SL/R230: Updating 2008 SL 550 command unit
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 22
Likes: 2
From: Southeast Michigan
2008 SL550
Updating 2008 SL 550 command unit
What are the pros and cons of replacing the command unit with more up to date electronics. Members on the site keep saying how out of date the system is yet I see people selling these out of date command units from $600 -$1000 on eBay. The radio is fine just prefer better gps and blue tooth capabilities
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Glasgow, Scotland, UK
SL 350 R230 (3.7L with AMG Speedshift autobox)
What are the pros and cons of replacing the command unit with more up to date electronics. Members on the site keep saying how out of date the system is yet I see people selling these out of date command units from $600 -$1000 on eBay. The radio is fine just prefer better gps and blue tooth capabilities
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bluetooth...kAAOSwaPFfz1qZ
Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 129
Likes: 41
From: Florida
2017 SL550 (R231), 2021 E350 (W213)
Be sure to update your US maps to 2016 before judging the NAV unit. It's dated, but works well. I use it regularly. Like A1EK, I added the bluetooth module above. Not perfect, but works well enough.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 22
Likes: 2
From: Southeast Michigan
2008 SL550
Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 129
Likes: 41
From: Florida
2017 SL550 (R231), 2021 E350 (W213)
The NAV DVD is in the trunk, behind a small carpet door. Eject it and look. For me it always takes a couple of attempts. my car still had the original 2005 DVD in it. You can burn one with a DVD-R at slow speed.
Last edited by chad500sl; Mar 16, 2021 at 07:34 AM. Reason: Change +R to DVD-R
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 22
Likes: 2
From: Southeast Michigan
2008 SL550
ok just checked my DVD is 2006-2
I don’t think this is the latest version, I’ve checked eBay and it’s not very clear on which dvd I should get
Last edited by KCG; Mar 14, 2021 at 12:10 PM.
Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 129
Likes: 41
From: Florida
2017 SL550 (R231), 2021 E350 (W213)
PM'ed you with info about 2016 ISO. When you do the update it can take a while as it also updates the NAV unit. If your battery is weak, be sure to hookup a charger just in case. I updated from a 2005 to a 2016 on two cars without issue. Good luck!
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,232
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From: Glasgow, Scotland, UK
SL 350 R230 (3.7L with AMG Speedshift autobox)
I agree about the maps, I have the whole of Europe on mine. I have to say the maps navigation is very good, almost slightly better I think than Waze or Google Maps, however interms of functional and traffic it's far from the modern phone sat navs!
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2018
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From: Netherlands
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
Fellow Europeans: as shared elsewhere on this forum, I simply swapped a Western Europe 2004 DvD for a 2019 DvD without any issues. Sofar has worked flawlessly in 5 countries.
Once or twice a year, navigation fails to start up; a re-start (of the engine) solves that (pulling and reinserting the fuse behind the seat is too clumsy).
Once or twice a year, navigation fails to start up; a re-start (of the engine) solves that (pulling and reinserting the fuse behind the seat is too clumsy).
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From: TX & HI
1998 Land Cruiser, 2003 SL500, 2024 G63
Can a 2003 R230 be update as well?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 22
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From: Southeast Michigan
2008 SL550
Hi Chad, I finally was able to burn a disk, loaded it and it appeared to work. I took the car out for a drive and after a couple of miles when I hit the gas the engine got loud with no exceleration, I thought the car was going to stall. I returned home and installed the original disk and the car ran fine. Wondering if the burned disk had an impact on the computer system or just a coincidence.
Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 129
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From: Florida
2017 SL550 (R231), 2021 E350 (W213)
The COMMAND and NAV unit are completely independent of the drive systems. They communicate over MOST, which only has audio, telephone, etc on it. My guess is you are having intermediate issues with the throttle sender. I've seen people post similar issues related to the throttle that cause "limp mode". Thankfully I've not had those issue and am ignorant about them.
I've been using the 2016 map in two SLs for 4 years without issue.
I've been using the 2016 map in two SLs for 4 years without issue.
