Command update disc

124fan · Jan 11, 2008

Cixi said:
How did you solved the problem?

I personally didn't solve the problem, the kind and knowledgeable folks on here did that.

My Comand unit 'had' been updated (still a few updates to get) in the early days of the cars life '04, so when it had a proper MP3 CD in the head unit it recognized it immediately, the problem was the way I was making the MP3 Disc!

I still haven't mastered that art though!

Cheers

glojo · Jan 11, 2008

Cixi
I get confused with the very latest COMAND's that are fitted in differing model's, but if your system is the same as the 211 E-class then please feel free to pm me and we can work together to get your problem sorted.

Regards
John

Cixi · Jan 11, 2008

glojo · Jan 11, 2008

I'm hoping Dan, Alfie or Richard will comment but in the meantime do you have a seperate DVD unit in the rear of the vehicle dedicated to the navigational DVD?

If your COMAND can play, or should play Mp3's then I would guess what works on one 'should' work on another and we will loose nothing by trying.

I can only recite the way I do things and it has never failed.

1. I gather my Mp3 files into the relevant folders.
2. Make sure you only have Mp3 files No playlists, no text files
3. Make sure there are no more the 255 files, or 255 folders
4. Make sure there are no empty folders, or folders that do not contain Mp3's
5. Write all the folders onto the root of the Cd or DVD

You can if you want, put 255 files onto the root of the disc but any files that are not kosher Mp3's might cause problems. Mucking about, or fine tuning the Mp3's might cause problems.

I use Nero Express Data CD\DVD with all the default settings and touching wood as I type, it never fails. There is other CD writing software that can be used and I'm sure it gives similar results, I have a method that works and am happy with it.

If you are doing this and your still getting problems then please pm me.

Regards
John

steve.link · Jan 11, 2008

The HU SW Version appears to be 9.390 Build 15/04 which is now 4 years old.

Its for a European SLK COMAND APS. I think its the last version that allows access to the Engineering Menu, Video in motion etc.

One of the options in the hidden menu is to enable/disable MP3 - I would check this. Instructions at this link:

http://www.freenetpages.co.uk/hp/towerpark/HiddenMenusv2.pdf

The document was complied after tests on a SLK350

Hope this helps

DansSlk · Jan 11, 2008

MP3 has always been enabled on the 171SLK.

Cixi was saying in another thread his unit wont play MP3's on DVD's but that it was playing them on CD's, so its not a problem with the COMAND

Cixi · Jan 11, 2008

Right.
It worked only on CD's.
Now I got it back with the oldest firmware I'm gonna try DVD-R and DVD+R then DVD-RW and DVD+RW to see what is the best combination or the one that work on it.

glojo · Jan 11, 2008

DansSlk said:
MP3 has always been enabled on the 171SLK.

Cixi was saying in another thread his unit wont play MP3's on DVD's but that it was playing them on CD's, so its not a problem with the COMAND

It is very rarely hardware error :devil:

When our COMAND was first upgraded to play Mp3's I was handing out a nice supply of shiny circular bird scarers.

If folks need to re-sow their lawn's with grass seed then CD's on a piece of string make great bird scarer's

Regards
John

steve.link · Jan 12, 2008

Cixi said:
Right.
It worked only on CD's.
Now I got it back with the oldest firmware I'm gonna try DVD-R and DVD+R then DVD-RW and DVD+RW to see what is the best combination or the one that work on it.

Cixi

My Comand played MP3's on a DVD R disk - I always burned them with Nero on the lowest write speed

andy_cyp · Jan 12, 2008

masqueraid · Jan 12, 2008

I have my MP3's on DVD+RW. Separate folders for each album and individual tracks inside the folder. About 50 albums on a DVD.

Cixi · Jan 12, 2008

steve.link said:
Cixi

My Comand played MP3's on a DVD R disk - I always burned them with Nero on the lowest write speed

Is that +R or -R??

steve.link · Jan 12, 2008

Cixi said:
Is that +R or -R??

Its a DVD-R

Regards

Steve

Diesel Benz · Jan 12, 2008

CD/DVD drives have improved a lot over time. An early Audio 10 CD radio had difficulties with home made CD roms. The W221 DVD drive plays flawlessly home made dual layer DVD videos. In any case the disc brand makes a big difference, the worst DL DVD I've used failed on my laptop DVD drive, basically only worked on the device it was burnt with.

Cixi · Jan 12, 2008

In a few days I'll be back home so I can try burning DVD-R +R -RW +RW so I can tell you.

shiraz · Jan 15, 2008

Another COMAND firmware question

Hi

I'm new to this forum and am impressed with the wealth of information.

