Latest version of command?
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 3
Likes: 3
W213 E63S
COMAND 06.8
At this point, I wouldn’t be able to tell you exactly what have changed. When picked up the car from the dealership they’ve mentioned that the update will change the sound tuning and should fix the pixilated CarPlay issue (I didn’t have that problem). I am not exactly sure if those changes happened in the previous updates. I have seem to have missed many lol
Update seems to have solved many issues I had with Apple CarPlay.
Just out of curiosity, is there a change log I can have a look at where it shows the fixes and changes in previous versions?
Member
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 109
Likes: 15
E300
I got it finally updated from 0.61 to 6.80 yesterday. The dealer charged 90 USD for this update on labor. I think it is not unfair - they could have done for free with my other warranty work (gasoline smell inside cabin).
Anyway, I did NOT notice any significant speed difference in operations, infact these are my comments:
(a) I now started seeing the "working / spinning icon" everywhere, and I can live with it.
(b) I hate the fact that the speed alert can be now set only upto 5mph above the speed limit on the road. Previously I had set it for 10mph. I hate it (the fact that system forces this setting on me)
(c) Sound - others said there is improvement. But wait, I hear more clicks and pops now on my old 80s and 70s songs. Previously the system used to do some audio normalization i guess which is now taken out.
(d) Ambient lighting - i see the menu has improved, however, it is old wine in new bottle. Functions the same!! no discrete settings for lights.. mine is a 2017 one so may be thats the reason
(e) Navigation - what did they do!! the night mode is crazy bad in graphics now!! highly pixelated! Day mode is clean... and 1000mile zoom out is useless!
Plus points:
(a) Interface looks larger
(b) I sense a more smoother ride now, the dampening if any by the shocks are nice.. i use a 19" RFT.. this is a major plus point for me
(c) tight - i like the tight steering (i think it is programatically adjusted)
(d) Consumption window - gives the mpg on blue colors, looks nicer
(e) engine data screen looks nicer (i'd have loved to have the speedo as well but they missed it)
All settings were reset. I did not back up, but purposely, because I like to spend some time in creating the profiles again...
Anyway, I did NOT notice any significant speed difference in operations, infact these are my comments:
(a) I now started seeing the "working / spinning icon" everywhere, and I can live with it.
(b) I hate the fact that the speed alert can be now set only upto 5mph above the speed limit on the road. Previously I had set it for 10mph. I hate it (the fact that system forces this setting on me)
(c) Sound - others said there is improvement. But wait, I hear more clicks and pops now on my old 80s and 70s songs. Previously the system used to do some audio normalization i guess which is now taken out.
(d) Ambient lighting - i see the menu has improved, however, it is old wine in new bottle. Functions the same!! no discrete settings for lights.. mine is a 2017 one so may be thats the reason
(e) Navigation - what did they do!! the night mode is crazy bad in graphics now!! highly pixelated! Day mode is clean... and 1000mile zoom out is useless!
Plus points:
(a) Interface looks larger
(b) I sense a more smoother ride now, the dampening if any by the shocks are nice.. i use a 19" RFT.. this is a major plus point for me
(c) tight - i like the tight steering (i think it is programatically adjusted)
(d) Consumption window - gives the mpg on blue colors, looks nicer
(e) engine data screen looks nicer (i'd have loved to have the speedo as well but they missed it)
All settings were reset. I did not back up, but purposely, because I like to spend some time in creating the profiles again...
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 25
Likes: 5
2017 e300
Update for all that have been following this thread as diligently as myself.
1/28/2022 Indiana, USA dealership $179 USD for NTG update, he tried to tell me that my vehicle would likely not need an update. He told me this after I quoted him the firmware version I have -- 00.59.03.20-- vs. what I last saw here in this thread --06.80.00.40! Unreal!!!! Pricing isn't an issue. It's the bull headed attitude. In business if a customer, client or potential client wants to pay me to do something I usually will. Of course I would let them know my trepidations and concerns. Whether it will work or not! Payment accepted, thank you. Let's try it out. Buuuuuuuuuut NOOOOOOO. I hope this isn't the case world wide with dealerships. I also learned from an extremely reputable local MB specialist, John. He's worked as an MB Dealership tech for over 20 years... including MB of Manhattan, NY, MB of Greenwhich, CT and MB of Fairfield, CT. Anyhow, even with the Xentry system he cannot update the NTG software. It must be done at a dealership nowadays.
