COMAND

[glojo]

Just been speaking to a good friend that has purchased a COMAND unit for his Vito off of Ebay. This is the latest version with the HDD and he is most impressed. A straight forward fit which he says went in with no problems and he is a builder with the hands to match!!

Has anyone here dared to do this and if so what are there thoughts? If no one has then apart from the concerns of buying something off of Ebay what are the main concerns?

Apologies if I am slow in responding but I am not getting any e-mail notifications regarding replies :(

[glojo]

I take it no one has fitted this option so when mine gets installed I will update everyone.

What I have found out is that the new Sprinters with the Audio 20 option that has Blue Tooth is a bonus as the COMAND will\should allegedly slide straight in.

[glojo]

COMAND has been installed, it comes as standard with Linguatronic BUT........... As far as I am aware there is no way of operating, activating this option?

[mean_in_green]

Was wondering how you'd been getting on - any updates?

[glojo]

Originally Posted by mean_in_green

Was wondering how you'd been getting on - any updates?

Unfortunately because of my condition I have not got out in the vehicle (just the one short trip) But by crikey we have had some niggly problems.

Because we have a stretcher lift there was no room for a spare wheel. On the rear nearside there is a seat which ruled out putting the wheel at that location. The offside is where the reclining wheel chair is stowed so no spare wheel.

I was not happy with this and designed a bracket which has now been fitted directly under the flotation unit so the van had to go back to the coach builders for this modification.

Our car went for an MOT so my wife decided to use the van for an important hospital appointment.... Wrong!!!

Right on the approach to a VERY busy roundabout the thing died. An automatic without an engine is not going anywhere but within seconds a Police Inspector was saying to my wife, "You can't park here madam!!"

No **** lieutenant!!!! The vehicle was quickly pushed into a bus stop to await the emergency Mercedes Breakdown service. Forty minutes later the mechanic was on scene and tried to fix the fault but all to no avail. He tried for three whole hours but could not resolve the problem even after many phone calls and much playing with his lap top!! A flat bed truck was called out, the van winched onto it and off to Exeter it went. Four days later we had it back and was told it was a fault with the plugs going into the CANBUS??? I might have misunderstood what i was being told but I got the impression that nothing was talking to anything so the box of tricks shut down??


Next problem was a leaking aerial that allowed water to run through the headlining and out through the interior light with all the switches for the alarm etc. I mention the alarm because this leak activated the van alarm system (several times)

One of the delivery drivers scratched the nearside mirror so that had to be sorted so we lost the van once more

320 miles on the clock and we have done just 20, the rest is all down to the vehicle going back for what I call teething issues but it does not inspire confidence.

My wife tells me the vehicle drives like a car, the extra insulation has really made the vehicle quiet. The 160hp engine is far better than our previous 130 and is even better than the original 5 cylinder 120hp 212. The seven speed automatic box sadly appears to be better than the Sprint Shift but I have only been in it the once so I am not passing judgement on that comparison as I loved our Sprint shift

The colour has grown on me but a big disappointment is the satellite TV.. I wanted my digital radio as I am a huge fan of the radio station 'Gold'. It plays the music I like and was told a digital or satellite TV system would recedive that station. All I can say is the system we have does not receive that station. I can receive Dave or QVC but you can have too much of Top Gear :)

Oh well enough of my moans, it is a great looking vehicle and hopefully we will eventually put some miles on the clock and enjoy this new wagon.

[mean_in_green]

Oh dear, sorry to read that. Not the best beginning at all. I wonder if the connectors at the control unit had been removed temporarily by someone for protection to electronics whilst welding during some of the fabrication works?

My DAB tuner died after ten years service. Really missing it, and finding most FM tiresome (adverts galore). Not had time to sort a replacement as yet.

The NAG1 is smoother than Sprintshift but cruder in another sense: it can't think for itself the way Sprintshift does!