NAVIGATION UPDATED
Are they worth it?
Agree, they are better but the are not integrated into the car.
Looks clunky with all the clips, suction cup, wires hanging down.
Bad idea, IMO.
Wayne
& even then there are less expensive options. Best one is the Google Maps navigation on android phones. Free & always updated.
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1. Lack of cross street names.
2. Outdated POI's + inability to type in a specific POI. (The system only gives it's choices.)
3. Three year wait for updates.
4. The ridiculous fee to update this system.
I took delivery of my 2011 in August of 2010. While doing extensive travelling in January 2011 I noticed that the Navigation system was in error concerning some road mapping and many POI's were outdated and/or lacking - not to mention the lack of cross street names while navigating. I discussed this with the local MB dealership in March of 2011 and was told that no updates were available.
I was recently told by the dealership that an update will be available this month (December) for $225.00. Meanwhile I have been relying on my portable Garmin for accurate mapping and up to date POI's when travelling out of town. (The garmin is dash mounted just above the nav screen.) I doubt very much if I will pay $225.00 for an update that will be outdated in a short time.
1. I tried voice input. System balked. Naturally, a small hotel in downtown Houston, TX wasn't on the list of national chain hotels. Google maps & my Blackberry found the hotel by voice entry in 2 seconds.
2. Lisa patiently went through the manual entry procedure. Getting to the point where the system allowed her to input the actual street adress took a couple of guesses for multiple choice questions. Once we got to the right place, the system accepted the address: 220 Main Street. Bam! We had guidance.
3. Yesterday we drove from the hotel south to Rice Village using the map. Piece of cake. I even discovered that the system displays lane layout at intersections (left, left-straight, straight-right, right) along the bottom margin of the screen.
4. From Rice Village, we called up Wayne's World (saved location for my apartment) & the car got us home just fine.
5. I haven't paid much attention to street names. I'll check it out. Are you zoomed in/out to a scale that doesn't show the information you need?
6. Early results: I like it. The voice input may not be the answer. The map information is more than adequate. Superb actually. The day/night auto switching is nice.
Wayne
I drove my sister's Jag XF & Buick Enclave over Thanksgiving weekend both were bought within the last 3 years.
Those NAVs were even worse than the Merc's! You are pass the turn before the voice guidance tells you to turn.
These manufacturers really stick it to consumers with how they package their options.
The MMI package with the NAV was an expensive option that just fails on the GLK.
It was packaged by MBUSA in such a way to pad revenue without providing value.
My wife tells me our MMI NAV looks great in the GLK but I tell her it is already out of date info wise.
Even more tell tale, it tells me I am off the map & should head towards the road before it gives guidance!
With the ways roads & POI's are popping up every where, it's nice to have my Android phone & it's constant updates as a backup to the $3K GLK NAV.
June 2003: New car with our first ever nav. system. Old map. Really old map. Asked dealer repeatedly if there was a newer map I could buy. No response.
Late 2009-early 2010: Original DVD quits working. Finally find a newer, updated 3 DVD set from the dealer's parts desk. Same price as no-name ebay vendors. Buy it. Maps are fine. Life is good.
Wayne
Move to Texas. Cross streets are marked with signs. About 100 feet before the intersection. Your nav system alerts you of turns 1 mile, 1/4 mile, 500 feet and Turn NOW!
Wayne
Press Comand knob a menu opens
Use Comand knob to scroll to the bottom of the menu.
Highlight SYSTEM.
Press Comand button. System version appears.
Your 2011 may have v. 7.
Wayne
I wish I was told that I should move to Texas ...............before I purchased the Nav option........geez!
I also looked at the NAVI menu.
Top item: Map style. Options: North up
Heading up, my favorite.
Bird's eye view. 3D
Last entry:
Map version. 2011/2012 v. 9
I hope this helps.
Wayne
If you program an actual destination, the machine gives ample verbal & visual warning when you need to turn, veer, move over, keep left or right, etc. In two locations: the TV screen AND the speedometer dial.
That said, we still travel with state maps, Michelin North American road atlas and 2 Blackberrys with Google maps loaded.
Why all the backups? I can scan a paper map for a route over a few hundred miles faster than a computer. My Blackberry won't tell me where I am at the moment. Go figure. The maps & atlas give Lisa something to do. Which often lead to interesting and engaging conversations followed by miles of intense silence. Grinning.
Don't get lost y'all!
Wayne
1. Lack of cross street names.
2. Outdated POI's + inability to type in a specific POI. (The system only gives it's choices.)
3. Three year wait for updates.
4. The ridiculous fee to update this system.
I took delivery of my 2011 in August of 2010. While doing extensive travelling in January 2011 I noticed that the Navigation system was in error concerning some road mapping and many POI's were outdated and/or lacking - not to mention the lack of cross street names while navigating. I discussed this with the local MB dealership in March of 2011 and was told that no updates were available.
I was recently told by the dealership that an update will be available this month (December) for $225.00. Meanwhile I have been relying on my portable Garmin for accurate mapping and up to date POI's when travelling out of town. (The garmin is dash mounted just above the nav screen.) I doubt very much if I will pay $225.00 for an update that will be outdated in a short time.
2. Educated guess: It costs money to be listed in these databases. That will automaticially eliminate a lot of businesses. That's where a phone running Google Maps fills in the gaps.
3. I updated my older system once since 2003 because the original DVD died. I think you are expecting too much from a fixed system. Again, a mobile device with internet access can fill in the gaps. How many miles of roads can be built in 3 years anyway?
4. Granted the price is a bit much. In my case with the Volvo system, I spent $200 for one upgrade/DVD replacement which included 3 DVDs to replace the ONE DVD included in the original installtion. Less than $25/year so far. I don't forsee needing to upgrade either system.
EDIT:
The updated DVD has been available from Navteq since September. You should have gotten the email announcement.
Another reason not to update: Harris County extended a major 4 lane street about 2 miles from US 290 (Freeway) to the major 6 lane Farm to Market Road that my office is on. The intersection opened this year. The latest version of Navteq maps doesn't have the new road on it. No worries. I drove from my office to US 290 yesterday on the new section of Jones Road. According to the map, I was "offroad". The system was telling me to go the old way. I ignored it. When I got back "on the map" the routing was updated and everything was cool. After awhile you learn when to tune out or turn off the nav. system and "go your own way."
Be safe.
Wayne
Last edited by venchka; Dec 6, 2011 at 09:17 AM.
Obviously you are not using your nav correctly. Every cross street shows up wth their names....again...use full screen(read manual how to get to full screen) and zoom in. Please report back that you now see the street names.
Are there so many new streets that you are getting lost that you need an update often? I'm using an '04 version in my '2 MB and don't get lost in the entire northeast region.
re: POI..usually when using navigation, you don't know the names of restaurants etc...the POIs guide you there. I couldn't even begin to count the number that are listed when I do a navigation for a destination just 10 miles away. Why do you want to type them in?
I do believe the price is inflated but then again your car is also. I tried purchasing the updated maps for the '02 directly from Navtec and they quoted a price over $300....ebay was the answer.
I would never want an add on navigation because of its looks...I travel all over the east coast and have never run into a problem w/ streets, names, directions or POIs.
Last edited by cindyclk; Dec 6, 2011 at 03:46 PM.




