W204 COMAND navigation system

[FF99]

I have just taken delivery of my June 2008 C280 with Comand.

Contrary to everything that I had gleaned from scouring the net, this Comand system is not DVD based, but satelite based with live Traffimaster traffic information which is, I have been told, provided free and for life. It also has postcode searches, although I am not sure yet whether or not they are 7 digit (this seems to be a hot topic).

I am not for one moment complaining, but I wonder whether this is actually what I should have been expecting. In that case, have I been misinformed by everything thatI have read ?

 

[jeremytaylor]

Contrary to everything that I had gleaned from scouring the net, this Comand system is not DVD based, but satelite based with live Traffimaster traffic information which is, I have been told, provided free and for life.

I think you will find that all sat-navs are satelitte-based

Whether the maps are on a DVD or hard drive/memory chip on a 204, I do not know.

 

[Mr E]

I think you've misunderstood...

The map data is held on a DVD (w203) or hard drive (w204) - not sure which one you have.

The position is calculated using GPS (satellite) and inertial gyros.

Trafficmaster provide the TMC (Traffic Message Channel) here in the UK which, as you say, is now available free and for life with the MB system (and has been for a while now)

Hope that helps.

 

[crockers]

Are you sure the TMC is provided by trafficmaster? If so that is a change for the better.

 

[markjay]

I had the voice-only TrafficMaster on my cars for the past 10 yaers... it works well, only problem is that it only covers main routes so does not stop you from getting caught-up in traffic on the A5 in London (Edgware Road)...

 

[FF99]

I think you've misunderstood...

The map data is held on a DVD (w203) or hard drive (w204) - not sure which one you have.

The position is calculated using GPS (satellite) and inertial gyros.

Trafficmaster provide the TMC (Traffic Message Channel) here in the UK which, as you say, is now available free and for life with the MB system (and has been for a while now)

Hope that helps.

Well, I did ask whether the map data was on DVD / HD and was told that it was not and that the maps somehow arrive in the car out of the ether together with the traffic info and don't need to be updated. Perhaps I misunderstood and what he meant was that the maps on the HD (It is a W204) update themselves automatically over the air rather than by using update DVDs. Is that the case ?

On another issue the dealer said that I would be supplied with all normally supplied audio (IPOD etc) connection cables, but there are none there. Is that because none are supplied as standard and one is normally expected to provide one's own ? No big deal, but I want to check that I have been given everything that I should.

 

[Diesel Benz]

Well, I did ask whether the map data was on DVD / HD and was told that it was not and that the maps somehow arrive in the car out of the ether together with the traffic info and don't need to be updated. Perhaps I misunderstood and what he meant was that the maps on the HD (It is a W204) update themselves automatically over the air rather than by using update DVDs. Is that the case ?

On another issue the dealer said that I would be supplied with all normally supplied audio (IPOD etc) connection cables, but there are none there. Is that because none are supplied as standard and one is normally expected to provide one's own ? No big deal, but I want to check that I have been given everything that I should.

Now I would like to know who has explained you things and which odd web sites have you been browsing. The 204 Comand has map data on a hard drive which is updated from DVDs. Traffic info comes from the RDS radio.

You should have an AUX port at the glove box if you do not have the media interface option.

 

[Mr E]

Are you sure the TMC is provided by trafficmaster? If so that is a change for the better.

No, I was wrong - iTIS provide most of the TMC coverage. I've also been told thatthere is a joint RAC/TrafficMaster venture providing coverage as well, but not seen anything about that.

 

[FF99]

You should have an AUX port at the glove box if you do not have the media interface option.

I do have an aux port in the glove box, but I was assuming that as it has a 4Gb HD for music, that there would be a USB port. Seemingly there isn't one, so do I have to copy off CD's ?

 

[npuk]

Yes you will have to copy mp3s from cd to the music register. The aux input will let you listen to the ipod through the car stereo but wont let you charge it, control it or see track info on the display. You need the optional IPOD interface or media interface for full IPOD functionality.

 

[st13phil]

The unit itself will not allow you to copy standard audio CD's to the music register. You will need to copy MP3 files from a memory card in the PCMCIA slot.

 

[FF99]

Thanks. I think I am getting some conflicting answers here ....

Seemingly I can't copy anything via the aux port but I can listen to an IPOD etc. using its own controls.

I may or may not be able to copy off CD's, but I can copy off a PCMCI card; but only if I have a lpatop old enough to have a PCMCIA slot !! Who is still using PCMCIA cards ?? I though they went out at the same time as floppies !

Out of interest, how much is the media interface and can it easily be fitted now ?

 

[npuk]

You can copy cds to the music register but not original audio cds which have cda files. It has to be cds with mp3 files so you will need to convert your original cd to mp3, then burn the mp3 files to a cd to copy to the music register.

