RDS and PTY
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Santa Barbara, CA
2003 Mercedes SL55
RDS and PTY
I am in the US, and I have a new CL600, SL55 and CLK320. Each of the Comand systems are slightly different (with the CL having the best one). One thing I noticed is that I am unable to program to receive the RDS and PTY signals from the radio stations. Why is this? Even basic models from Porsche, Audi and BMW have the systems. The Porsche is the best i've seen, but why don't my Mercs have this ability? I've read the manuals, and if there's a way to turn them on, I can't find it. Can anyone help here?
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 565
Likes: 0
From: the OC, So Cal
2000 CLK 320
hey orangemarlin,
nice seeing you post again. I see your still maintaining a nice set of cars. What happened to your z8? if you don't mind me asking. I'm sure the CL600 and SL55 are beasts.
In regards to the COMAND not having RDS, Mercedes designed two types of COMAND systems. One for the European/World market and the other for the American market. The American COMANDS definitely don't have the TV feature as it is illegal and it seems like they took out the RDS feature too as it may not be in wide use here as it is in other countries. If you really want these features, you can always retrofit a EURO COMAND.
-- Frank
nice seeing you post again. I see your still maintaining a nice set of cars. What happened to your z8? if you don't mind me asking. I'm sure the CL600 and SL55 are beasts.
In regards to the COMAND not having RDS, Mercedes designed two types of COMAND systems. One for the European/World market and the other for the American market. The American COMANDS definitely don't have the TV feature as it is illegal and it seems like they took out the RDS feature too as it may not be in wide use here as it is in other countries. If you really want these features, you can always retrofit a EURO COMAND.
-- Frank
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,300
Likes: 0
From: The President must win the Peace
Talk to MbenzNL aka steve. do a search on command and his name will come up. Hes been doing all the retrofitting for everyone. I hear his work is second to none but hes in switzerland and you have to wait until he comes in the states. Your so well off im sure you can fly him in for the job.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 565
Likes: 0
From: the OC, So Cal
2000 CLK 320
Originally posted by orangemarlin
Sounds like MB USA screwed up once again, but what do you expect from a bunch of Chrysler retreads. How does one retrofit?
Sounds like MB USA screwed up once again, but what do you expect from a bunch of Chrysler retreads. How does one retrofit?
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,596
Likes: 0
From: NY/NJ
I am currently waiting for some firmware to test if the RDS feature is implemented(sp) in software or hardware. If it is software, the US COMAND will not be that different - just its firmware.
I will be updating the forum as the test comes along.
I will be updating the forum as the test comes along.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes Teases Updated EQS With Steer-By-Wire and a Yoke
Verdad Gallardo
8 Mercedes Models With Poor Reliability Records
Verdad Gallardo
Magnificent New Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Revealed: 12 Things to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco
01 CLK430
Originally posted by funky102
Basically take out the American COMAND you have and replace it with a EURO COMAND. The EURO COMANDs can be ordered from Steve, as mentioned earlier, or there are always some available at German Ebay (www.ebay.de). It would probably be best that you wait for the DVD based COMANDS (if that isn't on your cars already) and have those retrofitted instead of the 'older' CD based COMANDS. Good luck if you decide to go through with it.
Basically take out the American COMAND you have and replace it with a EURO COMAND. The EURO COMANDs can be ordered from Steve, as mentioned earlier, or there are always some available at German Ebay (www.ebay.de). It would probably be best that you wait for the DVD based COMANDS (if that isn't on your cars already) and have those retrofitted instead of the 'older' CD based COMANDS. Good luck if you decide to go through with it.
I have a 2001 CLK and thinking of getting a EURO retrofitted CD based COMAND. Is the DVD COMAND available and if so, will it fit in my W208?
Thanks in advance.
Former Vendor of MBWorld
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 4,011
Likes: 3
From: global traveller
some slow@$$diesels
Originally posted by JohnnyBoy
Is the DVD COMAND available and if so, will it fit in my W208?
Is the DVD COMAND available and if so, will it fit in my W208?
The only DVD based comand currently offered by MB is for the W211 and we all know how long that took MB to design...
greetingz,
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,744
Likes: 1
Originally posted by orangemarlin
Sounds like MB USA screwed up once again, but what do you expect from a bunch of Chrysler retreads. How does one retrofit?
