Does anyone know if I can replace my COMAND unit with a used one? I know Mercedes will most likely need to program it. But if you guys take a look at the price of a new one below, it’s insane to pay $5000 for one from the dealership to have it installed.

 

You should be able to replace it with a used one without issue.

 

Alright, so I called 3 different dealerships and they all said you have to buy a new one. Once they’re added to the car by VIN they’re married for life. It’s supposed to be some type of security thing with Mercedes.

The head unit was working but was broken by Mercedes Benz of Manchester NH, and they obviously know they screwed but so they’re not willing to fix it. They even kicked me out of the dealership and said not to come back.

so I plan on trading the car in. It’s unfortunate because I still owe a lot and I’m going to be upside. Just goes to show that these cars aren’t for people who don’t have any money to waste when something breaks (me)

 

get the android screen for like $800. Huge upgrade

 

can’t, it wouldn’t work. COMAND has to work in order for that to function

 

Those added on screens look horrible in the W212 anyway.. I would never consider that an option.

If the COMAND unit is married to the car for life, why are there so many for sale used? I would get a second and third opinion from someone NOT affiliated with a dealership.

 

The place I went to here locally is probably one of the best car garages around in New England. They specialize in Mercedes, Porsches, Lambos, etc. They have the star computer and even they said they would need a new unit from Mercedes.

 

I read your message as you had called three different dealerships - which all will give the same line. They are part swappers.

I did realize that the easy swap stuff I mentioned was with the older cars. I wasn't able to really find much about COMAND failures on these newer cars but I do still find it hard to believe that a $5000 dealer repair is the only option for something like this.

Maybe MBWorld lead guru @konigstiger can confirm one way or the other before you commit to trading.

 

Looks are subjective. Alot of newer Mercedes come with this style screen. Not to mention all the goodies this unit brings

 

You're right, looks are deceptive. The Amazon Kindle Fire tablet velcroed to the dash look is exactly the main reason that I don't drive a newer E-Class or C-Class. I hate the look.

My indy shop has looked for "used" Mercedes parts, so there's a network out there.

You don't say what year car you have, but if the Comand screen works but the control unit is dead, I would entertain this Comand 4.7 controller replacement (with all the upgraded features) before I would tack a tablet to my dash...

 

FWIW, that unit still requires a working Comand unit.

 

I have driven several new Mercedes loaner cars and not a single one has a large screen stuck on the dash in front of a non-working small screen. This is the automotive equivalent of placing your working TV atop your broken TV. The new ones all do have this sort of tablet-stuck-on look, but the interiors were designed for that. The W212 is decidedly not and it looks ridiculous but that's my opinion and you are entitled to yours and to do whatever floats your boat with your car.

I think OP has a 2014. He's planning to trade it due to it needing a $5000 repair. Surely it cannot be the only option to pay the dealer $5000 for a new COMAND unit.

 

FWIW, used ones are available but you will need to enter a PIN number for your VIN as this is how the Comand unit is married to the car.

Some sellers offer the PIN with the sale or you'll have to visit a dealer and pay for a PIN to be generated.

 

velcroed thats cute, enjoy your small dated screens while i watch youtube with a touch screen. FYI newer Eclass come with the screen molded on to the dash

 

Who said in front of a non working screen? This unit replaces the small dated screen, i updated my interior in several areas, it looks right at home

 

So you think a bunch of Benz enthusiasts have no idea what a W213 looks like? Plenty of us prefer the W212's more conservative/classic interior instead (including myself). Some people, on the other hand, automatically assume bigger = better. I have a TV inside my house, no need to watch anything - youtube or otherwise - in the car.

Your car, your money, your opinion. I think it looks dumb and that's why I do not recommend it to fellow members at any cost. That's not an insult to you personally.

 

the other guy that posted before aparently doesn't. He said his reasoning for not getting a new Eclass or C class was because they have a screen velcroed onto the dash. Meanwhile the new E class has the sceeen molded in same as the w212 just bigger. It's not just about watching youtube. Having a touch screen with apple car play/android auto, custom mercedes startup logo, custom wallpaper you can put, built in HUD etc. I prefer the w212 interior myself except for the small oem screen

 

I didn't stutter.

The tablet style looks like an afterthought, velcroed or not. Something tacked on without integration with the rest of the car. I can get a C-Class if I wanted that FUGLY look.

The screen size on my W212 is perfectly fine for my needs, including Android Auto/ACP. And, it's recessed in the dash so the screen is shaded most of the time. The tacked on tablet is not shaded.

