Navigation Software

[Schojack]

I'm struggling to get decent advice from Mercedes regarding navigation updates and how to effect them. I have a 2020 MP and the navigation system seems to depend upon an SD card. I was advised by the dealer who sold me the vehicle that I would be able to update this online, however, another dealer has told me this is not the case and I must buy a new one. I feel that the vehicle should have had the most current software when I purchased the vehicle (Sep 2021), however, following a month's driving it is clear that a lot of roads are not recognised by the system eg new forth road bridge and Aberdeen bypass.
Any advice welcome.

 

[DogWagen]

I was looking at a 19 plate at an MB Dealer which had COMAND - there was a 3 year map upgrade listed on the specification (Code EX9). Might be worth getting the spec off Mercedes and see what it says.

If you do have to pay for a map update, there are specialists around who can help - Comandonline has a good reputation (they have supported MBClub.co.uk for a long while) and are worth chatting to. There are others - SatNavDirect.com is UK based and is offering an update for £40 (BTW not an endorsement!) . Any help?

 

[Epigram]

I think the link refers to Garmin satnavs rather than Command.
iI have a horrible feeling the if you have Command you are tied to MB. There is no location to insert an SD card.

My Command satnav that has had an ongong fault since new.
The map data has been updated, for free, several times over the past 2 years along with the application data as part of the dealer’s unsuccessful attempts to resolve the Command problem.
Despite being ”updated” with the latest versions, the maps are way out of date. They still show the Severn Bridge as a toll road even though tolls were abolished in 2018; they do not reflect revised road layouts or traffic management several towns and cities (which can lead you the wrong way dow one way streets) ; and closed services on Péages in France show up as carriageway closures and the satnav proposes long off Péage diversions I would be reluctant to pay for an upstate from MB unless they were able to demonstrate that the maps were accurate and up to date.

So to answer Schojack’s question,; you most likely have the most up to date MB map data but it’s rubbish!

 

[Steve B]

hey do not reflect revised road layouts or traffic management several towns and cities (which can lead you the wrong way dow one way streets)

This emphasises the issue with following sat nav's, as many city areas are being reconfigured for more pedestrian/cycle ways or to cut pollution, road flows change. I had a near miss a few months ago in Leicester where I turned into a street that was now a no entry, but stopped in time!

Comandonline has a good reputation (they have supported MBClub.co.uk for a long while

These do a carplay upgrade so google maps and navigation are on the screen, and are updated constantly. I tried to get an Audi map upgrade a few years ago and it was £220 (same technology as the pre MBUX MP's), might be more effective to upgrade use carplay.

 

[Schojack]

Just to emphasise, my MP came with a Garmin MAP PILOT SD card. It is the 2018/2019 version (Version 11.0). I'm yet to have anyone at Mercedes confirm that this is the most up to-date version - even that would be progress. If it is, I will then need to establish whether there is a way of improving the navigation system - my wife has Airplay in her Kia and its great!

 

[adriandh]

I too have this issue and need an update. I read on other sites that there is a program called Mercedes Download Manager which could be used to download the latest software updates and then copy them to the SD card. I have looked everywhere and they all point to a Mercedes page saying that the shop is currently unavailable. The dealer told me that an upgrade would cost me 500quid and no way am I paying that for a simple map upgrade. If it is software, then there must be a cheaper way of getting the upgrade/update

 

[Epigram]

I strongly recommend anyone thinking of buying a secondhand MP with Garmin or Command satnav, they check that the announcements are working properly. Search here for Command satnav announcements to see the details of the fault concerning missing announcements that I have had since new.
Having convinced myself that other vehicles do not have this fault ( thanks Blackrat et al) I took the vehicle in for diagnosis at my expense. The technician confirmed that he had seen the fault before on other vehicles and spent several hours uploading and rebooting the “latest” software. After saying it was all OK I got in the car and selected my home destination and pressed START:
Surprise surprise! “……..oot is being calculated“ instead of “ Your route is being calculated”
So much for workshop and road testing! The saga continues…….

This weekend I had a look at another vehicle which had Gamin satnav. I thought I would check an announcement after pressing START.. Exactly the same!

I will post this under a new thread. It may help someone either having the same frustration as me?.Alternatively you may get something off from the dealer or decide to walk away!

 

[Method7]

I have this issue with our 2018 MP and I just found this... they need your vin number to confirm... might give it a go and see - https://satnavworld.com/collections...n-sd-card-update-star2-v17-europe-a2139062610

 

[j200george]

I’ve also got this issue in my 2019 MP. The Aberdeen bypass not recognised and the new route in Ayr at Maidens. Can’t believe there’s not a simple way to update the software.

 

[Epigram]

My issue is not with maps but with the announcements which get clipped.

I think you can update Garmin as described above but with Command you are tied to Mercedes.

To attempt fix” my fault, MB have installed the latest software and rebooted.
Even with the latest updates are hopelessly out of date (the Severn Bridge is still a toll road etc.) and the calculated routes are not the most sensible, but it it is what it is.
Unfortunately, the announcement problem remains and the saga continues.

 

[adriandh]

I have this issue with our 2018 MP and I just found this... they need your vin number to confirm... might give it a go and see - https://satnavworld.com/collections...n-sd-card-update-star2-v17-europe-a2139062610

This sounds like the best option so far given that I cannot find the Mercedes Download Manager. I have checked in your kindly supplied link but cannot see that they deliver outside the UK hence I have asked them to see if they may deliver abroad. Thanks for this link buddy

 

[Method7]

My issue is not with maps but with the announcements which get clipped.