The aux input can be used to input sound from various devices not just an IPOD, but like I said above you wont be able to control the IPOD, charge it or see the track names on the car stereo. You will need something like this: iPod - 3.5mm Stereo Cable : iPod Accessories : Maplin

For the price of IPOD interface or Media Interface see: Comand Online Ltd They can be retrofitted afterwards.

Regarding the PCMCIA slot you can use something like: Amazon.com: SanDisk 6-in-1 PC Card Adapter ( SDAD-67-A10, Retail Package): Electronics and a SD card.

 

[320's Plenty]

Thanks. I think I am getting some conflicting answers here ....

Seemingly I can't copy anything via the aux port but I can listen to an IPOD etc. using its own controls.

I may or may not be able to copy off CD's, but I can copy off a PCMCI card; but only if I have a lpatop old enough to have a PCMCIA slot !! Who is still using PCMCIA cards ?? I though they went out at the same time as floppies !

Out of interest, how much is the media interface and can it easily be fitted now ?

I took delivery of my 320CDi Sport this week, and had enquired about ipod connectivity, the sales rep, happily disappeared and came back with a cable, saying all you need to do is attach your apple usb connector, to this and it will work.

It didn't, so a trip back to the dealer the next day meant my wallet was £55 lighter, but I did have 3 cables, one of which now means I have total control of ipod/iphone via command.

To be honest, it was worth it, and with the HK sounds superb.

 

[FF99]

I took delivery of my 320CDi Sport this week, and had enquired about ipod connectivity, the sales rep, happily disappeared and came back with a cable, saying all you need to do is attach your apple usb connector, to this and it will work.

It didn't, so a trip back to the dealer the next day meant my wallet was £55 lighter, but I did have 3 cables, one of which now means I have total control of ipod/iphone via command.

To be honest, it was worth it, and with the HK sounds superb.

Thanks for the info. My dealer said I would get all necessary cables, so I ned to follow up. Is there a part number or a more specific description. Also where do the cables attach to ?

 

[320's Plenty]

Think I chucked the plastic bag it all came, the piece of paper says Media Interface Consumer Cable (Ipod/USB/AUX), retails at about £60 depending on your dealer, and yes all new cars are supposed to be provided with this, however mine was a Sytner car and the cable was not present.

If you are not sure, go to the dealer, get them to take one out of their showroom cars and try it in your car with your, ipod/mp3 player, no point spending all that money if it doesn't work, and at least you'll which is the right cable. Mine came in a pack of 3 cables.

Good luck.

 

[FF99]

Think I chucked the plastic bag it all came, the piece of paper says Media Interface Consumer Cable (Ipod/USB/AUX), retails at about £60 depending on your dealer, and yes all new cars are supposed to be provided with this, however mine was a Sytner car and the cable was not present.

If you are not sure, go to the dealer, get them to take one out of their showroom cars and try it in your car with your, ipod/mp3 player, no point spending all that money if it doesn't work, and at least you'll which is the right cable. Mine came in a pack of 3 cables.

Good luck.

Thanks mine is also a Sytner car, but as they promised it would come with all necessary cables I don't intend to pay ! That is assuming I have the media interface at all. I have just found this thread http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/electronics/75506-media-interface-option-518-connection.html I assume that the socket that is pictured is where your cables attach to. I now need to go and check whether I actually have one. I found the aux socket on the left of the glove box, but it seems the socket for these cable is in the roof of the glove box.

UPDATE: I have looked and found only a rectangular plastic blanking plate at the front edge in the centre of the roof of the glove box and a couple of small round holes (that do not seem to be screw fixings) at the front edge to the right hand side of the glove box. I guess I am out of luck and don't have the UCI connection option at all

 

[320's Plenty]

I'm afraid your probably right, I have a rectangular socket up in the top right of the glove box, nothing on the left.

 

[FF99]

I am mainly concerned with how to get music onto the Comand HD without the hassle of burning CDs, if I don';t have the UCI conneciton port.

Plan B: There is a PMCIA slot. Presumably if I put a memory card into a PMCI adapter I could transfer music from the memory card not the Comand - or could I ??

As an alternative there seem to be PMCIA to USB adapters. Would one of those work with a bog standard USB memory stick ??

Any practical experiences appreciated !

 

[markjay]

If you have an iPod/iTtouch/iPhone, you can use an FM transmitter, see:

Amazon.co.uk: ipod fm transmitter

I use this one to let the kids listen to their music through the car's sound system

Cygnett Groove Safari FM Transmitter: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

But there other cheaper option around, e.g.:

FM TRANSMITTER AND CAR CHARGER FOR APPLE IPOD NANO 1ST: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

I actually find it more useful than UCI, as the kids can sort out their music from the back seat without messing with cables.