W211 Comand unlocking problem/question

[harveyn]

I am trying to reveal the secret menu in the comand screen to unlock the ability to play mp3's etc.
The second stage, after revealing the engineering menu, says to hold down * and # and < at the same time, but it doesn't work for me. Might one of the buttons suggested be wrong? I have tried doing them in every possible sequence, aswell as simultaneously. Any thoughts very gratefully received! Kind regards Harvey

 

[miro]

I am trying to reveal the secret menu in the comand screen to unlock the ability to play mp3's etc.
The second stage, after revealing the engineering menu, says to hold down * and # and < at the same time, but it doesn't work for me. Might one of the buttons suggested be wrong? I have tried doing them in every possible sequence, aswell as simultaneously. Any thoughts very gratefully received! Kind regards Harvey

If you get the information you need and something happens will you come back to this forum and blame the person that helped you ?

 

[jeremytaylor]

Harvey,

Glad to hear I'm not the only one with that problem. I've been trying to access the secret keys to enable the DVD to play in motion (so the kids can watch it from the back seat).

Miro, we promise not to blame you!

 

[zvrikos]

My comand - aps on C 230 Sportcoupe (2005) doesnt support Mp3 and dvd playing.. Why on earth, would I ever blame the person who helped me work these things out???

Please, give us info...

zisis

 

[steve.link]

There are 3 possible combinations of buttons and 2 different methods of pressing them - a total of 6 options.

Where did you get the code information from?
Is your COMAND Euro spec?

 

[Mr E]

Had this problem.....

If I remember rightly:
1. Press and hold #
2. While holding #, press and hold *
3. While holding the first two, press and hold <

Then worked a treat...

 

[jeremytaylor]

Works a treat for me too now, thanks very much Mr E!

I've had a great idea. When I go to Paris next month, instead of relying on the Comand sat nav, I could play 'C'etait un rendezvous' on the DVD instead and follow his route, at the same speed

 

[saorbust]

It worked for me straight off. I bet I'm only one that disabled video in motion from 0 Kmh.....

 

[Starfish]

Which option?

Of the Dr.Dist, RegCode etc. options which did you use for the DVD speed override?

Thanks.


--Andrew

 

[KosherBenz]

Of the Dr.Dist, RegCode etc. options which did you use for the DVD speed override?

Thanks.


--Andrew

Dr.Dist = Driver distraction.

 

[jdrrco]

What an ungrateful bunch of whingers!

The instructions which I supplied for free, having paid for them myself, had one small typo in them.

I wrote to you individually explaining this, as described above, and all you can do is complain. A dealer would have charged you £50-plus to get these menus unlocked.

I'll know not to bother offering to help again.

See ya.

 

[miro]

What an ungrateful bunch of whingers!

The instructions which I supplied for free, having paid for them myself, had one small typo in them.

I wrote to you individually explaining this, as described above, and all you can do is complain. A dealer would have charged you £50-plus to get these menus unlocked.

I'll know not to bother offering to help again.

See ya.

Is this the help that people claim will improve our lives by making the roads less safe ?

The dealers dont have the capacity to do this work as the menu for unlocking is not available to them.

 

[Howard]

What an ungrateful bunch of whingers!

The instructions which I supplied for free, having paid for them myself, had one small typo in them.

I wrote to you individually explaining this, as described above, and all you can do is complain. A dealer would have charged you £50-plus to get these menus unlocked.

I'll know not to bother offering to help again.

See ya.

I'm sure after this post, that the other members will feel the same way should you ask for any advice again ....

I can't see any complaints in this thread, just people asking for clarification .....

 

[harveyn]

Thank you Mr E for trying to help, unfortunately your suggested sequence didn't work in my car, an early aug 2003 built e320cdi estate, If anyone has any other suggestions I would greatly appreciate their input, I am also confuse by some of the replies. Kind regards to all, harvey

 

[glojo]

Thank you Mr E for trying to help, unfortunately your suggested sequence didn't work in my car, an early aug 2003 built e320cdi estate, If anyone has any other suggestions I would greatly appreciate their input, I am also confuse by some of the replies. Kind regards to all, harvey

Hi Harvey,
If you own a 211 with COMAND and it does not play Mp3's then I have a couple of questions.

Is the COMAND an original option in your vehicle?

Has the vehicle been serviced at a main dealership?