Oh.... map updates at my local MB of Indianapolis, IN, USA When he stated $680 USD for the installation and software, I thought he was under the impression that my car did not have Navigation currently installed. MAAAAAAAN, I was wrong. $680 USD ( $499 for the software purchase + $180 USD installation cost)
I'll now step off my soap box. I did set up an appointment to update Command software. I'll let you know how it goes! Best of luck to you all
1/28/2022 Indiana, USA dealership $179 USD for NTG update, he tried to tell me that my vehicle would likely not need an update. He told me this after I quoted him the firmware version I have -- 00.59.03.20-- vs. what I last saw here in this thread --06.80.00.40! Unreal!!!! Pricing isn't an issue. It's the bull headed attitude. In business if a customer, client or potential client wants to pay me to do something I usually will. Of course I would let them know my trepidations and concerns. Whether it will work or not! Payment accepted, thank you. Let's try it out. Buuuuuuuuuut NOOOOOOO. I hope this isn't the case world wide with dealerships. I also learned from an extremely reputable local MB specialist, John. He's worked as an MB Dealership tech for over 20 years... including MB of Manhattan, NY, MB of Greenwhich, CT and MB of Fairfield, CT. Anyhow, even with the Xentry system he cannot update the NTG software. It must be done at a dealership nowadays.
Oh.... map updates at my local MB of Indianapolis, IN, USA When he stated $680 USD for the installation and software, I thought he was under the impression that my car did not have Navigation currently installed. MAAAAAAAN, I was wrong. $680 USD ( $499 for the software purchase + $180 USD installation cost)
I'll now step off my soap box. I did set up an appointment to update Command software. I'll let you know how it goes! Best of luck to you all
Member
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 109
Likes: 15
E300
What I really really hate is every dealer has their own whims and fancy's about charging a customer for these updates after end of warranty. This is wrong. It is merely a software update. Get 30 minutes of labour, or get 1 hour. But be consistent. This puts customer unfriendliness. Mercedes needs to do something about all its dealer network - the EV storm is setting up right, well and it will take these smaller dealer networks down in my view when manufacturer directly touches the customer.
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MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,694
Likes: 6,422
Update for all that have been following this thread as diligently as myself.
1/28/2022 Indiana, USA dealership $179 USD for NTG update, he tried to tell me that my vehicle would likely not need an update. He told me this after I quoted him the firmware version I have -- 00.59.03.20-- vs. what I last saw here in this thread --06.80.00.40! Unreal!!!! Pricing isn't an issue. It's the bull headed attitude. In business if a customer, client or potential client wants to pay me to do something I usually will. Of course I would let them know my trepidations and concerns. Whether it will work or not! Payment accepted, thank you. Let's try it out. Buuuuuuuuuut NOOOOOOO. I hope this isn't the case world wide with dealerships. I also learned from an extremely reputable local MB specialist, John. He's worked as an MB Dealership tech for over 20 years... including MB of Manhattan, NY, MB of Greenwhich, CT and MB of Fairfield, CT. Anyhow, even with the Xentry system he cannot update the NTG software. It must be done at a dealership nowadays.
Oh.... map updates at my local MB of Indianapolis, IN, USA When he stated $680 USD for the installation and software, I thought he was under the impression that my car did not have Navigation currently installed. MAAAAAAAN, I was wrong. $680 USD ( $499 for the software purchase + $180 USD installation cost)
I'll now step off my soap box. I did set up an appointment to update Command software. I'll let you know how it goes! Best of luck to you all
1/28/2022 Indiana, USA dealership $179 USD for NTG update, he tried to tell me that my vehicle would likely not need an update. He told me this after I quoted him the firmware version I have -- 00.59.03.20-- vs. what I last saw here in this thread --06.80.00.40! Unreal!!!! Pricing isn't an issue. It's the bull headed attitude. In business if a customer, client or potential client wants to pay me to do something I usually will. Of course I would let them know my trepidations and concerns. Whether it will work or not! Payment accepted, thank you. Let's try it out. Buuuuuuuuuut NOOOOOOO. I hope this isn't the case world wide with dealerships. I also learned from an extremely reputable local MB specialist, John. He's worked as an MB Dealership tech for over 20 years... including MB of Manhattan, NY, MB of Greenwhich, CT and MB of Fairfield, CT. Anyhow, even with the Xentry system he cannot update the NTG software. It must be done at a dealership nowadays.
