Ferdnand rules!
DIY installation of AVIC & other aftermarket HU's for W203 (Warning! lots of images!)
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Los Angeles
2014 Audi S5 Cabriolet 3.0T
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
Mike
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From: Tampa, FL
'14 CLA 45
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
good luck with the buy
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
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.
Thread Starter
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From: Los Angeles
2014 Audi S5 Cabriolet 3.0T
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.
Last edited by MHPHOCKEY; Feb 13, 2006 at 11:30 PM.
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From: Long Island, New York
'05 C230SS 6MT, 1966 Triumph TR4a IRS, Shelby Cobra 427 Supercharged
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.
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See Garage
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 have an PNY Electronic Compass installed in my ashtray area.
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From: Newport Beach
04 C230K-ss
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!
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Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Los Angeles
2014 Audi S5 Cabriolet 3.0T
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
Mike
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Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Hartford, CT USA
2013 C300 Sport 4Matic
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.
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From: Avon, CT
07 G35 Sport 6MT, 2005 C230K SS (sold), 1998 Jeep GC 4x4 (da-heep!)
Originally Posted by Buellwinkle
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.
The Cobra NAVOne series is such a product.
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From: 38° 52′ 51″ N || 94° 48′ 11″ W
'01 C320 || '14 Honda Pilot EX-L
Originally Posted by MHPHOCKEY
I really wanted COMAND, but I cannot afford the $3,000 price tag..........
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From: Long Island, New York
'05 C230SS 6MT, 1966 Triumph TR4a IRS, Shelby Cobra 427 Supercharged
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.
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From: West Los Angeles
Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
Originally Posted by MHPHOCKEY
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.
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.
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From: Los Angeles
2014 Audi S5 Cabriolet 3.0T
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".
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From: San Diego, Ca
2003 Citron Green C230KMT
Originally Posted by MHPHOCKEY
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
Mike
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From: Long Island, New York
'05 C230SS 6MT, 1966 Triumph TR4a IRS, Shelby Cobra 427 Supercharged
Originally Posted by MHPHOCKEY
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".
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From: 38° 52′ 51″ N || 94° 48′ 11″ W
'01 C320 || '14 Honda Pilot EX-L
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.
IMO euro is the way to go unless you want to add OEM satellite radio. The euro units are usually cheaper too.
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From: Long Island, NY
08' BMW E92 Coupe
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
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From: 38° 52′ 51″ N || 94° 48′ 11″ W
'01 C320 || '14 Honda Pilot EX-L
Originally Posted by MHPHOCKEY
I hear that the Euro COMAND will not work with North American Navigation...Is this true?
