I just purchased a CLK55 and want the hands free feature and am in the process of working with Steve on the install, but have a question. What are the COMAND features? I really only want the hands free phone feature, but am uncertain as to what I might be missing if I opt for only the phone install and not the COMAND. Is COMAND really only Nav?

Also, on the hands free phones, are most using the UHI supported phones? If so, or not, for what reasons?

Thank you!

 

The Comand Manual is available at site

http://home.earthlink.net/~phdwebsite/comand_2.0.htm

The manual Link
http://phdwebsite.powerpulse.cc/COMA...d%20Manual.pdf

 

Thank you cnelson!

 

With the Comand, you can dial using the keypad on the Comand and scroll through the numbers in your phone. It will also pop up on the instrument cluster and you can scroll through there as well.

I am not sure if you can do this without the Comand. Those would be about the only benefits I can see.

I had both installed by Steve and he did great (UHI kit and Comand). Works wonderful. About the only advice is don't get a sony phone for the UHI kit. Choose another. If you go with a Sony you have to take the phone out of the cradle everytime you start the car, then power the phone down and back up, then put it back in the crade. If you don't go through this procedure then the car won't recognize it.

 

Very good information to have, thank you! What car was it installed in? And what was the price total...if I may ask!

 

You can do this with a 2000+ car even without COMAND. I don't remember the results of trying it on a 1999 vehicle without COMAND.

-s-

 

Comand was 1600 USD and the Phone kit was 1200USD. You can install the Comand very easily yourself but you will need Steve or your dealership to program it properly. If you install it yourself, buy it from Steve's company. They stand behind their products and know more about these cars than the MB engineers. And, the kit will comes with all the pieces you need to install it and it should only take 30-45 minutes.

The phone kit looked a little more complicated to install than the Comand. I would let Steve do that one. But, after installed, it works great and very happy with it. Now I am wishing I would have had him install the xenons when he was here. If they could just figure out how to do heated seats, I would have everything I wanted in that car.

 

Thanks guys...now I just need to decide if I want COMAND or just the phone feature...hhmm

 

Hi,
The download links are no longer working, or am I too early?
(I'm after the 2002 C class comand manual).
Thanks

 

The really cool part is that if you do go with COMAND, you will have hands free everything. Change CD's, change tracks, change radio stations, etc.

 

Ok, you got me on that...How do you change with voice commands? I think I should have read the manual.

 

I believe he means you can change by the steering wheel controls? Is that correct, not voice?

 

2001 and later voice control module + 2001 and later head unit will give you voice control changing of the CDs, CD tracks, to radio, frequency, tape, etc.

The steering wheel controls do not have as much capability as the later voice control modules.

-s-

 

You should thank Paul Hick.

 

Try http://home.earthlink.net/~phdwebsite/comand_manual.htm

I just had a good connection.

 

Scorchie,

It may be more accurate to say that the cars originally equipped with voice control and steering wheel controls do not have as much capability as cars equipped with the later VCMs and lever controls. The limitation seems to stem from the VCM itself and possibly the PSE through which it operates, rather than the activation method.

I was able to retrofit my Nov '99 manufactured 2000 S500 (steering wheel button for voice control, not a lever) with an '01 VCM (part A203 820 6826) and a TimePort PSE (Q 682 0648, not an autosense version), and get full voice control with an MY 2000 head unit ("D" Nav). The steering wheel control (button) works just fine to activate the '01 VCM.

I went to the TimePort PSE with my MikBox installation to get caller ID, which my OE StarTac PSE did not provide. While I am not certain that the new PSE was necessary for more voice control, I know that the VCM operates through it. I installed both at the same time, so I don't know if the StarTac PSE would have limited the functions of the '01 VCM. Additional voice control flexibility may have been a beneficial if unintended consequence of going to the TimePort PSE in conjunction with the '01 VCM.

The only exception to "full voice control" is that I cannot bring the CD changer onscreen with a voice command. Once I manually select it, I can change discs and tracks with voice control. All other functions are as advertised for MY '01. Voice control of radio selection, band changes, tuning, phone selection and controls, and tape selection and controls all work.

