Hey-

I was interested in installing Navi in my 05 w211 CDI until I saw this reply from my local dealer:


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Navigation kit would be 1650.00 parts and labor. Ivory gave me a note and told me to get you an estimate. I would have to order unit. Let me know. Thanks.

Jason
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Is it just me or is that a RIDICULOUSLY high price to pay? Anyone have other ideas/suggestions? I was tempted to get TomTom, but I think it would look cheesy in the window!

 

You can do it yourself for less than half

Its not difficult..

JM

 

I'm looking for an E500, and the sales lady showed me one without navi, "but we can install it for $2,000, and I'm sure we can get you a discount." So your estimate sounds about right to me. (Actually, better).

 

FRIENDLY WARNING!!

DO NOT - Repeat - DO NOT waste your money on a MB Nav. They are the
worst Nav in the history of electronics! I have one in my 08 E350. What a
pathetic piece of outdated junk! Note the following about the MB Nav:

1. It doesn’t take you to the exact location .. only the “general area.”
You still have to “find” the exact address you’re looking for when you get
near. (That’s often the hardest part and is lot of fun at night in the rain
when visibility is low.)
2. It’s not Touch Screen so entering destinations is laborious and very
time consuming.
3. Speaking of looks .. MB’s display is dull, drab and boring and hard to
see in the sunlight!
4. MB Nav technology is at least 10 years behind.

I was so disappointed and disgusted with mine (after using GM Navs
like in my C6) that I bought a Garmin 680 Nuvi for about $675
that I attached to the lower windshield. (It has a great suction cup
mechanism.) Yes, I know, some may not like that, and I, too prefer the
larger screen in the dash like my C6 and previous caddies if it’s a good one!

If not, the Nuvi’s wonderful features make it a great substitute with great
features. It’s easy to see and fun to watch! I love driving the E350 and
watching the colorful Nuvi.

It is such a TERRIFIC, AMAZING little piece of equipment:

1. Takes you to the EXACT location!
2. EASY, EASY and FAST for entering destinations.
3. Beautiful 4.3” colorful display with easy to read street names.
4. Excellent clear voice instructions.
5. Gives you traffic reports, weather, gas prices, movie times, nearest
grocery store, restaurant, pharmacy, etc, etc, etc, etc!
6. You can take it in your house to set it for your trip tomorrow, etc.
7. Works with Blue Tooth.

Consumer Reports rates it the highest. Garmin probably makes a full
size unit. I don’t know. If so, and you HAVE to have a built in one, I would
definately get a Garmin or TomTom. Considering what they are talking
about charging you for a pathetic dash installed MB unit, wouldn’t you
agree that an alternative might be in order?

jimm

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‘08 E350 Sport, P2, Black/black, Parktronic,
Voice, Bluetooth, Burl Walnut, Split rear seat,
Wood/leather steering wheel

 

I hope their Nav in the '08 C Class isn't that bad! It seemed ok when we were testing it in the......lot... I'm really looking forward to taking my current nav off the windshield when my C350 arrives...

 

I will confirm that the Garmin (I have Nuvi 370) is excellent. But given the choice the larger screen and built in nature of the MB System are what I use on the cars that have it. I find it easier to set and use the built in than a system stuck up on the windshield. I use the Garmin in a C class wagon and an Audi, neither of which have a nav system. When using the Garmin and parking the car it is advisable to remove it and stash it or take it with you as they are targets for thieves. Its just a bunch of trade offs either way. YMMV.

 

What Jimm says about the display & entering destinations is correct, but:

1: It will get you to within a house or 2 of where you need to be.

2. It gives excellent warning of when to turn in advance and at the moment of turn because it knows exactly where you are (within a smaller area than cheaper units [Honda's]), and has a very fast processor.

3. You have dual displays. One in the head unit, and one in the DIC which shows turns you might mistakenly take as the left you really need when the lefts are very close together.

