Command in reboot loop
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2022
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W221 S550 2008
Command in reboot loop
Hello,
I have a 2008 s550
Recently my Command unit keeps rebooting. Mostly as soon as it gets on and other times after a minute or so of trying to play music or other functions.
Prior to this my voice command button on the steering wheel was not working and I could only hear people on a call when connected thru Bluetooth but NO outgoing voice. I'm not sure if these two are related.
I have changed both batteries already.
I researched and think it might be the voice control module in the trunk and should bypass it.
But if there are any other solutions to this or if anyone has experienced this before please let me know.
Thanks in advance!
I have a 2008 s550
Recently my Command unit keeps rebooting. Mostly as soon as it gets on and other times after a minute or so of trying to play music or other functions.
Prior to this my voice command button on the steering wheel was not working and I could only hear people on a call when connected thru Bluetooth but NO outgoing voice. I'm not sure if these two are related.
I have changed both batteries already.
I researched and think it might be the voice control module in the trunk and should bypass it.
But if there are any other solutions to this or if anyone has experienced this before please let me know.
Thanks in advance!
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 4
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W221 S550 2008
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 5,322
Likes: 1,678
S500
multiple modules connect to the Comand via a orange fiber optic cable - thus creating the MOST loop (a bit of madness german car manu came up with to connect in car toys). So this orange bit does the important stuff, but each module gets a few conventional wires to power up etc. Looping out you can leave the power connected its just the fibre circuit that need to be intact for the other modules we still care about
there are at least two units the AMP (that die all the time) in the boot, and the Comand unit at the front (which on most other models overheat and cut out after 7 years). Its rare on the NTG3.0 system for the Comand to play up - but of course time marches on - However its standard for the NTG3.5 system to blow up the hard-drive. I guess the design relocation of the drive allows it to overheat and break faster on the later 2009 onward cars
You can't have either the AMP or the Comand unit faulty or link out either, as then there is no system to operate. But the TV, the DAB tuner (Europe), Sirius Sat tuner (USA) can all be looped out easily (all three in the boot, left side behind the rear wheel) and the car would just operate happily with any or all off them offline if any were the faulty component taking the system down. Not bothered to investigate whats on the loop. Some kit is, some isn't. The Phone I don't know, the Media interface is age dependent and not sure on the Lingatronic part either.
Was a post fairly recently claiming the Lingatronic module was taking the system down. There is a much easier way to find out whats wrong - as Merc and BMW tried to take over the world, they built vastly unnecessary and overly complicated systems and features on their cars. The idea was to ensure no one could understand or repair them. But then their reliability strategy meant they might need to fix them now and then, and thus had to include incredible diagnostic capability only they would have access too..... it will tell you everything
see BenzNinja for a system worth having if you want to work on these cars or keep one on the road for a few years
there are at least two units the AMP (that die all the time) in the boot, and the Comand unit at the front (which on most other models overheat and cut out after 7 years). Its rare on the NTG3.0 system for the Comand to play up - but of course time marches on - However its standard for the NTG3.5 system to blow up the hard-drive. I guess the design relocation of the drive allows it to overheat and break faster on the later 2009 onward cars
You can't have either the AMP or the Comand unit faulty or link out either, as then there is no system to operate. But the TV, the DAB tuner (Europe), Sirius Sat tuner (USA) can all be looped out easily (all three in the boot, left side behind the rear wheel) and the car would just operate happily with any or all off them offline if any were the faulty component taking the system down. Not bothered to investigate whats on the loop. Some kit is, some isn't. The Phone I don't know, the Media interface is age dependent and not sure on the Lingatronic part either.
