Last updated: 1 February 2026 (content)
OEMatic: comprehensive refurbishment of Comand NTG2 Mercedes (W164, W203, W169) | 984 zł incl. VAT | 1-5 days | 12-month warranty. We repair freezing on the logo and restart loops (boot loop), as well as the battery drain problem. The cause is cold solder joints under the processors, a typical hardware defect present in every Harman/Becker unit from 2005 onwards. Neither a reset nor buying a used radio will remove this problem. The solution is plug & play, with no coding. We have carried out hundreds of such repairs.
The problem usually starts innocently, often with the first frosts. The radio in your Mercedes begins to freeze. Sometimes a reset helps, and sometimes the unit returns to normal on its own. Unfortunately, after a few weeks the fault worsens and the radio freezes on the Mercedes Benz logo or goes into a restart loop.
Trying to start it again only ends with it stopping on the logo. Worse still, you lose all the key functions: radio music, the hands-free system, and even the reversing camera image.
That is why it is worth looking into this problem more closely. Before you start looking for a used radio, which in practice can be an expensive lottery, read this article. Step by step, we will show why the Comand NTG2 develops this fault and what its effective, comprehensive refurbishment looks like (the total cost is 984 zł incl. VAT, the repair takes 1-5 working days, and you receive a 12-month warranty on the service).
How to identify the Comand NTG2 unit?
The Comand NTG2 navigation system (Cockpit Management and Data system) was fitted in Mercedes cars from around 2005. The manufacturer is always Harman/Becker. It is worth noting that this problem affects every model referred to as NTG2 (HIGH HEADUNIT ECE), regardless of whether it has a large display or the smaller MID HEADUNIT version.
If you are not sure which exact equipment model is fitted in your car, it is worth checking the official Mercedes-Benz owner’s manual (link for all models) or the manual dedicated, for example, to the ML W164.
Device label details
The most reliable way to identify it is to check the label on the housing. That is where you should find:
- Manufacturer: HARMAN/BECKER AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS
- Model No. (examples): BE6088, BE6092, BE6093, BE6094, BE6095, BE6096, BE6099, BE7092, BE7093, BE7094, BE7095, BE7096
- Part Number: A1698205189, A1648202679, A2518200979, A2038705989, A2098207489 (usually starts with “A”)
- Car models (examples):
- Mercedes A-Class (W169),
- Mercedes B Class (W245)
- Mercedes C Class (W203)
- Mercedes CLK (W209)
- Mercedes ML (W164)
- Mercedes GL (X164)
- Mercedes R (W251)
- Smart ForFour (A454)
Typical symptoms of a Comand NTG2 fault
The “stuck on the logo” problem is the main symptom, but not the only one. In practice, the fault usually shows itself in one of three ways:
1. Stuck on the Mercedes logo (Boot Loop)
This is the classic scenario. After starting the car, the “Mercedes Benz” logo appears on the screen. The radio stays on this screen for 5 to 30 seconds, after which the display goes completely blank or the unit restarts itself, showing the logo again. The process repeats in a loop.
The “stuck on the logo” problem is the most common symptom, but it is worth noting that it is not the only one. We have described more in the article about COMAND NTG2 repair.
2. Random restarts and a mind of its own
The radio can work correctly for several minutes. Customers report this as “a moment” or “about 1 minute”. After that time the unit suddenly switches off while driving. A moment later it tries to start up again by itself, shows the logo once more and then switches off again. Customers describe this as “going crazy”. After each such reset the radio loses the saved stations and sound settings.
3. Silent killer – draining the battery
This is the most deceptive symptom. Even when the screen is black and the radio appears to be off, the unit does not go to sleep, so it is in fact not switching off. The customer usually notices this in the morning when they find a completely flat battery, even though it is new.
What causes the fault? Why does the NTG2 fail?
It is worth noting that all the above problems have one common source. The cause of faults in NTG2 is not a software error, but physical hardware damage.
- Damaged connections and cold solder joints: The main culprit is damaged connections, the so-called “cold solder joints”, between key components, integrated circuits — including processors — and the main board.
