JToups386

Alright folks, there's another thread that we hijacked from its intent, by beginning a debate on whether or not the C55 audio deck will play MP3's. There is much debate with some people saying it will play an MP3 disc, and others saying it doesn't work.
I tend to be in the latter group, as I've tried playing a self-burnt MP3 disc in both my single CD player and the 6-disc changer, and neither of them work. I do have the COMAND system, but am not sure why that would play a role.

Here are the questions.
1. Does the C55 player or disc changer have MP3 disc playing capabilities?
2. If "yes", how do you get it to work or recognize the disc? (details please)
3. If "no", and an Ipod or other MP3 device is the only option, where can you get the proper hookup (cable) to allow it to be plugged into the unit? (Not the dreaded dealership, as there must be a cheaper option...?)

Please help us out. If there's a way to get it to read the MP3 disc, I would have yet one more reason to love this car! Thanks in advance for the input.

Vehicles w/ MP3 capabilities usually state it on the head unit, as it is a bonus ability. To the best of my knowledge, ours do not state it anywhere.

ohlord

the disc in itunes,build a play list ,hit the burn button,enjoy.
if it works on my old w210 it should work for your new age model.
ohlord

JToups386

Thanks for the input. However, I do not have or use ITunes. I have 20,000+ MP3 format files, and use the typical Nero burner on my computer to burn them.

Any additional input you have would be appreciated. You're giving me hope!

c55inaz

I tried both mp3 disc and data disc with music match burner and neither of them worked in the changer. They play fine in my computer cd drive. Both discs have only the mp3 files and no program files.

Final answer... No dice

Chris

crazeazn

mp3 works fine on mine. i just burned a data disc via nero.

JToups386

Well, I tried burning two MP3 discs again last night. I kept them to less than 100 songs as someone suggested.

Using Nero software:
I burnt one as an standard MP3 audio file disc.
I burnt the second as a data disc with MP3 files.

Results = FAILURE on both types.

I just don't get it. I cannot understand how it's working fine for some people, and not working at all on mine. In fact, when I pull up the 6-disc magazine listing, the two MP3 discs cannot even be selected. They are "grayed out", and it does not recognize them at all.

The only other oddity I've noticed is that when I play an audio CD that I've burnt from MP3 files (like a regular CD w/ 10 songs), it actually displays my disc name, and the file name across the head unit screen.
For example, it shows at the top: "Smashing Pumpkins Compilation" for the disc name, and the track listing for the file name in my format of;
"SMASHING PUMPKINS_01_Bullet With Butterfly Wings"

Therefore it's obviously reading my own disc data somehow, yet when trying to play an actual MP3 file disc, it doesn't work.
HELP PLEASE!

e1000

it could be different types of writeable media. This should work for all 2005+ W203's with CD-Changers.

JToups386

Could you elaborate further? I'm using standard MP3 files, which work fine on my laptop, my Sandisk MP3 player, and when burnt to standard audio file formats on a CD.

I'm thinking there must be a simple resolution to this problem, but I need some deeper input to figure it out.

wawy

I will try it this weekend in my 2006 C55. From what I've read in the manual MP3 s will only work in the CD changer and not the in-dash unit. I'll let you know the results. I use Nero also...

e1000

I meant different brands of CD-R's might be causing this issue. Try TDK's or Verbatim's.

slowrey

Maybe you got an older model of the CD Changer.

JToups386

Not sure how that'd be the case but I suppose anything's possible. My car was manufactured in Dec 2004, which is considerably newer than many other 2005's I looked at before I purchased it.

Also, there are several who implied their 2002-2004 models worked via the CD changer, so I am assuming mine will to. I've just gotta' figure out the mystery. I'm going to try burning onto a few other disc brands. The ones I was using were old 16X types that are likely 5+ years old, and may be one of the odd brands that doesn't work. (I still find that to be an odd theory, but I'm willing to try anything at this point.)

J

mkonei

mine will not play anything in the mp3 format. ive tried dvd-rs as well...no good. i found it far easier to hook up my ipod through the aux jack in the glove box. i dont get steering wheel controls or diaplay information though. the sound quality could be better, but it doesnt really sound that bad at all.

JToups386

I've now tried three different CD brands; Memorex, Maxell, and Fuji.
All 3 fail to work for playing MP3 files.

Just to clarify something though --- I CAN use MP3 files and burn them into a standard CD audio format (like what you'd buy pre-recorded by an artist), and they'll play fine. The problem with this is it only allows for 10-15 songs per disc like a regular audio CD.

My goal was to simply be able to play actual MP3 file formats on a CD, whereas you can have 99 songs per disc as mentioned by others on the forum. I just wanted to make sure we all understood what's happening.

So at this point I'm at a total loss. Something so simple has become a total "pita", and I'm about ready to give up on it.

crazeazn

i tried it in the single disc unit. even my korean encoded songs dont have any problems either...

e1000

iguess

i have an 06 clk350. MB facelifted C and CLK classes from 2005+. not sure if any of the machanics have changed, but MP3 CDS WILL play in the 6 disc changer and will NOT play in the single disc head unit. I use DYNEX cd-R's to create a DATA disc.

crazeazn

there u go guys.

JToups386

John, you are killing me! This is like torment and torture. Showing the pic of the dang thing actually listing "MP3" on the display makes me a believer in the functionality, and yet it's like waving a bone above a dog's head just high enough out of range that he can't grab it.

Since you live near my office, we need to find time to get together and compare what the differences are in our methodology. I would like to try the disc you're using to see if it works in mine, and vise versa. Now that you've literally shown the system acknowledging the MP3 function, I am not giving up on the ability to get mine to work.

Thanks for the validation (and torment)...

crazeazn

sounds good, i'm out of town atm but when i get back we can meet up... i used nero and its a office depot cdr.

e1000

you have command don't you?

crazeazn

yes i do. if you open your glovebox theres a recessed black 3.5mm jack on the right side near where the glove door shuts. when u push aux on the COMAND, it lets you use that as a source...

MercedesFTW

MP3 CDs work in the 6-CD changer and in my head unit.

If you have the aux input in the glovebox, just go to Best Buy, Radioshack, etc, and buy a mini-to-mini cable. Both ends should look like a headphone connection. The only drawback is that quality is not always the best (depends on cable too), you have to control it via the iPod/MP3 player, and the song info is seen through command or the dashboard display

crazeazn

what he said.....

jason for ****s n giggles try just burning a cd that only has like 20-30 tracks total? maybe theres an overburn issue?

JToups386

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! I did that already w/ a 30 song MP3 disc. I've tried everything shy of carving a disc out of wood and shoving it in the disc changer. This is just baffling to me!
I spent 2+ hours last night reading the owners manuals for the car, which I needed to do anyway. Nowhere does it mention the word "MP3" in the documentation. Id did however find all sorts of hidden tricks and amenities these cars have, which was nice to learn. However, it felt like reading a manual. Oh, wait, it was...

Anyway, I'm not understanding the auxiliary jack recommendation. Why would I need to plug something into a jack in order to get a CD player to recognize a disc? I don't get it??? Shouldn't the changer/head unit recognize the format that's coming into it? Good gosh, friggin' Ford Focus's play MP3 discs. I can't imagine why MB has made this so cumbersome.

John, let's see if there's an evening this coming week that we could hook up for a few minutes. Thanks to everyone for the input.