Was a post fairly recently claiming the Lingatronic module was taking the system down. There is a much easier way to find out whats wrong - as Merc and BMW tried to take over the world, they built vastly unnecessary and overly complicated systems and features on their cars. The idea was to ensure no one could understand or repair them. But then their reliability strategy meant they might need to fix them now and then, and thus had to include incredible diagnostic capability only they would have access too..... it will tell you everything
see BenzNinja for a system worth having if you want to work on these cars or keep one on the road for a few years
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 20
Likes: 1
E350
multiple modules connect to the Comand via a orange fiber optic cable - thus creating the MOST loop (a bit of madness german car manu came up with to connect in car toys). So this orange bit does the important stuff, but each module gets a few conventional wires to power up etc. Looping out you can leave the power connected its just the fibre circuit that need to be intact for the other modules we still care about
there are at least two units the AMP (that die all the time) in the boot, and the Comand unit at the front (which on most other models overheat and cut out after 7 years). Its rare on the NTG3.0 system for the Comand to play up - but of course time marches on - However its standard for the NTG3.5 system to blow up the hard-drive. I guess the design relocation of the drive allows it to overheat and break faster on the later 2009 onward cars
You can't have either the AMP or the Comand unit faulty or link out either, as then there is no system to operate. But the TV, the DAB tuner (Europe), Sirius Sat tuner (USA) can all be looped out easily (all three in the boot, left side behind the rear wheel) and the car would just operate happily with any or all off them offline if any were the faulty component taking the system down. Not bothered to investigate whats on the loop. Some kit is, some isn't. The Phone I don't know, the Media interface is age dependent and not sure on the Lingatronic part either.
Was a post fairly recently claiming the Lingatronic module was taking the system down. There is a much easier way to find out whats wrong - as Merc and BMW tried to take over the world, they built vastly unnecessary and overly complicated systems and features on their cars. The idea was to ensure no one could understand or repair them. But then their reliability strategy meant they might need to fix them now and then, and thus had to include incredible diagnostic capability only they would have access too..... it will tell you everything
see BenzNinja for a system worth having if you want to work on these cars or keep one on the road for a few years
there are at least two units the AMP (that die all the time) in the boot, and the Comand unit at the front (which on most other models overheat and cut out after 7 years). Its rare on the NTG3.0 system for the Comand to play up - but of course time marches on - However its standard for the NTG3.5 system to blow up the hard-drive. I guess the design relocation of the drive allows it to overheat and break faster on the later 2009 onward cars
You can't have either the AMP or the Comand unit faulty or link out either, as then there is no system to operate. But the TV, the DAB tuner (Europe), Sirius Sat tuner (USA) can all be looped out easily (all three in the boot, left side behind the rear wheel) and the car would just operate happily with any or all off them offline if any were the faulty component taking the system down. Not bothered to investigate whats on the loop. Some kit is, some isn't. The Phone I don't know, the Media interface is age dependent and not sure on the Lingatronic part either.
Was a post fairly recently claiming the Lingatronic module was taking the system down. There is a much easier way to find out whats wrong - as Merc and BMW tried to take over the world, they built vastly unnecessary and overly complicated systems and features on their cars. The idea was to ensure no one could understand or repair them. But then their reliability strategy meant they might need to fix them now and then, and thus had to include incredible diagnostic capability only they would have access too..... it will tell you everything
see BenzNinja for a system worth having if you want to work on these cars or keep one on the road for a few years
I did see something similar to what it described here, where there is some sort of way to insert a fiber loop or something, to bypass a faulty component?
Is there a more complete or thorough troubleshooting guide for this?
We took it to the dealer who claimed they were unable to diagnose or repair this and want $4,400 to replace the command system.
Thanks!
