Does anyone know both the aftermarket Alpine Nav and '02 MB OEM Nav?

I'd like a comparison of the two.<br>
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Unfortunately, I couldn't find a MB with the MCS and Nav (I saw two units with COMAND, but I was told tht the nav is different on the ML's).<br>
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I was looking for a functional comparison. Someone has told me the aftermarket unit is much nicer, and I know that unit quite well, and was happy with it (a friend had it on a vehicle he left me for the summer while he traveled, and I grew to like it).<br>
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I'm still battling with the 'Nav or no Nav' question - and I think a comparison would help.<br>
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Thanks,<br>
-J<p>threshold8n.jpmorgan.com

The software interface is identical. If you look at the MCS manual, it's just about verbatim (including graphics) from the Alpine setup. Heck, in the address screen, they even show the Alpine HQ's address and phone number!<br> <br> The main difference would be the hardware controls. They're a bit different than the Alpine's as I understand, but they're mainly still all there, just in different spots.<p>h24-76-41-118.vf.shawcable.net

Believe it or not - my dealer couldn't even produce an MCS based Nav manual for me to look at.<br> <br> Screenshots that I saw in the ML sales brochure didn't match the aftermarket screen I was used to seeing on my friend's DVD based nav system. I knew that MB used Alpine's Nav software, but I figured that maybe different GUIs were employed, or maybe because the OEM unit is CD based that the software was actually different.<p>threshold8n.jpmorgan.com

or at least very similar. If you are hoping from an Acura with Nav into the ML, you will be right at home. The interface is a little different since the Acura uses the touch screen (their buttons may be a bit larger, etc), but the GUI is basically the same. BTW, MB has elected not to use a touch screen since they aren't confident of its long term reliability just yet.<p>h24-76-41-118.vf.shawcable.net

The current E55 has a completely different Navigation system than my '00 ML55 (which is based on the Alpine. The E55 one is very textual in its interface and looks like a real step down from the Alpine based one. I guess MB could be using different systems on the E's and M's but that would be surprising.<p>t3-static3-51.adsl.directlink.net

Don't use an Alpine based system. While the map data is from the same company, Navigation Technology, the COMAND system is made by Bosch and hence the map data has been integrated. into their Bosch map software<p>h24-76-41-118.vf.shawcable.net