Frustrated: DVD turns off when on a ferry.
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Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
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'09 C350 DD/ '10 M5
Frustrated: DVD turns off when on a ferry.
So I zm trying to watch a movie to kill time while on a ferry but my car will not allow this. I have it in park and ebrake on. Still doesn't work. I've tried all key positions and still nothing. It thinks i am driving when the car is not running, in park, and with the ebeake on wtf!what a crappy design.......
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From: Chicago
2018 E300 4MATIC Sedan
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Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 373
Likes: 33
From: Vancouver, BC
08 C300
Our Comand system checks on 3 parameters whether the car is in motion or not.
1. gear selector
2. speed
3. gps
In your case, it failed because the car thinks its moving due to GPS.
VIM is the only solution. lol
1. gear selector
2. speed
3. gps
In your case, it failed because the car thinks its moving due to GPS.
VIM is the only solution. lol
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 955
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From: NNJ
'11 C350 '13 F150 lariat
My 2008 would let u go up to 3 miles an hour then shut off, my 2011 shuts off putting it in any gear other than park. Its the GPS that shuts it off on most of the cars, VIM is the only way to bypass it. I didnt do one in my 2008 but I did last month in my 2011 and its great. I have DVD videos and its nice to see a video and hear the music in the system, or for a DVD for my passenger to enjoy
Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 126
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From: near Vancouver, Canada
2010 C300 4matic Special Edition
Well, I checked again today, and my 2010 plays dvd's when the ferry is moving, with or without the key in the ignition. Perhaps there was a change in the software, or it could be that my ferry goes very slowly?
As soon as the car is put in drive, the dvd goes off.
As soon as the car is put in drive, the dvd goes off.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Central Florida
2009 C300 Sport, ex 2007 C230 Sport
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
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2012 Mercedes Benz C350 4Matic in Magnetite Black
If COMMAND is getting input from the GPS antenna that you are moving, that will disable the DVD. If the DVD still seems to work for you while on a ferry, perhaps COMMAND thinks you're not moving, depending on where your vehicle is located on the ferry, the GPS antenna may not be receiving location data because you're too far from the edge of the ferry, for example.
For those long ferry rides, try placing a piece of aluminum foil (folded multiple times to make it thick) on your sat antenna (gently as not to scratch ;-). I've done that before...not for DVD/VIM purposes, but to test satellite and location aquisition times when I thought my antenna was bad. Or maybe keep an old 6" soup pot in your trunk to hang over the antenna, you'll definitely get some looks.
For those long ferry rides, try placing a piece of aluminum foil (folded multiple times to make it thick) on your sat antenna (gently as not to scratch ;-). I've done that before...not for DVD/VIM purposes, but to test satellite and location aquisition times when I thought my antenna was bad. Or maybe keep an old 6" soup pot in your trunk to hang over the antenna, you'll definitely get some looks.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 833
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From: St. Paul, MN
2011 E550 4Matic
As much as I understand the safety aspect of this, isn't this also the main type of situation where you would WANT to use the DVD player? How many other situations can you think of where you would have a long period stuck in your car while not driving?
Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 126
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From: near Vancouver, Canada
2010 C300 4matic Special Edition
Second test today
Today I was at the front of the ferry, out in the open; clear sky above. I switched between video, sat radio and nav during the trip. I did not loose any signal the whole time and the dvd kept playing. Some have said that they can drive slowly and still see the dvd, but on my car (2010) the video goes off as soon as "d" is selected, i.e. I am still stationary. So perhaps the software is an issue for the OP; also, gps does not seem to be a factor for my car - I can watch dvd until I select drive.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 780
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From: br00klynnn.
C204
For those long ferry rides, try placing a piece of aluminum foil (folded multiple times to make it thick) on your sat antenna (gently as not to scratch ;-). I've done that before...not for DVD/VIM purposes, but to test satellite and location aquisition times when I thought my antenna was bad. Or maybe keep an old 6" soup pot in your trunk to hang over the antenna, you'll definitely get some looks.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,108
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From: Dix Hills, New York
2012 C250 Coupe
Just some food for thought... Is there a way to go into the secret engineering menu and temporarily disable GPS or something (so he can watch his DVD on the ferry) and then re-enable it when you get to the other side? It seems like a PITA just to watch a darn movie, but hey, it sure beats the price tag of installing VIM from Mid-City...
