Nav / Comand restarts

What's mobridge?

I've had my '05 Comand 'wink out' a few times. MB updated the software again but it could also be an overheating AGW (Audio Gateway) issue.

etyu said:

What's mobridge?

Click to expand...

It's basically the same hardware as the Denison GW500, but different firmware - so an optical interface for bluetooth and iPod..

Did the software/firmware upgrade solve the problem?

Mine has started doing this (typically every 10 minutes or so) - and because its only recently started (early 06 350) - I'm not sure that it would be a software problem?

Update;
I don't believe this is an overheating problem because it seems to occur within 2 or 3 minutes from a cold or fresh start, and again usually within 10 minutes of the start. After that it seems fine for at least half an hour. I haven't had longer runs to try it. I did possibly suspect it to be 'bump' related (could be a bad power connection), but now don't believe this is so as it has now done it at slow speed on a smooth road.

Yes;

Operating normally, with radio/MP3 playing. Suddenly sound cuts off (with a strange noise sometimes), screen goes blank. After about a minute or two - Mercedes star appears, followed by caution screen, MP3 starts from 1st track on disc .......... etc etc.

Its under Mercedes AUC warranty, so I guess I'll start there.

Thanks for the TSBs - none of which seems an exact match, but all of which are possible. Car is an early 06 (1st Reg Jan 06).

Further update;

I used the car today - and unplugged my Visee0 MB2 'phone interface.

No problems. This may be a coincidence, but the Visee0) has recently had a software update to cure other problems (Visee0 locking up).

The software update to the Visee0 seems to have (as far as I can tell in a short period) cured the Visee0 itself - but could it have caused other problems? The Visee0 works fine when Command is running. Not tried when Command has misbehaved. Certainly there has been no obvious correlation (e.g. phone calls) between Visee0 and Command reboots.

Is it possible that the whole command can be made to reboot by something through the 'phone interface?

It shouldn't do, the interface just pretends to be a phone, its not connected to the loop directly, MOST is designed to go into a fail-safe mode if a component fails so even if your phone control unit locks up (and it shouldn't) then the optical interface should continue to copy pulses received onto its output.

It doesn't work with the bus master because it supplies the MOST with info it needs to operate (like electrical system data), pop the car into the dealer while you have the warranty cover and they will replace the AGW (after a lot of fooling about most probably).

If your cluster display shows dashes or no data at all on the infotainment related pages then that is further confirmation of a AGW fault.

Thanks for that;
When the Visee0 was locking up - it was keeping something awake and staying powered (LEDs on Visee0 on). That has now been cured by an update to the Visee0 units software. When the Visee0 did lock up - as you indicate - everything else went on as normal except it said insert phone (as might be expected). However - all that seems cured.

When the Command is working OK, all the other displays seem fine - including the audio track/radio station in the window between the speedo and rev counter - though haven't actually looked just before/during a reboot.

Not had any dashes or missing audio displays from this section.

Yeah it can pull power from the control unit whenever it wants but that should not be connected to your issue.

The displays will read fine when the system is working normally, its just when it crashes.

Thanks - I will keep a look out, but I have Mercedes main agent AUC warranty for about 10 months

I'm having the same problem with my March '06 350. No add-ons except the OEM bluetooth puck. COMAND has rebooted itself 3 times in one month of ownership. I'm hoping that the firmware upgrade takes care of it when the CD does it's rounds and gets to me.

I've had this happen (just once) in my 2006 350 as well. Driving with Nav & MP3 audio playing. I rarely use my nav, and haven't had it happen except just the once. It was a cool evening when it happened, approx. 20 minutes into a drive.

Happened again today - whilst stationary at traffic lights.

Called dealer - who says there is a software update needed on my car.

Booked in a week on Friday.

Been using car (weather has been reasonably favourable) both with and without the Visee) module in.

It may be co-incidence .......... but it has rebooted 4 times with Visee0 in ............ and not at all with Visee0 unplugged.

Any views???

Interesting to see what software upgrade (promised as in previous post) will do

Update:
Pretty certain the Command reboots only occur when the Visee0 unit is in. I have tried with it in - and it reboots on about 75% or more of journeys.
With it out possibly once - probably never out of 10+ journeys. Why this should be I don't know. Timing issues??

Took car into dealers today; Upgrade to Command system was to correct 'instability'. This has been applied (apparently I have V4.1). So far - so good.

Other items; I have never had TMC channel operation, though the handbook refers to it and the Command menus include it. According to the dealer I should have it. They will ask Mercedes about this.

As a general point - I have a BMW 3 series with I-drive of the same vintage as my Command ........ and I-drive is SO SO SO MUCH better than Command ..... faster, easier to use, better mapping, better audio functions, better telephone integration, much faster to boot etc etc.

Until i-Drive goes down and takes a large part of the car with it but yes i do tend to agree with you otherwise.

The TMC issue is related to your navigation disk, the version installed in your car is too old and MB have only recently entered into a contract with a TMC provider here in the UK, a new navi DVD will fix this issue.

Still not sure with the BT unit is causing your drama's I'm afraid.

Thanks Dan,

On the TMC issue, I'm not that bothered because I have found that if you follow one of its diversions, it only tends to put you in 'a better class of queue' (i.e. with others with SatNav)

It is a little poor of Mercedes to give you full instructions on how to operate it etc, and the soft buttons to use it (thus implying it should be fitted) - when they don't supply a suitable disc. I fully expect the dealers to come back with an "it's available if you want it but the disc will cost £££"

Since the Command firmware upgrade - the only visible change is that I now have a little 'N' f(or North up I presume) beside the scale indicator on the map view and the phone ID and signal strength in the bottom right corner of the map. This was only present before in 'non map' views.