I think you can update Garmin as described above but with Command you are tied to Mercedes.

To attempt fix” my fault, MB have installed the latest software and rebooted.
Even with the latest updates are hopelessly out of date (the Severn Bridge is still a toll road etc.) and the calculated routes are not the most sensible, but it it is what it is.
Unfortunately, the announcement problem remains and the saga continues.

I dont think yo can go to garmin with any MB satnav issues... I looked on their website - they just send you to MB.

As for the announcement clipping - I have no idea - if a SW update fails then maybe look for a settings reset option - you maybe inadvertently changed something that has caused this... to be honest i have had that feature muted since day one..

 

[Epigram]

Nope definitely not a settings issue or finger trouble.
I am very minded to shell out for an Apple car play conversion to Command Navigation.
I ofter prefer use Apple Car Play rather than MBUX on my GLC because it has the same erratic navigation albeit with the correct and unclipped announcements.

 

[PeteC]

I'm a bit of an interloper here as I'm a V220 owner and not an MP, but I do appreciate getting tips on the vehicles.

I did a CarPlay installation myself on my 70'plate vehicle with Comand using the kit from Integrated Automotive: https://integratedautomotive.co.uk/...etrofit-carplay-and-android-auto-upgrade-kit/
Totally worth it to be able to use Google Maps etc!

Downside was that it wasn't the simplest of installations and you need to be confident removing interior trim to do a DIY fitment. I learnt a few things along the way, but thankfully didn't do irreparable damage to anything. I also had a few setup and config issues that was diagnosed to a faulty unit. Scott from IA was absolutely awesome throughout and gave me constant support when needed, including responding out of hours and at the weekend when I was trying to install it. Would I install it again and is it good value for money - Yes.

It's not without it's quirks, but then it isn't a factory system - main one being that once your in CarPlay, you cannot easily access radio/CD or other vehicle controls like AirCon as you effectively switch from one control system to another. That doesn't mean the AirCon doesn't work, you just can't see the screen with things like the temp on there. Also the 360deg camera does trigger, but only gives you reverse camera options.
You only have to press and hold a button to toggle back out of CarPlay and you're back to normal, so for me it isn't an issue.

I've set it up to only manually switch into CarPlay on demand, but that suits how I use the vehicle which is mostly for longer trips, so I only switch to CarPlay when I've done my maneuvering out of parking space with the camera, set the temperature, chosen the radio station etc. and got underway. For me that works perfectly and about 4000 miles around Europe this summer with Google Maps for support was faultless. If I was nipping to the shops, I probably would just stay in Mercedes mode to be honest.

Anyway, it is a useful and viable alternative to the Merc Comand system in my opinion. Hope that's useful for some of you.
Pete.

 

[Method7]

Oh that’s interesting - does Siri work? My old CarPlay system would respond to “hey Siri”

 

[PeteC]

Yep, Siri works as expected in CarPlay mode. I should have also said that the system also is Android Auto capable, although I've not tested that, it would work in the same way as described above.

 

[TMC]

Highly successful trip through Spain and Portugal all the way down to Faro. Sat Nav (MBUX on 2022 V300 d Marco Polo AMG Line) faultless throughout EXCEPT clipped first sentence (as described in this thread). Steering wheel conversion to km and RH dip headlights all worked, once I'd read the onboard manual! When we got off the ferry in Plymouth on the way home all mapping failed and screen simply said "connect storage device to load mapping". I know that an OTA mapping upgrade happened whilst we were in Spain, whether that caused the issue or not. Rebooting the system didn't cure it so in the end I took it back to dealership. After a very long software update, everything is working again. Including full spoken sentences!

Rueful engineer said he spends more time on a laptop than with a spanner in his hand these days. At least it got washed too!!

 

[Pomeroy]

Another solution is to connect Apple Car play using a USB connection in the dash which allows you to use Google Naos that include narration.

 

[Pomeroy]

Google Maps when using Apple

 

[Epigram]

Highly successful trip through Spain and Portugal all the way down to Faro. Sat Nav (MBUX on 2022 V300 d Marco Polo AMG Line) faultless throughout EXCEPT clipped first sentence (as described in this thread). Steering wheel conversion to km and RH dip headlights all worked, once I'd read the onboard manual! When we got off the ferry in Plymouth on the way home all mapping failed and screen simply said "connect storage device to load mapping". I know that an OTA mapping upgrade happened whilst we were in Spain, whether that caused the issue or not. Rebooting the system didn't cure it so in the end I took it back to dealership. After a very long software update, everything is working again. Including full spoken sentences!

Rueful engineer said he spends more time on a laptop than with a spanner in his hand these days. At least it got washed too!!

It is interesting that you have had the clipped announcements with MBUX. The speech on my 2020 300d with MBUX has always worked perfectly and it has been through France, Italy, Germany several times and back to UK. The map data is sometimes out of date and directions sometimes weird (I still can’t get dowm my lane without being directed into the river!) but I have come to expect that from MB maps.
The MP camper still has its clipped announcement fault despite a software update from MB but is offroad for the winter so I am not being irritated by it.
I have checked several MPs with Command. some have the same fault some dont. MB will recognising the fault at some dealers are quite unable to fix it.
I would be temped to upgrade to a later model but to be honest, I prefer using the central control knob to the newer MBUX touch pad but am minded not to buy another Mercedes vehicle because of the poor service.