Another COMAND question (yes, I STFF)!
06-11-2010, 01:15 PM
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2006 c280
Another COMAND question (yes, I STFF)!
First off, I want to say thanks for all the awesome knowledge you guys have bestowed upon me. So far the tutorial on locking down the shifter boot bezel and the InstallUniv tutorial on replacing the grab handle have gone off perfectly. I've also taken to cleaning my own MAF and replacing my own air intake filters regularly. And I'm most pleased with the AUX input that is now run to my armrest (and a 12v splice) to both run and charge my ipod. I even managed to install my Garmin Nuvi cable inside the dash. So thank you all very much.
Currently, I'm working on three projects. 1)installing the digital climate control interface (just waiting on the parts); 2) replacing my swaybars (haven't tackled yet); and 3) upgrading to a COMAND.
My question is about the COMAND. I've searched relentlessly, but every answer I find is refuted by someone else. And all this pre-/post-facelift stuff means that many posts don't (seem to) apply to me.
In a nutshell, I'm looking for the badest-assed COMAND system that can be put into my '06 C280? Obvisouly, I don't want to go to the dealer and shell out $2500, but I would like US NAV, MP3 on harddrive, DVD, etc.... I've got a 6 disc changer, if that matters (I think it does). More than anything, I would kill for someone to equate COMAND models with part numbers. In searching car-parts.com and EPC-Startek I've found A2038705489, A203871189, A2032989, A2038704189, etc, etc.... I don't know which one I should be looking for.
If someone can tell me which part number to be searching for, I'd be eternally grateful.
Currently, I'm working on three projects. 1)installing the digital climate control interface (just waiting on the parts); 2) replacing my swaybars (haven't tackled yet); and 3) upgrading to a COMAND.
My question is about the COMAND. I've searched relentlessly, but every answer I find is refuted by someone else. And all this pre-/post-facelift stuff means that many posts don't (seem to) apply to me.
In a nutshell, I'm looking for the badest-assed COMAND system that can be put into my '06 C280? Obvisouly, I don't want to go to the dealer and shell out $2500, but I would like US NAV, MP3 on harddrive, DVD, etc.... I've got a 6 disc changer, if that matters (I think it does). More than anything, I would kill for someone to equate COMAND models with part numbers. In searching car-parts.com and EPC-Startek I've found A2038705489, A203871189, A2032989, A2038704189, etc, etc.... I don't know which one I should be looking for.
If someone can tell me which part number to be searching for, I'd be eternally grateful.
06-11-2010, 01:39 PM
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2006 c280
Thanks.
I did contact Steve. Quoted $1400, which from what I've read, is not unreasonable. And everybody here says Steve is a stand-up guy.
But I also hav a handful of clients in the salvage, junkyard, and autobody biz. I bet I can pick one up from them for $500 if I can tell them EXACTLY what I'm looking for.
Like I said, it's equating the part numbers to the models that is stumping me.
I did contact Steve. Quoted $1400, which from what I've read, is not unreasonable. And everybody here says Steve is a stand-up guy.
But I also hav a handful of clients in the salvage, junkyard, and autobody biz. I bet I can pick one up from them for $500 if I can tell them EXACTLY what I'm looking for.
Like I said, it's equating the part numbers to the models that is stumping me.
06-11-2010, 03:12 PM
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a quarter mile at a time
I was secretly thinking about doing the same thing before I decided to sell my car. The big question I came across is the compatibility of the COMMAND units out of the Sprinter Vans.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Sprin...fAudioQ5fVideo
As far as I can tell, these are the right shape and have all of the up to date features. What I don't know is if they'd work in a w203.
Mercupgrades is also a great website for information on this type of upgrade.
Good luck.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Sprin...fAudioQ5fVideo
As far as I can tell, these are the right shape and have all of the up to date features. What I don't know is if they'd work in a w203.
Mercupgrades is also a great website for information on this type of upgrade.
Good luck.
06-12-2010, 04:21 AM
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Volvo
Ebay is a good way to get one (Range $400-800) You want an Mercedes 2006+ MCS II Comand System, It needs to be 2006+ to support MP3, You can get one from an 05 but it doesn't support mp3's,
The CLK MCS II is a tad smaller than the W203 (Still fits but theres a small gap)
Take a look at my DIY listed below on the comand system, Theres some threads i made in the C32/C55 section about the comand system
The CLK MCS II is a tad smaller than the W203 (Still fits but theres a small gap)
Take a look at my DIY listed below on the comand system, Theres some threads i made in the C32/C55 section about the comand system
Last edited by OverDrive; 06-12-2010 at 04:24 AM.
