MP Navigation

[Gedtin]

Hi Guys/Girls
I have a 2018 MP that uses the Command system. Mine is one of the effected vehicles that used 3G Communication and uses "Here Maps" for its navigation.
As you may be aware Mercedes no longer has an outline agreement with Here so it is impossible to update the mapping at any price.
Just a note here, no SD card or over the air or by any means is it possible to update the maps in a navigation system supplied by Here.

I now have a navigation system that is 4 years out of date (incidentally they didn’t mind charging me for traffic updates before I found out that the mapping was not updateable).
The vehicle has only ever had one update when it was 3 years old.

Right there is a tiny chink of light for us. Some manufacturers are offering a device that plugs into the USB port and will display Android data on the existing hardware. I use Apple so I would need a similar device using Apple carplay.

Does anyone have such a device and could they share with the forum where they purchased it from.

 

[DogWagen]

Have a chat with Comandonline.co.uk - they are well-known for Mercedes COMAND upgrades/retrofits etc so would be a good first port of call. Also worth looking at MBClub.co.uk - there would likely be a solution because the loss of 3G affects more than just the V-Class.

Hope that helps,

 

[Steve B]

Mine all runs out at the end of the month so going to get carplay installed and be done with the MB stuff. My maps are still the original 2018 version!

 

[Lexiroo]

I have a 2020 marco Polo. How do I find out what specification my navigation is? Is this just a call to Mercedes?

 

[Carol]

Hi Guys/Girls
I have a 2018 MP that uses the Command system. Mine is one of the effected vehicles that used 3G Communication and uses "Here Maps" for its navigation.
As you may be aware Mercedes no longer has an outline agreement with Here so it is impossible to update the mapping at any price.
Just a note here, no SD card or over the air or by any means is it possible to update the maps in a navigation system supplied by Here.

I now have a navigation system that is 4 years out of date (incidentally they didn’t mind charging me for traffic updates before I found out that the mapping was not updateable).
The vehicle has only ever had one update when it was 3 years old.

Right there is a tiny chink of light for us. Some manufacturers are offering a device that plugs into the USB port and will display Android data on the existing hardware. I use Apple so I would need a similar device using Apple carplay.

Does anyone have such a device and could they share with the forum where they purchased it from.

 

[Carol]

Hi ,l just saw yesterday that my MB app stated my car was unlocked . So checked and see the app page has changed a little , will not lock or unlock car by phone now ,also does not show my van status ,is this because of the 4 G ??

 

[Carol]

Mine all runs out at the end of the month so going to get carplay installed and be done with the MB stuff. My maps are still the original 2018 version!

 

[Carol]

Mine is also 2018 maps , just seen cannot lock or unlock car on smart phone or see any of my vehicle status , was ok last week

 

[JBizzle]

Hi ,l just saw yesterday that my MB app stated my car was unlocked . So checked and see the app page has changed a little , will not lock or unlock car by phone now ,also does not show my van status ,is this because of the 4 G ??

I believe it’s when a subscription expires - ie an annual or monthly excellence package £29 pm

I hate the current trend of subscribe to use model!

 

[Gedtin]

Mine all runs out at the end of the month so going to get carplay installed and be done with the MB stuff. My maps are still the original 2018 version!

It is carplay that I am after. I have seen carplay receivers that you just plug into the USB but not for the Marco Polo, just for other Mercedes cars. Is it one of these that you are going to use?

 

[Gedtin]

I believe it’s when a subscription expires - ie an annual or monthly excellence package £29 pm

I hate the current trend of subscribe to use model!

View attachment 3891

If your vehicle has a 3G communication module fitted, then none of this is available to you at any price. If you have 4G then the annual price I have seen for this is £245 per annum.

 

[Gedtin]

Mine is also 2018 maps , just seen cannot lock or unlock car on smart phone or see any of my vehicle status , was ok last week

you may have 2 snags here if your MP is the same as mine. mine is a 2018 model as well.
1. you may have a 3G comms module fitted (only 9 years after 4G began to be introduced). As 3G disappears this year then as your agreement expires you will not be able have the same phone connection.
2. if you have navigation from Here (HereMaps) installed you will not be able to update your mapping at any price from any manufacturer. Mercedes ended their relationship with Here approx 3 years after I purchased the vehicle and Here will not deal directly with owners.

