Hello,

I am new to here so I apologies in advance for rambling!

I have just bought my first MB. I love her to bits!

My problem...........................

I pulled up to go the the shop tonight.
The command system was working at this point and I had my phone plugged into a small MP3 radio transmitter which sends a radio signal to the cars radio to play my music from my phone on station 87.5.

I never turned the radio off, just the engine (like I always do).

After shopping I returned to the car, started the engine and the command system started up as I had left it on when I turned off the engine.

I then went to turn the volume down using the volume button on the centre console.
It didn't turn down, or up for that matter.

So I tried to switch off the command system using the on/off button and this didn't work, it remained on.

I then used the steering controls to turn the volume down - this worked, both up and down.

Now none of the buttons on the command system in the centre console work, the Radio remains on until I turn off the engine and it shuts down.

When I turn on the engine the command system starts up as if it's going to work, it goes straight to the radio settings and plays but again the buttons do not work. I can turn the volume up and down and change radio stations using the steering controls.

Has my command system crashed? There is also a cd in the single cd player (above the screen) but even that wont eject?

Can some one please help!

I am an intelligent female, but I have no knowledge of cars so please explain in laymans terms.

Thank you in advance for your Help!
Sam

 

Most of us are Yanks, so have no clue what 56 plate means. I think it means a 2006 or 2007 model year. Is that correct?

If so, there are a lot of things it could be. My guess is that it's the head unit itself. But the electrical system in this car is very complex, so it could be something else entirely.

To give a flavor of what's involved to isolate the problem, there are two networks involved in the COMAND functioning. One is the CAN-B or Controller Area Network/Body, which is a digital network that is controlled by routers called SAMs (Signal Acquisition/Activation Modules). When you press a button (like powering on the COMAND) it sends a signal to a SAM (the car has two of them), which in turn powers on the COMAND. Every button in the car works this way. That way, much thinner copper wires suffice since most carry only computer signals. That, in turn, saves hundreds of pounds of weight in copper.

So a malfunction in a SAM could theoretically be the culprit, for instance.

Then there is an unrelated fiber-optic (fibre-optic for you?) ring network called MOST (Media Oriented Systems Transport) that connects all audio systems like the COMAND, phone if you have it, amplifiers, CD changer, etc. with fiber connectors. Theoretically, a problem in the MOST ring could be the culprit.

That said, it's most likely the COMAND unit itself. But make sure you let the car sit for 30 minutes to see if it rectifies itself. That will give the CAN-B time to sleep, and the reboot could clear up transient errors. If the problem persists, a well-trained specialist is your only recourse due to the complexities of the system.

 

I did say I was an intelligent woman but WTF?? lol
Yes it's a 2006 plate, my apologies

Thank you for the response - I thought that I was not going to get any. I have left the car overnight and no change. Nothing re-set. So my next step was to remove the fuse, but as yet have a yellow streak as not sure what will happen, me being a woman n all. I know that I don't need a radio code but worried what else might go wrong! I spoke to a MB service centre who want to do a diagnostic, obviously this is charged by the minute. As yet I am awaiting my partner to return from Troy, to help me understand what is happening - in the mean time I will pass on the information to my friend and see what he says.

Thank you for the response!

I suppose it was always going to be SAM's Fault lol

 

FYI - This is what I have just received from Command Online Ltd for anyone with a similar issue! I will let you know what happens as I am going to remove the fuse - in the morning tho, as its now 1:39am and I should really sleep!

.............................................

Hi Samantha,

Thanks for the email and the detailed list of symptoms. I wish all our
customers were so concise.


This is easily fixed I think.

All you need to do is to look for fuse no 64 in the fuse compartment under
the bonnet. It on the upper left of the engine bay once the bonnet is up.
Remove the fuse (64) and leave it 5 minutes. Then re-insert it. This
should have resolved the problem for you.

If you are unsure about the fuse, there should be a fuse map behind the
panel on the end of the dashboard on the drivers side. This panel pops off
revealing a few other fuses and the map.

If not, do please come back to us,

Best wishes,

Mark
.................................................. .........
This is the fuse I was going to remove - AWESOME - I got it right!

 

Well I know it's 2am but I had to try it!!

It only bloomin' well worked!

Thank you for the advice and Thank you Command Online Ltd!

Good Nite Folks!
See Ya'll Later xx

 

That's great. Glad it was an easy fix for you.