Sounds like MB USA screwed up once again, but what do you expect from a bunch of Chrysler retreads. How does one retrofit?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,596
Likes: 0
From: NY/NJ
Originally posted by MBenzNL
No the DVD based comand is not available for the 208 and will never be available for that same 208 (or 210, 163 and so on). Eventhough mercedes tried to make it available for the 203, the DVD based comand will probably have to wait till the 204...
The only DVD based comand currently offered by MB is for the W211 and we all know how long that took MB to design...
greetingz,
No the DVD based comand is not available for the 208 and will never be available for that same 208 (or 210, 163 and so on). Eventhough mercedes tried to make it available for the 203, the DVD based comand will probably have to wait till the 204...
The only DVD based comand currently offered by MB is for the W211 and we all know how long that took MB to design...
greetingz,
What will happen to a US COMAND unit if it is flashed with the Euro firmware?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,436
Likes: 6
300ce
...................I have a Euro Comand in my CLK32K. I think I was the first person to do this in USA, long before it became popular and I have worked through the kinks. The RDS and PTY features are nice but their usefulness is limited by the fact that there are few such stations in USA. By programing my Comand for RDS and PTY stations deprives me of many other stations when tunning or scanning for stations. So it is a feature I do not use a lot. As far as radio reception goes, everyone knows that with the Euro Comand, you loose the weather band, but in addition your AM reception is poorer. A solotion for all this is to get XM integrated with the Comand and you can get more stations and variety that you will no longer listen to FM or AM anymore.
Ted
Ted
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,690
Likes: 2
From: Washington State
E-500
Not sure if it works for anything but the W211.....but RDS does work with my US factory comand unit. I am using it now.
See this thread and the other thread regarding the "357" code to change setting from US to Euro
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w211/80899-rds-us-211-s.html
See this thread and the other thread regarding the "357" code to change setting from US to Euro
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w211/80899-rds-us-211-s.html
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,436
Likes: 6
300ce
.......i have a Euro Comand in my 2000 CLk that is capable of RDS and PTY. There very few stations available for this, so it is essentially unusable in North America. There are various reasons to change to a Euro Comand, but as it stands now in the USA, getting RDS and PTY is not really possible.
Ted
Ted
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,690
Likes: 2
From: Washington State
E-500
Originally Posted by Ted Baldwin
.......i have a Euro Comand in my 2000 CLk that is capable of RDS and PTY. There very few stations available for this, so it is essentially unusable in North America. There are various reasons to change to a Euro Comand, but as it stands now in the USA, getting RDS and PTY is not really possible.
Ted
Ted
Others in the W211 forum are also getting RDS on the US Comand set to Euro setting so it really IS possible.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,559
Likes: 4
From: Las Vegas, NV USA / London, UK
GL320CDI / C63 Edition 507 Coupe (EDP) / E63 S (on order) / G500 / Smart Brabus
Originally Posted by funky102
The American COMANDS definitely don't have the TV feature as it is illegal
Sorry, I just got tired of hearing this incorrect piece of information repeated SO MANY TIMES.
See what happens when you put a different feature of the car into the same situation that people are saying are applicable for the TV/video features:
"In most of the USA it is illegal to exceed 75mph, yet the cars are imported completely capable of doing 130mph (or more). Sounds like MBUSA is really opening themselves up for a lawsuit by KNOWINGLY producing a car and only limiting it to 130mph... it certainly would not be the driver's fault for breaking the law, because MBUSA provided the tool to do so."
and it seems like they took out the RDS feature too as it may not be in wide use here as it is in other countries. If you really want these features, you can always retrofit a EURO COMAND.
-s-
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,436
Likes: 6
300ce
I am getting RDS on my US Comand now. I am in Seattle. Is it possible that the stations in your area are not broadcasting RDS?
...........thanks for the info. It appears that there are substantial regional variations. I live in Atlanta and can get about 5 stations brodcasting RDS.....this is 5 out of a multitude of FM stations.
Ted
...........thanks for the info. It appears that there are substantial regional variations. I live in Atlanta and can get about 5 stations brodcasting RDS.....this is 5 out of a multitude of FM stations.
Ted
