Thread: ML 320 Blutec 2009 - Converting from US to EU specs

Hi

I will be shipping my ML 320 Blutec (2009) to Switzerland and I need to replace Comand and Speedometer.

I have contacted MBenzNL and I was told, based on my VIN, that my vehicle is equipped with the NTG 2.5 head unit and that I simply need to buy the European map software. I’m confused because I understood, reading from your blog , that all US spec ML (2008 > ) had the MCS-II installed ? Anyway, if MBenzNL is correct it would be great news, cause I will be saving a lot of money

I would like to know if changing the speedometer entails a simple swap or if I need to purchase additional electronic parts; so that all the information in the MFD are displayed in metric?

Thanks in advance for your help,

Ludo

Hi,
MY2009 cars get Ntg2.5, however putting us a Eu map in a us unit does not work so easily. I have heard a rumour it is possible but the old map has to be deleted first using star diagnosis and another setting changed but I have not tried it.. The ntg2,5 will also have the wrong radio settings for EU and thus MB will say you need a EU unit.
I believe the hardware is the same but do not know the definitive answer, only the issues though.
Whatever the answer you need a set of map disks, so talk to Comand Online Ltd


Cluster, yes but two things need doing. Option code 461 needs removing from data card (mb record of cars configuration) (mph speedo) and star diagnosis must be used to transfer the mileage,settings,service history,authorisations.



Richard

Ps where did you see my2008 on is MCS2?

Hi Richard,

Thanks for responding to my questions. I would need one more clarification about the Comand. I have contacted Comand Online Ltd and this is what they said “comand unit cannot simply be loaded up with different maps. We have tried this on a number of units and they are coded totally differently. We even went to Mercedes themselves in Germany and asked them to re-code a comand unit and they said that it cant be done. I suspect that the units have different components inside”… what do you think are they pushing me to buy a unit just for the sake of it ?This is the unit that they are suggesting I need to purchase.

Do you think I should try my luck and stick with the unit or purchase on ebay a second hand unit such as this one Mercedes Comand NTG 2.5 fuer 164 GL & ML (it’s in German the product description) and will be the installation a simple swop of unit? Will it need to be reconfigured with the star diagnosis?

Thanks in advance for your valuable suggestions,

Ludo

PS this is the link to your post

Mark at Comand Online knows *loads* about this and is telling you his experiences and ignoring the "rumour" I mentioned as it is just that.

I am actually a part owner of Comand Online but don't do most of the technical support.

The problem is this: -

With "rest of the world" units (which we tend to call European Units, but they are actually used in most countries but not North America, Japan and a couple of other places in the far east, if you have a European map installed (for instance), you can not just swop it to a Australian map by inserting the disk, you have to delete the map using Star Diagnosis then you can load the units.
However, this procedure does not work trying to put USA/CA maps onto EU units and vice-versa.
The other issue with North Amercia vs rest of world is that the radio frequency range and spacing is different - which means you get very few radio stations working. On European units this setting is changeable (with Star Diagnosis in engineering mode rather than standard mode) - but I being in Europe I have never had a US unit to play with.

The firmware (software) in US units is different to EU units in terms of US units support Satellite Radio, EU units support DAB radio ... (in both cases additional tuners/antenna/etc are needed).

There is a rumour that I have never been able to find a definitive answer on is whether there is another delete map procedure that will allow USA maps to be loaded on a EU unit. The US experts and Australian experts I know havent managed to do this though - but it maybe that mbenznl knows how to do this and will sort it for you.

Any replacemement unit needs coding with Star Diagnosis..

The trouble with many eBay units is that you have to ask yourself where they have come from - many many units are stolen from cars here in UK - and I suspect some end up on eBay. But new units are between £2k and £3k (model dependant).

My suggestion is once you are in Europe, consider sending the USA unit to me and i'll see whether I can get EU maps onto it somehow ..

Richard