06-13-2010, 10:22 AM
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2006 c280
Thanks for the advice thus far.
Let's try a different approach: Does anyone know the part number for a US Comand NTG2.5?
Mercupgrades.com, unfortunately, is provided almost exclusively for EURO models. I don't want the headaches associated with that route.
Let's try a different approach: Does anyone know the part number for a US Comand NTG2.5?
Mercupgrades.com, unfortunately, is provided almost exclusively for EURO models. I don't want the headaches associated with that route.
06-13-2010, 05:17 PM
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2005 Mercedes C230 Sport Sedan (W203)
The only C-Class US NTG 2.5's are for the W204... and they use a totally different shape and mounting system as the center console was redesigned.
From what I know, these would be your options for comand in your car:
1) 2005 MSCII C-class comand (no MP3 as mentioned above). You will have standard options. Easy to find used and cheap.
2) 2006 or 2007 MSCII C-class comand (Gain MP3 playback) Somewhat easy to find used.
3) 2006+ MCSII G-class comand (Gain MP3 playback and backup camera input) Very hard to find used.
4) 2008 CLC Comand NTG 2.5 APS (Euro) (Gain bluetooth phone, unsure about backup camera, and I have not heard if anyone has US nav maps working on it) Hard to find.
As mentioned, the CLK comands have a slightly different shape and it wont look right. I dont believe the sprinter, viano, A or B class comands will fit at all. And obviously the E, S, ML etc comands do not fit.
As for part numbers, there are a LOT of different part numbers for each comand/car. The comand is continually revised and as such even the factory comand for your car could be one of many part numbers. In general I think compatibility is pretty high so its worth taking a chance here or there. Pretty much any 2005-2007 MCSII C-Class will work in your car.
From what I know, these would be your options for comand in your car:
1) 2005 MSCII C-class comand (no MP3 as mentioned above). You will have standard options. Easy to find used and cheap.
2) 2006 or 2007 MSCII C-class comand (Gain MP3 playback) Somewhat easy to find used.
3) 2006+ MCSII G-class comand (Gain MP3 playback and backup camera input) Very hard to find used.
4) 2008 CLC Comand NTG 2.5 APS (Euro) (Gain bluetooth phone, unsure about backup camera, and I have not heard if anyone has US nav maps working on it) Hard to find.
As mentioned, the CLK comands have a slightly different shape and it wont look right. I dont believe the sprinter, viano, A or B class comands will fit at all. And obviously the E, S, ML etc comands do not fit.
As for part numbers, there are a LOT of different part numbers for each comand/car. The comand is continually revised and as such even the factory comand for your car could be one of many part numbers. In general I think compatibility is pretty high so its worth taking a chance here or there. Pretty much any 2005-2007 MCSII C-Class will work in your car.
Last edited by nickgailloux; 06-13-2010 at 05:20 PM.
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06-14-2010, 09:17 AM
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2006 c280
Thanks Nick. I'm more confused than ever now, but your post was exceptionally thorough.
I thought a 2.5 could be retrofitted into a w203 becuase of this post (https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ntg-2-5-a.html). I realize this was a pre-facelifted w203, but it is a C class and an NTG2.5, nonetheless.
Again, thanks for the breakdown provided above.
I thought a 2.5 could be retrofitted into a w203 becuase of this post (https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ntg-2-5-a.html). I realize this was a pre-facelifted w203, but it is a C class and an NTG2.5, nonetheless.
Again, thanks for the breakdown provided above.
06-15-2010, 05:31 PM
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2005 Mercedes C230 Sport Sedan (W203)
He did option 4 from my post, CLC comand from a european car. This works for him nicely, since he lives in Europe (as far as I can tell from his posts). You may or may not be able to put North American maps on it, but until someone wants to drop the $ and try it out, we don't know.
06-15-2010, 06:12 PM
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2007 C230SS; 2014 ML350 BT
He did option 4 from my post, CLC comand from a european car. This works for him nicely, since he lives in Europe (as far as I can tell from his posts). You may or may not be able to put North American maps on it, but until someone wants to drop the $ and try it out, we don't know.
06-15-2010, 06:22 PM
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I remember a member had the EURO COMAND. He got the Euro DVD and US DVD and he merged the maps and data files together and he got the US maps to work on the Euro COMAND. Also I know with STAR you can change the frequencies on Audio 20 so i'm sure you can do this to the COMAND as well.
