W204 - PCMCIA card

[snaj]

Hi All

I have just purchased my first MB, a C200 Kompressor sport saloon... lovin it so far!

I have a small issue when trying to get my pcmcia adaptor with 500mb sd card ( i know it's a small card, just testing it out at first and it was the only one lying around the house apart from the 4gb SDHC card I have) to be recognised by my mm slot in the car.

Is there a specific adaptor or sd card i should be buying?

I have the following;
30 in 1 PCMCIA Card Reader from Maplins (link below)
30 in 1 PCMCIA Card Reader : Card Reader : Maplin

4gb SDHC Integral card

500mb sandisk sd card

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers

 

[Diesel Benz]

What happened with your current adapter, it should work with the smaller SD card.

I would buy a Sandisk CF adapter and CF memory cards but you might prefer this one (this is SD HC capable, not all are):
Mercedes Sandisk 6 in 1 PCMCIA PC Card SD SDHC XD SM MS on eBay (end time 18-Feb-11 03:48:37 GMT)

Are you music files MP3 coded? The car does not play AAC (like from iTunes with default settings).

 

[snaj]

What happened with your current adapter, it should work with the smaller SD card.

I would buy a Sandisk CF adapter and CF memory cards but you might prefer this one (this is SD HC capable, not all are):
Mercedes Sandisk 6 in 1 PCMCIA PC Card SD SDHC XD SM MS on eBay (end time 18-Feb-11 03:48:37 GMT)

Are you music files MP3 coded? The car does not play AAC (like from iTunes with default settings).

Hi, thanks for replying.

That's what I thought about with the smaller SD card, I even formatted it to Fat32... though since I have read that the FAT32 format may not work, is there any truth in this?

All music files are in MP3 format yep.

 

[Simon_M]

I bought that Maplin one fo rmy W204, despite what it says on the website the product does not support SDHC. I formated the card (512mb) as FAT32 and it was OK. I was using it to import contacts which it still didn't do but it showed up as selectable as a music source.

Simon

 

[Diesel Benz]

Hi, thanks for replying.

That's what I thought about with the smaller SD card, I even formatted it to Fat32... though since I have read that the FAT32 format may not work, is there any truth in this?

No, as you can see from the previous post, FAT32 is fine, FAT16 also.

 

[snaj]

Hmmm, then there is definitely something wrong somewhere, but what?

For the time being I uploaded music to the register by burning some dvds of mp3 formatted music and loading it via that.

I think my PCMCIA card may not be compatible with the merc... as the owners manual suggest that not all PCMCIA cards will work... kind of sounds like merc trying to sell it's own pcmcia card. Probs should have done that instead of just being impatient and going to my local maplins.

 

[callahan]

Following this thread with interest as I have just taken delivery of a C200 cdi and I'm having the same issues. Out of interest, is it possible to load phone contacts via the pcmia slot or on a cd? Maybe export them from outlook as cards then import them somehow?

 

[Fres1]

Maplin 30 in 1 PCMCIA card

I also have problems wih the Maplin PCMCIA card. It is not recognised by the COMMAND unit when used with a 2GB SD card and a 4GB SDHC card. I have tried both FAT 16 and FAT 32 formats.

I presume that it is a problem with the card, as I have no issues with MP3s playing on CD, DVD, iPod, USB Flash card and Bluetooth via my Nokia E71.

The Sandisk card does not seem to be available in the UK.

Does anyone know of any UK sourced cards that work with SDHC cards?

 

[ratulina]

SD Card

The only SD cards that are any good for a Mercedes are the ones that are the 1GB, 2GB or 4GB SD cards available very cheaply from Amazon. But whatever you do don't buy a SDHC card as they are not compatible with the system. I have learnt this by a process of elimination as Mercedes are hopeless about this particular problem!
Last night, I at last found a 4GB card (they are difficult to find) and have posted the link below for the item. Hope this helps!

Platinum 177106 Secure Digital 4 GB SD Card: Bestmedia: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

 

[Diesel Benz]

The only SD cards that are any good for a Mercedes are the ones that are the 1GB, 2GB or 4GB SD cards available very cheaply from Amazon. But whatever you do don't buy a SDHC card as they are not compatible with the system. I have learnt this by a process of elimination as Mercedes are hopeless about this particular problem!
Last night, I at last found a 4GB card (they are difficult to find) and have posted the link below for the item. Hope this helps!

Platinum 177106 Secure Digital 4 GB SD Card: Bestmedia: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

There is no problem to use 16 GB or even 32 GB cards on an MB with a PCMCIA interface as long as you use the correct PCMCIA adapter. If this adapter reads the memory card when inserted to a laptop that has a PCMCIA slot.

If your PCMCIA adpater is not built to support SD HC cards, you obviously cannot use SD HC cards in your MB with that adapter. Nothing to do with MB not supporting bigger memory cards.

A safer option is to use CF memory cards, no room for confusion with the PCMCIA adapter.

