I need navigation, so what do you think of this...
 

I really wanted COMAND, but I cannot afford the $3,000 price tag. So I looked around and found the Magellan RoadMate 760. I think that it is a good unit and should do the job. I figure that I can conceal it on the left side of the windshield on the bottom so it doesn't look too bad. Let me know what you think. It is about $700.

Mike

Ferdnand rules!
 

We have the Magellen and it works like a charm.
Plus, you can shift it into any car you are driving.
Ebay has some good buys. But, shop with care.
Good luck! :zoom:

from what i heared, magelan is one of or even the best out there at the moment. google for the product and check some boards/ forums. usually people tell about their experience and on that you can base your decision. always works for me.

good luck with the buy :y

Just so you know the difference between these handheld units and the factory units is the handheld units can't keep track of where you are if they don't have a signal. So when you first turn it on, it has to acquire a signal and figure out where it is, this can take minutes, if you drive into a covered area or surrounded by tall buildings or trees you will lose your signal and it has to re-acquire. The factory units can track your progress using the speed sensor and built in gyros to see when you turn, how fast you are going and how far you went. Also the screens I've seen on the portables wash out in the sun, don't always provide good directions and are hard to mount to look good. The last thing is the voice commands, they have tiny speakers and your in-car audio can easily overwhelm the voice navigation make it useless. It's not these portable units are worthless, but there is value to the factory unit.

I take back my comments on the Magellan 760. After reading further, I have decided that the best reviews favor the Garmin NUVI 350. It is small and very powerful. Ill post pics of my install.

Garmin is a very good brand. I have 4 Garmin units. 3 handhelds and one console mount for my RIB. They all work really good. One of the handhelds has color maps for the road as well as the water, and its pretty accurate.

Will either unit fit in the ashtray? Did you know you can remove the ashtray insert for even more room? Don't know if it will get a good signal down there, but that would be where I would try to install it. That way you can close the door and it's out of sight.

I have an PNY Electronic Compass installed in my ashtray area.

I was going to say Garmin...my family has used several models from them and have one for our Defender out in Europe and one still out here for whatever kind of trips we may encounter. Seriously Garmin is really THE BEST! My brother and I got lost one time while off-roading in AZ....yeah the garmin found the trail we were on and guided us back to the river and just in time cuz the sun was setting. So again, I say GARMIN ALL THE WAY!

I am at school in New Orleans without the car for a bit so I'll try the ashtray fit when I can. I was thinking the same thing. I am going to buy the extended antenna so that I will not have any issues. I think that the NUVI is the way to go. I will let you know when I make the purchase.

Mike

i had a roadmate 300 in my old car and it was decent. It was a pain loading maps all the time though. Doesnt have a harddrive, so you need to load the maps onto SD cards from a PC. I didnt like the Garmin because of the voice quality. I got my COMAND from SunMan though, I like it better than both of them combined.

Actually there are units that have the ability to track your location if they lose a signal, after of course they have aquired a signal initially.

The Cobra NAVOne series is such a product.

Not sure where you got this price, but you can do COMAND alot cheaper than that.

Where can I find a COMAND (US) for less that isn't a scam? I believe the NUVI has a touchscreen so I can input addresses right into the device.

Has anybody bothered to check at the dealer? I've stated this before, my dealer wanted $1400 brand new for the US Comand. Go check it out. There's some other things you need I believe, but its not much more.

hint...www.mbenznl.com

Have you not seen Steve on here before or people even talk about him?

IMO, the $700 for this unit would be a waste. Save a little big more and have Steve install an MB comand into your car.

So these hand held units will work in Europe too?

Yes they work in Europe with a software upgrade. MBenzNL.com is where I was quoted $2500 plus a $500 install. I called the dealer and they wont even give me a price because it is a "factory option".

$3000. where are getting your COMAND from, Siagon Sam?

So is the engine but you can order one of those! Thats bull****, if they give you a hard time tell them you are an audio install shop and you have a customer who voided his warranty on the comand and needs a new one. Or just go with the part number. If they still give you a hard time, go to another dealer. It sounds like you got a lazy parts dept who does not want to bother looking it up. Thats where the part number comes in hand.

I called two dealers and both wanted a VIN to verify the car had it. I guess I have to find the part number. If anyone knows it....

I doubt that you want a euro part number, but it is 203 820 91 89

IMO euro is the way to go unless you want to add OEM satellite radio. The euro units are usually cheaper too.

i tried that magellan and it worked great. but the size was abit annoying to me so i went with the garmin streetpilot c330 about 6 months ago. works awesome, can download updates and run it off the battery when entering in several locations or entering in different destinations while sitting in the house or hotel room. nice and small too. they give you a glossy black round flat plastic plate with double sided tape which i put on my dash up close to the windshield so i can suck it on up there for a cleaner look than on the windshield :y

I hear that the Euro COMAND will not work with North American Navigation...Is this true?

No, it is not true. I use a euro COMAND everyday.

you also could spent an extra $300 and get an avic-n2 or a used avic-n1 for the same price as just the navigation system.