DAB Radio Software Update

ThinkPad

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2012
Messages
1,077
Reaction score
185
Location
London
Your Mercedes
E W212; C W204
Dear All,

Hoping I can get some tips on this!

Purchased a MB ML recently. All is good, except the DAB radio cuts out every 2-3 mins. Having read previous threads on here and other sites it seems that I require a software update.

I have spoken with the seller who advises they do have STAR machine, but have no idea how to make the update. They are not a MB specialist, just a general car dealer with a small workshop. Is there anybody who is aware how this can be done so I can direct the dealer?

Alternative means I will need to travel to someone who knows exactly what they are doing and pay for the update.

Thanks in advance!
 
OP
T

ThinkPad

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2012
Messages
1,077
Reaction score
185
Location
London
Your Mercedes
E W212; C W204
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #3
Ah yes, I did call them but they want £200 which quite frankly is too much. I think a main dealer would do it for less.
 

Headhurts

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2014
Messages
1,048
Reaction score
330
Location
Norwich, Norfolk
Your Mercedes
Mercedes GLC300 2021
I can second Comand Online whom I have used a couple of times, they really know how to deal with these sort of updates/issues.

From what I understand you really need to know how to do these updates it’s not just a matter of plugging in and leaving the software to do its thing.

Robin
 
OP
T

ThinkPad

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2012
Messages
1,077
Reaction score
185
Location
London
Your Mercedes
E W212; C W204
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #5
Fair enough, I didn't realise it would be that involved. I thought it is literally plug machine in, select relevant update and let machine do it's thing.
 

sonic

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2009
Messages
3,578
Reaction score
2,382
Location
Staffordshire
Your Mercedes
E350CDI, SLC250d, FJR 1300
What software update does a DAB radio need that costs £200?
Is it a dual band radio? Stick with VHF FM.
 

Botus

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2014
Messages
6,287
Reaction score
2,475
Location
UK
Your Mercedes
S500/2010/500
its not just one element you should flash... they sit on a fibre optic ring with multiple modules and depending on how it was updated / if ever (most likely never) the procedure can be lengthy...

you want everything sorted so it works as well as a fully up to date one can. No dealer does this even when they tell you they have....

just in in car toys these days
there's plenty with broken clock software due to WNRO
DAB that was always strange and often with suspect hardware on the antenna side too (many locked up and stopped as they saw more channels than the could store)
plus goodness knows how many security fixes they never admit to addressing in updates for nav, Bluetooth, online stuff

you can't just flash a module in 10 minutes and give it back. It has to go on a power supply, connect to Germany, think about life and get permission for a list of what to programme.... dealers these days have bays to hide the car plug it in and kick it every few hours... independents end up with their workshop blocked up... and the rental for the tool with access to the latest software to programme is 10k a year
 

Srdl

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2015
Messages
7,102
Reaction score
5,905
Location
Hampshire
Your Mercedes
GLC43 AMG 2018 (X253)
Ah yes, I did call them but they want £200 which quite frankly is too much. I think a main dealer would do it for less.
I can’t think a main dealer would be any cheaper for anything and Comand Online are more likely to do it properly.
 

Alfie

Forum Supporter
Authorised Forum Supporter
Joined
May 12, 2005
Messages
2,634
Reaction score
311
Location
Surrey/Cotswolds
Website
www.comand.co.uk
Your Mercedes
A150 manual, smart forTwo, W205 AMG line premium plus.
its not just one element you should flash... they sit on a fibre optic ring with multiple modules and depending on how it was updated / if ever (most likely never) the procedure can be lengthy...

you want everything sorted so it works as well as a fully up to date one can. No dealer does this even when they tell you they have....

just in in car toys these days
there's plenty with broken clock software due to WNRO
DAB that was always strange and often with suspect hardware on the antenna side too (many locked up and stopped as they saw more channels than the could store)
plus goodness knows how many security fixes they never admit to addressing in updates for nav, Bluetooth, online stuff

you can't just flash a module in 10 minutes and give it back. It has to go on a power supply, connect to Germany, think about life and get permission for a list of what to programme.... dealers these days have bays to hide the car plug it in and kick it every few hours... independents end up with their workshop blocked up... and the rental for the tool with access to the latest software to programme is 10k a year
Spot on.
 

sonic

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2009
Messages
3,578
Reaction score
2,382
Location
Staffordshire
Your Mercedes
E350CDI, SLC250d, FJR 1300
its not just one element you should flash... they sit on a fibre optic ring with multiple modules and depending on how it was updated / if ever (most likely never) the procedure can be lengthy...

you want everything sorted so it works as well as a fully up to date one can. No dealer does this even when they tell you they have....

just in in car toys these days
there's plenty with broken clock software due to WNRO
DAB that was always strange and often with suspect hardware on the antenna side too (many locked up and stopped as they saw more channels than the could store)
plus goodness knows how many security fixes they never admit to addressing in updates for nav, Bluetooth, online stuff

you can't just flash a module in 10 minutes and give it back. It has to go on a power supply, connect to Germany, think about life and get permission for a list of what to programme.... dealers these days have bays to hide the car plug it in and kick it every few hours... independents end up with their workshop blocked up... and the rental for the tool with access to the latest software to programme is 10k a year
Thanks for the update on DAB Botus, quite interesting coming from a radio world.
 

Comand Online Ltd is a specialist supplier of Mercedes Navigation Disks, Phone & Bluetooth, iPod, DAB, CD and other COMAND retrofit parts to enhance your vehicle.www.comandonline.co.uk
Top Bottom