COMAND woe with CLK 320CDI

[steve.link]

If the Navi disk is in the drive on the head unit how can you play DVD's or Music CD's? Is the 6 disk CDC standard on the CLK?

I will try my Navi Disk in the head unit drive to see if it works.

 

[saorbust]

It is a CLK 320CDI SPORT (not sport pack, but as opposed to elegance or avant garde for clarity) built Jul/Aug 05, delivery Sep 05.

DVD version of COMAND, but I don't have a separate drive, just a 6 CD changer in the glove box, and a single slot above the screen which the NAV DVD was in when I collected the car.

All these different versions of COMAND are very confusing. Is this the one I should have?

Yes its the right one.

Basically two principle variants of COMAND - CD or DVD based navi information.

The DVD version is widescreen, the CD not.

The Widescreen DVD version can have the navigation disc loaded either in a seperate drive in the boot of the car (in the E, CLS, etc) or via the head unit (C Class, CLK, Etc). The cars with the boot version can play DVD's (as in Movies) via the head unit slot. I can have Shrek for example.....and in other words 2 versions of the DVD COMAND system are ALSO in play....

These are different DVD's but due to be brought into sync this year.

The CLK has the DVD based navigation system, with a front loading DVD slot in the head unit.

ALL versions can have 6 Disc CD Changers in various locations.

Phew.

Now - from what you are saying you have a serious problem, which needs a dealer to fix it. This is in addition to the fact that it sounds like you have the wrong DVD as well.

Its a dealer fault - take the car there, and show them the issue. Then refuse it back until you get it fixed - its a new car I assume ?

J.

 

[saorbust]

If the Navi disk is in the drive on the head unit how can you play DVD's or Music CD's? Is the 6 disk CDC standard on the CLK?

I will try my Navi Disk in the head unit drive to see if it works.

Its not the same version as your unit in your E.

 

[Rory]

Now - from what you are saying you have a serious problem, which needs a dealer to fix it.

No, it works in just the same way as mine (and another in a C Class I tried) hence my (possibly somewhat OTT) comment that it's rubbish.

This is in addition to the fact that it sounds like you have the wrong DVD as well.

No, he has the latest DVD that is available for that system. There is *allegedly* a V5 for C/CLK but you can't buy it anywhere. One forum member has apparently ordered V6.1 from a MB dealer in Germany.

 

[GizmoPower]

Just to confirm a few facts!

The 6-CD changer was an optional extra.
It is widescreen.
I cannot play DVD movies in the DVD drive.
The car was brand spanking new.
I've just been and looked, def. no drive in the boot, bet I looked a right monkey on the car park looking for it. Almost as bad as when you forget where the bonnet release is

 

[portzy]

This might not be of much help but!. Do you have an original brochure and price list with the options and codes?. Sometimes, with the comand without seperate nav drive, there is a hint of "limited funcionality" of the audio and nav system to be foud in the options blurb. Maybe, if the unit itself is having to accomodate the processing of the audio side at the same time as the nav side then there could be a delay in fixing its geo position.

Another fix could be that the car, and therefore the comand itself was not fixed in a known geo position at original initialisation, ie, the car and sat nav thinks that it is ALWAYS twenty yards behind itself.

I'm no expert but I did read somewhere that it needs this original position fix info for it to work properly and the actual process can take several minutes to complete.

Portzy.

EDIT. Just had a look in the manual and it does state that "after transportation on a ferry or train etc, comand can take some time to establish its true geo position". Just a thought?

 

[GizmoPower]

It makes sense to me that it would have to be initialised to get its original calibration. As an extreme example, if it were a bus, the sensor would need to know if it was on the front or the back to gauge an accurate position!

But I would imagine it would need to parked in an exact space at the factory (unlikely) to work out its offset from the reading its getting from the receiver, or someone would have to place a marker on the map to say 'I am here' to achieve the same thing. There must be a bit of tolerance in the reading from different receivers and someway to calibrate it to actual position.

If I could just calibrate it to say, 'I'm always 20 yards ahead of where you think I am' that would be great

Another small note, I do have the M6 toll on mine. I'm from near Wolverhampton, and have been routed down it a couple of times.

