I am just wondering if I can install OEM nav, if I can buy it from ebay or somewhere, and install it in place of my normal head unit? Has anyone done it? I know people install after market DVD and stuff, but will that work as NAV too?

 

You can install OEM Nav to your vehicle and depending on your location you may be able to get it installed in May or June. Contact steve@mbenznl.com for more information.

 

get the OEM because it will display in your MFD and looks clean.

 

also do a search for 'COMAND' and 'install' and you should get more than enough info

 

From your personal experience, would you prefer US or Euro-spec COMANDS and why?

I know the MBenzNL site has a comparison chart, but I'd like to hear about your firsthand experience whether the refubished Euro unit is more "worth it" than the brand new US version..

I'd prefer the Euro version (esp since it has RDS) but it seems the US one will give the car a better resale value as it is not a refurbished unit and with the European accent (while it sounds cool), it makes the Euro version seem more like an aftermarket item (and may thus reduce the car's resale value).

 

I doubt the fact that one unit is refurbished will affect the resale value of the car. Once you install a new unit in a car, it is no longer new. So neither of those would be new if you installed them.

-s-

 

That is true. What I should have said is one is a refurbished item -- which usually means there either a) used to be a defect and is now fixed or b) still has minor imperfections -- while the other one is new with a full warranty.

So with that definition the difference I saw was this: By the time I sell the car, the US-spec once "new" COMAND simply becomes "used" but the Euro-spec "refurbished" will be "used" AND "refurbished" AND it will be very obvious that it was an "aftermarket" install because of the different accent (and this combined may affect resale, I worry).

But thanks for replying scorchie. You may be correct. I guess one "aftermarket" install probably won't affect resale much..

Anyway, I guess a better question would be whether anyone has had problems with refurbished Euro-spec COMANDs. I suspect that the possiblity of something going wrong is generally a tad higher with something that is refurbished (also, the full warranty will give me more confidence in the item). I could be wrong though -- there may be many Euro-spec COMAND buyers who have had it for several years with no problems whatsoever.

So, I'd still really, really, REALLY appreciate it if anyone who has had the system installed could tell me about their own experience!!

 

i have the euro-spec COMAND and have been problem free for nearly a year. from all of the people that have been in my car, not a single person has suspected that it may be european as opposed to US, only people that are aware of the differences could point it out, and only enthusiasts or somebody that used to own the US spec one would even notice. and as far as the warranty goes, i'm not sure that if you got a US spec one it would have a warranty, it wasn't purchased with the car...if otherwise then please correct me, but i wouldn't expect it to be covered by warranty and i think just the fact that the car has an OEM COMAND (whether US or euro) will impact the resale value regardless of which one it is, i dont think it would sway the price enough to favor one over the other.

 

I have EURO-spec COMAND, and not one problem.

How would you get a warranty by installing a US-spec COMAND ???
Most dealerships won't do a COMAND retro-fit.

The only COMANDs that would be warrantied are the ones that came with the car when you bought it off the dealer.

Resale value doesn't give a HOOT about installed products (aftermarket or OEM).

Also, not all COMANDs installed are re-furbished. Some are just spares and factory left-overs. (US & EURO).

 

I got this information in an email from MBenzNL:
"Comand can be installed in your car without a single doubt and we can offer
you a complete self installation kit which will include:
- refurbished Euro spec comand (good optical condition and 3 months
warranty), or a new US spec comand (with 12 months warranty)"

Oops :p I meant the warranty on the COMAND itself.. I'm sure it would be too obvious if I were to one day bring in my car into the dealership and tell them to fix a navigation system that wasn't there before

"Resale value doesn't give a HOOT about installed products (aftermarket or OEM)."

Does this mean I can go with one of those folding touch-screen DVD/Nav systems from Alpine/Kenwood, etc. and it will probably affect the resale no more (if it does at all) than if I were to install COMAND?

 

Brizz, what year is your C320? Comand is cheap if it's an older car, in 2005 Comand is DVD based and costs 2-3 times more but your dealer can do it, probably for the same price as MBenzNL.

 

Mine is 2002, but is there a differnece betweeen the new and old one? if so what?

 

there's a bunch of differences, but the main one you should be concerned with, is that the new one only works in 2005+ cars

 

I had a EuroCOMAND placed by Steve during his Oct 2004 install in Chicago and have been extremely happy with it. I like the fact that it remembers your settings for the aux input device (I have an IPOD connected) which I believe the US version you have to play with the bass/treble/presence each time you use it. The british accent (female) is actually very cool and passengers like it (can't comment on the US version b/c never really heard it). Haven't had a problem with it so far and really can't tell that it was placed after buying the car.

 

Will this Nav work here in US, this is from UK:

NAVIGATION SYSTEM COMAND 2.0
2-DIN size
5" Farb-LCD screen
Lenkradfernbedienung
CD-rom based navigation system
integrierte dynamic Navigation with RDS/TMC

And can I get american map CDs easily?

 

you can get US map CDs from your dealer, most dealers keep them in stock at all times so you should be able to just swing by your parts department and pick them up.

if you wanna save some cash though (since dealers only sell as the whole map pack now) you can buy individual CDs at a discounted price from ebay)

 

Im trying to install nav into my c240 2001 benz, wheres my vss wire located at

 

Why do you feel you need to find this wire? If the Comand unit is designed for a C class, then it will work fine as is. Did you buy the one for the G class instead?

 

no it was an autopc a late respone but still responded lol

 

i am kinda confuse...

they sell Command Nav on Ebay

when i buy my coupe we asked the dealer if we can get it install here he said it could only be done in the factory...

tell me plz... but i saw a DIY Pioneer one

 

You can definitely retrofit a (original MB) navigation unit in your C-class. If you want to go OEM, you could consider purchasing a comand kit from MBenzNL: s_krabbenborg@hotmail.com.

greetingz,

BigSis

 

i tried to go the other route, and get the auxillary adapter for the optic loop. Worked good for about a year, then it **** out. Not worth the 400 adapter to send auxillary signal to the loop. I wish i would have just bought oem. 400 is half a command

 

Research, Research, research before you waist your money. Euro with TV tuner and I-pod video intergrated is great. I would go with OEM, and if you don't want to waist your time go with Steve. Others will give you miss information and never get back to you.