Can you stick a TV in a COMAND unit on C-Class ?

[Culpano]

2003 model. Shows no telly :cry:

If you can do it does anyone know how much and where ?

 

[ardsar]

Hi again,

Been down this route! The comand on the C-Class and maybe other new models has changed to a Harman Becker unit as apposed to the Blaupunkt unit fitted on the other models. This new unit from what i understand does not have the video codecs and is thus unable to play DVD's directly from the DVD drive. However there is an option to add a TV tuner, but i believe this is quite costly.

Incase you are also wondering about TMC reception, this does not work either in the UK. Mercedes have not come to any agreements with ITIS over the licence, although ITIS inform me that they are currently in discussion with MB. Since the unit is now made by Harman Becker, Tele Atlas Nav disks will not work (did on older models which enabled the TMC code). Navteq disks are required, however none have TMC because Harman becker have not released software for the UK, although they are currently testing a solution.

Have you noticed any problems with voice navigation at roundabouts such as 1) you always turn left, 2) it sometimes says the first left, although the graphics clearly indicate that its the second or third 3) instruction to turn off the roundabout is too late?

I emailed mercedes and they were not aware of these problems. latested nav disk is 2.1.

Hope this helps

Andy

 

[Culpano]

Nav

Cheers for the help. I haven't got the car yet. It's getting leather + parktronic fitted.

 

[SCREWDRIVER]

Read your comments regarding the new Harman Becker Comand APS. I have a new C Class, and its gone back to the dealer for exactly the problems your are describing with the navigations system - Map shows correct route but voice and graphics are wrong - most noticeable at roundabouts. I thought I was going mad, so it's good to know that I am not alone.

Do you have any idea how the Speed Dialling works on the Comand unit. My phone (Nokia 6310i) works and has speed dials set on it, but they won't work from the Comand console.

I have heard that somone is working on a DVD fix or add-on to enable Video on the Comand. I'll let you know if I hear anything more

 

[Grimbo]

Have you noticed any problems with voice navigation at roundabouts

Yes I have that... can it be fixed?

I have heard that somone is working on a DVD fix or add-on to enable Video on the Comand. I'll let you know if I hear anything more

Please do... I'm not bothered about TV - but DVD would be great... frustrating really, it has a DVD reader and a screen but the two don't work toggether!!!!

 

[SCREWDRIVER]

C Class - COMAND - VIDEO/NAV/TMC

VIDEO
There are companies who advertise on the net and Ebay that they can programme the Comand system to show Video. I have no idea whether it works, but even if it does the Navigation DVD will NOT be able to provide the source. You will need a tuner or DVD player to drive the screen.

NAVIGATION
Merc seem to have finally come up with a solution to the incorrect NAV routing problems on the new C Class COMAND units. The problem appears to have been with the NAV software or data, and rumour has it they they have reverted to TeleAtlas (the original one was from NavTech), but whatever it was all you need is the new DVD - "Navigation - COMAND APS Version 4.0". I have had it now for 6 hours and tested it on a couple of the roundabouts where it used to go haywire and it now seems to work OK, so far. I'll give it a couple of weeks to see if there are any other bugs. I noticed that there is an ISO copy of it floating around via Emule (1.3Gb download) if your dealer won't play ball and get you one FOC, but you will need to check how to initialise it on your COMAND unit as I am not sure if it is self loading.

TMC
check out this link
http://www.carcost.co.uk/news_item.asp?news_key=1170
Looks like we might be able to get TMC sometime soon.

 

[Grimbo]

Thanks for that Screwdriver.

So you think it is unlikely that we could get a hack to allow for playing of DVDs in the comand unit of a C class :-(

Such a waste!

 

[ardsar]

Hi,

The hardware is NOT capable of playing DVD's without using any additional hardware. This unit is different to the older comand units in the fact that they are now manufactured by Harman Becker and not Blaupunkt, hnece the reason why they use Navteq cds and not teleatlas. I was supprised to hear that teleatlas disks work in the units.

 

[ardsar]

I've been in contact with a very helpful person at ITIS. Basically they have now signed a 3 year agreement with MB for reception of TMC. However, they are currently in discussion with MB about how to implement the system. One issue is that now the units are manufactured by H. Becker, only Navteq disks are supported (i tried the universal teleatlas disk previously as this has the tmc code, and nothing happened) - hence my surprise with the above comment). Unfortunately Navteq do not support TMC in the UK and have no universal disks that can be used. Talking to a bloke at Navteq, once the liscence agreements have been drawn up, then software may become available later this year. As soon as i mentioned MB, they would not comment and said that for support you have to goto your MB dealer.

The plan is to launch TMC this year, however i guess it will be mid/late this year.

 

[ardsar]

I've just had the new version 4.0 software installed and can confirm that it has solved the voice navigation errors. However although most street names are on the data base, i can not seem to navigate to them - they dont appear in the list of street names after entering the City. also postcode entry does not work. Can someone please confirm this before i go back to my local dealer. I now have to look up street names on the internet to finsd where it is so that i can manually put a marker to the street that i want to go. Is this a case of the mapping data now being teleatlas and not Navteq?

 

[Rory]

VIDEO
..all you need is the new DVD - "Navigation - COMAND APS Version 4.0". I have had it now for 6 hours and tested it on a couple of the roundabouts where it used to go haywire and it now seems to work OK, so far.

I've just got a C270 from MB Direct (reg Oct 04) and it's got V2.0 DVD. I've already noticed the roundabout bug.
This is my first Merc so I'm not sure how to 'handle' the dealer - should I be able to get a new DVD from Mercedes without too much hassle? I can't imagine anyone buys the upgrades - I gather they cost several hundred pounds.

 

[ardsar]

Phone up your dealer and tell them about the problem, and say that it is dangerous as it gives you conflicting information, which you dont need when travelling in a stange area. Tell them that you know of Version 4 which solves this problem. If they are like my garage, they will probably want the car in for a full diagnostics check, then contact HQ who will confirm that a software update is available. Under warrenty, they will then replace the disk and upgrade the software.

Bear in mind that the mapping information will change from Navteq to teleatlas. I have found the map is more upto date in my area, however i have the problem with entering street names as a detination. Some do not appear in the drop down list, however the street names are on the map. Also i have not been able to use the postcode option and was wondering if others have noticed this problem.