Retro fit COMAND for ML

[steve_bcs]

has anyone retofitted a comand & sat nav system to a 2001 ML (facelift)??
My ML seems to be prewired under Drivers seat for GPS & phone aerials & connections run through to behind Radio in dash. Also, there are aerial connections under the black plug on the roof at the tailgate end. SO, I wondered if it was just a question of buiying the comand dash unit , sat nav/phone control box & gps/tel aerial and off we go?? also, does anyone know if its possible to obtain the hardware from a breakers yard??

 

[rpalmeida]

has anyone retofitted a comand & sat nav system to a 2001 ML (facelift)??
My ML seems to be prewired under Drivers seat for GPS & phone aerials & connections run through to behind Radio in dash. Also, there are aerial connections under the black plug on the roof at the tailgate end. SO, I wondered if it was just a question of buiying the comand dash unit , sat nav/phone control box & gps/tel aerial and off we go?? also, does anyone know if its possible to obtain the hardware from a breakers yard??

Its pretty easy to do. send me your email address. I helped Maff do it.

(I presume by 2001 facelift, you mean the one with indicators in the door mirrors)

To do comand you need
(a) GPS(etc) aerial (screws onto roof at rear, all wiring is there)
(b) small adapter loom for behind comand
(c) COMAND unit (specifically one with a part nr starting with A163 (ie for a ML)

To do phone, you need
(a) fibre optic loom from under seat to behind comand
(b) fibre splice
(c) plate that goes under seat
(d) loom to go on plate
(e) control box
(f) filter
(g) if using orange you should have a compensator box
(h) phone console, and phone holders

You can buy the controllers etc 2nd hand on Ebay germany, the rest is probably best bought direct from a MB dealer asking for a discount !

I have some photos of my wifes ML with the seat removed of the phone system (I was adding voice recognition to hers) - let me know your email address ...

R

 

[steve_bcs]

Thanks

Email address on its way

Every MB dealer I have spoken to in the Manchester area tells me this just cant be done! I am a great believer that where there's a will there's a way (or is that a relative!!)

 

[steve_bcs]

Retro fit comand

Thanks for tips & advice

I have taken the plunge and bought 2 comand units on ebay
one for my A163 ML 270 CDI and another for my W210 E55

I 'll post a note as to how I get on when the units arrive., hopefully by the weekend.

I've been offered another new A163 comand which I believe will work with any non-canbus (pre 99) mercedes, but until I have checked out the quality etc of mine I will hang fire. If anyone is interested please let me know. Cost is about 1/2 UK Dealer list

 

[Richard W]

Steve,

Following this thread with interest - I'm currently looking for an ML270 CDi. So I'd be interested in your thoughts and experience with the car (and whether you think Comand is a worthwhile mod).

Thanks

Richard

 

[Shude]

You can install the 163 comand units into any car, I have seen pics of it installed in a mazda and a nissan!

I have one installed in my 1998 w202 c230k:

steve_bcs has seen this at one of the aforementioned stealerships... The stealership people weren't very impressed though, mainly because they thought it was stock :roll: .

 

[Richard W]

Stylish!!!!!!

Pardon my ignorance about the functionality, when you fit one does it retain the sat nav capability (aerial?) and autochanger control?

Thanks

R

 

[steve_bcs]

ML 270 CDI

I got the ML because where I live there is a slight hill & every year in winter my E55 fails miserabley & my wifes SL 320 didnt fair much better! So we swapped the SL for the ML. I am an avid merc fan & if you are not worried about performance the ML is superb (IMHO) economy is good, it goes almost anywhere, its reliable (of course - its a merc) and the Comand Mod I feel is the perfect mod. Mainly because the units appear to be fairly staightforward to install. Despite the dealerships telling me it catagorically cannot be retrofitted & telling me horror stories of how many thousands it would cost if they did "have a go". IF you add in the phone kit & CD changer you have everything you need.

The ML is pretty quiet once it is warm - a bit of clatter on a cold statup but otherwise fine.

