Comand Unit Broken

[al9140]

Hi there, i have problem with my comand unit in my (07) R Class. When you switch it on the merc symbol appears for a few seconds and then goes off. Nothing else works including the radio, Dvd or Sat nav. Can this be repaired?

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Hi al9140 and welcome to the forum!

I'm sure Alfie or Richard will be along later to answer this question that sounds like a problem with the fibre loop...

 

[chitaxmoto]

broken MOST ring maybe

 

[Rory]

Do you only have 2yrs warranty in Ireland?

 

[Alfie]

Hi there, i have problem with my comand unit in my (07) R Class. When you switch it on the merc symbol appears for a few seconds and then goes off. Nothing else works including the radio, Dvd or Sat nav. Can this be repaired?

Its almost certainly not the comand unit. Something else on the MOST bus has failed. Such as Cd changer, linguatronic, phone controller or Harman Kardon.

If its under warranty then take it back to the dealer.

 

[al9140]

Hi there, I bought it privately with no warrnaty as it had been in a minor accident

 

[al9140]

Its almost certainly not the comand unit. Something else on the MOST bus has failed. Such as Cd changer, linguatronic, phone controller or Harman Kardon.

If its under warranty then take it back to the dealer.

If it is the MOST bus loop or fibre optic cabling, it this an easy fix, or a specialist company. You mentioned the CD changer, it doesnt operate, no red lights or power and you cant insert a disc, its in the glove box. You can insert the Navigation disc into the comand unit however and you had hear it being read.
When the car was damaged, there was an electrical fault and a number of modules had to be replaced, could this perhaps be the problem with the MOST loop?

 

[al9140]

Sorry forgot to say thank you all for your advice!
Also does any one know how to remove the comand unit from an R Class. It has a different set up than the ML? Has small strip of veneer above the unit and below it, do these need special keys or can they be removed with a small stanley knife blade etc

 

[Alfie]

If it is the MOST bus loop or fibre optic cabling, it this an easy fix, or a specialist company. You mentioned the CD changer, it doesnt operate, no red lights or power and you cant insert a disc, its in the glove box. You can insert the Navigation disc into the comand unit however and you had hear it being read.
When the car was damaged, there was an electrical fault and a number of modules had to be replaced, could this perhaps be the problem with the MOST loop?

If the CD changer has no power then thats the first thing to check/bypass.

You do not need to remove the trim strip to get the comand out. You will break it if you try. The fascia plate below the comand comes off first. Open the ashtray thingy and look in there first. Once thats off (the fascia) the comand is loosened by removing the two screws underneath it and sliding the retaining bolts down. It then pulls straight out.

 

[al9140]

Will try it after work and thanks again!

 

[al9140]

Thanks Baron, Alfie has been very helpful

 

[al9140]

Hi Alfie, R Class fascia is different from ML. The aircon vents (same type as ML) are under the comand unit ,which is a complete unit in the dash (in its own casing). The comand and air-con vents are separated by a thin strip of veneer. You cant get your fingers under the air con vents to remove the facia.
Below this is a gap and then the row of storage bins, coin tray, bits and pieces tray and a twin cup holder. I think you have to remove the aircon switches to access the 2 screws you mentuion above, but i dont know how to do this. Any thoughts???

 

[EDZ649]

You can't send a PM until your post count is 30 or more

 

[al9140]

Hi Alfie, My comand model is A 2518202679, I am looking at buying one on ebay for an R Class but model number is A2518703589 what is the difference between the two units. They look identical

 

[richard]

Hi
You lever up the bottom of the wood panel below the COMAND, like in a ML except you can get your fingers under the catch. Thats the wood panel with the aircon controls and the switch pack.
No need to remove the veneer panel above the COMAND
Not sure why you say the aircon vents are under the COMAND, the vents are above the COMAND. The aircon controls are under the COMAND.

It is *highly* unlikely your COMAND is broken. Don't waste your money on a new COMAND - something else on the fibre optic ring is broken

Richard

 

[al9140]

Thanks Richard, Will try again, I have brought it to an electronics company in Ireland. Buy they say they are sure its the comand unit and cant find any problem with wiring etc.However there are no Mercedes experts (like yourself) in Ireland. My problem is getting the comand over to you or the car over to you to fix. If I do get it over to you, I would like to get the family pack fitted and an ipod. How long (generally) would you need to fix and fit this system?

 

[richard]

Hi

Tell the electronics company in Ireland to fix the CD changer first (or optically bypass it using something like this tool:
Comand Online Ltd :: Tools :: Fibre optic looping tool for MOST bus
- if you look at my CD changer retrofit instructions on Mercedes Electronics upgrades, installation and retrofits it shows you how to get to the CD changer, so you could easily install that loop yourself and see if that works,

If you want Comand.co.uk to quote, please can U PM alfie ? He is away doing a sponsored bike ride in Tuscany until after the weekend for the Rainbow Trust

Shameless plug for a charity: Mark Baker is fundraising for Rainbow Trust Children's Charity - JustGiving

Cheers

Richard

 

[al9140]

Thanks Richard, Just ordered the loop. Was trying to remove the fascia (below comand), what tools would you recommend as i dont want to damage the dial surround

 

[al9140]

Richard, at last i have managed to remove the fascia below the comand and have access to the comand unit. However,I couldnt remove the glove box to access the cd changer, i followed your instructions and removed the 3 screws at the bottow near the footwell and then the 3 screws on top of the glovebox, however it would not come out and it is not a complete glovebox unit like the ML, it is integrated into the dash itself. I would have to remove the dash board and airbag etc.

 

[al9140]

Richard, i have bought the fibre optic loop you suggested, can i bypass the cd changer via the comand unit (to see if I can t get the comand working) rather than trying to access it through the glovebox?