Chris
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 5,322
Likes: 1,678
S500
hard drives DIE all day long on the facelift cars
don't use the car - remove the harddrive before starting the car again - (on the later car they put a slot to remove from the unit) - take inside and allow to stabilise temps without condensation - then get a clone drive caddy and try to recover whats there to a new hardrive
otherwise expect to take a few months trying to get someone with an image to help - or worse giver Mercedes $1200 - 4k they are lying and putting 2.9 k in their pocket
don't use the car - remove the harddrive before starting the car again - (on the later car they put a slot to remove from the unit) - take inside and allow to stabilise temps without condensation - then get a clone drive caddy and try to recover whats there to a new hardrive
otherwise expect to take a few months trying to get someone with an image to help - or worse giver Mercedes $1200 - 4k they are lying and putting 2.9 k in their pocket
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 20
Likes: 1
E350
hard drives DIE all day long on the facelift cars
don't use the car - remove the harddrive before starting the car again - (on the later car they put a slot to remove from the unit) - take inside and allow to stabilise temps without condensation - then get a clone drive caddy and try to recover whats there to a new hardrive
otherwise expect to take a few months trying to get someone with an image to help - or worse giver Mercedes $1200 - 4k they are lying and putting 2.9 k in their pocket
don't use the car - remove the harddrive before starting the car again - (on the later car they put a slot to remove from the unit) - take inside and allow to stabilise temps without condensation - then get a clone drive caddy and try to recover whats there to a new hardrive
otherwise expect to take a few months trying to get someone with an image to help - or worse giver Mercedes $1200 - 4k they are lying and putting 2.9 k in their pocket
So your opinion is that this isn't related to a possibly failed component in the fiber optic loop? Much of my research and reading seems to suggest I need a fiber loop and I can plug it into various components in the loop (voice control module, Sirius radio receiver, navigation unit, etc.) and I should use the loop ( ) to isolate which component has gone bad.
You think it could be related to a hard drive in the unit?
Thank you!
Chris
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 5,322
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S500
nov 2005 to sept 2009 NTG 3.0 comand head unit
oct 2009 to ??? 2012 NTG 3.5 comand head unit
I just saw you have an E class different car different problems - different forum (w212) but in general the newer the car the quicker the issue and the greater the cost, these use a NTG 4.5 or the much better NTG 4.7
2014 S class has a NTG 5.0 comand unit and that would explain the crazy costs
https://braybrooks.co.uk/head-unit-version-fact-sheet/
oct 2009 to ??? 2012 NTG 3.5 comand head unit
I just saw you have an E class different car different problems - different forum (w212) but in general the newer the car the quicker the issue and the greater the cost, these use a NTG 4.5 or the much better NTG 4.7
2014 S class has a NTG 5.0 comand unit and that would explain the crazy costs
https://braybrooks.co.uk/head-unit-version-fact-sheet/
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 5,322
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S500
oh dear - they woke up and messed up cloning the drive from the sounds of it - alfie on these forums works for a company in the UK - as named and they specialise in upgrading genuine retrofits and fixing interior toys on mercs
...You cannot just put another drive in. They are locked to a serial number of the unit and bios protected. Replacement drive is about £600 fitted with maps etc.
https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/threads/...-issue.262496/
https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/i...orking.188372/
...You cannot just put another drive in. They are locked to a serial number of the unit and bios protected. Replacement drive is about £600 fitted with maps etc.
https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/threads/...-issue.262496/
https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/i...orking.188372/
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 307
Likes: 61
S350 2008
oh dear - they woke up and messed up cloning the drive from the sounds of it - alfie on these forums works for a company in the UK - as named and they specialise in upgrading genuine retrofits and fixing interior toys on mercs
...You cannot just put another drive in. They are locked to a serial number of the unit and bios protected. Replacement drive is about £600 fitted with maps etc.
https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/threads/...-issue.262496/
https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/i...orking.188372/
...You cannot just put another drive in. They are locked to a serial number of the unit and bios protected. Replacement drive is about £600 fitted with maps etc.
https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/threads/...-issue.262496/
https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/i...orking.188372/
Senior Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 305
Likes: 114
2007 S550
No need with the 3.0. You can replace it with just about anything as long as the drive is cloned. If you don't have the hard drive image, you can download it. I replaced mine with an SSD and SSD/IDE adapter. I don't even use the built-in nav but I know it's there if my phone died or something.