My opinion. Deal...

 

Glad you like your dated screen, some of us like big boy things. The screen does not get any glare i had that concern and was never an issue. The recessed is actually worse for visibility. It's farther from your eyes

 

Hi buddy! Just wondering if you end up can replace with a second hand head unit and get it reprogram by Mercedes dealership? If 1 unit only can install for 1 car why eBay selling many used item.
I’m having same problem with my 2017 c250 unit and was thinking worst scenario I’m gonna replace with a used one but this post make me worry.



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What's up boss! No.. I ended up selling the call via private sale. I went to Mercedes where i live and they quoted me $5,000 for the labor, for the COMAND unit, and for a new AMP that they might of thought could fix it. I really wish I just took the car to another bigger and better dealership but the MB of Manchester in NH didn't know what they were doing.. The guy who bought the car ended up taking it to MB of Burlington Massachusetts and he only ended up paying like $1400 for a new AMP and some change for labor to code it.

If you need a new COMAND unit though, they are expensive new, but you can also find a used one and have Mercedes program it in for you. Unsure of the costs, but I can't see it being under $450 for labor.

I've since bought the W212 2019 and I haven't had nearly as many problems with the media interface as I've had with my W212. So knock on wood, it stays this way! Cheers.

 

I wonder...has anyone actually attempted to put a Carplay unit (of the type that interposes itself between the COMAND unit and the screen) into a car with a partially/completely broken/dead COMAND? This may not be applicable to the OP's situation but it may be for earlier W212's with 4.5/4.7.

THEORETICALLY, it could be made to work...AFAIK, the Carplay box picks off (and may "eat") the data signals from the CANBUS involving the console knob/buttons and steering wheel buttons...and then it switches the video over the CARPLAY unit. The only function of the COMAND might be to provide switched power at that point. This is all theoretical, but it would be interesting for someone to try. It MAY be that power could be provided to the CARPLAY box via alternative means. How the amplifier might work under these conditions, I can only guess.

It may be that a Carplay box could be made to work with special firmware and special cabling.

 

What's up boss! No.. I ended up selling the call via private sale. I went to Mercedes where i live and they quoted me $5,000 for the labor, for the COMAND unit, and for a new AMP that they might of thought could fix it. I really wish I just took the car to another bigger and better dealership but the MB of Manchester in NH didn't know what they were doing.. The guy who bought the car ended up taking it to MB of Burlington Massachusetts and he only ended up paying like $1400 for a new AMP and some change for labor to code it.

If you need a new COMAND unit though, they are expensive new, but you can also find a used one and have Mercedes program it in for you. Unsure of the costs, but I can't see it being under $450 for labor.

I've since bought the W212 2019 and I haven't had nearly as many problems with the media interface as I've had with my W212. So knock on wood, it stays this way! Cheers.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the information man, at least now I know if they ask me to buy a brand new unit with a ridiculous price I will tell them to **** off.
Gonna take my car to MB dealership for a diagnostic in few days and hope they can just revise the unit software. Will post the resolution and result so that if anyone in the future has the same problem know roughly what to do.

 

We all have varying opinions of screen sizes and placement, but I must say that Apple Carplay makes extremely good use of the available screen (in my Carplay-box equipped 2013 E350 with the "bigger" nav screen), and does a lot of behind-the scenes work to zoom in and out at appropriate moments. I thought that the size would be crippling at first but it's very good, and the voice control makes up for a lot of the no-touchscreen shortcomings. Of course, you are at the mercy of how well any non-Apple app is written (Audacy's latest version is pretty good for voice control, XM radio's app on Carplay was, and is, unforgivable doggie dirt, voice control or not).

 

Thanks for the information man, at least now I know if they ask me to buy a brand new unit with a ridiculous price I will tell them to **** off.
Gonna take my car to MB dealership for a diagnostic in few days and hope they can just revise the unit software. Will post the resolution and result so that if anyone in the future has the same problem know roughly what to do.[/QUOTE]

I don’t believe your COMAND unit is actually dead or broken. Might just be something else on the fiber ring. Your AMP breaks? COMAND unit won’t work. Your emergency satellite box breaks? Your COMAND unit won’t work (at least for sound). This is because all of those devices are in an optical loop.

I would bring it to them and say you only want them to diagnose it for 1 hour only. Update you on what they find, and then if they say it might be the COMAND unit have them update it and or have them test the fiber.

good luck!