I am now the ex-owner of a W210 2000 E430 Avantgarde and unfortunately do not drive a Mercedes-Benz anymore. However, my dad has a W211 2003 E500 Avantgarde and I need to confirm something.

The hardware and software versions are still dated 2003 so I would imagine that no updates have been applied during routine services. Am I correct in assuming that I cannot access the "Hidden Menu" from the Engineering Menu on this version.

Effectively all I want is to enable MP3 playback. He currently uses DVD's to play his music but it would be advantageous to be able to use MP3 format.

One other thing, our COMAND seems erratic at times. For example, it would recognise a DVD and play it but after switching off the vehicle and then restarting, it won't recognise the DVD which is then ejected. It will be recognised after inserting it again.

We are in Cape Town, South Africa and have the Euro spec COMAND.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

glojo · Jan 15, 2008

shiraz said:
We are in Cape Town, South Africa and have the Euro spec COMAND.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

Hi shiraz,
The first tghing to establish is:

Is the COMAND a factory fitted option supplied when the vehicle was new

Is, or was the vehicle serviced by a Mercedes-Benz main dealer?

If the last two answers were yes then I would be very surprised if the problem is the COMAND. If the answer is no, then the car will need a number of service upgrades. Please do not attempt to obtain the codes to access the Engineers Menu. It is an expert subject and a button pressed in haste may prove VERY expensive.

I'm sure we can resolve your problems with just a little time and lots of patience.

regardsw
John

shiraz · Jan 15, 2008

glojo said:
Hi shiraz,
The first tghing to establish is:

Is the COMAND a factory fitted option supplied when the vehicle was new

Is, or was the vehicle serviced by a Mercedes-Benz main dealer?

If the last two answers were yes then I would be very surprised if the problem is the COMAND. If the answer is no, then the car will need a number of service upgrades. Please do not attempt to obtain the codes to access the Engineers Menu. It is an expert subject and a button pressed in haste may prove VERY expensive.

I'm sure we can resolve your problems with just a little time and lots of patience.

regardsw
John

Thanks for the prompt response John. We had the COMAND in the E430 and therefore elected to delay delivery of the E500 as the COMAND wasn't initially available in the W211 upon release here in South Africa.

We've had the car since new and it is a factory-fitted option. Secondly, under the maintenance-plan agreement, we're required to only service at Mercedes-Benz dealers, so yes to your second question.

I had done extensive reading on this and other forums before trying to access the engineering menu. It is extremely frustrating dealing with the service advisors here in South Africa about issues like these - they not really interested and therefore say it cannot be done.

With the COMAND in the E430, I managed to download and .rar file from some site, created a CD and performed an upgrade myself. That was four years ago and today they still unsure if it could be upgraded

glojo · Jan 15, 2008

shiraz said:
We've had the car since new and it is a factory-fitted option. Secondly, under the maintenance-plan agreement, we're required to only service at Mercedes-Benz dealers, so yes to your second question.

Right.....

Have you physically tried the CD\DVD's that you have put the music files on; have you physically tried them in another E-clas 211 and see them playing? It is far better to check the basics before we start to meddle with the electrics. I have yet to find a dealer maintaned vehicle that has not had the correct service upgrades carried out and fingers crossed you arenot the first

We must however be careful not to get confused with early US COMAND's that I believe had difficulty in playing Mp3's

Regards
John

shiraz · Jan 16, 2008

glojo said:
Right.....

Have you physically tried the CD\DVD's that you have put the music files on; have you physically tried them in another E-clas 211 and see them playing? It is far better to check the basics before we start to meddle with the electrics. I have yet to find a dealer maintaned vehicle that has not had the correct service upgrades carried out and fingers crossed you arenot the first We must however be careful not to get confused with early US COMAND's that I believe had difficulty in playing Mp3's

Regards
John

Hi John,

No I haven't tried it in another W211 - I don't have access to another one with COMAND. We have tried all possibilities of burning the CD/DVD's. For what it's worth, we've successfully managed (after some difficulty) managed to play MP3's in our BMW 550i.

If it helps, I have accessed the Engineering Menu and have confirmed that the software is still dated 2003 - the problem is that I cannot access the Hidden Menu within the Engineering Menu.

The vehicle is with the dealership as we speak to have the brake pads changed. I have requested they do an update of the COMAND (went as far as supplying them with the version, build and part number details) - we'll see what excuse they come up with.

In fact, on Monday, I emailed Mercedes-Benz South Africa via their website and am yet to receive a response - quite disconcerting.

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