COMAND APS NTG2.5 FAQ
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Created: 31 Jan 2010
Last Updated: 6 Feb 2010
FAQ for Comand APS NTG2.5 (Hard Disk version) from Model Year 2009 on A/B/CLC/ML/GL/R and MY2010 on Sprinter/Viano/Vito
Questions:
1 What models does this FAQ apply to?
2 Can I fit this system into my older vehicle ?
3 I need to alter the 'coding' of my NTG2.5 unit for my car.
4 When I installed NTG2.5 there is no sound.
5 How do I interface an iPod to NTG2.5?
6 I have installed a NTG2.5 iPod kit but I get no sound.
7 How to I make my old NTG2 iPod kit work with NTG2.5
8 How do I make my AUX input from my NTG2 system work
9 I am trying to update my maps but it wont work.
10 I want to install a different area map on my unit.
11 I have brought my car from USA and want it to work in Europe.
12 How can I update the firmware on my unit?
13 How can I enter 'engineering mode'?
14 What firmware releases have there been?
15 What do each of the releases fix?
16 What map disk releases have there been?
17 Where can I buy map disks cheaper than the dealer?
18 It says "Anti-theft Protection activated" ..
Answers:
1. What models does this FAQ apply to?
This applies to the Comand APS system fitted from MY2009 (mid 2008 build) in A, B, CLC, E, CLS, ML, GL, R, SL, SLK class cars and MY2010 (mid 2009) Sprinter / Viano / Vito. These systems are known as NTG2.5. The have inbuilt bluetooth phone systems and the map data is stored on an internal hard disk.
2. Can I fit this system into my older vehicle ?
It is relatively easy to install COMAND APS NTG2.5 in the A, B, CLC, ML, GL, R and SLK class without Harmon Kardon (HK) sound system. It is also relatively easy in E or CLS with Audio-20-CD head unit (without HK) - it is more difficult in E and CLS with COMAND or Harmon Kardon but retrofit looms are available.
Installing in cars with HK needs new amplifier(s) and special adapter looms.
For adapters etc please see Comand Online Ltd
3. I need to alter the 'coding' of my NTG2.5 unit for my car.
If your car could have been supplied with the NTG2.5 unit from new the best way to deal with this is to have a Mercedes dealer update the datacard for the vehicle (VeDOK) to say the old system has been removed and the new system (option 527 without DVD changer, option 512 with DVD changer) has been added, and then to SCN code the COMAND unit (and instrument cluster). If your car is before MY2009 then you will need to find a specialist independant who can code this for you (Mercedes dealers can not do this) - please contact us and we may be able to advise someone who can.
4. When I installed NTG2.5 there is no sound.
This is because the unit was configured for Harmon Kardon sound system, you need to find an independant with Star Diagnosis and the 'development' mode settings who is willing to try and reset the unit.
There is a rumour that NTG2.5 can be set to default settings by doing the following: Turn off unit. Press and hold the ON button until it comes on and turns off again. Now Press and hold the ON button and at same time rotate volume control clockwise. When you hear a noise, release ON button staight away (and stop rotating volume control). We have heard of one person this works for and one that it did not - If this works for you please let us know.
5. How do I interface an iPod to NTG2.5?
NTG2.5 supports the Media Interface (internally known as UCI) which is a fully integrated iPod & USB kit (with video support).
It also supports the more normal iPod (and iPod video) kit where control/track display is done from the steering wheel controls and instrument cluster.
6. I have installed a NTG2.5 iPod kit but I get no sound.
If the system was configured for UCI (Media Interface) then the AUX port is disabled. A specialist will have to re-code the unit.
7. How to I make my old NTG2 iPod kit work with NTG2.5
On NTG2 the aux input is on the white sub-connector of the main multiway wiring connector. On NTG2.5 that connector is used for the microphones/comfort-phone power and the other 12 pin subconnector (with a black shell) is used instead. Unplug the white and black sub-connectors from the iPod wiring loom (head unit end). Plug the new microphone/wiring loom into the iPod loom's white slot. Remove the white shell from the iPod loom sub-connector and move the wiring as follows. Pin 11 -> Pin 9, Pin 12 -> Pin 10, Pin 6 -> Pin 4, Pin 5 -> Pin 3. Put the black shell from the other sub connector onto that connector and plug back into the multiway connector body.
