Command wont read CDs

[christy_dale]

Bought a 2001 CLK 320 4 days ago, Command wont read CD's, MB want about £3k to fit a new one - Does anyone have any advice?!

Company in Germany claim to refurb unit for 90euros but will still cost £650 to get it fitted & calibrated(?).

Saw a DIY Command fitting CD on EBAY - is it easy?

Hope someone can help!! Lovely car, just want it perfect but not at MB prices!!!!

Thanks,

Chris

 

[pammy]

Is it all CDs is won't read or recordable ones?

 

[christy_dale]

any CDs, Audio or the official NAV CD!

 

[pammy]

And I presume you bought this car privately

Steve bcs is a good source for info on fitting COMMAND. Logic would say that if you can source a replacement head unit then it should just be a swap out job but Steve would be able to confirm if that is the case

 

[christy_dale]

From a dealer who has offered me a full refund but I like the car & the rest of it is pretty good, so i'm seeing if it's possibel to fix reasonably.

 

[Shude]

The CD reading head is probably just dirty! Units that have not been connected to a cd-changer can be prone to this type of problem due to repeated switching of CDs. I have a unit in a similar condition, it can just about read navigation discs but refuses to read CDRs, only manufactured/original discs work.

I have bought another comand unit off another forum member and I intend to swap the heads over, it is a fairly easy job, but ultimately the head will need to be cleaned/repaired. There is a company in west yorkshire that have done this for another member with good results, IIRC the cost was about £60. More info available through searching

Also the removal of comand is very easy, insert the pins/keys, slide out and unplug the various connectors, it is basically just a headunit with additional GPS connector, canbus connector and fibre for the cd-changer and phone etc if fitted.

 

[aka$h]

Wait for a response form forum member, Alfie. He is sells Comand units, Im sure he will be able to source you a replacement, I dont think you will need to have it coded as its just the cost of the unit, expect to pay around £400, and try and get as much of that back from the dealer.

 

[SilverSaloon]

i would say to the dealer u will (reluctabntly) keep the car & accept sale if they give you a £500 refund on the basis its a £3k repair....

then get a 2nd hand unit like-for-like (easy to fit, see how to section) either from Alfie (tested) or from German ebay (risky but u could grab a potential bargain)

 

[Alfie]

Bought a 2001 CLK 320 4 days ago, Command wont read CD's, MB want about £3k to fit a new one - Does anyone have any advice?!

Company in Germany claim to refurb unit for 90euros but will still cost £650 to get it fitted & calibrated(?).

Saw a DIY Command fitting CD on EBAY - is it easy?

Hope someone can help!! Lovely car, just want it perfect but not at MB prices!!!!

Thanks,

Dont go to MB there are much cheaper ways of getting the problem sorted.

As shude has said, cleaning the mechanism normally sorts this out. This can be done quite easily with a CD head cleaner. Failing that you can relatively easily remove the CD mechanism and clean it by hand. If that doesnt work, then you are either looking at replacing the COMAND or the CD mechanism itself. 90 euros is good value but the postage two ways will add up! I think you'll find that the £650 figure is for a replacement unit not just fitting. The replacement fitting is a 2 minute job with the removal keys to hand. I can lend you a set if you like. Alternatively if you want to pop round I'll swap the unit out for you if you have a replacement. PM me if you want a forum members discounted price for a replacement unit

Edit: You should definately seek all your costs from the supplying dealer.

 

[tamrsoft]

I had a similar problem with my Command unit, kept getting CD read errors. I bought a CD Lens cleaner, ran it through a couple of times and it reads the Nav CD perfectly now. Try it first before spending a fortune on a new part.