Vladds

Did the voice control improve? Did the number of steps before the navigation begins go down?


I can't make up my mind about the OEM HK unit. It's not far off, if voice control would be as good as iphone and the block on giving it instructions while in motion would go away..
If the universal interface would charge AND connect to the iphone 6 from one port, instead of charge from one and connect to the other, if the maps were not so desperately obsolete and maybe if the traffic feature was a bit more useful, I could live with it.
I can stream via the universal interface cable.


The guy at the dealer found a software for me, which combined with a PCMCIA adapter got all my contacts into the car (was far from a free software) and I am now handy with switching the connected phones from my work phone to my personal phone.
I don't really need music streaming. I had this in my aftermarket unit in my W124 and there is too little control, you mostly can skip forward and backwards.


Also, I tried to get the guys in Taiwan that sell the Star equipment to update my Command unit online via STAR, but they told me something crazy, like updating the command OS requires temporarily plugging in a special hard drive instead of the existing one.

Jasonoff

A map update does just that. It only updates the navigation DB on the HD in your comand unit.

Nothing interface related.

BLKROKT

What? I thought the map update would give me +30whp and make shifts faster?

Vladds

I just found a dealer that at least offers the OS update of the command. They want $750 for it....

xEryx

They can always update your HU, but they can't update it past 2012 software in a MY2012 car. So essentially they would update it to fix any bugs, but it would not give you the ability to change the color. The only way to update a MY12 to MY13 software is to bypass the Mercedes system by using Vediamo and directly flashing the software onto the compatible hardware. A dealer would not have this software or be allowed to do that as it would probably break many policies with MBUSA.

Mikeki7

I think it is possible to request the latest update from mercedes headquarters and they push it to your vin number so when you go update the module using the online function with xentry it will give you the last available software and not the latest one in your year model. Not 100 percent sure on this though, I believe when a dealership needs help solving an issue they open something called a TIPS case in the system and that would be the route to get the latest information from germany.

750 is pretty expensive, I think the update at most takes about an hour to complete, I dont remember exactly I wasn't around my car while it was updating. So an hours worth of labor and a telematic disc that costs around 50 cents is what the price should be for the update.

Vladds

So you don't think one of the hard drives has to be temporarily replaced? and who has this telematics disc? (other than dealer?)
The dealer to which I went today was talking about 2 hours and disc.

Mikeki7

No you don't replace any hard drives. You can order a telematic disc from any mercedes parts website but there are alot of part numbers and the dealer should know the right one. Its possible it can take over an hour but probably 2 hours at most, a lot of modules get updated in the head unit. If the dealer is doing a regular update you will still have the yellow color scheme, you would only be getting the latest update within your year model. If you are going to do it with the dealer make sure they are giving the latest compatible update for the car that includes the new colors.

Vladds

I got a hold of a part number for a 2012 telematics disc and am trying to order one online. Thy're less than a dollar.
I have Connect C5 and I'll try to update my firmware to 2012 level.
I saw the 2017 maps for $200, the dealer would want 250 + tax to do that work, I'm still looking to see if they're cheaper than 200 somewhere.
I'm also trying the universal to lightning cable. It's expensive and I have not much hope with it, but if it works, I would have the com and charging at the same time capabilities.

Tlnt60

Will the 2012 disc give you the updated colors of the programming is changed via Vediamo to correct code?

Vladds

First let's see if the vendor agrees to sell me the telematics disc. Just because I clicked purchase doesn't mean I won't get a question from them asking me if I'm a dealer.
Then let's see if I can complete the update with what I have at hand, I have to figure this out.


Then I'll look into Vediamo, or Monaco. I have to read a lot more about them. I have to understand if they can coexist with what I have now on my machine and how to fire it up, so it connects to my car.


It's a process for me and it has many steps, I'm only starting to learn this.

Vladds

So, yeah, vendor denied to sell the disc.
Plan B: ebay.
Also, I see many many postings that say in order to get map updates past 2015 whoever does the update MUST update the firmware first.
So therefore, by just going to the dealer and asking for the $250 map update special to V17 (2017), one should get the firmware update as well.


The bigger problem seems to be that figuring out the version that one has is not... that easy.
There are too many version numbers in there: maps, HU, Audio, SW,
One guy posted pre- and post- update and a group of 3 numbers changed.




It's possible they may have to update the whole command, system-wide, audio included.


So, to summarize from what has been said so far:
Best to let the dealer do this


Best to call MBNA and try to talk to them to allow for a firmware post 2012, then as the dealer does the update, MBNA pushes this version.


This last part I am not so sure though, because when the firmware is much newer then the hardware, there are glitches. And in the big command update thread, the guys that got really new firmware and enabled Bluetooth streaming, started to have some sort of other glitches associated..


I will take this different approach though. Let me try and bring this up in the private lounge, see if someone at MBNA is willing to have a dialog about it.


Did any of you successfully use the monthly lounge chat sessions to obtain info or fix a tech issue?


If not, I'll call direct.
Somewhere there should be an engineer that picks up the phone..

Tlnt60

So to be able to load the updated colors, we would need a telematics disc from 2013+ correct?
Again, once the changes have been made with Vediamo

xEryx

Once you update with a certain 2013+ disc which is compatible with your HU then you would use Vediamo to switch the color.

Tlnt60

Ah ok, gotcha.