8. How do I make my AUX input from my NTG2 system work
The same procedure applies as with modifying the iPod kit. However you will either have to find a black shell or cut the white shell to fit.
9. I am trying to update my maps but it wont work.
If you get the message "The navigation update DVD is not suitable for the system or the system software" this is a known fault because the firmware in your unit does not recognise the new maps.
The system must be updated to the latest firmware (using Star Diagnosis, the Mercedes diagnosis system), and if it still does not work the dealer must install the map disks that were supplied with his June 2008 Star Diagnosis release.
10. I want to install a different area map on my unit.
Most of the world uses the same navigation unit (NB, USA, Canada, Japan, China are different) but if the wrong map is installed the dealer must disable the map using Star Diagnosis before a map for a different area can be installed.
11. I have brought my car from USA and want it to work in Europe.
We beleive (but are not 100% sure) that this can be done by having a specialist re-code the COMAND unit to reset the FM/AM frequency ranges and to delete the existing map, and then a European map can be installed.
12. How can I update the firmware on my unit?
You can not, it needs a firmware update disk AND Star diagnosis.
13. How can I enter 'engineering mode'?
Press NAV.
Then hold down the following 3 buttons for about 10 seconds. Phone-Hangup, *, 6.
Please be careful not to break your unit.
14. What firmware releases have there been?
Mercedes release firmware as 'telematics' disks with their Star Diagnosis distribution. The version number of these telematics disks matches the month of the Star Diagnosis disk, but the version number shown in engineering mode is the Year and Week of release, so are hard to tie together. This is what I know so far. The update disks are useless without Star Diagnosis (even though there is an 'update' menu in diagnostic/engineerng menu) so the part number is shown for completeness. The Build date is from the configuration file on the disk.
| Star Release | Version Number | Update Disk Part Nr | Build Date |
| 08.08 | |||
| 06/2008 | 08.13 ? | A002 008 05 13 | 13.05.2008 |
| 09/2008 | 08.13 ? | A230 827 01 59 | 23.07.2008 |
| 01/2009 | 08.37 | A171 827 39 59 | 27.10.2008 |
| 06/2009 | 09.02 | A171 827 40 5920.03.2009 | |
| 01/2010 | 09.29 | | 06.08.2009 | |
15. What do each of the releases fix?
Version 09.29: Not known
Version 09.02: Comfort phone stuck "activating", bluetooth calls dropped, system resets, radio statio name wrong, map freezes. New features: ECO routing mode, AUX volume boost, Reversing camera lines on ML/GL/R, volume reduction during navigation voice, SD cards bigger that 2GB allowed, TMC warnings read out, fan speed reduced during voice recognition, TMC Pro (Germany only?), Service Call.
Older: not known.
16. What map disk releases have there been?
Europe
| Map Version | Version Number | Part Number | Release Date |
| 2008 | 1.0 | B67823955 A171 827 02 59 | |
| 2008 | 1.1 | B67823971 A171 827 21 59 | Q4 2008 |
| 2008/2009 | 2.0 | B67823956 A171 827 11 59 | June 2009 |
| 2009 | 3.0 | A171 827 24 59 | 2009 CW44 |
17. Where can I buy map disks cheaper than the dealer?
Genuine map disks are available from Comand Online Ltd. We suggest that you do not use copied disks incase they result in a partially installed map which is hard to fix.
18. It says "Anti-theft Protection activated" ..
If the system says "Anti-theft Protection activated. Please visit your Mercedes-Benz workshop." then the unit is one with a PIN code that has to be re-entered using Star Diagnosis. This lock-out mode happens when the unit is installed in a different car (we beleive the system reads the chassis number once the ignition is turned on). The PIN code is documented against the Mercedes vehicle records (VeDOK) for the chassis number of the car it was initially installed in. You need to obtain this pin code from the supplier of your COMAND NTG2.5 system.
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