- Sensitivity to temperature: These damaged connections are sensitive to temperature changes. That is why the radio may seem to start working when the car interior warms up. In practice, the connections temporarily “make contact” thanks to thermal expansion. Then, after cooling again, for example overnight, the problem returns and the unit stops working again.
Do you know why the radio resets and drains the battery?
- Resetting: The unit’s software, the so-called “watchdog” — in other words, the mechanism supervising the system’s operation — detects a physical fault, for example a loss of connection caused by a cold solder joint, and assumes that resetting the system will solve the problem. Unfortunately, the fault is hardware-related, so the “watchdog” enters a restart loop.
- Battery drain: The faulty radio does not correctly interpret information from the CAN bus, the vehicle’s communication network, about the ignition being switched off. It therefore does not go to sleep and keeps trying to start in the background, drawing a constant approx. 800mA, which in practice drains the battery overnight.
How a complete NTG2 refurbishment works step by step
It is worth knowing that we do not carry out “quick repairs”. Our philosophy is complete refurbishment. In other words, we do not limit ourselves to removing the current fault. We always preventively repair all other areas and connections that, from experience, we know are vulnerable to failure. The key point is that only this approach gives a genuine warranty of a lasting repair.
If you are not sure whether the radio is really the source of the problem, we have prepared a guide: How can you check for yourself whether the Comand NTG2 navigation fault in a Mercedes is confirmed?
Refurbishment process
- Dispatch and diagnosis (1-2 working days): Once we receive the parcel, we connect the unit to our test bench. This is a service harness, in other words a setup simulating the car environment (buses, amplifier). We confirm the fault, for example sticking on the logo, restarts or current draw.
- Verification (if it works): If the diagnosis shows that the unit is 100% working, we contact the customer and return the equipment at no cost.
- Complete refurbishment (1-3 working days): Once the fault has been confirmed, we begin the refurbishment. The process includes repairing the connections between the key processors and the main board, and preventively eliminating “cold solder joints”, i.e. weakened connections, on all other vulnerable components, circuits and system sockets.
- Final and load testing: The refurbished unit undergoes rigorous bench testing. We check stability, function operation and, crucially, resistance to temperature changes and correct switching off “to zero”, to guarantee no current draw.
- Return (plug & play): Once the tests have been completed successfully, we return the radio to the customer. The unit is ready to fit and requires no coding or programming whatsoever after being reconnected in the car.
Refurbishment vs used unit – which is more worthwhile?
You may be considering buying a used radio for 500–2000 zł as a sensible alternative. In practice, this is usually just a temporary fix and, unfortunately, a rather costly lottery.
As one of our customers wrote: “I have two such radios… I bought a used radio that worked… for about 3 months and then the same thing happened as with the previous radio, namely it turns on to the Mercedes logo and goes off.”
These units are already more than a dozen years old, so the factory defect, the so-called cold solder joints, will sooner or later affect virtually every unit. On top of that comes the risk of coding issues. It is also worth noting that buying a “new” unit for several thousand złoty usually means purchasing a refurbished “old stock” unit.
Cost of refurbishing Comand NTG2 – summary of terms
We believe in full transparency, so there are no “asterisks” here or any hidden costs. The terms of refurbishing your Comand NTG2 are simply clear:
- Total cost: 984 zł incl. VAT
- Lead time: 1-5 working days
- Warranty: 12 months (written warranty - VAT invoice)
About the author of this article
This article has been prepared by the service’s technical team. We specialise in advanced diagnostics and repair of factory radio-navigation systems from premium brands. We have many years of experience and hundreds of repaired Comand NTG2 units fitted in Mercedes Benz cars.
It is precisely this specialism and practical experience that allow us to successfully refurbish the electronics of this historic brand with a rich heritage.
Get your Mercedes working properly again
There is no point letting a faulty radio reduce driving comfort and drain the battery. Instead of risking the purchase of a used unit, it is worth considering a full refurbishment with a warranty.
