Polar Bear

I am still getting some weird issues with the audio devices sending current information to the instrument cluster with the 46/06 update. For example, I can be listening to the iPod with the iPod integration kit, and change to the FM radio - I hear the radio through the speakers and the COMAND works fine and displays the tuner information, frequency, etc., however the IC still shows the iPod screen and that an iPod song is playing. When I use the steering wheel controls to change the radio station, the station changes as expected on the COMAND, however the iPod song also changes (but since the radio is playing I cannot hear the iPod change songs). This also is very obvious when tuning FM or AM stations - it will not update the frequency while changing stations. For example, if I am listening to 88.1FM and tune up, the next station may be 88.7FM - the IC will continue to show 88.1FM for some time (usually 2-3 minutes).

Two things seem to affect this behavior
1 - If I power cycle the COMAND, it will refresh the IC display to what is should be. This is obviously inconvenient and is not a solution.
2 - If I am currently using the navigation to route to a destination, EVERYTHING works fine. I have no idea why this is. Radio stations update in real time on the IC, etc. Does not make sense.

I don't know if this is an IC issue, AGW issue, or what. I don't know any way without an SDS to check/update the software on the AGW. The cluster is running software 18/04. Can someone else post their IC software version and their results after the upgrade? Another forum member suggested it is the IC version/part number. Not sure if it is a hardware revision or a software update...

To check the IC software version, turn the key on ACC (the SRS light should be the only light illuminated and this will NOT work with the engine running or if the key is in the RUN position) and select the menu in the cluster that displays the temp/speed/service, etc (will not work while displaying the audio, nav, phone, fuel, settings, or message menu). When you see "0 mph" showing on the cluster, tap the trip reset button three times fast. When you do this the cluster will beep. Use the arrows to scroll to the IC version, which will show the hardware and software numbers of the cluster.

You can also get a real time reading of the battery voltage (I find handy) as well as your VIN and Dyno mode (completely disables ABS and ESP). You can also get to the service menu here. I would discourage doing anything in the service menu and Dyno mode unless you know what you are doing.

Thanks

DerekACS

Having just completed a 6500 km trip down from Vancouver to the Southwest and return via San Francisco, I can only offer my appreciation for the excellent NAV system aboard my 2008 Bluetec.

Each time we programmed a daily destination with the exact street address, the female "uber" navigator got us to our correct destination. Our journey took us through eight states, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and California. When a course change was required, she would announce it with a 2 km warning, followed by precise instructions for maintaining our correct route. Through the tangled freeways of Oakland/San Francisco, she managed to make this portion of our journey stress free and faultless.

Although the current E Class NAV system is not voice activated (at least not in Canadian spec cars), the system is easy to us. As I have found, it will certainly guide you to any destination in the American Northwest or Southwest regions without any difficulty.

For those of you interested in fuel pricing, during my recent trip, the price of
No.2 diesel varied from a low of $4.69 to a high of $5.19 ( in California). In every fuel stop that we made, diesel sold for more than premium gas . This is not the case in Canada where diesel sells for about the same price as regular gas. I wonder why the American oil companies are screwing their diesel customers in the USA ???

konigstiger

Greed!

ss3964spd

Sounds potentially like fun, Bear, thanks.

Do you know if disabling ABS and ESP also disables traction control? I would think so, because TC uses the ABS sensors.

IMHO, the TC on these cars is a little agressive.

Dan

Polar Bear

Yes - it completely disables traction control. Keep in mind you could damage your rear differential if you have too much fun.

Diesel Benz

I don't know where you came to this dyno mode discussion. I would strongly encourage you to avoid using dyno mode anywhere on public roads. If you find traction control too sensitive, at most use the ESP off button in the car but even better if you just learn to use the gas pedal properly, it also gives the best acceleration results then.

Polar Bear

...from getting the software version from the IC to see if it relates to the delay in the IC audio data updating.

I am trying to determine if the IC software can be updated or needs to be replaced.

ss3964spd

PB - yup, understood. I don't know if the design of the rear suspension leads to axle hop if one were to "light 'em up", but I do know the potential damage caused by axle hop if it occurs, particuarly if you're not bright enough to get out of the throttle if it happens.