 

[splang]

my comand (cd 2.0) there is such an option.
you run a calibration and say " i am 20 yards from the junction of drove road and realto road for example"

The system then updates.... I havent actually had to do this - but i did play aroudn with it


Maybe someone did the config wrong? give it a go...
let me know if you dont know how to access the menu

 

[richard]

HI

The A/B/C/CLK/Smart-four-for units are all "single units", i.e the Audio Gateway and the Navigation processor are all in the head-unit, just like the old CD comand. - See my retrofit document at http://www.mercupgrades.com - and theres a picture of the back of one of them (from A class) at http://www.mercupgrades.com/pics
(If anyone knows what the green and yellow fakra connectors are for, or the bottom left hand 12 pins of connector are, that would be useful info)
- These are made by Becker


Other cars have the units spread over the car, or sometimes in the head-unit. E class is a good example, the Nav disk is in the trunk, the AGW is usually in the trunk, but sometimes now in the COMAND-APS I'm told.
- These are mainly made by Becker, but Siemens seem to make SL and some (maybee all) of the USA units.


The A/B/C/CLK/Smart-four-for latest nav disk is V6.1 - its on the dealer's computer screens, but not yet being supplied by DC Germany to any dealers - I have one on order from Germany. This allegedly supports TMC in the UK. The previous version is V4.0 and does not support UK TMC.

The E/etc is different, and is currently V5<something> for TMC in the UK - but I dont have one of those so I dont know for sure.

The A/B/C/CLK/forfour units dont seem to support DVD video (although i've never tried coz I only just fitted it, but in Star Diagnosis there are no options for setting DVD related stuff)

I dont know if there are plans to make one single nav disk for all units, but I guess some of the issue is that the nav disk contains software for the COMAND-APS unit (not the Audio Gateway)

There is apparenly new Audio-Gateway software coming for the A/B/C/CLK units - its on the dealer's parts list (EPC), but not yet made it to their star diagnosis systems to flash into the AGW.- no idea what that will do. The AGW is the thing that controls the MOST bus and the amplifier (and probably other stuff as-well)

And finally, I have had COMAND_APS for a few days now and it seems superb, warns me accurately and in time, etc - and is a stack faster than my old type COMAND in the other cars. It also shows both a map and turning info at the same time on the screen, which I really like

So, I suspect there is some sort of issue with yours. Suggest that the dealer runs the full "initial startup" coding on your system (as though it was a brand new unit) - and do it once he has next month's (04/2006) version of Star Diagnosis on his machines as it may well contain the AGW software upgrade - which he should do.
And insist he orders you a 6.1 disk for free ..

Cheers
Richard

 

[splang]

following from my previous post :

http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=20783&highlight=comand+manual

my link within this post leads to the w203 comand cd based manual which shows you how to calibrate..

gl

 

[richard]

It makes sense to me that it would have to be initialised to get its original calibration. As an extreme example, if it were a bus, the sensor would need to know if it was on the front or the back to gauge an accurate position!

Actually, its quite clever - what it does is to use the GPS signal to get to roughly where it is (within a few metres, i.e thats how accurate GPS is), and then matches the map against what turns the car is making (which is why you have to drive it a few miles to calibrate properly) - it also uses the speed signal and the reverse signal to keep its idea of where you are very accurate to the map.

On the old COMAND (CD) systems, if the tyre size was set wrong, then it would give you instructions at the wrong time , but the new COMAND-APS doenst seem to have that setting (but I don't have a manual so i'm not 100% sure on that yet) so it's a bit cleverer at matching the map the road - but its got a stack more processing power, so thats made easier

R

 

[portzy]

Mmmm. Yes, I see your drift and as I said, I'm no expert but, there are I believe other devices inside comand such as gymbals, (like old inertial nav systems, you hear these whirr when comand "wakes up"), which detect acceleration and this in turn is converted to position information as an initial fix. This is what can become jumbled and confused during power off transit.

I think that it needs to go into the dealership and have its power cut completely, not just left to go into "sleep mode" then be powered up and re-initialised. Sounds like a job for a senior workshop foreman.

If it were down my drive, so to speak, I think I could get it to work but as its not mine I dont dare suggest long distance experimentation. Take it back, I'm sure they will be able to make it do what it should, sorry I cant be more, (ultimately), helpfull.

Portzy.

 

[Rory]

The A/B/C/CLK/forfour units dont seem to support DVD video (although i've never tried coz I only just fitted it, but in Star Diagnosis there are no options for setting DVD related stuff)

I think the control board inside is different - the one in the integrated unit doesn't have all the necessary video chips fitted.

