I just bought an official copy of DVD - Version 2009 (NTG 2.5) A171 827 24 59. I understand that this DVD has been put on the market very recently.
The DVD cover indicates that the maps are provided by NAVTECH and there is a 2008 Copyright. Infact, if you put the DVD in a laptop and explore it, you will find that the files have been produced in january 2009. Conclusion: the maps are about 11-12 months old. As I know of a few motorways, streets and petrol stations changes, I checked and ....yes the map is still out of date. Version 2009/2010 (Teleatlas) is more up to date. Why Mercedes is still ripping off the supposedly wealthy customers ?

One more question: one of the cars I have does not accept the new discs. A firmware update is required; I remember reading this in some threads...
Does the firmware update require necessarily the use of STAR or is there a CD/DVD available for upgrading the firmware (suitable for those dummies like me who does not own a STAR DIAG) ?

Yes, that disk was released very recently.

Interestingly its called '2009' but the other recent (slightly earlier) releases have been called 2009/2010 and your investigations show why. I suspect what happened was they discovered a firmware update was needed ...

The firmware update is Star Diagnosis only (a) because the disks are supplied only to Star diagnosis customers (b) because even with then the Star machine needs to be used (c) the unit is SCN coded at the end of the upgrade process and that needs a genuine machine and a Mercedes login. So you need main dealer or a genuine independant.

The s/w update fixes a load of bugs and adds economical routing mode and volume boost for the AUX input

Cheers

Richard

__________________
Of course i'll take it apart.

www.mercupgrades.com
http://www.comandonline.co.uk

Thanks for the prompt reply.

I wish to clarify that when I referred to a 2009/2010 DVD, that was relevant to NTG 2 and is provided by Teleatlas.
I just saw my neighbor car, a new E coupe; he has APS 50 navigation and the disks are 2009/2010 again by Teleatlas and, obviously, of a different colour code.
Is Mercedes going to go back again to Teleatlas ? I really hope so. In fact, I just wrote to Mercedes in Germany a letter of complains about the old cartography.

The fact that the firmware has to be updated using STAR DIAG is also annoying. On my A class, retrofitted with a NTG 2.5 bought on Ebay, I had to pay one hour labour for the update, after I spent more than 200 euro for the disk. To be honest, the work with STAR DIAG was also including the reconfiguration of the instrument panel so that the navi info could be seen on it.

FYI, there is a newer disk now ..

Comand Online Ltd :: Mercedes SatNav/COMAND :: Mercedes Navigation Disks :: Comand APS Map 2009/2010 for Hard Disk COMAND NTG2.5 in A/B/CLC/E/CLS/SL/SLK/ML/GL/R/Sprinter/Vito/Viano

R

__________________
Of course i'll take it apart.

www.mercupgrades.com
http://www.comandonline.co.uk