Shudes COmand install is an excellant example of MErc dealers being proved wrong - if you want a mod almost anything is possible --- if you know the part numbers! Shude will probably agree that it sometimes takes a lot of research but once you have the magic part numbers you are up & running.

I'll post some before & after pics once I've done the install. Then I will go to the dealer who sold me the ML & take great delight in showing them that the impossible was possible! :twisted:

 

[Richard W]

Thanks very much for the info Steve. I'm surveying the market at the moment and have come to the conclusion that a 270 would fit the bill for us. I enjoy driving and am constantly frustrated by the lack of opportunities to 'excercise' the car, so I feel the occasional need for a 4wd (I work as an official on stage rallies) outways the performance choice - an Impreza turbo(perhaps a more obvious selection for a rally enthusiast?). I suppose you have the best of both with an E55 too! (my wife's got a 1.4 Polo.... :lol: )

I've been looking at both the 430 and 270 - after seeing the consumption figures and finding out that my Alpin tuning box would fit a 270 and give more grunt than the 430 (+30Nm torque +11mpg) - well it's a bit of a no-brainer for me!

So I guess the final questionsare:

Does the ML have to be MY2001+ to be able to fit the Comand easily (i.e. plug in to existing loom).

I've got a 10 disc MB autochanger in my 220 (Audio 10 headunit) would that work with the comand if the ML doesn't have one at purchase.

Thanks

Richard

 

[steve_bcs]

I've been looking at both the 430 and 270 - after seeing the consumption figures and finding out that my Alpin tuning box would fit a 270 and give more grunt than the 430 (+30Nm torque +11mpg) - well it's a bit of a no-brainer for me!

So I guess the final questionsare:

Does the ML have to be MY2001+ to be able to fit the Comand easily (i.e. plug in to existing loom).

I've got a 10 disc MB autochanger in my 220 (Audio 10 headunit) would that work with the comand if the ML doesn't have one at purchase.

Thanks

Richard

Tell me more about your tuning box ? a bit more grunt from the 270 would be useful, does it cost much? how does it affect fuel consumption?

From what I have learned on this & the other MBclub forum An MY2001+ ML is a bit easier to retro fit comand becasue it has more prewring in place, GPS/Phone , but I think that an earlier model has the same connectors at the rear of the radio, so all you would need to add would be a standard MB GPS aerial a magnetic one I think can sit on top of comand & see the satellites thru the dash & thru the windscreen provided there is no metal in the way above it, plus the iso adaptors mentioned by rpalmeida earlier in this thread - he actually has more comand knowledge than me but I hope I have been of some help.

I am not sure your CD changer would work with comand as MB seem to specify a fibre optic 6 disc changer cost around £500 new with all cables & bracket.

 

[Richard W]

Steve,

The tuning box is an Alpin one, I have commented on other tuning threads about it, but in short it's given a much smoother torque curve, more power, and because it encourages a 'squirt and cruise' style the economy on a long run is actually better (about 42mpg over a 500 mile run to Scotland). The insurance company wasn't that bothered and the website is:

www.dmsautomotive.co.uk

Tell Rob when you call that it's someone on this forum who mentioned it and he may remember me (mine was fitted in July). He mentioned it was £65 for a software change (if the car requires it) but mine seems to be the same part number.

HTH

Richard

 

[steve_bcs]

thanks Richard

I let you know how I get on. IS the alpin a beter solution than say a superchip? :wink:

 

[Richard W]

Steve,

My reasons for buying the Alpin box were:

1. That it's transferable - I have no doubt about the capabilities of the Superchip solution, but that's a change to your ECU - they do say it's reversible - but I can take mine off in about 3 minutes...... and it should fit all Merc common rail diesels (was told a £65 software change might be necessary)

2. The Alpin was explained to me as a 'learning' box - i.e. it analyses your use of the accelerator (using the throttle pot signal) and tailors the extra fuel to suit. If you're trickling in traffic it won't give you a wallop whereas if you 'boot it' it'll give loads of fuel and subsequent oomph :twisted: .