 

[CaptW]

Command PCMCIA compatibility

Just received my brand new E350 CDI Coupe and downloaded all my music I had on my previous CLS320 onto the same 2 gigabyte SD card ready for the E350, surprised to find the E350 had a PCMCIA slot instead of an SD card slot like the CLS. So like a few of you purchased a Maplin 30 in 1 PCMCIA adaptor, cannot get the Command to read the adaptor/card at all. The card is a Samsung 2 gigabyte card full of mp3 files which worked fine on my CLS. The adaptor and card work fine on my laptop so must be the adaptor is not compatible. Has anyone got this Maplin 30 in 1 adaptor to work?

 

[CaptW]

Just received my brand new E350 CDI Coupe and downloaded all my music I had on my previous CLS320 onto the same 2 gigabyte SD card ready for the E350, surprised to find the E350 had a PCMCIA slot instead of an SD card slot like the CLS. So like a few of you purchased a Maplin 30 in 1 PCMCIA adaptor, cannot get the Command to read the adaptor/card at all. The card is a Samsung 2 gigabyte card full of mp3 files which worked fine on my CLS. The adaptor and card work fine on my laptop so must be the adaptor is not compatible. Has anyone got this Maplin 30 in 1 adaptor to work?

Update - Had a long discussion with my local Mercedes Workshop engineer. Seems these Maplin and most other PCMCIA readers are Type II. Mercedes say they must be Type I. My SD cards worked fine with the engineers own PCMCIA adaptor which is a genuine Mercedes accessory only costs £60!!!! so unless you can find a Type I adaptor somewhere Mercedes have you by the proverbials.

 

[Dr-Nab]

PCMCIA 5in1 Card Reader (Memory Stick/MS PRO/MMC/SD/SM) on eBay (end time 24-Mar-11 15:06:31 GMT)

I'm using a Compact Flash card (Sandisk extreme UDMA 8gb) and PCMCIA CF adaptor (also sandisk and cost £7) in mine which is pretty quick for loading up instead of the SD + PCMCIA adaptor because of what I'd read about non-compatibility with SDHC, but that adaptor in the link should work, I refuse to pay £60 for a PCMCIA adaptor!!

 

[CaptW]

PCMCIA 5in1 Card Reader (Memory Stick/MS PRO/MMC/SD/SM) on eBay (end time 24-Mar-11 15:06:31 GMT)

I'm using a Compact Flash card (Sandisk extreme UDMA 8gb) and PCMCIA CF adaptor (also sandisk and cost £7) in mine which is pretty quick for loading up instead of the SD + PCMCIA adaptor because of what I'd read about non-compatibility with SDHC, but that adaptor in the link should work, I refuse to pay £60 for a PCMCIA adaptor!!

My problem solved got a PCMCIA adapter on Amazon for £5 fitted my Sandisk 2 GB SD card and it works a treat. How can Mercedes put a £55 mark up on this
PCMCIA 5in1 Card Reader (Memory Stick/MS PRO/MMC/SD/SM) for Acer Laptop and Netbooks
Sold by: CFA Trading LTD

 

[Diesel Benz]

My problem solved got a PCMCIA adapter on Amazon for £5 fitted my Sandisk 2 GB SD card and it works a treat. How can Mercedes put a £55 mark up on this
PCMCIA 5in1 Card Reader (Memory Stick/MS PRO/MMC/SD/SM) for Acer Laptop and Netbooks
Sold by: CFA Trading LTD

Considering the time you've spent on solving the issue, wouldn't the adapter from MB have been the cheapest solution (assuming you consider some value for your hours)? The product from the link does not seem to support SD HC cards either, current MB adapters do.

I've never considered buying one from MB but as long as the car is built to support adapters from free market, I would not complain their spare parts prices.

 

[tanzenite]

PCMCIA foibles

There is no problem to use 16 GB or even 32 GB cards on an MB with a PCMCIA interface as long as you use the correct PCMCIA adapter. If this adapter reads the memory card when inserted to a laptop that has a PCMCIA slot.

If your PCMCIA adpater is not built to support SD HC cards, you obviously cannot use SD HC cards in your MB with that adapter. Nothing to do with MB not supporting bigger memory cards.

A safer option is to use CF memory cards, no room for confusion with the PCMCIA adapter.

Any one having troubles with PCMCIA interfaces and which card to use should follow the information provided by Diesel Benz. I am using a 32gb card with no problems at all.

 

[MrFury]

Just found this thread , i have just bought a USED 2011 w218 CLS 350 CDI AMG SPORT , will i need the PCMCIA CARD READER to rip music to the 10GB hard drive with my macbook or will i need to do it via disc and MP3 format ?

 

[rom1]

Hmmm, then there is definitely something wrong somewhere, but what?

For the time being I uploaded music to the register by burning some dvds of mp3 formatted music and loading it via that.

I think my PCMCIA card may not be compatible with the merc... as the owners manual suggest that not all PCMCIA cards will work... kind of sounds like merc trying to sell it's own pcmcia card. Probs should have done that instead of just being impatient and going to my local maplins.

I use this one, if you send a message to seller they will send one with Mercedes logo front and back, for copyright they cant list that on ebay, comes in a nice metal container and I use a 32GB Samsung Micro SD in sd adapter works perfect.

NEW Genuine Original PCMCIA TO SD PC CARD ADAPTER Supoort SDHC for Mercedes-Benz | eBay

 

[WOODYTHEWISE]

Sorry....late post..

 

[MrFury]

any info would be great