Dension Query

[E55BOF]

I've just fitted a brand new Dension Gateway 500S BT to my early W211 with COMAND NTG1. The fitting was easy, the operation of the thing less so.

The User Manual isn't very much use when you get right down to the nitty-gritty of 'What do I press next", but I think I've almost got the hang of it now. Except for one crucial thing...

I'm using it to play MP3s from a USB stick. I can get through the menu to the files, and to the file I want to play, nearly first time every time, but...

How do I get the file to play? What EXACTLY do I press to get it playing? The OK button on the COMAND does nothing, so is it the FFWD button I press? Do I just press it, or press and hold it? Or is some other action required? I can manage about half the time, but I just can't work out how to do it reliably, and the User Manual says nothing at all on it. I've asked the Dension helpline, but got nothing useful back, and Google brought up nothing useful.

Can anybody enlighten me? Please?

 

[bolidemichael]

On mine, the cable from the six CD changer is routed under the centre console and with a 30-pin to apple lightning adapter, I connect to my phone.

Then with the CDC option, one locates the channel for the audio and can control it via the steering wheel too, though the track names do not appear.

ps I have a spare brand new 30 pin to lightning adapter, as my dension failed and only played through one side of the car. I have had to play the audio via the black switch that doesn't offer the same functionality exactly and connects via a jack to lightning connector. The audio doesn't pause when the function switches, either on comand e.g. to radio or for a bluetooth phonecall. Additionally, the audio is very low by default - but at least it works.

If you require additional assistance, I know a one-man-band specialist in Watford that can assist you

 

[E55BOF]

I only play from a USB stick, and that's not likely to change.

I think I've cracked it, with a bit more experimentation. Once into the menu, the FFWD button, either pressed once, or pressed and held for three seconds or so, is more-or-less the Dension equivalent of the COMAND OK button. It's annoying that the poxy instructions don't tell you this...

 

[E55BOF]

I'm still getting the hang of it; it doesn't quite do what I naively assumed it would do.

Unless somebody knows differently (and please tell me if you do...), when it comes to the end of playing a file (CD album), it automatically goes back to the start of the file and repeats. This is a pain, because the series of button-pushes needed to go back into the menu and get to the next file to play it requires both concentration, and several short periods with eyes in the cockpit (on the head unit); you might get away with it on a totally deserted M6 Toll, but on a normal road or motorway it just wouldn't be safe.

Realistically, unless you have a passenger (and usually I am solo) you have to stop to change the album being played.

It'll do, but it's not the Rolls-Royce solution; that would be retrofitting an NTG2.5 COMAND, but at £1400 that's too much to spend on this car. I'll just have to live wity the Dension's limitations, I think. Unless, of course, someone knows a way to set up the tracks on the USB stick to get round this; if so, please let me know.

I've asked Dension, but they came back with a generalised response; nothing useful. Their F.A.Qs and 'Knowledge Base' was useless too.

And finally, if anyone else finds themselves in the same boat fitting one to a W211, I can save them some head-scratching over exactly what buttons to press, and when and for how long, to get it to do what they bought it to do. Just ask...