4. I for one, do not want any clunky device suction cupped to my windshield, with wires draped as they snake their way to the cigarette lighter. I dont worry that some punk will see the mount and know there is a NAV unit "hidden" in the glove compartment which will make a lovely gift for his chick. (Remove the mount & there is still a tell-tale suction cup mount circle on the glass 'till you clean it.)

5. I can get to someplace even without a NAV unit, so to me, having it is the comfort of a companion rather than a co-pilot. If it gets me 2 houses away from a dark house I'm looking for for the 1st time, its close enough, and I have a cell phone, if its a dark and stormy night.) Businesses jump right out at you.

Yeah, the design is old, but so is the 211. It came out in 2003 and was designed in the 2 years before it was released, so the Nav design is 7 years old... a LONG time ago. 7 years ago, only the "Rich and Famous" had Satellite Navigation units in their cars... not mainstream folk. The car has 1 Model Year to go. MB is NOT gonna come out with a newer NAV unit in a car thats ready to pass into history. Especially one that nearly cost them their 100 year old reputation for quality and which they finally got perfected. And in actuality, the electronics are not the worst in the history of electronics. What Jimm doesn't like are the colors on the map, the method of inputting your destination, and the address range of the destination. The Nav Data disc knows what the range of addresses is on your final destination street, so the range offered is always different based on the number of addresses on that block. The address range of the actual houses located on the street is not huge in reality, even if the number range apparently offered on the screen seems to be. Once the destination is entered, the functionality of the unit while in use is superb, therefore the electronics are not sub par, although the GUI (Graphical User Interface or "Look of the Screen") may not be as slick as later NAV designs.

6. "Factory Nav" in this car is neater, built-in, and it is an expensive option. It depends on what you personally want in you car, and what you want to spend on it. (Custom made is always more expensive than "off the rack". The dire warning not to get it as if it is a useless piece of junk is way over the top emotionally. The simple answer is that you can get a newer, more colorfull design at Circuit City or Best Buy... but you can also drive this car with the stock tires/wheels and NOT an AMG or aftermarket wheel & Tire package & save about 2 Grand there. Some people spend big bucks on the AMG Package (Bumpers/Skirts/pipes) on their cars, others get the no cost Sports package, still others get just the basic non sports configuration. Some get a 350, others "need" the 550. Its just a personal choice. I wouldn't scream at you that adding an MB Skirt & Bumper package was a dire mistake and that they are worthless because the standard ones are nice & cheaper.

If all you need is navigation, the aftermarket ones are good enough. (A more colorfull map? ...you listen to the instructions as you drive.) The MB unit works really well. It is NOT a piece of crap... pecking in a destination 1 letter at a time then "Paging Down" is old style, but the unit is built in, not stuck on. I'd say Jimm is one of the very, very, very few who have Factory NAV, but bought a stick on one to use.

Thats all the facts. You decide.

 

I must say I would never paid to install a Nav system in this car if i was not installed at factory. bc the price is not worth it. although $1650 is not a bad price compare to how much it could be. however you will be better off just using a good tomtom for a fraction of the price.

My car has the integrated Nav from factory, and I satisfied with it. it has a large screen. the best part is that if you are drive and lose the satitile reception the car can still navigate you via the car speed and steering wheel input. so it can still keep you on track. I first experience that featured in action when I was driving on a lower level of a bridge which normally my other navs would just display lost sat reception, however this car's kept track of me even with I had to exit to the left. It also works great drive in tunnels. I was amazed at the time, bc I thought the sat reception was the good...lol However I later read the it used the info from the steering wheel and speed to help.

 

Doesn't the kit alone for a 2004+ car cost $1250? The kit with the bracket, DVD drive, wiring, and trim panel? That's what mbdoctor.com lists it for, and I've only heard higher numbers from MB Dealerships.

Given that, $1650 is okay depending on how long all that takes to install.

I don't understand why anyone objects to an "old" navigation system. If the W211 nav is anything like my BMW MKIII CD based nav, it's just fine - gets you to within 2-3 houses of your destination, tells you where to turn, calculates a decent route, and has updated maps (with useful and current points of interest) from NavTech available about twice a year.

