Garmin Map Pilot for Mercedes-Benz cars

**janjarac** · 7th January 2016, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by flapuit

You have to have option 355 or [Only registered and activated users can see links. ].

Something else and probably too simple; did anyone run a file compare to see the differences between to virgin cards with the same version/maps on it? Wondering if all files are exactly the same...

I think it was mentioned in earlier posts when they compared the two versions of the card (before and after). The install files are removed after the card is used to install the nav. So far everything is pointing to the nav being locked to the CID of the card as of right now seems unbreakable. I have seen other forums (mazda, Subaru, etc) where they have the same issue with their garmin nav's, and so far no solution on either. There was something on a mazda forum where a couple of guys came up with a solution but never shared it (according to them); so I have to assume that at the moment, there is no solution without some serious programming skills.

But, I am pretty certain, that if you take a virgin card and make a raw clone of it, that the clone can be reused in a different car. If you mate the original card to a car, the install files are wiped and the card becomes unusable in another vehicle, however, if you copy over the raw clone image back onto the used (original) card, then you can use it in a different vehicle again. It would be nice to see if someone could try that and prove this to be the case.

Also, selling the original nav at $500+ is just ridiculous. Someone somewhere, eventually, will break the encryption, one way or another.

**flapuit** · 8th January 2016, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by janjarac

I think it was mentioned in earlier posts when they compared the two versions of the card (before and after). The install files are removed after the card is used to install the nav. So far everything is pointing to the nav being locked to the CID of the card as of right now seems unbreakable. I have seen other forums (mazda, Subaru, etc) where they have the same issue with their garmin nav's, and so far no solution on either. There was something on a mazda forum where a couple of guys came up with a solution but never shared it (according to them); so I have to assume that at the moment, there is no solution without some serious programming skills.

I fully agree it won't be easy and it will be practically impossible. Out of curiosity; I can't imagine that there are only files being removed, some other files might me changed? Edit, the file garmin\garmindevice.xml seems to be the only file changed (not deleted) while activating the car. Some interesting snippets:

Code:

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Code:

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Code:

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But, I am pretty certain, that if you take a virgin card and make a raw clone of it, that the clone can be reused in a different car. If you mate the original card to a car, the install files are wiped and the card becomes unusable in another vehicle, however, if you copy over the raw clone image back onto the used (original) card, then you can use it in a different vehicle again. It would be nice to see if someone could try that and prove this to be the case.

I thought this was already tested and didn't work as well? I would be happy to try this if there's a downloadable image for V5.0 32GB cards which doesn't take ages to download. For my card, unfortunately it is already attached to the car.

**janjarac** · 8th January 2016, 07:55 PM

Originally Posted by flapuit

I fully agree it won't be easy and it will be practically impossible. Out of curiosity; I can't imagine that there are only files being removed, some other files might me changed? Edit, the file garmin\garmindevice.xml seems to be the only file changed (not deleted) while activating the car. Some interesting snippets:

Code:

Please Login or Register to see the links

Code:

Please Login or Register to see the links

Code:

Please Login or Register to see the links

I thought this was already tested and didn't work as well? I would be happy to try this if there's a downloadable image for V5.0 32GB cards which doesn't take ages to download. For my card, unfortunately it is already attached to the car.

Let me clarify, it has to be the original card with its own image:

-Obtain a new original unused card - lets call it CardA
-make a raw clone of CardA before it is used
-use original card, CardA and mate it with the car
-take original card - used at this point and copy over the raw clone image back to CardA
-use in another vehicle.

the clone will contain the locked(encrypted) files to the CID of CardA. All you are doing really is restoring the card back to its original state. In its original state, it should work, as the CID is not affected by the card being wiped and image restored.

*You cannot use someone elses raw clone and put it on your used card, as the CID won't match - that would be the same as copying it onto any other sd card.

**jure** · 8th January 2016, 08:27 PM

Hi all,
I have CLA and recently I brought Garmin SD card, but unfortunately card is completely empty. I have contacted seller and he told me it must be my mistake that I have reformatted card.
Mercedes Downloader also says that the card is not found (because it's completely empty).

Is it possible to download content(cards for Europe) and just load the original Garmin SD card?
Where can I get those files?

**ufkozcan** · 8th January 2016, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by jure

Hi all,
I have CLA and recently I brought Garmin SD card, but unfortunately card is completely empty. I have contacted seller and he told me it must be my mistake that I have reformatted card.
Mercedes Downloader also says that the card is not found (because it's completely empty).

Is it possible to download content(cards for Europe) and just load the original Garmin SD card?
Where can I get those files?

Is it possible to download content(cards for Europe) and just load the original Garmin SD card?

sorry but NO

you need request seller with your documents

**MaxxPowerr** · 8th January 2016, 11:14 PM

It looks like the latest version for North America is 5.0. If you bought a 2.x version, would you be able to update it to 5.0? I wasn't sure since some people say the card sizes are different.

Also, anyone know where to find a changelog for the different versions?

**NightRider** · 14th January 2016, 01:55 AM

An update for the card image I posted earlier:

- My CLA SD card slot does not seem to work with any SD card (including this original Garmin Map Pilot) - may need to go back to the dealer

- When the SD card's Lock button is turned off, the card cannot be read or detected on the PC.
- Can only be read when the card's read-only lock button is engaged (this is how I was able to take an image) - not sure what to do with this card.

**janjarac** · 14th January 2016, 01:31 PM

Originally Posted by janjarac

Let me clarify, it has to be the original card with its own image:

-Obtain a new original unused card - lets call it CardA
-make a raw clone of CardA before it is used
-use original card, CardA and mate it with the car
-take original card - used at this point and copy over the raw clone image back to CardA
-use in another vehicle.

the clone will contain the locked(encrypted) files to the CID of CardA. All you are doing really is restoring the card back to its original state. In its original state, it should work, as the CID is not affected by the card being wiped and image restored.

*You cannot use someone elses raw clone and put it on your used card, as the CID won't match - that would be the same as copying it onto any other sd card.

Is someone able to test my theory? If it works, you can resell your original card.

**Neil** · 14th January 2016, 11:06 PM

That's a bit risky i think, with all due respect mate. Please read [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. As said i'm not a coder and i'm happy to be corrected if i'm wrong in what i've written there. However my firm understanding is that the CID info is indelibly written to a protected region/partition as ROM during card manufacture. It's not therefore re-programmable and nor can it be copied/cloned to another Secure Digital card in the general sense, so it's only READABLE forever more. As i've said in the earlier post, the 'CID' is not only the Serial or 'PSN', it's a whole range of other stuff too and is more correctly the 'CID Register'. Some more info here:

Code:

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What you really need is the Product Serial Number contained in the CID Register which is 32bits binary integer. It may be possible to get a cheap dodgy card which is manufactured with a PROM CID register and write the info from a genuine card's CID to it. I've read somewhere that's possible with an unofficial card but have no idea where i read it or if it's genuinely an option. If such cards do exist, by definition they are not Secure Digital Association approved ['cos they ain't 'Secure' at all, geddit?]. You'd need specialised knowledge and kit to do it for sure i'd reckon.

Before attempting what you're suggesting, you need to be sure when registering the card to a VIN that the unit doesn't trigger additional writing to another partition which is locked and/or encrypted [i.e. not accessible for copying or even erasable] thus rendering the card useless for another VIN. That type of protection is not new, something similar was used by Atari back in the '80s for floppy discs.

Anyway, i'll ask again: Can any of you guys code? If you can't, you may end up blowing a very expensive card by accidentally locking it to another VIN. It'll be unsaleable then. Just sayin'

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