Em Bee Lover

Just got home from a many hour service appt. at a Benz dlr. This one is 90 miles from my home; the closer is 40 miles.

Transmission fluid drain, replace fluid, including gasket etc. $175 less than other dealer. Worth the trip to a new town. They even gave me an ML to use to burn up time. This is not a stealership.

While there, I asked about a telematics update. I have a 2007, about 118,000 off the line. Had no updates. They said sure. It took something like over three hours, as my on-board cmptr. was so behind. They treated me very kindly with the billing for this. The cool thing I found on the way home is now I have DVD video, some phone enhancements, nav "birds eye view" and a couple other things I sensed weren't there, but now are.

Point--if you have an older W221, get the telematics. Way cool.

Now, I have seen talk about the cd etc., that adds things. I read the cd is worthless, w/o the telematics update. Based on what I said I now have, do I need the cd, as well?

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

Diesel Benz

A Telematics DVD is needed for this update, the new SW for different telematics parts, including the Comand head unit are supplied with this DVD. You cannot use the DVD alone like Comand updates were done in the past, e.g. for an NTG-1 Comand. Instead you need both the Star diagnosis tool and the Telematics DVD (inserted to the head unit DVD drive) and the update is controlled from Star.

All this has been done for you already. If however you have an outdated maps database, then you should purchase a map update DVD which you can use yourself to update maps and POI data.

ES201NJ

I was suppose to have had this done while my car was at the dealer. I'm going to have to do somemore homework bec I can't seem to get the DVD to play, in park with parking brake. Nav stuff either. But was told it was double checked and working. So I'm hopeing it is just user error.

steveb9771

Real time traffic will be displayed on the map if you live in a major city and you have a later map DVD than the original one that was loaded in a 2007 model vehicle. This works ONLY if you have had the telematics updtae which provided birds eye display and the ability to play DVD movies with the vehicle NOT in motion.

Diesel Benz

Was it a standard DVD movie, not some specific format that DVD-players might not play? Was it a region 1 DVD?

If you find the Navi menu where you can select between North Up and Heading Up, you should see the new "bird's eye view" option.

If none works, they should triple check the Telematics update.

ES201NJ

From what I understand searching around is that if the update was done there should be a "Video" tab to click on along the top of the command screen? Supposedly they even watched DVD movies in my car? But the only DVD thing I can see is the DVD/Audio in the Audio menu. For DVD audio.
OH, no Birds eye view in the Nav menu. I just checked for that.

Em Bee Lover

Since my bragging about the update, to start the thread, I must add a reservation.

It seems most things worked. I do have "birds eye" view. I think some phone things upgraded, too.

The word "video" is now on the top toolbar, if you accept the term tool bar. It shows right where the post from ES201NJ immediately ahead of this one showed it should be. I put the DVD movie "Seabiscuit" in the player. It accepted it. Toggling from the video tab down to the lower toolbar, I have DVD-V, Pause/Stop, Changer, Sound (left to right) showing. I have the option of screen size and others. I hear the movie's starting music and the movie's start, meaning hoofbeats and dialog. Everything seems cool.

But, I have no video. The message, "In order not to distract driver, picture is faded out while vehicle is in motion" is on the screen.

Here's my unknown. What's it take to get video? I ejected the DVD and shut car down. Sitting in my driveway, I pushed the keyless twice to power. The vehicle was in "park" and the engine off. I loaded the DVD and all written above transpired. Every darn thing, but a picture. I sure didn't have the car moving, as the engine was off and it was in Park.

It's not the end of the world, but to have the software seemingly loaded and working and not have the picture/video, but having the movie audio is kinda nutso.

Any advice? I sense I am not the only one experiencing this.

Thanks.

ES201NJ

Do you have the parking brake on?

Em Bee Lover

No. Was unaware that was part of it. Will try.

Wisconsin lost Rose Bowl to TCU, of Ft. Worth, of the Mountain West Conference. Mid-level won. Sheesh.

Can you guess where I went?

Diesel Benz

That must be the point, US cars play video if parking brake is on and gear is on P. Euro cars play video up to a slow speed (10 to 15 km/h).

Diesel Benz

I did not even think about the Video menu because Euro cars had Video already before this Telematics update.

Dealers who do not want to take care of the update or do not know how to do it, most often say "it cannot be done". I've never heard of one saying "they double-checked it" but still did not do it. Weird.

Em Bee Lover

Thanks, DB. I should have spent time with the manual.

Setting the parking brake allowed video presence. All parts of the Video function now work. The Telematics update I got appears to be 100%. Thanks for the guidance.

On topic, I thought I saw a thread on this board prior regarding a software patch that, when installed, overrides the video black out when the car is moving.

Do you or others recall this and where I can learn more?

Thanks.

mymbz

Could some one please let me know how do we know if we got the newest map? I ask the service advisor at the dealer he told me I got the newest map. my car is 2008 s550. Thank you!

konigstiger

Installed navigation database version will only show when loading new disc, otherwise only dealer can identify version installed (current: v.10).

Diesel Benz

I don't think there is a SW patch or anything similar for the W221. There is a thread about "unlock codes for Comand" or something like that but it works only on older cars and even there with older SW that allows video in motion to be activated from the engineering menu.

For the older devices it is still possible to activate VIM with Star diagnosis but even Star does not do it for a W221. If you really need it, you would have to install a CAN bus speed signal filter (see what Mid City engineering has).

platt-deutsch

When my dealer did the telematics update, He disabled the parking brake requirement.. I have 07 S550

Diesel Benz

You mean this dealer activated the Euro settings, not that it would start playing video in motion, don't you?

platt-deutsch

I dont know what the Euro option does but I still need to be in park or it wont display video but I dont need to set the parking brake.

avb777

You need to buy and install a module from midcity engineering (do a search) to enable video in motion (no blackout while driving). I have it on my car and it works great.

silkz03

It is amazing how the dealerships (Service) don't have a clue what the telematic update is. I went to two dealerships. Had to explain and shown them the MB forum comments from this thread from my Iphone and they still said they gonna do research on what the update does. These comments on this thread educated the them....seriously. I told them all I want to do is play video and update my command system. I have an earlier O7 without the update and no video tab. After all that, they put an DVD in and tried to make it play anyway. Jezzzzus!! I told them just do the update....I'm still waiting for the phone call so say they figured it out. Freak'n San Antonio.....Looks like I have to a drive to another dealership hours away just to get an update...if I can find one, why is this so hard?

ES201NJ

Got the update Friday. Works great. I also do not need the parking brake to be on. I can also drive slowly before it blanks out and then it starts video again when I come to a stop. Got the nav update too.

silkz03

Found a stealership to get this done. Been sittin here for 2-3 hours and still waiting. Guess I'll see how it works once completed....... Whenever that is.

silkz03

ok, got it done. Just as the post said. Birdseye view, video tab etc. I need to use the parking brake to see video though. Mine won't come on until the brake is on. I'll most likely get the module soon, as to watch while in motion.

Em Bee Lover

You mentioned sitting there 2/3 hrs. What were the charges for the update, if I may ask? Just Curious. Also, mind sharing the state or region of the counrtry? Thanks.

silkz03

Sorry for the late response.

State: Texas
City: MB of San Antonio (didn't have a clue about telematic update, basically said "Telematic update? whats that")
City: MB of Boerne (about 20 miles away, got the update done and better service!)