S600 Japanese comand replacement with EU unit
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S600
S600 Japanese comand replacement with EU unit
Dear MB friends, please help. Got a S600 W221.176 from Japan. Went to official MB dealer in NL and updated software to NL together with codes. So my MB is now a NL car. But the comand is not. They did not update comand. Radio frequency is wrong, clock is not synchronized, navi is stil in Japan etc. Comand has PCMI slot, not SD so I guess it is NTG 3 version. I installed recently car play which works fine. But still, would be good to replace the comand unit.
1. If I buy a second hand one on ebay, NTG3 version, can I simply swap it with the Japanese one. Without coding.
2. Can I swap it with NTG3.5? I do not have a split screen, but it is not so important. Is anything else needed? Is wiring for 3 and 3.5 different?
3. Anything else to consider?
Thank you!
1. If I buy a second hand one on ebay, NTG3 version, can I simply swap it with the Japanese one. Without coding.
2. Can I swap it with NTG3.5? I do not have a split screen, but it is not so important. Is anything else needed? Is wiring for 3 and 3.5 different?
3. Anything else to consider?
Thank you!
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S500
wiring looms are different on the car....
Merc do not update comand or indeed any part of the car when they are at dealerships.... and in any case you can't flash the comand to EU or USA its different hardware (and that wiring)
every single module on a Merc is a one at a time update, that means it might be 100hrs of workshop time to update the car - but unless u want that, there aren't that many that should be updated
no one has fixed the clock bug on Jap spec cars (clue in last thread of the first link below) - its to do with WNRO event in 2019 meaning satellites send different data now than the car expects to see... some ideas of the fun in these
https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...ate-diy-5.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...me-issues.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...uchscreen.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/mercedes-...rks-fixed.html
Merc do not update comand or indeed any part of the car when they are at dealerships.... and in any case you can't flash the comand to EU or USA its different hardware (and that wiring)
every single module on a Merc is a one at a time update, that means it might be 100hrs of workshop time to update the car - but unless u want that, there aren't that many that should be updated
no one has fixed the clock bug on Jap spec cars (clue in last thread of the first link below) - its to do with WNRO event in 2019 meaning satellites send different data now than the car expects to see... some ideas of the fun in these
https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...ate-diy-5.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...me-issues.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...uchscreen.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/mercedes-...rks-fixed.html
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From: Al Raha Beach. Abu Dhabi
Silver 2013 S500 AMG. 4.7 litre V8 Bi Turbo 7 Speed Gearbox
Vediamo
Hey Tomino.
do you have any more detail how to do the clock change with Vediamo please?
loys of us have the software and hardware, but no one has been able to fix it.
I also have a Japanese spec car.
thank you.
do you have any more detail how to do the clock change with Vediamo please?
loys of us have the software and hardware, but no one has been able to fix it.
I also have a Japanese spec car.
thank you.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2016
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W221
It needs to be done in two steps:
Step 1: remove Comand and disconnect gps antenna (blue plug) - In Japanese command it is useless so you don't lose any functionality:
Step 2: Adjust time using this function in Vediamo:
and it's done
Step 1: remove Comand and disconnect gps antenna (blue plug) - In Japanese command it is useless so you don't lose any functionality:
Step 2: Adjust time using this function in Vediamo:
and it's done
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 69
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From: Al Raha Beach. Abu Dhabi
Silver 2013 S500 AMG. 4.7 litre V8 Bi Turbo 7 Speed Gearbox
Thank you
Thank you very much.
very clear and easy instructions.
I imagine once the GPS plug is taken off, I can just push Command back in and connect Vediamo and adjust. ??
good work.
very clear and easy instructions.
I imagine once the GPS plug is taken off, I can just push Command back in and connect Vediamo and adjust. ??
good work.
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W221
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From: Washington, DC
2007 S600, 2007 Chrysler 300 SRT8, 2000 C5 Corvette, 2017 Mustang GT, 2023 300C, and a 2019 Lincoln
I don't have a clue about the Japanese version of Command but when we had problems with setting time on North American Command NTG3.0, I went into a basement parking garage that blocked the satellite signal. Simply reset the time in Command and it was fine after that. Try it and see if it works for you.
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S500
I don't have a clue about the Japanese version of Command but when we had problems with setting time on North American Command NTG3.0, I went into a basement parking garage that blocked the satellite signal. Simply reset the time in Command and it was fine after that. Try it and see if it works for you.
or you fix the broken car and update, so the vehicle understands the new WNRO epoch we are in using a cd in 10 minutes - and this way, not only is the year, data and time correct. the service schedule isn't muddled either
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 69
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From: Al Raha Beach. Abu Dhabi
Silver 2013 S500 AMG. 4.7 litre V8 Bi Turbo 7 Speed Gearbox
UPDATE:
The basement fix works. Disconnect the blue GPS plug from the rear of the Command unit, then disconnect batt at 1159 and reconnect close to 1200.
The clock “resets” itself once the power comes on again, and your dashboard clock is now good to go….
Thanks Gents,
VetteBK - we can’t use the Command menu to set the time, because the option doesn’t appear in a Jap spec car that is being used outside of Japan.
The other issue is that no one has yet found a way to get into Engineer Mode, in these cars, so we can’t try to use Polar Bear’s fix.
( On other threads in this forum, it has been suggested that the PB fix, may also not work on a JapSpec unit due to their different setup)
I am away on holiday at the moment, but when i get back home, I will try the basement fix to see if my clock changes time, once I am out in the open.