Oh.... map updates at my local MB of Indianapolis, IN, USA When he stated $680 USD for the installation and software, I thought he was under the impression that my car did not have Navigation currently installed. MAAAAAAAN, I was wrong. $680 USD ( $499 for the software purchase + $180 USD installation cost)
I'll now step off my soap box. I did set up an appointment to update Command software. I'll let you know how it goes! Best of luck to you all
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 1,057
From: USA
N/A
Sorry to hear about all this and that is not reassuring. I am genuinely curious what tools that the dealership has that shops with Xentry access don't which is preventing them from completing simple things like a map update? I thought Xentry is already low-level access to MB vehicles' systems and there is nothing lower than that when it comes to diagnostics. I am not talking about proprietary stuff that only MBAG themselves (even dealerships don't have) but the basic things like those that communicate with modules to complete software updates.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 1,057
From: USA
N/A
Some info is here. Starting with the refreshed E-Class released a while ago, the process became a bit more secure.
As of the 06/2020 data release, a prompt to enter a personalised user name and password will appear when accessing the new E-Class and S-Class. It is not possible to diagnose these vehicles without entering this information. This means that these vehicles can no longer be repaired/diagnosed without diagnosis access authorisation. Every user must go through an identification process in order to acquire the corresponding user rights for the facelift of the E-Class and subsequent models. Please note that it is no longer possible to diagnose these model series with a XENTRY Diagnosis Kit 2. You will need a XENTRY Diagnosis Kit 3 as a minimum.
As of the 06/2020 data release, a prompt to enter a personalised user name and password will appear when accessing the new E-Class and S-Class. It is not possible to diagnose these vehicles without entering this information. This means that these vehicles can no longer be repaired/diagnosed without diagnosis access authorisation. Every user must go through an identification process in order to acquire the corresponding user rights for the facelift of the E-Class and subsequent models. Please note that it is no longer possible to diagnose these model series with a XENTRY Diagnosis Kit 2. You will need a XENTRY Diagnosis Kit 3 as a minimum.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,694
Likes: 6,422
Some info is here. Starting with the refreshed E-Class released a while ago, the process became a bit more secure.
As of the 06/2020 data release, a prompt to enter a personalised user name and password will appear when accessing the new E-Class and S-Class. It is not possible to diagnose these vehicles without entering this information. This means that these vehicles can no longer be repaired/diagnosed without diagnosis access authorisation. Every user must go through an identification process in order to acquire the corresponding user rights for the facelift of the E-Class and subsequent models. Please note that it is no longer possible to diagnose these model series with a XENTRY Diagnosis Kit 2. You will need a XENTRY Diagnosis Kit 3 as a minimum.
As of the 06/2020 data release, a prompt to enter a personalised user name and password will appear when accessing the new E-Class and S-Class. It is not possible to diagnose these vehicles without entering this information. This means that these vehicles can no longer be repaired/diagnosed without diagnosis access authorisation. Every user must go through an identification process in order to acquire the corresponding user rights for the facelift of the E-Class and subsequent models. Please note that it is no longer possible to diagnose these model series with a XENTRY Diagnosis Kit 2. You will need a XENTRY Diagnosis Kit 3 as a minimum.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 25
Likes: 5
2017 e300
That's exactly it. According to my guy here in the U.S. all of the software updates are now completely controlled by MB. Supposedly they are only allowing dealerships access to this database. This really is an issue. I'm not sure about the map updates. I've seen things on line that people "sell" that supposedly bypasses the code needed for map updates. Though I don't know of anyone actually doing it. So I'm reluctant about it. But the Command center updates are completely locked down by MB... If there's another way please share!!! lol
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 1,057
From: USA
N/A
That's exactly it. According to my guy here in the U.S. all of the software updates are now completely controlled by MB. Supposedly they are only allowing dealerships access to this database. This really is an issue. I'm not sure about the map updates. I've seen things on line that people "sell" that supposedly bypasses the code needed for map updates. Though I don't know of anyone actually doing it. So I'm reluctant about it. But the Command center updates are completely locked down by MB... If there's another way please share!!! lol
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 331
Likes: 180
From: The Middle of the Fairway
2025 E450 All Terrain Wagon, Nautical Blue Metallic, Macchiato Beige/Black Interior
I just had my 2017 E300 at my dealer for a state inspection and asked that my Comand be updated from 5.80 to 6.80. My Service Advisor was initially confused and thought there was no update for my car. I showed him the part of this post from Jan 2022 with a photo of the update. My SA agreed to look into it.
