russdog

I have a 1999 320CLK and I wanted to add a navigation system into my car. I have Garmin StreetPilot, however I would like to have something more "integraded" into the car.

I was looking at the posts about the Comand unit, and since I do not have the controls on the Steering Wheel... I guess it doen't matter which one I buy. So...

I would like to have you opinions and experience on what would be the best overall fit for price, quality, installation, ect.

Thanks in advanced for you help!

Russ

MBenzNL

...comand...but I am somewhat biased on this subject...

greetingz,

Ted Baldwin

..........I'm absolutely certain that the best comand unit on the market today is the pioneer. Like the Alpine it is DVd based, so you use only one disc for the entire USA and Canada. In addition, it has voice control which allows you to input destination by voice. You can also do so by remote control or by just typing in only the phone number of your destination. The system will do the rest. It is extremely accurate........10 times more accurate than comand. However, for post 2000 MB's comand is better because of steering wheel controls and the integration of telephone and other AV functions. But since your car is pre-2000, go with the Pioneer.

Ted

CLK 320

I, too, am somewhat biased as I love my COMAND system. However, Ted has some very valid points. One CD for my section of the country is about $150.00. I can get the whole country as a package for a discount, but it is still a lot of money. (And yes, every year the new CD is better). Having the entire country on one DVD would be a big selling point.

russdog

I noticed the Pioneer unit sells for about 1700 on e-bay, but I cannot seem to find a place that sells the US version of comand. Where can you find these things and how much do they cost?

The pioneer seems farely simple to install because there is little to no integration with the car, but the Comand unit seems to be more difficult? Is that a correct assumption? What does installation of cost?

You also discussed the phone integration as a nice feature of the Comand unit, however do you need to use the type of phone supplied by MB? Any chance of using a different phone with the MB radio? (Even if you don't have all the features?)

What other features does the Pioneer system have that would be high on the cool factor? I noticed that one person on the board used the TV in the Comand system for a camera out the back of the car! VERY COOL! Can the Pioneer System do this? Is the TV feature disabled in the US version of Comand?

Sorry for all the question, but thanks for the help!

Russ

CLK 320

I believe that the only phone that can be integrated with COMAND is one supplied by MB. Back when I got my car in 2/01 it was a Motorola Timeport, followed by two different versions of the Motorola V60. I seem to recall different people having COMAND installed but it is difficult and expensive.

MBenzNL

As far as I know (which is pretty "far"), there are at least 50 americans that drive around with an after market installed OEM MB comand system...most of those 50 americans are to be found on this forum...
I know for 100% that installation of an OEM comand is fairly easy for some people eventhough mercedes states that installing a comand afterwards is NOT possible.
I myself need 3 hours max to install a comand in a W208 and I have done those installs for 1300USD (including a used and/or refurbished EURO comand and installation...in W163s, W202s, W203s, W208s, only 1 W209 and W210s).

IMHO the biggest disadvantage of aftermarket nav systems is the pop up display that sits in front of your heatercontrols...

US comand does not come with the possibility to connect any TV features (unless you have the unit reprogrammed completely)...euro comand does come with that TV possibility though...

Do a search on comand (nstallation) and see what you can find here on mbworld (must be quiet a lot).

greetingz,

CLK 320

MBenzNL, wasn't there a website, perhaps based in Germany that was all about COMAND? I'll see if I can find the address.

Ted Baldwin

..........actually, most aftermarket navigation units are separate hide away units. They are usually sold as a bundle with the pop out display units. But you do not have to use the pop up display. If you choose to, you can move the temp controls down. But you can use any display and have it flush mounted.

.........the car with the rear view camera etc attached to the euro comand is mine. I like the comand for mb's. But there are alternatives especially if your car is pre-2000 and cannot benefit from the advantages of full integration.

...............only mb phones can work with the comand.

...............you can have rear view camera etc with any system that has an A/V input.

Ted

Ted Baldwin

............here is one link here another


ted

Ted Baldwin

in the USA, there is also NAV-TV.com. BUT I have NEVER gotten any useful info from them. They are very vague. Perharps you must take your car to them in Brooklyn. NY for them to be helpful.

Ted

CLK 320

Thanks Ted, it was Megacomm I was thinking of.

xyzpl

I have the Alpine and Kenwood Nvi systems, I like the Kenwood much better...

Never tired the Pioneer...

russdog

Drop my car off at the dealership yesterday to have the dash board fixed under warrenty. While I was there I asked about the comand system and he said that it was not very good and it directions. He told me it was missing many streets and difficult to navigate.

Is this true?

MBenzNL

The listed streets depend on the nav CD version...these CDs are regularly updated...

The comand navigation is pretty good...no worse or better then my clarion is (sometimes I wonder though what "she" has been smoking before "she" calculated the route...both clarion and comand).

greetingz,

xyzpl

I drove my friends S500 for a week, and I was so confused by the Command Navi, that i gave up... I still don't know how to work the Command...