Retrofit US COMAND
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 524
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore/DC area
2014 E350S4
Retrofit US COMAND
I have a 2003 C240 4matic. I'd like to retrofit COMAND/navigation. What are my options if I want to do it (easily) myself? Pre-facelift US COMAND, post-facelift US COMAND, and Euro COMAND? Is there only one version of Euro COMAND? I guess I'll do a search now and see what the differences and benefits are regarding the different choices. Also, looks from another thread that I'll have to buy a GPS antenna to mount under the dash and then have the dealer program it after I install it. Is that right?
TIA.
TIA.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,853
Likes: 1
From: Boston
CLK500/Range Rover HSE/E55 AMG/Bmw 328Xi coupe/BMW 4.8x/Bmw 335i/GS350/Audi S5/E350
At this point, you should contact Steve. He is the source of all your OEM upgrades for your car. Do a search for steve. You will find his contact info... You options for your 2003 W203 is the command. They come in 2 flavors. US version and Euro version. You will not be able to do POST face lift command as it uses a different technology. As for the antenna, it will come with the kit. Not too hard to install yourself. You will need the dealership to upgrade the firm ware to recognize the command so it will show up on the instrument cluster. But you certainly dont need to go to the dealership if you dont really care for the instrument cluster option. Good luck and post some pictures....
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 538
Likes: 1
From: White Lake, MI
04 C320 Coupe MT
I second the recommendation to contact Steve. (Steve @ MBenzNL.com) I just purchased a 2004 spec Command kit, it included everything I needed - even the special tools to reomve the instrument cluster and a Torx screwdriver! It's installed and I couldn't be happier.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,326
Likes: 0
From: 38° 52′ 51″ N || 94° 48′ 11″ W
'01 C320 || '14 Honda Pilot EX-L
Originally Posted by Incendiary
Thanks guys. I'll try him.
He sells completely OEM kits?
He sells completely OEM kits?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,326
Likes: 0
From: 38° 52′ 51″ N || 94° 48′ 11″ W
'01 C320 || '14 Honda Pilot EX-L
Originally Posted by Incendiary
Actually, is the 2003 US/Euro COMAND unit CD or DVD-based? I don't know if it's worth it if it's CD-based.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 524
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore/DC area
2014 E350S4
Originally Posted by johncl
It is a CD based system. It is a great system.
Also, isn't switching CD's a pain? The navigation unit is in the trunk, right?
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
New Mercedes-AMG SUVs Arrive With NEW V8 Engine: 12 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
8 Oddball Mercedes Ideas That Actually Made it to Production
Verdad Gallardo
Dubai Tuner Gives the Mercedes G-Class An Entirely New Look
Verdad Gallardo
Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,326
Likes: 0
From: 38° 52′ 51″ N || 94° 48′ 11″ W
'01 C320 || '14 Honda Pilot EX-L
Originally Posted by Incendiary
Hmm, that's what I feared. So the C-class didn't get DVD-based NAV until the facelift (MY05)?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,326
Likes: 0
From: 38° 52′ 51″ N || 94° 48′ 11″ W
'01 C320 || '14 Honda Pilot EX-L
Originally Posted by Incendiary
Also, isn't switching CD's a pain? The navigation unit is in the trunk, right?
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 524
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore/DC area
2014 E350S4
Originally Posted by johncl
No, the NAV drive is in the COMAND unit itself, nothing in the trunk on the C class, new or old. Changing the NAV cd if necessary is as easy as swapping a CD as we have all done for many years.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,326
Likes: 0
From: 38° 52′ 51″ N || 94° 48′ 11″ W
'01 C320 || '14 Honda Pilot EX-L
Originally Posted by Incendiary
John, thanks for the help. Gonna do a search now to see how many CDs come in the set and what the breakdown by state is per CD. Might consider a Garmin or Magellan portable GPS set as well, since it IS likely to be cheaper. I imagine the kit is at least $1000...
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 524
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore/DC area
2014 E350S4
Originally Posted by johncl
I'll save you the time. There are 10 CD's and the breakdown is shown in the pic.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,326
Likes: 0
From: 38° 52′ 51″ N || 94° 48′ 11″ W
'01 C320 || '14 Honda Pilot EX-L
Originally Posted by Incendiary
You da man, buddy. Any good online sites, if I elect to pursue this route? Does Steve sell them on the cheap? The other problem I see with going this route is I doubt whichever company it is that produces these CDs is going to keep updating maps in CD format.
Former Vendor of MBWorld
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 0
From: the Netherlands
Nothing MB related (sorry)
From what MBenzNL has in stock:
Euro spec units have a TV button; 2003 US spec comands have a blank button; 2004 US spec comands have a SAT button, and will integrate with a SAT radio kit as soon as this is installed in the car as well.
If you have a pre 2004 W203, it won't be pre-wired for SAT, but we can get you a wiring loom for that as well. Depending on where you are located, we may even be able to install the entire SAT kit along with a 2004 US unit.
All 3 comand units will work with a TV tuner (which we don't have in stock, unfortunately). The US units need to be versioncoded through Stardiagnose in order to work with TV.
The 2004 US unit can NOT get both SAT and TV, as the SAT button will be used for TV if that is the way you want to go...
greetingz,
BigSis
Euro spec units have a TV button; 2003 US spec comands have a blank button; 2004 US spec comands have a SAT button, and will integrate with a SAT radio kit as soon as this is installed in the car as well.
If you have a pre 2004 W203, it won't be pre-wired for SAT, but we can get you a wiring loom for that as well. Depending on where you are located, we may even be able to install the entire SAT kit along with a 2004 US unit.
All 3 comand units will work with a TV tuner (which we don't have in stock, unfortunately). The US units need to be versioncoded through Stardiagnose in order to work with TV.
The 2004 US unit can NOT get both SAT and TV, as the SAT button will be used for TV if that is the way you want to go...
greetingz,
BigSis
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 524
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore/DC area
2014 E350S4
Now I remember why I asked about CD updates. I checked navteq.com, which I believe makes the maps for the version of COMAND I'd have to get (either US or Euro, but more likely US, version of COMAND for MY03). The website doesn't list any CDs for C-classes. Seems like if they're continuing to produce updates, I'd have to get them from Steve or my local stealership. 
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,326
Likes: 0
From: 38° 52′ 51″ N || 94° 48′ 11″ W
'01 C320 || '14 Honda Pilot EX-L
Originally Posted by Incendiary
Now I remember why I asked about CD updates. I checked navteq.com, which I believe makes the maps for the version of COMAND I'd have to get (either US or Euro, but more likely US, version of COMAND for MY03). The website doesn't list any CDs for C-classes. Seems like if they're continuing to produce updates, I'd have to get them from Steve or my local stealership.
