First CLK - Need help using Comand

[baadil]

Hi,

I just bought my first ever 2005 MB CLK 240. All is well, so far :bannana:

Now comes the hard part. Car did not come with any of the guides and I am not sure how to use some of the features such as setting up my phone etc.

It also came with a Maps DVD. When I insert it, I can see maps etc and navigation works but if I do not have the DVD in, I cannot use this features. Does this mean I can either use the maps of listen to my CDs, only one thing at a time?

Is there any place I can download user manual bot comand for my CLK?

Thank you for any help.

 

[whitenemesis]

Hi, and welcome

COMAND manual from your dealer ~£18 (and the owner's handbook)

Yes you can only have one or the other... BUT once a route has been calculated you can remove the DVD and follow the prompts in the cluster but no maps on the COMAND screen.

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Welcome!

I have never been able to find a manual for the later versions of Comand online.

Right, you are correct that the NAV part needs the disk in the drive to prepare a route. Once that is done you can take out the DVD and use CD's - yawn, so use an ipod interface or get a 6CD changer.

Now connecting the phone opens a whole can of worms.

When you open the top of the armrest console, what is in there?

 

[baadil]

Thanks guys for your help.

Ok, in the armrest, umm, nothing. I think a light and that's about it. On the console, when I click on the Tel button, it says "No Phone". Do you know if this is support to be hard wired (Cradle) style phone or bluetooth? I would really like to use it with bluetooth if possible and be able to use the controls it had.

 

[npuk]

I assume the car is post facelift?

Regarding not being able to play cds and navigating do you not have a cd changer in the glovebox?

If the car has phone pre-wire (assuming it is a post face-lift) it will have a connector in the centre console as in this picture. The connector may be under a a plastic cover. http://www.comandonline.co.uk/images/D/ML_HFP_connector_384.jpg

Comand manual for US unit: http://www.mercupgrades.com/manuals/navigation/USA-COMAND-NTG2-MY08-manual.pdf

 

[baadil]

Hi npuk, Thansk for the reply.

Unfortunately, I have no idea what "post facelift" means. I am so new to this that I probably cannot call myself a newbie.

Car is a UK model 2005 CLK Elegance first registered in August 2008. I checked the SatNav version and it shows samco_R9.6.8_002010. I do not have a changer (that I know of) and CDs are inserted in the dash. I have verified that I can play CDs but I have not verified if I can play MP3s. Even though the NAV disk I have is a DVD disk (it works), I cannot play regular DVD videos.

I recheked, and I do not have any connector in the centre console. Does this mean even though Comand console has a phone and video buttons, I do not have these features in the car?

I have been trying all different key combinations to see if I can get into any hidden menu to at least enable MP3 playback but no luck with any of the combinations I have found. Perhaps it is because I have a newer NAV CD?

Thanks again.

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Facelift or no, you don't appear to have phone pre-wiring in your car so you need to use a non-MB solution unless you have deep pockets.

The lack of phone pre-wiring means you are likely to need to use a Parrot type system to get Bt phone.

The video button on your Comand will only engage if the MOST ring picks up an input.

And MP3 playback does not work on the type of Comand in your car. To make that work you will need to install a suitable 6CD changer.

I'm sure Alfie or Richard will stop in to discuss your options.

Oh and the only section of the manual referred above that stacks up for a UK Comand is the NAV part.

 

[mickl]

http://home.earthlink.net/~phdwebsite/comand_manual.htm full list of downloadable manuals, unfortunately it's for the US so some functions aren't the same.

 

[baadil]

Thanks guys for your help. I am a bit disappointed with what Merc has included in an expensive (and relativly recent (to me)) car.

Here is what I think what I should do considering the cost.
- Use a bluetooth ear piece and later on I can look into getting a Parrot system.
- Live with CD instead of MP3 CDs. My last car had a CD changer in the boot and it was such an inconvient thing. I rather have it in dash single disk. So I guess no MP3s for me :-(
- I have such a nice screen in the car but I will have to live without video as well.
- I have a Tom Tom 920 for Sat Nav so I guess I will use that for navigation because I can either use an Audio CD or Nav Maps DVD and not both at the same time.

If there any thind party option to perhaps this whole Comand system and add something else to provide this feature and save some money?

Thanks.

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Hi Baadil,

You sum it up well.

What I would say is that there is a device mentioned somewhere on here that pretends to be a CD Changer but is in fact a solid state memory reader.

Plus, you could enable video, but the solution will not work while the vehicle in is in motion ie use something like the Dension Gateway.

With these and a Parrot, you have all you want, at roughly the same price of a good all-in replacement.

 

[npuk]

This is the device Baron mentioned above: Mercedes Player mp3 SD CF - MP3 Sound in Ihrem Mercedes Benz

 

[richard]

This is the device Baron mentioned above: Mercedes Player mp3 SD CF - MP3 Sound in Ihrem Mercedes Benz

That device is for the older cars (D2B), OP's car is a MOST based system.

The CD changer on the W203 ends up in the glovebox, so not as inconvenient as the boot. However, adding an iPod kit is cheaper, and you can sling an old iPod full of music in the glovebox and not loose all the space in there

I would not put a Parrot in, i'd retrofit the OEM system with a bluetooth adapter as that would give you proper integration with control from steeirng wheel and COMAND and the phonebook available also. Talk to alfie (on this forum) about that if you don't want to take your car apart !

Richard

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Damn, and I fancied one of those MP-40's too!

 

[baadil]

Thanks everyone.