I suspect I need a firmware update to get the one missing CD function, but the local dealer is nervous about doing the update (what else is new?).

Since I have replaced my CD changer with an iPod and ice>link, I can change the first 5 playlists on the iPod by voice as well.

An undocumented feature is the ability to select the Nav screen by voice - it is not a command listed in the Help menu for my VCM. I can't select destinations (a feature in newer COMAND models and VCMs), but I can call up the Nav screen by stating "Navigation."

 

Skylaw, you're correct about your car... but it is an S-class, and the OP was asking about a CLK. Sorry for not clarifying it earlier. But the head unit in the CLK plays a large role in the capabilities of the entire system, as it acts as the D2B master as well as the CAN to D2B gateway. The gateway aspects are not as important on a W208 CLK as the VRM is hardwired to the activation stalk in this model (unlike the "2000+" generation of vehicles, such as the W220 and W203). But the D2B master is important in this scenario, as it takes commands from the VRM and controls the other devices on the D2B. Because the PSE has always been able to receive commands from the head unit, no matter which PSE you use (as long as it is fibre optic), it should work with a properly matched VRM + head unit.

Because you have a US-spec S-class, you have a COMAND, which has full usage of voice control in all years (and if yours is older you are correct, a flash upgrade will improve your voice control capabilities AS WELL as your phone software interface). A 1999 CLK tape head unit will likely not work with steering wheel controls or voice control; a 2000 CLK tape head unit will likely only work with telephone voice controls but no other commands. This was my original point which was quite clear... a 2001+ head unit with 2001+ VRM will give you full functionality. If you are using an older head unit or older VRM, you may not (but not necessarily WILL NOT) have full functionality. Your experience doesn't go against that assertation.

And finally, to clarify... my statement about how voice control has more functionality than steering wheel controls, just meant the capabilities of the VRM vs. the buttons on the steering wheels, not having to do with the fact that the S-class can use a stalk vs. a steering wheel button for activation. Only that you can do MORE THINGS related to the audio system than the steering wheel buttons alone (such as bring up the nav screen as you mentioned, or change between radio, CD or tape which cannot be done with the steering wheel controls).

-s-

 

Do you know starting when can you start selecting destinations with VCM? Does 04 W220 do this?

 

Scorchie could confirm, but I believe it was MY '03 and up, when the change to DVD based NAV started. You cannot select a destination by voice in my '02 E55.

 

My understanding, although it may be incorrect, is that only EUROPEAN voice control modules for the DVD COMANDs let you select a destination via voice spelling. DVD COMAND started in 2003 on E-class, 2004 on S-/CL-class, 2005 on C-,CLK-,SLK-,SL-class, and 2006 on CLS-/M-class. Note that MCS/MCS2 is not COMAND and is what is fitted to US-spec M-class and 2005+ C-/CLK-class (and new M-class and R-class, and next generation G-class). All years listed are model years not manufacture dates.

-s-

 

First, thanks for the detailed explanation as to the head unit function. As to the steering wheel controls, I understand your context, and you are correct. I had understood the statement differently.

And particularly for those of us with older COMAND units, thanks for the information that all versions have full usage of voice control (but may require firmware update- and of course a more capable VCM). I have received contradictory information from dealers so often I could scream. Any more, I just show them my car, which I upgraded on a $50 lark with an e-bay VCM, because after reading about COMAND 2.5 a bit, I thought it could be done.

I did get increased phone capability over StarTac with the TimePort PSE (caller ID); would be interested to know what interface improvements would be provided with a flash update of COMAND (I use a MikBox, so I'm not limited to a TimePort phone).

 

I've got a 2006 CLK with a standard head unit and am installing the UHI phone kit from Steve at MBenznl, and have a VCM module and am looking for a stalk. Does anybody know the part number for one that can be used, and/or where I can buy one. The dealer says they don't have a part for the 2006 CLK since its not available for the car--which seems crazy. Thanks.