I will then try the 12 noon battery fix to work out if 12 noon in Abu Dhabi does the trick, or whether I have to disconnect and re-connect at 0700 Abu Dhabi
time, which is noon in Japan ???
I will post when I have some answers.
Thank you all.
The basement fix works. Disconnect the blue GPS plug from the rear of the Command unit, then disconnect batt at 1159 and reconnect close to 1200.
The clock “resets” itself once the power comes on again, and your dashboard clock is now good to go….
Thanks Gents,
VetteBK - we can’t use the Command menu to set the time, because the option doesn’t appear in a Jap spec car that is being used outside of Japan.
The other issue is that no one has yet found a way to get into Engineer Mode, in these cars, so we can’t try to use Polar Bear’s fix.
( On other threads in this forum, it has been suggested that the PB fix, may also not work on a JapSpec unit due to their different setup)
I am away on holiday at the moment, but when i get back home, I will try the basement fix to see if my clock changes time, once I am out in the open.
I will then try the 12 noon battery fix to work out if 12 noon in Abu Dhabi does the trick, or whether I have to disconnect and re-connect at 0700 Abu Dhabi
time, which is noon in Japan ???
I will post when I have some answers.
Thank you all.
Last edited by jmirgy; Jun 29, 2023 at 08:35 AM.
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S500
for cars with Sat Nav, on Euro and USA cars whilst you can get at the time and date user menus - it doesn't save any changes you input - instead the car pulls in data from satellites and gets it right automatically. But the satellites moved their 19 year epoch in 2019, but the car didn't know how to... a hacked full comand update CD was released with just the patched vespucci time update element in play. This was eventually adopted by Mercedes as an official fix, with many happy owners... but some head units where left off the list of suitable units, so these cars ignored it and don't install the update. Two more comand models were added in a further tweak and a number of European and USA cars from mid 2007 could then get the update
looking at obscure update CDs for comand units we guess suitable for other markets... they too have the same out of date vespucci file amongst their other update folders... so it may be possible to take the patched vespucci file and create a cut back Jap comand update disc to get the same fix
looking at obscure update CDs for comand units we guess suitable for other markets... they too have the same out of date vespucci file amongst their other update folders... so it may be possible to take the patched vespucci file and create a cut back Jap comand update disc to get the same fix
Thread Starter
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S600
Thank you for all the help and support. Since I got my S600 I have not been without GPS signal. Will try a trick with garage first. In my car the date option is indeed unavailable. Also after dealer updated the engine software which I guess has nothing to do with comand. After that will try what happens if I disconnect GPS cable from comand. But have no idea what will the clock do without GPS signal.
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S500
I believe the analogue clock is just a clock.... it takes its time from the digital info shown in the comand menus. But if you do the battery trick when the satellite time is odd - it seems to just go from midday. There were some low spec cars without Sat Nav and they must be able to control the clock from the comand. But one guy that does this everyday took a look way back before the Vespucci fix existed, and was surprised the set up he expected to see to toggle between manual and nav inspired time signals, was not where he thought it was going to be (probably why above is a fix via videamo - which is legacy engineering tools - I think)
so the battery disconnection idea (which in early cars is dead simple), open the boot, lift spare wheel cover, on the right side of the boot well, where you find a thin black flat earth strap with a red 13mm headed bolt - undo it at 11:59 and 30 seconds and reconnect at 11:59 and 47 seconds, the clock spins to midday taking the 12 seconds u gave it and starts life from midday (midnight if u r a strange one)....
so the battery disconnection idea (which in early cars is dead simple), open the boot, lift spare wheel cover, on the right side of the boot well, where you find a thin black flat earth strap with a red 13mm headed bolt - undo it at 11:59 and 30 seconds and reconnect at 11:59 and 47 seconds, the clock spins to midday taking the 12 seconds u gave it and starts life from midday (midnight if u r a strange one)....
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W221
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S600
Thank you a lot BOTUS!🤗Will try and share the feedback. Just for clarity as I am a learner only: the GPS disconnection takes place at back of the comand. Correct? As per photo in a thread. I hope the photo depicts the NTG3 version that I have. Then the battery: my car has 3 batteries. One next to engine, one big behind the rear seat and a mini one under the dashboard. I guess I should disconnect the big one. Correct? When I got a car the big one needed replacement and I did it by removing the back seat cover from the trunck. But it was very difficult to put it back. Is there an easier way to disconnect this battery? Oooh, I see that you already described the location. I will check if I can locate the exact spot.
Last edited by DamirB; Jan 18, 2023 at 04:06 PM.
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W221
Tbh, my car is as original as can be. The only problem is the radio. I was just thinking of buying an android aftermarket headunit. Would that work?
Junior Member
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From: Al Raha Beach. Abu Dhabi
Silver 2013 S500 AMG. 4.7 litre V8 Bi Turbo 7 Speed Gearbox
This fix worked for me, with my Jap Spec S500. It now shows the ‘correct’ time in Abu Dhabi after I pulled the GPS plug and then disconnected the battery at 1159 and then plugged it back in again. Of course, If the battery ever goes flat, or is disconnected for service, I will have to reset it all, but it is a quick and simple fix now…. Good luck
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S500
if you can find the correct wires you should be able to get it to work... but could be worth checking with the supplier which unit they recco - maybe run a Jap version and set android to English (rather than try and get ROW unit to behave with the funny car and funny wires)
