2012 E-Class - difference between Becker Map Pilot & COMAND

[anonymous-user]

Hi all

After being 'Merc-less' for nearly a year I am getting drawn back into the world of E-Class ownership.

Can anyone tell me the difference between a car with Audio 20 + Becker Map Pilot + Telephone pre-wiring and a car with COMAND?

I've had a 2011 E-Class with COMAND so know what's included - USB in for iPod with album artwork and controllability, voice control/linguatronic, sat nav, Bluetooth telephone integration but don't know what I lose by going for a car with the Audio 20 and Becker setup?

In addition is the sound system/speakers the same for both?

Thanks in advance, I've found a car I like with Audio 20/Becker but which is around £1200 less than a similar car with COMAND, I'm not sure it's worth paying the extra?

[tonys]

Can't help with the detail, but i think the screen is slightly smaller, 5.8" v 7". 2012 COMAND should have the 10GB hard drive as well.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks, if that's all I can live with that.

I've had 2 E-Classes with COMAND and never used the hard drive or SD card upload, so can handle being without them if the Becker NAV is decent enough & the sound system is the same & has the same functionality - if anyone else can confirm?

[anonymous-user]

Sorry, shameless bump for the new week's readers!

I've managed to get some answers from a couple of Merc dealerships but they are not filling me with confidence.

I'm really just trying to find out now if a 2012/early 2013 E-Class with Audio 20 and Becker Map Pilot will have a USB port for an iPod, and if so can it be controlled with the rotary controller, will album artwork & track listing display on dashboard screen etc.

I don't know if the car needs the media interface specified as an option, or if it was standard by then?

TIA.

[gizlaroc]

The Media interface gives you album artwork etc. That is now included with COMAND, the Becker Map pilot is simply an add on unit that connects to the screen and can be controlled with the drive wheel.

There is a massive difference.

All cars from late 2011 should be pre wired for Becker and you can buy from eBay for £200 new, the newer ones from the last few months have more memory and can take the latest maps, think there may be an issue with the earlier one not being able to or something.

Go onto mbclub.co.uk and search the electronics section.


I think I would rather a car that doesn't have it, and just buy the latest version, but would definitely prefer comand, it is on a different level all round.
Certainly don't pay more for Becker.

[gizlaroc]

Comand is now standard on the facelift car, along with led lights, dab, media, bluetooth, online and leather.

Discounts of 15% on new cars from stock.

Make sure that 2012 car is a bargain.


The car with Audio 20 will have aux and that is it, very expensive to add the media interface, and impossible if it is the single disc Audio 20.

[ghibbett]

gizlaroc said:

Comand is now standard on the facelift car, along with led lights, dab, media, bluetooth, online and leather.

Apologies for the correction, however I believe it's Xenons that are standard with the LED lights being part of the ILS option.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks chaps.

I've owned a 2011 C-Class & 2011 E-Class with COMAND/media interface and thought it was very good and intuitive to use, was hoping Audio 20 + Becker would be nearly as good but it appears it isn't so I shall hold out for a car with COMAND.

There's a couple of cars I'm looking at, Sport trim which all have the cornering xenons and ILS as standard from what I can see?

As for being a bargain there's a few late 2012/early 2013 pre-facelift models with less than 10000 miles available for around 35% less than list - I'd rather that than 15% off the facelift model with IMO that hideous new nose!

Cheers!

[AGK]

I play my iPhone's music over bluetooth in my dads E350. It's a pre facelift. No album artwork though but you can control it via the wheel infront of the arm rest.

There's also a usb socket inside the arm rest.

[c7xlg]

I have a 2012 E350 with command. I've but quite a bit of music onto the HDD and find it very useful. I use the HDD for music, and the ipod for podcasts (as easy to plug and unplug to update from the PC at home). Bluetooth streaming works but definatly a second best quality and useability wise over the HDD or 'media interface'.

Having an SD card in the slot lets you save routes and personal POI for the sat-nav, as well as more music if you wanted.

the command nav is good and integrated very nicely with the dashboard etc. I don't know how good the becker is, but I think the 'command' screen is smaller so I'm guessing it is a little behind the full command system.

[gizlaroc]

COMAND