Tell me the difference between Becker & Comand
Discussion
My wife is trading her SLK with the Merc comand system for one of the new GLA's. The options for sat nav are:
1. Comand on-line - £950; or
2. Pre wiring for becker map pilot at no cost - but presumably you then have to buy the Becker at circa £500 and have it fitted by the dealer?
Does anyone on here know what the real world difference between the two systems is? She only needs a basic sat nav, no hard disk etc; but does need bluetooth.
Thanks in advance
Paul
1. Comand on-line - £950; or
2. Pre wiring for becker map pilot at no cost - but presumably you then have to buy the Becker at circa £500 and have it fitted by the dealer?
Does anyone on here know what the real world difference between the two systems is? She only needs a basic sat nav, no hard disk etc; but does need bluetooth.
Thanks in advance
Paul
I imagine it'll be the same as my new normal A Class. It's just a module that just slots into the glove box like this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Genuine-Becker-Navigation-...
Search on Amazon, there's sealed one for £340 New here http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/925414909... Ffit it yourself, all you do is slide it into the glove box caddy. You need to remove it to update it anyhow so it's designed for end users.
Bluetooth isn't part of the Satnav, I think it comes as standard nowadays but check anyhow.
The Command Online stuff gives you a bigger screen, Facebook and some other services and a nice service to be able to sit at your PC at home, find a location on Google Maps and "send" it direct to your car's Satnav. I couldn't afford this option
But the standard satnav is perfectly adequate.
If you do get the Harman Becker one, update it when you get it as you get free updates for 45 days, mine was an old unit that didn't have full postcode search initially but after performing the free update it was fine and I have full postcode search now.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Genuine-Becker-Navigation-...
Search on Amazon, there's sealed one for £340 New here http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/925414909... Ffit it yourself, all you do is slide it into the glove box caddy. You need to remove it to update it anyhow so it's designed for end users.
Bluetooth isn't part of the Satnav, I think it comes as standard nowadays but check anyhow.
The Command Online stuff gives you a bigger screen, Facebook and some other services and a nice service to be able to sit at your PC at home, find a location on Google Maps and "send" it direct to your car's Satnav. I couldn't afford this option
But the standard satnav is perfectly adequate. If you do get the Harman Becker one, update it when you get it as you get free updates for 45 days, mine was an old unit that didn't have full postcode search initially but after performing the free update it was fine and I have full postcode search now.
Edited by ModMan on Friday 9th May 06:47
Some info; I'm on my second R172 SLK with the Becker. Personally I don't get this "MUST HAVE" for resale lark with Comand; it certainly wouldn't sway me - all you end up with is an out of date system which needs dealer updates and nav discs that cost an utter fortune. You update the Becker yourself, in a similar fashion to how you'd update an iPod or whatever.
The Becker is probably the best value for money "factory fit" looking nav system out there, and coming from Merc that's even more surprising.
A few points
- the standard audio comes with bluetooth so you can stream music off your phone, use phone handsfree etc
- audio also has a USB port in the centre console so you can play music from a usb stick, displays album art and track names on the main screen and track names on the centre display (between the clocks)
- both the Becker and bluetooth controls are all integrated with the steering wheel controls
- if you get the Becker get one off eBay from Germany; I got mine (brand new, sealed etc) for £225
- no dealer intervention required - just slot it into the compartment in the glovebox. Plug and play
- you can add stuff like speed cameras to it
- full postcode recognition
- voice activated - just press the button on the steering wheel and say "high street, newtown" or whatever. This may or may not bring up the correct result!!!
- traffic jam avoidance thing works well. Roads with congestion or hazards (eg fog) are highlighted in blue
- displays the current speeds limit on the top right of the screen - useful. Also displays the appropriate warning sign for upcoming hazards (not sure if this is standard; it appeared after my last update)
- lane assist; 3D view appears on the main screen and a simpler representation in the instrument binnacle.
Fair enough, I'm sure that COMAND is "better", but for a couple of hundred quid you can't go wrong - and don't forget that you can put it into your next Merc (which is what I've just done) or just sell it if you change brands. So in my case I've saved the cost of TWO Comand systems.
As you can tell - I'm a fan
The Becker is probably the best value for money "factory fit" looking nav system out there, and coming from Merc that's even more surprising.
A few points
- the standard audio comes with bluetooth so you can stream music off your phone, use phone handsfree etc
- audio also has a USB port in the centre console so you can play music from a usb stick, displays album art and track names on the main screen and track names on the centre display (between the clocks)
- both the Becker and bluetooth controls are all integrated with the steering wheel controls
- if you get the Becker get one off eBay from Germany; I got mine (brand new, sealed etc) for £225
- no dealer intervention required - just slot it into the compartment in the glovebox. Plug and play
- you can add stuff like speed cameras to it
- full postcode recognition
- voice activated - just press the button on the steering wheel and say "high street, newtown" or whatever. This may or may not bring up the correct result!!!
- traffic jam avoidance thing works well. Roads with congestion or hazards (eg fog) are highlighted in blue
- displays the current speeds limit on the top right of the screen - useful. Also displays the appropriate warning sign for upcoming hazards (not sure if this is standard; it appeared after my last update)
- lane assist; 3D view appears on the main screen and a simpler representation in the instrument binnacle.
Fair enough, I'm sure that COMAND is "better", but for a couple of hundred quid you can't go wrong - and don't forget that you can put it into your next Merc (which is what I've just done) or just sell it if you change brands. So in my case I've saved the cost of TWO Comand systems.
As you can tell - I'm a fan
Agree with everything said about Comand. Regarding Becker though - here's the thing:
Wife just ordered a GAL with Becker. Ha! says Salesman - may not be Becker. Merc are now switching their Sat Nav provider havin cut ties with Harmon. New cars are being delivered with a Sat Nav provided by Garmin, using an SD car that slots into the central armrst pocket. And it locks to the car once used, so you cannot remove it and transfer to a new car.
Wife just ordered a GAL with Becker. Ha! says Salesman - may not be Becker. Merc are now switching their Sat Nav provider havin cut ties with Harmon. New cars are being delivered with a Sat Nav provided by Garmin, using an SD car that slots into the central armrst pocket. And it locks to the car once used, so you cannot remove it and transfer to a new car.
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