Yet another E-class COMAND APS question

[corned]

With reference to this thread, I have just bought a v9 nav DVD for the car, which is the most up to date currently available. :bannana:. Previously I was on v5.1 which came with the car.

However, having read the thread linked to above, I understood that this would roll up all currently available updates into the same installation, rather than having to add separate firmware upgrades via a separate CD.

Having looked at the system post-upgrade, the maps have updated beautifully (A1/M62 around Ferrybridge is now proper and not ploughing through fields, if you get my drift), but there appears to be no difference with regard to anything else. The ETA is still not on the 'front' screen and I have to go diffing for it.

Is the head unit software still the subject of a separate upgrade disc?

 

[chitaxmoto]

try map-soft key- display

 

[corned]

I've tried that, but there appear to be no options in <Display> which mention ETA etc. The sub options I have available in there are:

<Symbols>
<View>
<GPS>
<Auto>
<Zoom> <Back>

I have been through all of the above options, none of which give me what I want to see!

Do I still need the W 211 589 06 22 00 disc for the head unit?

 

[smillion]

I've tried that, but there appear to be no options in <Display> which mention ETA etc. The sub options I have available in there are:

With the map on screen press the soft key top left which then comes up INFO then press it again - thats how I get ETA to appear on mine.

Effectively press the top left soft key twice - but remember to have programmed a destination !

Marc
(Still gutted at how *rap Comand is)

 

[corned]

Thanks, but that's not quite what I am trying to achieve.

I read on here somewhere that, with the right head unit software upgrade, there is the facility to display ETA on the 'front' screen, i.e. you don't have to drill down to find it - it's there when you glance at the COMAND screen.

As the v9 update hasn't facilitated this, I would like to know if that service update disc (if that is the correct one - and I have understood correctly) will still do the trick.

BTW - yes I agree COMAND sat nav is cr*p. I was dumbfounded when I first got the car and found out that it can't do postcodes. Rubbish.

At least, now I have the integrated bluetooth phone docking station, I can make proper use of the Linguatronic/COMAND - even if I can't tell it to go to a postcode.

 

[smillion]

Ah I see.

Well, I was told by someone on the forum that I needed to take the car to the dealer and have the head unit "flashed" to achieve this. Whether this is done by a gentleman in a mac remains to be seen but I will ask next time I am in.

 

[corned]

That was my understanding of how it would work, although I have also read anecdotal evidence (on here) that the disc has a list price!

I am still a little confused by all this. I went in to the local dealers today to pick up the new coils springs (separate thread) and I asked about the W211 589 06 22 00 service disc. They said that it was not a customer part number and so was not for sale.

Then they said that it would not do what I thought it would anyway. Apparently it only updated a few street names - nothing to do with display functionality.

 

[Diesel Benz]

That was my understanding of how it would work, although I have also read anecdotal evidence (on here) that the disc has a list price!

I am still a little confused by all this. I went in to the local dealers today to pick up the new coils springs (separate thread) and I asked about the W211 589 06 22 00 service disc. They said that it was not a customer part number and so was not for sale.

Then they said that it would not do what I thought it would anyway. Apparently it only updated a few street names - nothing to do with display functionality.

Officially they are not allowed to sell W-parts for customers. I thought in the UK these would usually still be available.

Since when has a service CD updated a few streets, the guy must have been assuming this was a map update.

 

[smillion]

As I understand it flashing the headunit is a plug in software update and not something from a cd or dvd. i have the latest dvd.

marc

 

[ckember]

mine is running v8 dvd and was on v7 when I got the car. it has always shown the ETA at the bottom of the map display. This is a late 2007 car so the unit nay have been flashed before I acquired it.

Is there some way of showing the units firmware so that I can let you know if it is different?

 

[NavDoctor]

You need to do a firmware update on the Comand Head unit. I have the disc, PM me and if you can see me in Leicester I will do it for you.

 

[Diesel Benz]

As I understand it flashing the headunit is a plug in software update and not something from a cd or dvd. i have the latest dvd.

marc

Like NavDoctor states, there is a service CD that can be used to update the head unit, unless it already is up-to-date.