DB, I appreciate your comments but I have no intention of motoring about on a regular basis with the systems disabled. I do, however, quite enjoy knowing exactly what the car is capable of, but the electronic nanny's make it all but impossible to explore those limits. I don't recall off the top of my head, but I think the dash mounted ESP switch only changes the point where the electronics step in; it doesn't disable them all together. I am reasonably well versed in proper throttle and brake modulation techniques (although SBS seriously hampers ones ability to feel what the brakes are doing).

Opps, apologies for the thread jacking.

Regards,

Dan

Diesel Benz

I'm not aware of the IC SW being readable without Star. The W221 does show SW/HW info for quite a few units from the hidden service menu but I haven't compared these with the actual SW data files to figure out what each line actually means.

Polar Bear

This is a sample of what shows up on the W211.

Polar Bear

In the owners manual it warns against excessive wheelspin mainly due to the clutches in the rear differential being damaged when spinning occurs. When you press the ESP button on the console to disable it, what it essentially does is turns off the torque reduction feature of ESP. Normally if you crank your steering wheel all the way to one side and hammer it from a stop, the car will intervene and will not allow you to slide sideways, even in the rain. If you turn off the ESP, it will not reduce the engine power but the will still apply the brakes to attempt to reduce wheelspin and you will slide sideways.

Most Mercedes vehicles that I have had experience with do not have a positraction differential, so if the right rear wheel is spinning more than the left, the car will apply the brakes to the right wheel to transfer the power to the left wheel, creating a positraction effect.

I personally would not do this to my car - it seems that many W211 E55 owners disable it at the track and have good results, but to me it is not worth it.

Regarding acceleration times - I have wondered if the W211 CDI 0-60 times published by Mercedes-Benz was achieved flat-footing the accelerator or building boost and launching... That's something I haven't done either in mine is build boost and try to hard launch. Had enough of that in my Buick Grand National days although I am curious as to how the CDI reacts to it. The Merc is for comfort and longevity so I don't "play" with it like other cars I've owned.

konigstiger

DTB recommends updating AGW software with SDS. Check your email.

ss3964spd

Agreed, the Merc is definately not my "toy" (I have a roller cammed, 489 CI equipped vehicle for hammering on. Being an ex GN guy, you can relate). Indeed, I drive the 500 like a geezer most of the time. On there rare occasion I flat floor it the car leaps, spins the tire(s) a little, then ESP gets testy and the car falls on it's face a bit before the electronics find the right balance. Truth be told I've not done much exploring with ESP "off".

Thanks for your insights.

Dan

soothbay

Does anyone know how to input the exact address on a 2007 or 2008 E class? Also, is it possible to display street names on the map other than when you are zoomed in all of the way?

bokhan

thank you for the informative writeup.

msdbenz

MY 2006 CLS 500 COMAND UNIT SAYS SOFTWARE UPDATE ON THE SCREEN AND IT STAYS ON AND NONE OF THE BUTTON WORKS CAN SOME ONE PLEASE HELP ME ON WHAT TO DO ?????????????????????????? PLEASEEEEEEEEEEE,, I'M WELLING TO PAY ANYONE THAT CAN HELP ME ??

Melba4599

Also Polar Bear, I like your movie screen at the end of the post... how do you do that?

Kropf

I'm just beginning to learn about COMAND, but have you checked to see if there is an update disc residing in the Navigation head unit.

AMGAffalterbach

Sorry to hijack the thread but since we are on the topic of COMAND, I have a 2007 E550 as well and I was wondering if there is any way to update the system to the circa 2009 Mercedes COMAND system that has the tan/black color scheme and different bands that you can select? Is that possible or does it require a new headunit or different hardware? Thanks.

Barry45RPM

Its a completely different system in the car and will cost thousands to install all of the various hardware around the car. The head unit face just looks the same so it would fit the interior of the car & dash.

AMGAffalterbach

That's what I thought... too bad it's no so simple, but I guess that same year they introduced a new way to interface with the device so it makes sense that you would need all of the additional hardware. Darn.

my30lofa

I have the same problem could you please inform me how solve it?

my30lofa

my care W211-350-2006-USA

Polar Bear

I know this is an old post, but it seems some of the version numbers are related to the font used, the applications in the cluster, and a few other things. One odd thing is that the H/W number appears to change on the W221 when the software is updated. I would thing the H/W would refer to the memory and processors in the cluster and remain static.