GeorgeJ

Guys,
I have a 2005 SL65 with 30,000 miles. My warranty is good until Jan 2012. For the last 3 years I've been having an intermittent Command Console problem. The problem happens only about every 2-3 weeks but it's driving me crazy. When I start the car the the Command Center says " Navigation being activated. Please wait." Then it just sits there for anywhere from a few minutes to an hour! (left it running in driveway once I was so mad). Sometimes the radio works while it happens othertimes it doesn't. I ususlly have to shut car off, take key out and open door, wait a few minutes and then this fixes the problem 80% of the time. I brought it to 3 different MB dealers over the last 3 years but by the time I get there it usually resolved itself. Only once did the MB saleman out front see it happening and he took a picture of the screen with his phone right away but the mechanic shut the key off and the problem went away. Well this past weekend I was in NH and needed the Navigation System and sure enough it wouldn't work. When I got back home I had the dealer pick up car but they can't duplicate problem so nothings been done. I called MBUSA and dealt with a case manager and they said they would not replace the Command Center because the dealer couldn't find the codes that were the problem. I told her I'm tired of bringing it to the dealer and want it fixed but answer is still NO! Any recommendations would be welcome! I'm ready to pull what's left of my hair out!!! Is it possible to put in some kind of electronic device that would record any error codes so the problem doesn't have to only be happenning when it's at the dealer?

mercetek

I am an MB tech. The problem could be several different things....depends which type of Comand you have. Does it use a hard drive within the Comand for Nav. or is it the stand alone in the trunk? Could be something as a simple software update....that's what I usually try first when there are no obvious codes. You could also try and do a Comand reset by going into the systems menu softkey and then perform the reset (warning...you will lose all your data/phone book/saved destinations etc..).

NCE500

Not sure if this is your problem, but my SL did the same thing, intermittantly, last year when I first got it after I updated the map in the trunk DVD drive to the 2008 map DVD. My car came with the original 2005 map, hopelessly outdated in my area, and I had these issues only after I transferred the 2008 map from my E63. Note that 2007 and earlier maps worked fine.

Had my dealer update the drivers in the dash Comand unit. I was then able to update to 2010 (have since updated to 2011) map, and have never had a problem since. I was told than that if the problem recurred the next step was to replace the trunk DVD drive unit.

I'd ask you dealer to update the drivers and then look at the trunk unit.

GeorgeJ

My SL 65 been at the dealer since last tuesday and they were finally able to duplicate the problem. Only problem, no error codes at all! They think if they replace the Nav Processor in trunk that it will take care of problem. So now wait 3-5 days for part to come from Germany.

Quadrobenz

I had that occur frequently on my 2005 SL600 (about once in 20 starts.) it also occasionally happened (about once per 100 starts) on my S65. Since updating the Nav systems with the 2010 DVD the problems have never recurred.

GeorgeJ

They have also agreed to give me the latest Nav DVD at no charge also.

GeorgeJ

They replaced the Nav Processor in the trunk and gave me a 2011 Nav cd. Got car back yesterday and so far perfect. Let's hope that was the problem. Thanks guys for the info and I did pass it on to the dealer which they seemed to like because they weren't positive anyway because they couldn't get any error codes.