06-16-2010, 02:10 PM
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2006 c280
But still no MP3 on the Euro, or yes? Fact is, I have a Garmin Nuvi 780, and CDC, and an ipod aux-in, so unless I can add BT, Mp3, DVD, SD card, etc... I can't justify the price.
Karo, I too saw the "hybrid DVD" thread and I'm pretty sure he got it working.
My only concerns with the euro radio were the MP3 playability and the radio station differences. If those can be worked around, I might be willing to try "option 4".
Karo, I too saw the "hybrid DVD" thread and I'm pretty sure he got it working.
My only concerns with the euro radio were the MP3 playability and the radio station differences. If those can be worked around, I might be willing to try "option 4".
06-16-2010, 02:52 PM
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a quarter mile at a time
But still no MP3 on the Euro, or yes? Fact is, I have a Garmin Nuvi 780, and CDC, and an ipod aux-in, so unless I can add BT, Mp3, DVD, SD card, etc... I can't justify the price.
Karo, I too saw the "hybrid DVD" thread and I'm pretty sure he got it working.
My only concerns with the euro radio were the MP3 playability and the radio station differences. If those can be worked around, I might be willing to try "option 4".
Karo, I too saw the "hybrid DVD" thread and I'm pretty sure he got it working.
My only concerns with the euro radio were the MP3 playability and the radio station differences. If those can be worked around, I might be willing to try "option 4".
06-16-2010, 04:02 PM
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2007 C230SS; 2014 ML350 BT
Eric is right all NTG 2.5 units are MP3 capable. And, if my source is correct about the Euro and US units being the same, other than coding, the radio frequency difference won't be an issue.
06-16-2010, 04:05 PM
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2007 C230SS; 2014 ML350 BT
I remember a member had the EURO COMAND. He got the Euro DVD and US DVD and he merged the maps and data files together and he got the US maps to work on the Euro COMAND. Also I know with STAR you can change the frequencies on Audio 20 so i'm sure you can do this to the COMAND as well.
Didn't know you could change the tuner frequency on Audio 20. If that is the case, then my source may be correct that the frequency can changed based on unit county coding.
06-16-2010, 06:44 PM
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06-18-2010, 12:30 AM
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2005 Mercedes C230 Sport Sedan (W203)
I remember a member had the EURO COMAND. He got the Euro DVD and US DVD and he merged the maps and data files together and he got the US maps to work on the Euro COMAND. Also I know with STAR you can change the frequencies on Audio 20 so i'm sure you can do this to the COMAND as well.
06-18-2010, 12:32 AM
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2005 Mercedes C230 Sport Sedan (W203)
Nick, I have been researching this, and I don't have a 100% legitimate source, but it appears the Euro and US 2.5 NTG Commands are the same just country coded via STAR, and obviously have different maps. I still have a lot of WIS documents to read through to see if that is correct. I am really close to buying a CLC/G-Class NTG 2.5 Command and see if I can code it via STAR to work in my 07. They are available on Ebay, but still $1600 US.
06-18-2010, 12:01 PM
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Enjoy! http://mbdoctor.com/item-C-W203-COMMAND-APS-19.html I used them for parts when i was converting my car to MOST
Last edited by OverDrive; 06-18-2010 at 02:10 PM.
01-26-2014, 08:58 PM
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C55 / S550 / Lexus IS300 (sold) / C63 (Sold) / SL500 (Sold) / Lambo Gallardo (RIP)
Anyone else on this? I have a C55 and an NTG 2.5 from a G wagon. What are my options to get it to work?
01-27-2014, 03:15 PM
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interesting thread. i myself went for a MCII from a wrecked 2006 c-class. got it cheap for $200 then sold my Audio 20 on ebay for $200 
i did research and noticed that there are alot of different models. went for this because it was cheap and it was plug and play. i would have gone with aftermarket but i have the H/K Amp and from what i read they dont play nice.
i did research and noticed that there are alot of different models. went for this because it was cheap and it was plug and play. i would have gone with aftermarket but i have the H/K Amp and from what i read they dont play nice.
01-30-2014, 04:40 PM
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interesting thread. i myself went for a MCII from a wrecked 2006 c-class. got it cheap for $200 then sold my Audio 20 on ebay for $200
i did research and noticed that there are alot of different models. went for this because it was cheap and it was plug and play. i would have gone with aftermarket but i have the H/K Amp and from what i read they dont play nice.
i did research and noticed that there are alot of different models. went for this because it was cheap and it was plug and play. i would have gone with aftermarket but i have the H/K Amp and from what i read they dont play nice.