It is more expensive than Superchips but I think it's justified. The only slight downside is an increase in smoke (only at full throttle! and all chips/boxes will do that)

I found it to be a very worthwhile mod, smoothed out the torque curve with more low down and lets it rev to the red line (takes away that breathless feel).

If you live within reach of Basingstoke(edit: just seen your profile puts you in Manchester) DMS are on the A30 towards Camberley. Rob fitted mine for me and gave a discount 'cos I went to him. He mentioned he's got plenty of contacts around the country (main dealers) who fit them too.

HTH

R

 

[hash]

ML Command retrofit

hi all, i will take delivery on a new 2003 ml 270 inspiration that will not have command.

1 where can i buy a command unit from, people have mentioned ebay, is there a particular supplier on ebay?

cheers

 

[steve_bcs]

Hi

Ebay is where I got mine - arrived only yesterday but there is a risk of getting a used poor condidtion one that doesnt work. A forum user in Holland (handle MbenzNL) warned me off buying used ones as he has bought 4 recently of which 3 failed!

I was lucky!

I got 2 comand units 1 for my E class and 1 for my ML. I was delighted to find they were both brand new & in original MB packaging and have the latest Mb software loaded already.

They both seem to work fine, I just need an up to date SAtNAv Disk to properly test the sat nav side. I wil post pics as soon as I can


IF you look on ebay, search for "comand" and for "items available to the UK" that way you get the german advertisers that will ship to the UK. Only go for one that is advertised as NEU (new) or Das Gerät ist neu, noch original verpackt und verschweisst (new with original packaging .. I think!) make sure you look for part number A163 820 3689.

However, I could get one for you if you are interested - no hassle. If enough people are interested I think I can get a few for a sensible price approx 1/2 Uk list plus postage etc.
:wink:

 

[hash]

comand retrofit

thanks steve, so what is half uk list? and do i need other parts?

thx

kenny

 

[steve_bcs]

Hi

UK list for ML Comand 2 is £1,600 + VAT

See earlier post in this thread by RPalmedia for other parts needed - What he doesnt know about comand retro fitting isnt worth knowing (IMHO)

 

[pchlapik]

Retro fit of COMAND to ML

Hi Steve,

I've been following the thread on retro fitting a COMAND unit to a ML with interest. I bought a ML-270 in Nov 2002 (without COMMAND). I'm very interested in retro fitting it to my ML-270. You mentioned you might be able to get a new unit at approx half uk list price, if this is still the case I would be very grateful if you could aquire one for me.

As some one who's been through this process recently - can you confirm that the only other parts I would require are the:

a) wiring loom
b) GPS aerial (plus a disk)

Did you aquire these parts through your Mercedes retailer? And if so how much would I expect to pay?

Last question - promise! How easy is it to fit? I take it the COMAND unit does not come with fitting instructions?

Regards,

Paul

 

[bmistry]

Once you have a Comand, I understand you can enable the TV input with an adapter from MEGACOMM which enables you to have compiste video in on the TV input of Comand. Has anyone fitted this ? Can/Does Anyone fit this in the UK/South East/London area ?

 

[jcc]

command for ML55

I am looking for a command for a 2001 ML55 do you know where I can get one and what model number I need

Hi

Ebay is where I got mine - arrived only yesterday but there is a risk of getting a used poor condidtion one that doesnt work. A forum user in Holland (handle MbenzNL) warned me off buying used ones as he has bought 4 recently of which 3 failed!

I was lucky!

I got 2 comand units 1 for my E class and 1 for my ML. I was delighted to find they were both brand new & in original MB packaging and have the latest Mb software loaded already.

They both seem to work fine, I just need an up to date SAtNAv Disk to properly test the sat nav side. I wil post pics as soon as I can


IF you look on ebay, search for "comand" and for "items available to the UK" that way you get the german advertisers that will ship to the UK. Only go for one that is advertised as NEU (new) or Das Gerät ist neu, noch original verpackt und verschweisst (new with original packaging .. I think!) make sure you look for part number A163 820 3689.

However, I could get one for you if you are interested - no hassle. If enough people are interested I think I can get a few for a sensible price approx 1/2 Uk list plus postage etc.
:wink: