Crap Sat Nav or Pilot Error?

[Razoo]

My 2004 E320 CDi came with full command, which I didn't really want and haven't used much.

I have only used (or tried to use, to be more precise) the sat nav twice, and both times I failed miserably to program it with the destination.

On the first occasion I had the name of a hospital and a postcode. On the second occasion I had the name of a company and a postcode.

Because the Merc sat nav only seems to accept the first 4 digits of the postcode and I didn't have a road name, I couldn't program the destination in.

How ridiculous to have a Merc with expensive comand sat nav and still have to stick my trusty ol' TomTom onto the screen!

Is the Merc sat nav really as crap as it seems, or is it me?

Is there any way to enter a 6-digit postcode?

Thanks,

Razoo

 

[*Thumper]

No.. your right ..... they are overpriced crap !! ..... and out of date pretty much out of the showroom .............. My dealer almost pleaded with me to have it as an option ........... I told em It's not worth the money at half the price .......... so he called my bluff

I then called his ................... keep it .......... the only thing they "Command" ...... is your wallet !!

 

[Alex M Grieve]

My 2004 E320 CDi came with full command, which I didn't really want and haven't used much.

I have only used (or tried to use, to be more precise) the sat nav twice, and both times I failed miserably to program it with the destination.

On the first occasion I had the name of a hospital and a postcode. On the second occasion I had the name of a company and a postcode.

Because the Merc sat nav only seems to accept the first 4 digits of the postcode and I didn't have a road name, I couldn't program the destination in.

How ridiculous to have a Merc with expensive COMAND sat nav and still have to stick my trusty ol' TomTom onto the screen!

Is the Merc sat nav really as crap as it seems, or is it me?

Is there any way to enter a 6-digit postcode?

Thanks,

Razoo

I understand your frustration. I tend to use the postcode to get a map on the PC screen at home, before departure - Streetmap or via Michelin. That enables me to spot the street name and to understand the topography.

I use Satnav as an aid. Sometimes it takes you straight to the drive of the house you want to visit, but to industrial parks, hospital complexes or university campuses, your observation is correct.

 

[teabag]

I use Satnav as an aid. Sometimes it takes you straight to the drive of the house you want to visit, but to industrial parks, hospital complexes or university campuses, your observation is correct.

I must agree and I would not like to think I had paid circa £900 to have this "aid" as an option on a new vehicle.

 

[whitenemesis]

I have it, wouldn't be without it. Fully integrated with the car, my contacts, my phone and all controlled with Linguatronic. Love it

Each to their own...

 

[television]

With the new 2010 disc I can use 5 digits,,as Peter above,,it is all built and neat and nice. Plus I can still count some house numbers if I had to, like in the old days

 

[S.Speed]

Whienemesis...
You are forgetting that you are a "Hyper Dynamic Mega Being" unlike us lowly mortals..

P.S Can you say Hi to ZEUS for me?? :lol:

 

[whitenemesis]

Whienemesis...
You are forgetting that you are a "Hyper Dynamic Mega Being" unlike us lowly mortals..

P.S Can you say Hi to ZEUS for me?? :lol:

PMSL

He says "Hi" back and it's the second on the left.. :lol::lol:

 

[Razoo]

I have it, wouldn't be without it. Fully integrated with the car, my contacts, my phone and all controlled with Linguatronic. Love it

Potentially command is a good system, let down by a crap sat nav that is comprehensively out-performed by a basic TomTom at a fraction of the price.

[RANT]The problem with all this extravagant electronic 'nerd-fodder' with which manufacturers pollute their cars is it's relatively short life. Technology is moving so fast that the kit is obsolete almost before the first service. When everything is 'fully integrated', you're generally stuffed for hardware upgrading.

And just try finding a garage with someone who fully understands modern car electronics. 'Black box' trial and error substitution seems to be the usual approach.

If a better TomTom comes onto the market, I can buy it and put my old one on eBay. However, it seems I am stuck with the useless system in the Merc. The fact that MB have sorted the sat nav postcode issue for 2009/10 is of no comfort to me.

My E320 is also pre-wired for a mobile phone. There's a posey little phone cradle that rises out of the centre arm rest to impress my friends and it's all tied in with command. I expect it was wonderful in 2004, and still would be if my mobile phone happened to be an obsolete Nokia 6310i.[/RANT]

Linguatronic eh? I'm sure I would find that an irritant.

I'm no techno-addict and the last thing I would want to do is talk to the ruddy car! Give me reliable simplicity anytime

Each to their own...

Indeed!

Razoo

 

[Miffy]

If a better TomTom comes onto the market, I can buy it and put my old one on eBay. However, it seems I am stuck with the useless system in the Merc. The fact that MB have sorted the sat nav postcode issue for 2009/10 is of no comfort to me.

they have not sorted it, its now at 5 digits so still only takes you to an area, not a door step.

 

[Razoo]

They have not sorted it, its now at 5 digits so still only takes you to an area, not a door step.

Oh, I thought I read somewhere that the latest MB sat nav accepted 7 digits of postcode. Maybe it's TomTom that accepts 7 digits.

If the latest MB sat nav only accepts 5 digits, then I don't understand why they bothered. It still won't find an address from just a postcode.

Useless!

Razoo

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Oh, I thought I read somewhere that the latest MB sat nav accepted 7 digits of postcode. Maybe it's TomTom that accepts 7 digits.

If the latest MB sat nav only accepts 5 digits, then I don't understand why they bothered. It still won't find an address from just a postcode.

Useless!

Razoo

When Satnav achieves perfection to the final digit of the post code, that will serve to highlight any inaccuracies in the post coding system.

For example, the post code of the company in which I worked took the unwary to the car park of a nearby Tesco.

It was an acknowledged problem, but no one seemed able (or willing?) to rectify it.

 

[Razoo]

When Satnav achieves perfection to the final digit of the post code, that will serve to highlight any inaccuracies in the post coding system.

For example, the post code of the company in which I worked took the unwary to the car park of a nearby Tesco.

Well, sooner that than a sat nav system that can't be postcode programmed and therefore can't even get you into the ballpark.

Razoo

 

[*Thumper]

There are many incorrect postcodes, on Nav software ......... but a system thats ny on a grand that can only get you about 250yards away, is a joke !!

It can't compete, with £99 navs

 

[television]

This is not really MBs fault on the price,,there are not enough being made to get the price down,, what is bad, is that MB have set up no service for these things, and they only replace them.

In the electronic trade anyone that did this would and does go bankrupt after a short time, MB get away with it as they sell cars. They took the easy way out with no thought to the car owner

 

[The Hooded Claw]

I have (As you know) an I Phone with Co-pilot installed not only does it give a FULL postcode input but it also gives Weather at destination, fuel prices at destination & is accurate to within 2 feet!!!!!

this was a Download from the I Phone Apps store for 25 Quid!!!!! .....

If they can manage it why can't everybody else??????

 

[LSD]

I have (As you know) an I Phone with Co-pilot installed not only does it give a FULL postcode input but it also gives Weather at destination, fuel prices at destination & is accurate to within 2 feet!!!!!

this was a Download from the I Phone Apps store for 25 Quid!!!!! .....

If they can manage it why can't everybody else??????

It would improve things if Mercedes (and others) tried to move towards using a standardized background satnav platform that actually works properly, and could be interfaced with each manufacturer's visible head unit. Such as, the basic guts of the TomTom, interlinked with a version of Comand that handled all the other functions particular to Mercedes. Might eventually reduce the costs too - or promote further sales if the functionality was better perceived.

 

[rf065]

It would improve things if Mercedes (and others) tried to move towards using a standardized background satnav platform that actually works properly, and could be interfaced with each manufacturer's visible head unit. Such as, the basic guts of the TomTom, interlinked with a version of Comand that handled all the other functions particular to Mercedes. Might eventually reduce the costs too - or promote further sales if the functionality was better perceived.

It is already happening, both Toyota & Renault offer a sat nav option that is a TomTom which inserts into the dash & can be removed or upgraded easily.

You can buy something similar from Eclipse to fit into any cars dash.

http://reviews.pricegrabber.com/car-multimedia/m/47798694/

Russ

 

[S500 Pete]

command phone

Potentially command is a good system, let down by a crap sat nav that is comprehensively out-performed by a basic TomTom at a fraction of the price.

[RANT]The problem with all this extravagant electronic 'nerd-fodder' with which manufacturers pollute their cars is it's relatively short life. Technology is moving so fast that the kit is obsolete almost before the first service. When everything is 'fully integrated', you're generally stuffed for hardware upgrading.

And just try finding a garage with someone who fully understands modern car electronics. 'Black box' trial and error substitution seems to be the usual approach.

If a better TomTom comes onto the market, I can buy it and put my old one on eBay. However, it seems I am stuck with the useless system in the Merc. The fact that MB have sorted the sat nav postcode issue for 2009/10 is of no comfort to me.

My E320 is also pre-wired for a mobile phone. There's a posey little phone cradle that rises out of the centre arm rest to impress my friends and it's all tied in with command. I expect it was wonderful in 2004, and still would be if my mobile phone happened to be an obsolete Nokia 6310i.[/RANT]

Linguatronic eh? I'm sure I would find that an irritant.

I'm no techno-addict and the last thing I would want to do is talk to the ruddy car! Give me reliable simplicity anytime



Indeed!

Razoo

Hi,

I love the built in phone option. Mine also had an empty cradle when I got it so £50 on ebay for a refurbed 6310 and a pay as you go SIM and we have a car phone that I can answer or use without taking my hand from the wheel.

Must admit that the satnav can be a pain especially the out of date disk and the fact that the space it takes up in the corner of the boot stops my golf clubs going in straight across

 

[tony2311]

i got a kenwood DNX5220 fitted in mine w203. its double din and looks standardish fit. it has garmin sat nav, bluetooth hands free, dvd, cd all for £600ish fitted. not bad compare to a second hand command or a screen fitted tomtom that you have to remove every time