Garmin vs. COMAND....pros/cons?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,126
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From: Milton/Westport, MA USA
me: 2015 SL400 & 2015 ML400; wife: 2022 GLC Coupe; daughter: 2017 GLC SUV
Garmin vs. COMAND....pros/cons?
Hi,
I've been using Garmin GPS's in my MBs, as I've bought them used without COMAND and never did feel up to the DIY. Now I just got a 2007 E350 with COMAND for my wife and she loves it. Admittedly, she was always bad at the logistics of taking the GPS out of the glovebox, setting it up etc. That never bothered me. Still, I wonder about the pros and cons:
1. I've got two Garmins and the older one gets a little less useful each year, as stimulus money changes the roadways. Shouldn't I expect her 2007 COMAND to be similarly dated?
2. Not long ago, COMANDs were getting close to $1000 on the classifieds, vs. $200 for a Garmin (that could move from car to car). Now they seem to be much cheaper, but what should I be careful about when buying a used one (this would be to install in my 2006 CLK350)?
I've been using Garmin GPS's in my MBs, as I've bought them used without COMAND and never did feel up to the DIY. Now I just got a 2007 E350 with COMAND for my wife and she loves it. Admittedly, she was always bad at the logistics of taking the GPS out of the glovebox, setting it up etc. That never bothered me. Still, I wonder about the pros and cons:
1. I've got two Garmins and the older one gets a little less useful each year, as stimulus money changes the roadways. Shouldn't I expect her 2007 COMAND to be similarly dated?
2. Not long ago, COMANDs were getting close to $1000 on the classifieds, vs. $200 for a Garmin (that could move from car to car). Now they seem to be much cheaper, but what should I be careful about when buying a used one (this would be to install in my 2006 CLK350)?
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I love my COMAND and the installed nav drive. It's clean, it's embedded into the whole system of the car. In CA it is illegal to hang or put anything onto the windshield (radar warner, sat. radio, etc.) so it's really nice.
The only thing that bothers many (not me though) is the price for updated DVDs. I care less. I like OEM stuff in and at my car.
The only thing that bothers many (not me though) is the price for updated DVDs. I care less. I like OEM stuff in and at my car.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 223
From: Milton/Westport, MA USA
me: 2015 SL400 & 2015 ML400; wife: 2022 GLC Coupe; daughter: 2017 GLC SUV
Mackhack, you speak da truth! Even tho it's legal here, I don't know why people stick a GPS in the middle of their WS, as I always mount mine on the console. I wonder tho', how many new DVDs have you bought for ur nav, and at what cost? I hate spending foolishly; are they copy-able? I never upgaraded my Garmin, and I often find it showing me flying thru the air! And, if I buy a COMAND, will it also make iPod integrate possible?
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 404
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From: Albany, NY
2014 C300, sport, black/black
Actually, they changed the law in CA in state bill 1567 effective Jan 1 2009.
The new law specifies the GPS must be mounted within a 7-inch square area in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver (the passenger side) or in a 5-inch square area in the lower corner of the windshield nearest to the driver (the lower left corner of the windshield).
I think a separate GPS is the better way to go. You can take it with you. Maps are MUCH cheaper to update. They are touch screen. They are cheap to replace.
I am a TomTom fan. Garmin got me lost or going in circles too many times so I switched.
The new law specifies the GPS must be mounted within a 7-inch square area in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver (the passenger side) or in a 5-inch square area in the lower corner of the windshield nearest to the driver (the lower left corner of the windshield).
I think a separate GPS is the better way to go. You can take it with you. Maps are MUCH cheaper to update. They are touch screen. They are cheap to replace.
I am a TomTom fan. Garmin got me lost or going in circles too many times so I switched.
