant over

I don't see why I should not be allowed to have a narrow view on this or other issues as long as I remember to tell it is just my personal view and I'm not trying to persuade others to the have the same view.

I read your driving habits are very similar to what I have (except that I'm not sure if you've ever lost your driving licence for speeding ). I would not mind speed camera POI on Comand, I've used those on phone navigators. I might not use the speed camera info on Comand but if they did add the speed limit per street info (which already exists on some devices), I might use that.

Perhaps still one clarification, I could think of MB adding the option to allow personal POI data. On a BMW this has already been hacked in, not provided by the factory (yet). Personal POI would be useful for many reasons other than speed camera. But my claim was that I don't see it possible for a car manufacturer adding speed camera POI "from factory". That does not go with the company philosophy. Their marketing might push for a hidden solution but that would be a different issue.

I'm no economist neither but let's come back to this after a few years. If MB owners stop buying MBs or at least Navigation units to their cars because of missing speed camera info from factory, you win. If MB starts introducing speed camera info from factory, you win again even if people stopped buying MBs. Seems you have a good chance to win.

I hope my confirmed narrow view did not spoil your day, or anybody else's day at the forum.

 

[whitenemesis]

..........

I hope my confirmed narrow view did not spoil your day, or anybody else's day at the forum.

Not in the slightest, just you keep expressing your point of view. I for one value your viewpoint on the many topics we discuss.

 

[shockingmoment]

Thanks for the help.

Unfortunately, I don't seem to be able to find what I need, mostly because I don't know what I'm looking for!

What's the difference between Comand and Comand APS?

Could someone point me in the right direction?

Thanks,
SM

 

[Alfie]

Thanks for the help.

Unfortunately, I don't seem to be able to find what I need, mostly because I don't know what I'm looking for!

What's the difference between Comand and Comand APS?

Could someone point me in the right direction?

Thanks,
SM

Comand APS is the newer DVD based comand system. Your car is a 2007 W203 C class. you therefore need Comand APS.

There are a few comand model numbers that would suit your car. However, I would go for A203 870 62 89 or A203 870 71 89 myself.

You can see all the relevant part numbers on this link www.mercupgrades.com

 

[hitenhirani]

aren't safety/speed camera's suppsoed to be in place dues to a high accident rate in that particular area (accident blackspot)?!

isn't the reason for painting them yellow to make driver's aware there is a camera, and that it is an accident blacspot, and to be cautious?!

my personal opinion, is that, it would be a good idea, as some camera's are hidden behind trees, or road signs, so drivers are unaware of a potential blackspot, if a driver aid was to alert the driver, they would be more aware.

of course there is arguement that the government are putting cameras up and 'milking' what a few say is a 'cash cow' for the government.
sorry, just thought I'd share my point.