 

[corned]

Many thanks for everyone's input.

I think I have just about got it straight in my head now. The v9 nav disc incorporated several processor upgrades, as well as new maps, etc. Obviously this did not (could not?) include head unit updates, as presumably these are required to be input via the head unit disc slot directly.

From reading many other COMAND-related threads on here, I think 2007 was the year that ETA on the front screen first became available.

Diesel Benz - I couldn't understand how a service update would have anything at all to do with street names either. A bluff, methinks!

ckember - thanks for the offer, but I won't trouble you to go looking. I am already convinced that my firmware is definitely an earlier version!

smillion - I believe those plug-in flash thingies are used to give you video-in-motion and other such naughty features, as they have disabled access to the engineer menu in COMAND.

NavDoctor - many thanks for the offer - please standby for incoming!


Cheers,

Corned


Edit: NavDoctor - you are successfully defending yourself against the incoming. Have you set yourself up to reject PMs, or do you need to get your post count up?

 

[glojo]

The service upgrade disc is what we all used to get the eta on the front screen and I am disappointed that your dealership has refused to sell it to you.

I accept that nothing is 'cheap' nowadays but this upgrade CD is very cheap indeed and my dealership sent it to me with free delivery (yes I paid for it)

Some dealerships will carry out this upgrade free of charge but most do not stock this item as it is not a mandatory service upgrade.

My thoughts regarding chasing each new version of the mapping software is that it is a waste of money.

It sometimes takes years for so called new roads to be added, or local main Mercedes-Benz dealerships to be altererd. What we have to accept is that these DVD's cover the whole of Europe so one upgrade might have some excellent information for our Danish members, but very little for Irish folks.

You pays your money and takes your choices

 

[corned]

Agreed on all counts, John.

The main reason I updated the maps was because the car came with v5.1 and I reckoned that enough had probably changed to warrant the expense. I was fed up with disappearing off over fields when circumnavigating the Ferrybridge power station!!

Also, we're off to the Continent in a couple of months so it would be nice to have up to date info on unfamiliar roads.

I have got the part number correct, haven't I?

 

[akhmadkhan]

You need to do a firmware update on the Comand Head unit. I have the disc, PM me and if you can see me in Leicester I will do it

hi Nav Dr, its akhmad from Dewsbury. you fitted a comand screen in my W211. how much for a digital TV retrofit??

 

[w124coupe]

My CD is W211589132200 and on the desk in front of me. I'm at B96 6 if you want to use it....PM.

I think the dealers resist the sale as this firmware is "officially" only for post-facelist (>Jun 06) cars even though the COMAND unit is the same.

£10.40 plus p&p from Mercedes-Benz Parts, Inchcape for your own copy!

I had a phone issue a while after upgrading and the local dealer "upgraded" me back to the "latest" firmware to try to fix it (it was actually a duff adaptor in the rest).

I therefore have so far used it twice.....

 

[Alfie]

With reference to this thread, I have just bought a v9 nav DVD for the car, which is the most up to date currently available. :bannana:. Previously I was on v5.1 which came with the car.

However, having read the thread linked to above, I understood that this would roll up all currently available updates into the same installation, rather than having to add separate firmware upgrades via a separate CD.

Having looked at the system post-upgrade, the maps have updated beautifully (A1/M62 around Ferrybridge is now proper and not ploughing through fields, if you get my drift), but there appears to be no difference with regard to anything else. The ETA is still not on the 'front' screen and I have to go diffing for it.

Is the head unit software still the subject of a separate upgrade disc?

I think you are getting a little confused with the updates here.

Prior to Version 8 S/W for the W211/W219 etc range, you did need to perform a separate navigation processor update in order to to version 7. When 8 came out that update was included on the V8 disk. ditto V9.

There is a separate head unit update also which will give you ETA on the bottom of the navigation screen if you choose to show it.

As Mitesh has said you need the head unit update. He cant receive PM's yet as he does not yet have enough posts.

 

[corned]

Thanks again, chaps. I think I've got it now.

w124coupe - I have business around your neck of the woods, so I may be in touch when I am next scheduled to be there. Thanks for the offer!