These questions are inter - related. There have been dozens of 'upgrades' for the 211, one of which upgraded the COMAND to play Mp3's. This flash upgrade is usually free, but if you just go into a dealership and request it, you might be charged fifteen minutes labour.

I have my own views on DVD in motion which might be out of synch with your own, so we had best avoid discussing how to do this.

Regards,
John

 

[jdrrco]

Is this the help that people claim will improve our lives by making the roads less safe ?

The dealers dont have the capacity to do this work as the menu for unlocking is not available to them.

I fail to see how people playing MP3s in Britain will make the roads in Australia any less safe!

As far as British roads are concerned, the fact that you can play 1,000 tracks without having to press any additional buttons on COMAND could potentially make our roads safer, as so many accidents are caused by people swapping CDs/tapes/radio stations.

If you read other threads regarding this you will see that dealers over here not only have the "capacity" to do the work but have charged several readers £20 for the CD plus one-hour's labour to do it.

 

[glojo]

I fail to see how people playing MP3s in Britain will make the roads in Australia any less safe!

I think you are being slightly unfair to Miro. His observation, which I fully agree with, is really in relation to DVD in motion.

If your car has not had the upgrade then there is something wrong?? This upgrade is NOT just to allow the COMAND to play Mp3's. It is just a small part of the ongoing program that updates the whole COMAND system to the latest specifications.

No one on this forum will be overly sarcastic, we do however have opinions which you may, or may not agree with. Miro is a well respected, helpful character with opinions.

The roads over here would indeed be safer if drivers did not get distracted from their primary function. Having 1000 plus Mp3's on one DVD is an excellent idea, and hopefully you could easily complete a journey without the need to change disc's?

Any chance of answering my questions regarding servicing?

Regards,
John the Miro fan

 

[harveyn]

Hi John
Thanks for your thoughts, in answer to your questions. The comand was factory fitted from new, and I believe the sat nav has been 'updated' at a recent service, though they didn't say what for! It may be that mp3's are already enabled! I will try this evening!
Aside from this I still can't work out why I can't seem to access the secret menu, when others can, I hate not understanding why. It would be great to make the dvd player region free, but isn't a priority. Kind regards to all, harvey

 

[jdrrco]

I think you are being slightly unfair to Miro. His observation, which I fully agree with, is really in relation to DVD in motion.

If your car has not had the upgrade then there is something wrong?? This upgrade is NOT just to allow the COMAND to play Mp3's. It is just a small part of the ongoing program that updates the whole COMAND system to the latest specifications.

No one on this forum will be overly sarcastic, we do however have opinions which you may, or may not agree with. Miro is a well respected, helpful character with opinions.

The roads over here would indeed be safer if drivers did not get distracted from their primary function. Having 1000 plus Mp3's on one DVD is an excellent idea, and hopefully you could easily complete a journey without the need to change disc's?

Any chance of answering my questions regarding servicing?

Regards,
John the Miro fan

It was his overly sarcastic comment that I took issue with. What question did you ask me about servicing?

 

[glojo]

Hi John
Thanks for your thoughts, in answer to your questions. The comand was factory fitted from new, and I believe the sat nav has been 'updated' at a recent service, though they didn't say what for! It may be that mp3's are already enabled! I will try this evening!
Aside from this I still can't work out why I can't seem to access the secret menu, when others can, I hate not understanding why. It would be great to make the dvd player region free, but isn't a priority. Kind regards to all, harvey

There have been numerous COMAND upgrades since your vehicle was built, so hopefully it will be fully up to date. Some folks have had problems playing Mp3's but on investigation it has been down to the writing software.

I am NOT going to recommend any writing software, I am merely going to say that I use Version six of Nero Express and simply use the wizard for writing an Mp3 disc. I found it most important to use the Mp3 disc option otherwise the disc gets wrote, it plays perfectly on the computer, perfectly on the hi-fi system, but refuses to work in the COMAND? I have 1200 files on a DVD and it works perfectly.

Do NOT put folders, within folders.

Do NOT put more than 255 files in a folder.

Do not have more than 255 folders.

Some folks have put folders, within folders, but trust me, it has caused numerous problems.

It was his overly sarcastic comment that I took issue with. What question did you ask me about servicing?

Sorry jd,
I got my wires crossed, I have just had the question answered from the correct member.

The written word never travels very well and I'm sure miro was NOT being sarcastic. Don't forget they are all deported criminals, so their language may appear coarse to our sensitive tastes

Just look at their Cultural Attache:

I rest my case

Regards,
Bruce