Thread: Upgrading W164 ML from Comand APS to NTG 2.5

I am considering upgrading my existing comand aps in my 2006 ML with the latest Comand NTG 2.5 as my current unit does not play mp3 and bluetooth i was considering getting third party stuff but i noticed the comand NTG 2.5 units selling for 800-900 on ebay that it may be cheaper and worth while if i just changed my comand
Just wanted to know if this is a straight swap or will i need additional wiring and star diagnose coding to get the unit to work. My car only has the comand aps with no extras like telephone or cd changer
Thanks in advance for your help

Originally Posted by syed4motion

I am considering upgrading my existing comand aps in my 2006 ML with the latest Comand NTG 2.5 as my current unit does not play mp3 and bluetooth i was considering getting third party stuff but i noticed the comand NTG 2.5 units selling for 800-900 on ebay that it may be cheaper and worth while if i just changed my comand
Just wanted to know if this is a straight swap or will i need additional wiring and star diagnose coding to get the unit to work. My car only has the comand aps with no extras like telephone or cd changer
Thanks in advance for your help

Hi,

Swapping the Comand over is fairly straight forward. It has the benefit that it will work with your instrument cluster and steering wheel controls unlike a third party unit. It will also give you bluetooth phone if you add a microphone to it.

As you have no existing other fibre devices, then all you will need is;

A bluetooth antenna,
FM antenna converter loom
Microphone

If you really want to do the job properly you could add the linguatronic steering wheel buttons as the NTG2.5 has voice control built in to it.

Have a chat with Comand (Europe) Ltd - Great Deals on Mercedes Comand & Retrofitting Installations. They will be able to offer you a supply and install or just an install price. Parts for the job if you wanted to it yourself will soon be available on Comand Online Ltd

THanks alot I just got a bid going on the unit if i win then hopefully i will order the extra leads
thanks again

OK I just found out that i will have problems with FM reception and i need to power the antenna amplifiers i searched forums but i cant get specific information
I know now I need to power the FM Antenna but how will this be done

1. the NTG has two Fakras for FM which side do i need to connect to or is it different on every unit

2. Can i get 12v from live wire or is there a easier point to take it from
3. where will this live wire connect to

& last but least I had purchased the 6cd MP3 changer retrofit kit from comand looking to connect it to my comand aps But since then i had changed my mind and opted for the Comand NTG 2.5. Can i still connect this to the NTG or will it now be obsolete and should make its way to Ebay!
thanks once again & i hope not to be any further nuisance!

The antenna amps on most NTG2 cars are powered from pin 13 on the main connector. On W169 it is blue/white, different on other cars.

So, remove it from connector shell (so you can put it back later if ever needed) and that needs power.

The one i tried last week it was the fakra on the side without the clip

On COMAND NTG2.5 with DVD changer built in, it ignores the CD changer. I dont know if this is true if your NTG2.5 does not have the changer built in but I suspect it is still true.

R

Hi
my system is all running ok thanks for the help
Just one issue regarding Aux input which i got the modified connector from comandonline but i am not getting no sound input still
I have read in the forum I may need to get the unit to recognize the aux in
will that mean a star diagnose

If your COMAND is configured for UCI (media interface) then it will not use its AUX in when AUX is selected as it is expecting to use the UCI

It needs coding by someone with developer mode Star Diagnosis. PM 'Alfie' on this forum...

Richard