 

[coultonshaw]

I'm in Slovakia; I paid €419! (one-time fee) through the Mercedes app for a "smartphone integration" with the official Mercedes dealer, and they installed android auto / carplay onto my system (I have a 2019 Marcopolo)

 

[Carol]

It is carplay that I am after. I have seen carplay receivers that you just plug into the USB but not for the Marco Polo, just for other Mercedes cars. Is it one of these that you are going to use?

I don’t know what the CarPlay receiver is ,so don’t know what to do

 

[Steve B]

I keep getting subscription renewal notices by email, yet its not available! @Carol yours is the same as mine so we lose the functionality such as remote locking by phone, pre heating, geofencing etc as @Gedtin describes. You can still pay for the traffic notifications as this is apparently 2G, but if you want up to date maps its another cost (can't remember but £200+). There are two places I know of who will fit the CarPlay system 'Comand online' in Surrey and 'TTW installations' in Nottingham (I'm sure there are others). Its hard wired behind the dashboard and you plug your android/iPhone in via USB and gives you UpToDate google/apple nav, DAB through your phone, plus WhatsApp and a few other things. I have it in another car and it works well. Unfortunately the remote functions are gone. I've got the two heater fobs (night heater grey plastic cheap looking fob and the 'water' heater MB nice looking fob) that I've never actively used, so getting them working again

 

[JBizzle]

From MB SUPPORT:

Our technical team has concluded their investigation and I can share the outcome with you.

The Excellence Package contains 24 digital extras by containing the Remote, Navigation and Guard 360 Packages.

However, due to the 2/3G Sundown that your vehicle has been affected, only 6 digital extras are available. Our technical experts are advising not to purchase the Excellence Package because some of these 6 available services might not work as designed, or not working at all.

Regarding your digital extras query, we would like to inform you that, although we do not have visibility of the exact date when your subscription ended, we can confirm that the remote locking and unlocking, as well as the remote vehicle finder services, are no longer available due to the 2/3G Sundown that has affected your vehicle.

We understand that this may cause inconvenience, and we appreciate your understanding.

 

[Gedtin]

I fully understand about the shutdown of 3G and soon 2G and Mercedes fitting these systems long after 4G was introduced into Europe. In this case I am trying to achieve a navigation system that can be updated.

I can see on this forum that apple carplay has been fitted onto Marco Polo, and I can see products that you can plug into the USB socket in the Marco to provide carplay. I need guidance on how to be able to use the navigation system in the Marco.

I need to do this as Mercedes ended their agreement with Here when my vehicle was less than 3 years old, this means that my maps are 4 years out of date. Given that the Marco is a touring vehicle, I don't think that that is too much to ask.

 

[Steve B]

You have a few options. You can carry on for free using old maps and no traffic information, stating the obvious I know. You can:

• still subscribe through the mercedes me app for traffic updates, that continues despite the 3G closure and is £125 for 12 months.
• purchase a map update from Mercedes dealerships, and if you pay them they will update for you. £100 to £250??? Don't know
• contact 'Comand online' as in my previous post and buy an update SD card, you give them your VIN, costs £50 to £150 depending on the version of comand and you do the update.

I revert to others to see if I've missed an option

 

[Gedtin]

I paid for 3 years of traffic updates on the understanding that I could update the maps. unfortunately it was only after this that I found that it was not possible to update the maps at any price (last years price was £140) as Mercedes have ended their association with Here who provided the navigation (HereMaps).
So option 2 is not available at any price.
By default option 3 is not available as Command do not have an agreement with Here.

Incidentally the traffic option is provided to Mercedes by TomTom who provide traffic & map updates for life free of charge to TomTom owners.

I am considering Apple carplay in the absence of any help from Mercedes and I understand from this thread that some people have had it installed through the dealership, but I have seen dongles on the web for Mercedes vehicles but not so far for the Marco Polo.

I am reaching out to the forum as a purpose built touring vehicle with seriously out of date maps on their navigation system is not operating as intended.

Thank you for all who have responded all of this information is very helpful.

 

[Steve B]

Agree with your frustration, I missed it on purchase but couldn't believe a £60k+ MB at the time didn't have DAB!! It was on other fibreglass roofed vehicles at the time, but the experts at MB couldn't make it work (or it was a bit much effort, managed it somehow today, must have cost £m's to develop!). Breakdowns and parts wearing out quicker than expected are one thing but charging premium prices knowing it will be obsolete or substandard is another. I like CarPlay, have used it extensively and I'm getting it installed early Feb.