09 COMAND unit, that much better?
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GT3, GTR, 570S
09 COMAND unit, that much better?
is the new unit and nav that much better? is it finally up to par with the competitors? are the graphics better also? what do you find are the biggest improvements. thanks
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Orange County, CA
E350
It's a significant improvement over the pre-'09's, but the user-friendliness still fall short of the 2010's (the ones that use the "knob").
IMO the '09 E-Class COMMAND is a very worthy upgrade. The menus are more logical and user-friendly... although it still could be improved, as some functions are still pretty tedious (such as manually entering an address book entry, or GPS address). The improved Voice Command system helps with this somewhat though (at least for GPS entries). The graphics are significantly better (basically on-par with the 2010 COMMAND in other MB, and with other cars like Lexus). The 6-Disc Changer is now from the console slot (instead of a separate unit behind a flip-up door). The U.S. version of '09 E-Class COMMAND can now play DVD audio (and video when parked... video quality is good). MP3's can be transferred to the built-in HDD. There's also a built-in SD Card slot to play various music/video files from (although it's limited to NON-SDHC SD Cards... which means 2GB MAX for most manufacturers, 4GB for Transcend and a couple others). Bluetooth connectivity to cell phones and MP3/audio devices is now standard (before users needed to buy a separate bluetooth "puck" or "cradle" for their cell phone). There are also some feature upgrades as well (such as the ability to manually input numbers/addresses in your system's phone/address book, instead of NOT having that option and 100% relying on compatible cell phones to download your phone book for you... which ONLY will happen with certain compatible phones to the bluetooth puck/cradle, otherwise you're out of luck!).
The non-E-Class 2009-2010 COMMAND systems in the new MB's are even better, as they have the "knob" for easier and faster navigation (instead of using the up, down, left, right arrows for everything). They also have a few more minor feature upgrades, depending on the vehicle and model (for example, the new C-Classes have a small icon at the bottom of the GPS Navigation Screen that tells you how many lanes there are, and which direction each lane can go at the upcoming intersection... the '09 E-Class NAV system doesn't have this feature). But aside from these differences, the '09 E-Class COMMAND system and the newer non-E-Class 2009-2010 COMMAND systems seems pretty similar.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: US
W204 C63
It's a significant improvement over the pre-'09's, but the user-friendliness still fall short of the 2010's (the ones that use the "knob").
The non-E-Class 2009-2010 COMMAND systems in the new MB's are even better, as they have the "knob" for easier and faster navigation (instead of using the up, down, left, right arrows for everything). They also have a few more minor feature upgrades, depending on the vehicle and model (for example, the new C-Classes have a small icon at the bottom of the GPS Navigation Screen that tells you how many lanes there are, and which direction each lane can go at the upcoming intersection... the '09 E-Class NAV system doesn't have this feature). But aside from these differences, the '09 E-Class COMMAND system and the newer non-E-Class 2009-2010 COMMAND systems seems pretty similar.
The non-E-Class 2009-2010 COMMAND systems in the new MB's are even better, as they have the "knob" for easier and faster navigation (instead of using the up, down, left, right arrows for everything). They also have a few more minor feature upgrades, depending on the vehicle and model (for example, the new C-Classes have a small icon at the bottom of the GPS Navigation Screen that tells you how many lanes there are, and which direction each lane can go at the upcoming intersection... the '09 E-Class NAV system doesn't have this feature). But aside from these differences, the '09 E-Class COMMAND system and the newer non-E-Class 2009-2010 COMMAND systems seems pretty similar.
To the OP, the difference between the previous COMAND and the one in my car is HUGE. Couldn't be happier, highly recommended
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Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Orange County, CA
E350
How did you activate this feature on yours? Is it only the U.S. versions that don't have this feature (even though the U.S. 2009 C-Classes do?)
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From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
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Chokaay, read the separate COMAND manual; I realize it's as thick as a book, but there's a lot of good stuff in there.
Voice recognition is so much better now, too. It literally means a hands-off system for the most part.
p.s., You can shut off the radio/CD player (rather than just muting it) and not shut off COMAND all together by going thru voice control and saying "audio off." COMAND stays on (Nav, etc..) but the radio actually shuts off. This will also shut off your CD (and iPod) so you won't miss any tracks (whereas with mute, it keeps on playing.)
Last edited by 220S; Jul 9, 2009 at 06:57 PM.
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Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 518
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From: Orange County, CA
E350
+1
Chokaay, read the separate COMAND manual; I realize it's as thick as a book, but there's a lot of good stuff in there.
Voice recognition is so much better now, too. It literally means a hands-off system for the most part.
p.s., You can shut off the radio/CD player (rather than just muting it) and not shut off COMAND all together by going thru voice control and saying "audio off." COMAND stays on (Nav, etc..) but the radio actually shuts off. This will also shut off your CD (and iPod) so you won't miss any tracks (whereas with mute, it keeps on playing.)
Chokaay, read the separate COMAND manual; I realize it's as thick as a book, but there's a lot of good stuff in there.
Voice recognition is so much better now, too. It literally means a hands-off system for the most part.
p.s., You can shut off the radio/CD player (rather than just muting it) and not shut off COMAND all together by going thru voice control and saying "audio off." COMAND stays on (Nav, etc..) but the radio actually shuts off. This will also shut off your CD (and iPod) so you won't miss any tracks (whereas with mute, it keeps on playing.)
Wow... I'm going to have to figure out how to enable that setting then, since I guess it's not on by default in either of my 2009 E350's! Thanks for the tip!
And thanks for the tip about shutting off audio without shutting off the whole command system! I didn't know about that either!
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From: Ann Arbor, MI
2007 E350 4MATIC
07' COMAND manual help needed please
Anyone know where I can get .pdf of the 07' manual for the COMAND unit? I've looked everywhere online. And I didn't get one with my 07' when I bought it CPO. Thx.
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E63
My '09 E63 has the lane guidance too.
One of my gripes about the '09 COMAND is the iPod connector does NOT charge my iPod. How silly is that? The other is entering addresses is a pain. And the phone won't recognize the address book out of a 2-year-old razr V3xx. Ho hum.
Heinrich Gerhardt
One of my gripes about the '09 COMAND is the iPod connector does NOT charge my iPod. How silly is that? The other is entering addresses is a pain. And the phone won't recognize the address book out of a 2-year-old razr V3xx. Ho hum.
Heinrich Gerhardt
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From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
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http://www.mercupgrades.com/manuals/...Y08-manual.pdf
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
If you switch your telematics from TeleAid to MBrace, supposedly you can send a destination from Google Maps into your Nav unit using MBrace on E Class NAV units of all years 2004 > without having to peck it in letter by letter.
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fwiw, you can do it with TeleAid on the 2009 COMAND. I tried it several months ago. It's okay I suppose if you are doing a trip somewhere way off the beaten path. But otherwise using VC is even easier if you want to eliminate having to peck in the letters.
