craigng

As promised ... these are shots of the screen on Australian-spec cars.

As you know, on Australian-spec cars, E320 and above gets the COMAND system as standard. Until it is available (and retrofitted for free by dealer), MB Australia has supplied APS 50 with NAV for the cars ... except that the disk that comes with the car is an Euro disk :-(

The following shots show the screen off, and then on with a German address entered, followed by directions (both on the display in the centre console, and on the multi-function display in the instruments).

Cheers
Craig

craigng

now with system turned on ...

craigng

with address entered ...

craigng

all system go now ...

craigng

here comes the direction, but alas, we are off the map!!

craigng

and on the multi-function display on the instruments ...

craigng

this is the simple electronic compass that comes on when the NAV system is turned off ...

bmms8

hey nice pics, thats cool that you can see the map in the gauges, thanks

abhansali

Why is this not available in the US in the interim until the COMAND DVD is ready?

drb

Certainly better than nothing...although I would not want to pay $1650 for this version....

Callaway

There was talk of making this system active for Australia and possibly other countries as a substitute to COMAND II.

I heard that at the Melbourne Motor Show from a MB Australia sales guy but it was decided that it was too hard so they are concerntrating on getting the new system up and running instead.

craigng

Hi Callaway

I must admit I have always wondered why they haven't done so, at least in the interim until the COMAND system arrives.

I am tempted to find a current MB driver who has CD-ROM-based nav system - with an Australian map disk - and put the disk in the APS 50 to see if it works???

Mellow

Same system we get in kuwait for about 1500$, not that anyone cares though, country is too small for Nav to be of any use so most people opt out, only prob is you cant order logic 7 without it , hence why were settling for aps 20

Felix

last week i saw the first DVD-command in the new E 320 T (estate). it looks that, and works great.

jim256

Felix: Thank you for the pictures. Could you answer a question, as well? Was the E sedan initially offered in Germany with the promise to install the Command system at a future date for a set price? Here, the "retail" price was $2125 US but the option was initially offered for $1625 for later installation (retrofit). Have past delivered customers in Germany been promised navigation will be installed? Thank you.

Felix

@jim256:
i heard something about that, but donīt know the exact price. i will try to find it out next week. we have A LOT of customers who wants to change their APS 50 with the Command-system.

i think this switching-procedure will be a great theme in the near future.

norbury

I have the APS 50 system with the European CD that is useless in New Zealand. The screen displays are similar to craigng's pictures but interestingly, some of the items are on different places on the display. There must be minor differences between the software released with the system in Australia and New Zealand.

What we need, at the very least, is a Nav CD that works in Aust/NZ and/or the availability of a retrofit upgrade to the COMAND system. I understand that some other vehice makes (Toyota/Lexus and BMW) offer Nav systems with their vehicles that work here.

craigng

Hey Felix - that's very cool! First time I've seen it in a real car, as opposed to pictures in brochure!

Do you know whether MB is installing this system in new sedans now? I heard that Mar 2003 production sedans will have the COMAND system installed.

Craig