He brought me into the service bay to speak with the technician, who discovered a Comand update, but his device had a different number than 6.80 (apparently, the car reads 6.80, but their tool reads something else). I do not know what his tool was reading, but the tech did the update and I now have 6.80.
It was also very nice to see that my Service Advisor charged me nothing for the update (no labor charge, no software charge - nothing at all).
I have only driven for 15 minutes since the update to my Comand system, so I do not see any apparent changes. I’m of the belief that, most of the time, if there’s an update, there’s a reason for it (security, bugs, etc.) so I get it whenever I can. If I notice any changes, improvements, detriments, etc. compared to 5.80, I’ll update this post.
He brought me into the service bay to speak with the technician, who discovered a Comand update, but his device had a different number than 6.80 (apparently, the car reads 6.80, but their tool reads something else). I do not know what his tool was reading, but the tech did the update and I now have 6.80.
It was also very nice to see that my Service Advisor charged me nothing for the update (no labor charge, no software charge - nothing at all).
I have only driven for 15 minutes since the update to my Comand system, so I do not see any apparent changes. I’m of the belief that, most of the time, if there’s an update, there’s a reason for it (security, bugs, etc.) so I get it whenever I can. If I notice any changes, improvements, detriments, etc. compared to 5.80, I’ll update this post.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 331
Likes: 180
From: The Middle of the Fairway
2025 E450 All Terrain Wagon, Nautical Blue Metallic, Macchiato Beige/Black Interior
Update:
Its now been about 2 weeks since I had Comand version 6.80 installed by the dealer. I've had enough experience with it now to report that it "seems" like Apple CarPlay loads more quickly and consistently than with version 5.80 when I plug in my iPhone. It is possible that I have a bias, knowing that I upgraded the software, so perhaps I only think it loads better. Either way, I've had enough observations now to report that it seems better with the new Command software.
Its now been about 2 weeks since I had Comand version 6.80 installed by the dealer. I've had enough experience with it now to report that it "seems" like Apple CarPlay loads more quickly and consistently than with version 5.80 when I plug in my iPhone. It is possible that I have a bias, knowing that I upgraded the software, so perhaps I only think it loads better. Either way, I've had enough observations now to report that it seems better with the new Command software.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,694
Likes: 6,422
Update:
Its now been about 2 weeks since I had Comand version 6.80 installed by the dealer. I've had enough experience with it now to report that it "seems" like Apple CarPlay loads more quickly and consistently than with version 5.80 when I plug in my iPhone. It is possible that I have a bias, knowing that I upgraded the software, so perhaps I only think it loads better. Either way, I've had enough observations now to report that it seems better with the new Command software.
Its now been about 2 weeks since I had Comand version 6.80 installed by the dealer. I've had enough experience with it now to report that it "seems" like Apple CarPlay loads more quickly and consistently than with version 5.80 when I plug in my iPhone. It is possible that I have a bias, knowing that I upgraded the software, so perhaps I only think it loads better. Either way, I've had enough observations now to report that it seems better with the new Command software.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,694
Likes: 6,422
Curious if anyone brought their vehicle in and received a newer version of COMAND or is it still the same one first available from January 1st 2022 (6.80) and nothing new came out? Please do post and share if you have a newer version : )
