Aftermarket Sat Nav suggestions - not Tom Tom

[shirubaby]

Here's a thought,

Why not buy and pda and stick tomtom software on it. It's versetile and practical. AND you dont leave it in the car when you lockup... I have a PDA mobile phone which has many many uses and one of them is satnav. The O2 Xda 2i can now be bought for as little as £80 on a contract...that's not even considering all the second hand pda's out there.
GPS receivers like navman come with maps. Or you can buy tomtom software seperately with oem gps receivers from ebay. Lots of products to choose from and all taken out of the car when you come to sell it.
Dash mounted units are a distraction...primarily because they are mounted nowhere near the driver's field of view.

 

[television]

Here's a thought,

.
Dash mounted units are a distraction...primarily because they are mounted nowhere near the driver's field of view.

You are so right, and downright dangerous, I have tried it all over. The only place of any use is near the top of dash, where Volvo put theirs.
OK for the best part one uses the voice, but having it low down and going through a multi junction in rush hour is useless.

Malcolm

 

[Jay Kilby]

My dear boy - i can read a map rather well actually. As a qualified Navigator i also understand the use of technology. I also am rather partial to not trying to read a map book whilst attempting to drive, even you i am sure would admit that it is not ideal.

Hey time to call a truce not sure we have got off on the right foot so appologies for any offence with my comments.
if you are using this stuff lots then i can see the faults in the tom tom solution, i think however most users only use it every now and again, personally it only gets switched on if i have not been anywere before once i have been i do not need assistance again!

 

[shirubaby]

i think however most users only use it every now and again, personally it only gets switched on if i have not been anywere before once i have been i do not need assistance again!

I agree! Once you know the route, once the novelty has worn off and all your mates are suitably impressed..switch off the Satnav.

BUT if you ever had one of those days, when on a nice sunny weekend you are bombing along on country lanes...and then you stop at crossroads and think "oooh I wonder where that road goes". Quick setup of the Satnav and your off on an undiscovered route.

 

[Baghdad or Bust]

Or you live in London as i do for the 3 months of the year i am in the UK it is very useful for finding your way around bits of london you don't know. Like most people when i have done one route i can recall it. But why not use the technology as an aid as i do. Bit like having a 5 speed gear box but only using the first three gears.

 

[dogsbody]

Aftermarket Sat/Nav suggestions - not Tom Tom

Having been flamed by Bagdhad or Bust, for metioning a different technical thread, I did say that I was going for a sat nav, speed camera alert, and MP3 player to be built into the ashtray unit on my E320. He made the point that I was not making a contribution to the thread
BorB has made the point in page 5 that portable sat navs are easily stolen. I made this point on Page 2. He also said that once he had learnt his route, the Sat Nav did not have a lot to do - perhaps the MP3 player could help specially if he wants to improve his Arabic, or maybe his manners?

 

[Baghdad or Bust]

Now i see why this forum is so quiet. Time to cancel my membership here

 

[benzo]

Not all of us have a Decent sense of Direction

Unfortunately I still have problems navigating some routes in spite of visiting 4 or 5 times.
I think satnavs were made for people like me.
I have decided to go for a tomtom one over a pda or the go 300/500.
Is there a way to wire it into the car permanently so one does not block the cigarette lighter slot? mat need it for something else.

 

[television]

,.
Is there a way to wire it into the car permanently so one does not block the cigarette lighter slot? mat need it for something else.

No problem, I have hard wired mine

Malcolm

 

[jberks]

Certainly hard wire it, but I'd put a connector in-line as the points made above about theft are very valid. The are the no1 stolen item at the moment so if you aren't using it, it's best to have it hidden away. Also, apparently the police advise to wipe off the circle on the windscreen left by the suction mount as thieves look for these too and may put the window through on the off-chance its in the glove box.
I have a PDA based one which I keep in my coat pocket. The rest of the gubbins I keep in the fire extinguisher pocket under the seat. Handy but out of site.

 

[television]

Certainly hard wire it, but I'd put a connector in-line as the points made above about theft are very valid. .

You do not have to put a connector in line as the hard wired units come with a 2 meter lead, terminated in a miniture 2mm plug.
If the power unit is installed under the dash, you just bring this lead out through a hole in the top of a glove box,( cant be seen when car sold) when not in use, leave the lead in the glove box/ compartment.

Malcolm

 

[benzo]

Thanks for the replies folks. Where/how can I get this done? I am not DIY-friendly and don't like poking screws etc at my car in case I cause more damage than I can afford to fix :|
I was considering buying and fitting at Halfords but their retail prices for Tomtoms (before installation) are an average £50-£60 more than other retailers. Any other reliable place I can get it done?
Thanks once again.

 

[television]

So it can be used when parked, ign off, the only two points are, the feed to radio, or the light swtch.

Malcolm

 

[cockrobin]

sat nav

I contacted this guy on ebay!!!, and for £1500 he fitted the mercedes command sat nav that also links up to the little screen in the dash cluster on my facelift e240 2000 model, part of the package was also the cd autochanger, and the new wood panel.

This intergetaed system into the middle console looks fantastic, and works a treat, and i also got rid of that crap single cd difficult to use radio system.

For an extra £400 i am thinking of having the mercedes mobile phone so i then will be able to get up to date traffic info relayed to the sat nav whilst driving.

I bought my car from new and have decided to update it instead of getting another new one and suffering huge depriciation.Unlike stories you hear my car has been 100% reliable and still looks the part even after 5 years, with 35K.

Also i have now just bought a summer car this time i have let the previous owner suffer the huge depriciation, i have bought a R170 2003 Slk320 auto Brabam.
Now this car has the dogs bollocks! including Bose speakers, except would you beleive no cd player but a audio 30 radio cassete!!, can anyone suggest a cd and sat nav system i can purchase for this car, is there a mercedes system i can use.

 

[television]

Becker have some super offers right now http://sempal.co.uk

Malcolm

 

[gcrockford]

Any one tried the Becker Traffic Assist 7914 - seems very nice unit. I use a HP pda with Tom Tom but agree it looks a bit naff in a Merc. Either the becker or the new blupunkt looks cool -- hard wired in dash at vent level....views / thoughts?

 

[andy_k]

not sure what car you have but is a retrofit of Mercs own Comand system an option?

 

[gcrockford]

C320 CDi --- i'll look into it but i wanted a portable to move between this and my wife's car

 

[andy_k]

it can be done on your car and would certainly look the part

There's been a spate of break ins with cars that have any sign of a portable sat nav system so beware - even if you don't leave it in the car.

The advice at the moment seems to be

1, take the unit with you when you go (pretty obvious but annoying all the same)

2, remove any visible clamps/brackets etc and hide them from view

3, clean the window to remove any marks where the suction cups were

Seems an awful lot of hassle when you are just nipping around the supermarket

We've got a single DIN becker unit which the front face pops off when it's not in use. It was easy to fit (about 20 minutes), simple to calibrate (drive around the block) and so far has proved 100% accurate.

If you decide to go for the rertrofit drop me a line I've got addresses for a couple of people who do them for less than the dealers

HTH

Andy

 

[gcrockford]

I am juggling between the Becker Traffic Assist 7914 and the Blaupunkt Travelpilot Lucca MP3 - has anyone got either and can they give feedback please.