Other than a radar detector tucked above and beside the rear view mirror, I don't want anything non integrated stuck to my dash or windshield. I certainly don't want a touch screen anything - fingerprints drive me crazy.

 

I used to have a tomtom system, the software is so much better and up to date. They also have real time traffic updates. I would definatly go with a TomTom if my car didnt already have the nav.

 

I went for the NAV after purchase and am glad I did. Dealer installed just like from the factory for around $2k.

Yes it hurt to pay that bill but I can't feel it now and I do use that nav quite alot.

I personally would never add some stick on after market anything to my MB but yours is not mine... totally up to you.

If you care about how it looks I would bite the bullet and let the dealer install a MB unit. If you care more about cost that's another issue.

I personally am glad I did it. I hear alot about how the MB Nav sucks on the boards but I have never had NAV befor so I have nothing to compare it to. It takes a bit of a learning curve but once you get the hang of it, it works great. Very precise and I love it. I especially like being able to just enter a phone number for a place and it will recognize the location by the #.

I would not oun a $50K vehicle without it?

Good luck on whatever you decide.

 

Untill the XM-Sirius merger goes thru, XM is the one with live traffic to the Nav unit (at an extra monthly fee above the Standard XM fee)

 

I have bought an inexpensive GPS and looks good in my car.
No need to remove it, as it seems so blend in and not on the windshield.

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w211/200131-another-cheap-gps-alternative.html

Now, I actually change from Nuvi 200 to Magellan 3250 (Voice Activate) -$350 only

Instead of typing in. I can simply said....

"magellan" "go home" and it will route me back to my home.

or if I sense traffic or feel like taking another route, I simply go

"magellan" -> "reroute" ->"do not use freeway"


There are many great GPS onsale such as

Nuvi 680 for $479 at Costco
Nuvi 650 for $299 at Costco
Nuvi 750 for $479 at Amazon (new slim line w/out flip antenna)
Nuvi 260 for $300 at Amazon (new slim line w/out flip antenna)
Magellan 3250 $350 (voice activate)
Magellan 4250 $450. (voice activate)

 

Great prices! They’ve come down.

As I said, I would “prefer” a built-in screen .. IF it’s a good unit. And I
guarantee that adding a GOOD aftermarket touch screen built-in, over
the MB “Hunt & Peck,” will INCREASE its resale appeal.

So - if you currently don’t have ANY Nav, I was only suggesting that a
dash/windshield mount unit for a used car might be a practical choice.
And remember you don’t have to have a wire to your cig lighter; they
can be hardwired behind the dash, as I have with my Valentine.

Also I learned from Consumer Reports, there’s a difference in the ease
of attaching and detaching Dash/windshield units, as CR rated the Nuvi
680 the easiest. (And .. there is NO windshield ring when detached.) If
you have it on the Dash of course it is easier yet to unplug and hide or
the rechargeable battery alone lasts 4-5 hours with no plug in.

jimm

==========

‘08 E350 Sport, P2, Black/black, Parktronic,
Voice, Bluetooth, Burl Walnut, Split rear seat,
Wood/leather steering wheel

 

How do you input a number and find a location that way? I have an '08 e350 and I tried doing that and couldn't figure it out.

 

I think he has an M-class. Does it use a different system?

 

I think you’re right. The ‘08 E-350 also doesn’t do phone
numbers. Phone number entry is “really” fast and easy!

My 2 year old C6 has it as does almost every other car.

jimm

 

Can't do it by Phone Number in an E.

 

True. And, as well as I like my Garmin Nuvi 680, you can’t do it on
it either.

But, you CAN do it with GM Navs. And, I know Lexus does.

And, there is no better, simpler and faster way to enter an address
than to just type in a phone number! I LOVE phone number entries!
(One unfortunate draw back .. it only works with business phones.)

Hopefully this will become a MUST with ALL Nav makes soon.

jimm