There is apparently new Audio-Gateway software coming for the A/B/C/CLK units - its on the dealer's parts list (EPC), but not yet made it to their star diagnosis systems to flash into the AGW.- no idea what that will do. The AGW is the thing that controls the MOST bus and the amplifier (and probably other stuff as-well)

My C Class was serviced about a month ago and one of the 'recall' (not a recall, but 'things to update') was to reflash the AGW. The dealer didn't know why. The only difference I've found it that I can cancel individual traffic announcements without it turning TA off.
They also fixed the roundabout exit miscounting thing by updating my DVD (from 2.0 to 2.2, which I was really amused by). However it does still miscount them, but not as often.

 

[glojo]

May Day, May Day

Mega Mega whoopsie............ Egg on face

Stupid foreigners

The CL-Klasse is compatible. Why can't the whole world speak English????


A thousand apologies and mega embarrassment. Why didn't someone spot my mistake??? I mistook the 'K' as being a 'K' whereas it is really a 'C'

The CLK is NOT compatible, but the NEW SLK 03/04 is definitely listed

How stupid of ME

VERY, VERY sorry

John

 

[GizmoPower]

Hey, no problem - whats a mystery without any red-herrings

I'm just glad for all the really useful feedback!

Can't find anything in those manual pdf's with regard to calibration

The pictures in the CLK 2005 manual suggest its slightly different to mine though (Which I'd expect - its US too)

hmmm, the mystery goes on...

 

[Rory]

May Day, May Day

Mega Mega whoopsie............ Egg on face

Stupid foreigners

The CL-Klasse is compatible. Why can't the whole world speak English????


A thousand apologies and mega embarrassment. Why didn't someone spot my mistake??? I mistook the 'K' as being a 'K' whereas it is really a 'C'

The CLK is NOT compatible, but the NEW SLK 03/04 is definitely listed

How stupid of ME

VERY, VERY sorry

John

Don't worry - it's not like this is real life. Just throw a double six and start over again.

((I still *think* that COMAND is rubbish (and it's only *my* opinion - I'm not saying it *is* rubbish, just that *I* think it's rubbish). I'm just glad I didn't pay for mine, or I'd be really cross.))

 

[saorbust]

No, it works in just the same way as mine (and another in a C Class I tried) hence my (possibly somewhat OTT) comment that it's rubbish.

Did you try the dealer ? Its clearly not working. I can't believe how people expect a fault to fix itself. I've had 7 Mercs, all with COMAND and never had this issue. Its a fault - get it fixed. Sheesssh.

No, he has the latest DVD that is available for that system. There is *allegedly* a V5 for C/CLK but you can't buy it anywhere. One forum member has apparently ordered V6.1 from a MB dealer in Germany.

Yep - I've seen the V5 disc for the C Class in a friends car. And the V6 is due at the end of June. I've got this on order already.

 

[steve.link]

Just for the record - The Navi disk doesn't work in the head unit on an E Class so there must be some differences (maybe only software?) on the systems

 

[Rory]

Did you try the dealer ? Its clearly not working. I can't believe how people expect a fault to fix itself. I've had 7 Mercs, all with COMAND and never had this issue. Its a fault - get it fixed. Sheesssh.

Well I don't think it is faulty, based on my experiences with other C Class's, and with Nav in an Accord (which was worse) and a Peugeot (a few yrs ago, though).

I understand GPS but not how exactly how COMAND computes its position. I assume it takes a variety of inputs, but it seems inevitable to me that there will be some lag - clearly it has to compute position from several satellites and it presumeably takes inputs on speed and direction from the car, but a roundabout must be very difficult for it to cope with (quickly). In Cambridge there were several instance where I was driving around what are basically very large roundabouts with buildings in the middle - it consistantly told me the exit to use just after I passed it.

I suspect that most people, most of the time, are driving to places that they know (as I generally am) and COMAND is an amusing addition. On main roads it's fine.

Yep - I've seen the V5 disc for the C Class in a friends car. And the V6 is due at the end of June. I've got this on order already.

You couldn't supply the part numbers for those, could you? I knew about the V6 but my understanding was that V5 was never 'publically' released for C Class (does TMC work on your friends V5 in a C Class)?

 

[richard]

You couldn't supply the part numbers for those, could you? I knew about the V6 but my understanding was that V5 was never 'publically' released for C Class (does TMC work on your friends V5 in a C Class)?

The german dealer said to me he could supply 5.0 now (for A class) but we should wait for 6.1

According to EPC (parts list computer), current version is
A169 827 26 59 - DVD ROM, CD For Europe, ECE V.6.0

which adds more confusion since it seams like there is a 6.0 (or EPC is wrong like normal, especially as the call it "CD for Europe")
R