superlubricity

Purchased a generic PCMCIA SD Memory Card reader from eBay (~$20) and used it with an 8GB Micro SD (w/ SD Adapter) I bought from Amazon.com last year (~$20).

I copied a bunch of albums over and everything is working perfectly.

Product photos:

PC Card and memory card.




Installed photos:

Without camera flash.


With camera flash.


Screen photos:

BMG's All Music Guide Box Set.


Gotta love some Old School rap.


Rob Bass anyone?


A simple and affordable way to get MP3s into the car . . .

GBlansten

Dropped about 8 gigs on a CF card last week and put it into the car. Love it.

superlubricity

For those interested in the seller's details:

patboyy

cool

Shellbmb

I've been able to get up to 16gb CF cards to work, but not 32gb.

I think this works so much better than our worthless Ipod adapter (2009 non-upgrade). My wife's GL has the upgraded media interface and the ipod interface is much better. But she doesn't have the mouse wheel, so its a pain to surf through all the artists/playlists, etc by using buttons.

I'm surprised that don't include the little mouse wheel on all their cars.

sjhugh

That setup looks great, much tidier than what I have. I researched it while waiting for my car to arrive and only wish we could buy them that cheap here. This is what my car came with, a ‘Media Interface Consumer Cable Kit’ part number A 001 827 70 04. It consists of 3 cables, iPod, USB & AUX. which connect in the glove compartment. I don’t know about the iPod or AUX cables as I haven’t taken them out of the packet but the USB works well. It shows Song Title, Artist, Directory Name, Track Number, Song Elapsed Time and how far into the directory the file is. You can search tracks with the console control knob or the alphabetic key pad on the dashboard, fast forward or rewind tracks in the usual way and adjust volume through the steering wheel. I use a 16GB Memory Stick and the Media Interface allows a maximum of 8 directories with a maximum of 1000 songs (files) per directory. That’s 8000 songs, I currently have around 4000 and it works seamlessly quick.














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Ape

I think you have the better option. My '09 only has an IPod adaptor in the glovebox, I would love to have the aux and UBS options as I have both of those but not an IPod brand player. I wounder if we can get those cords in the US aftermarket?

eagle_lex

yes i wonder if i can get that in my 09. no need for an ipod player. right now im using the adapter with a 8g CF card in the dash works great!

superlubricity

I've also got a 30GB iPod Video in the Glove Box using the connection cable included in the Multimedia Package (Option 320). It performs flawlessly as well.

Somewhere along they way, maybe for 2010, MB changed the cabling to include both ipod connector and Aux-in (3.5mm jack) on one cable but left out the USB connection option.

I'm also on the hunt for a standalone USB cable as you can't have enough options.

Shellbmb

So the multimedia upgrade MB offers for the C63, does that include a USB jack or just the ipod and audio-in jack?

To me, the audio-in jack is useless. I don't own a Zune or any other mp3 player. The USB might be nice if it holds more than 16gb. Otherwise the PC card slot works fine for me.

superlubricity

For my 2010, as part of option 320, there is a single cable for the glove box connection that includes both the iPod connector and Aux-in (3.5mm jack). There is no option for USB connectivity.

nonsns3

Have you looked on the side panel to the right of the glove compartment? There is an aux input hidden behind there in my car: https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...aux-input.html

Aux input is nice when you have an audio device that can stream music on the fly like iPhone running Pandora, or Shoutcast or Slacker radio.

sjhugh

The USB does work well and performs all the functions I require, I’d just prefer something that is neater and doesn’t hang in the glovebox. That’s what I like about the PCMCIA setup, it’s unobtrusive. For example my BMW has a direct connection for the USB memory stick in the console area with no need of a lead. It’s tidy, well placed, unseen and out of the way even when the console is in use, it also has a pocket under the console lid for an iPod. If MB had better thought out its media interface along the same lines I would be more than happy.

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sjhugh

My car is also a 2010 model, Australian specs.

Maybe check with MB and see if the cable is available to you.

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Unbreakable1

is there a certain brand of 16gb card that has/has not worked?
i prefer SD cards cuz their uses seem to be more universal but if a 16gb sd wont work then ill have to get a CF PC card

thanks!

superlubricity

I've also tested a 16GB Transcend Class 6 SDHC card with zero issues.

Shellbmb

I don't think it matters between CF or SD. For some reason there is a size limit. I have a Kingston 16gb and 32gb CF card and on the 32gb card, it only sees about half of it. And I can't figure out why it sees some folders and not others.
It doesn't cut off the bottom half of the folders, but rather random folders throughout the list. Its really strange.

RNS-11Z

is this pcmcia card read standard? yes i have the slot too but do i need to get anything else aswell to make it work?

Rodz

That is NICE!

Does the ipod come up in the screen too?

GBlansten

Just need to put a memory card in it with music and it will work just fine.

sjhugh

All you have to do is buy the PCMCIA adaptor card reader and a memory card to suit. My manual does warn that it doesn’t support all brands of PCMCIA cards and if you’re unsure, contact MB for advice. I don’t know how true this is or if MB are just over protecting themselves in case of a problem. The PCMCIA adapter cards are available locally and when I checked into it, they were asking around $160 for them. I left it as I wasn’t sure what to buy and when my car arrived with the 'Media Interface Consumer Kit’, I didn’t go any further with it. I just plugged a USB memory stick in and was happy with the result. You will also need a card reader for your computer if it doesn’t already have one so you can download the tracks to the memory card.




I haven’t used the iPod function though the ‘Media Interface’ section of my ‘Supplement Comand APS’ manual says it does. Exactly as you see in my photos. It also in says that once connected, you can create and play song lists by selecting categories such as, Composers, Audiobooks, Podcasts, Album Names, Artists, Genres and so on. It works through the console control knob and number keypad.

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gravedgr

The problem with the PCMCIA slot is that if you have most of your songs in iTunes (and they aren't DRM-free), you can't export them in mp3 format. I need an inexpensive (i.e. not the new multimedia crap they want to sell on top of my existing iPod adapter) hookup that lets me browse songs, playlists, etc. all from the COMAND screen.

AlexCim

Has anyone tried to hook up a self powered external HDD through the USB? For example, a 3.5" external?

ALSO. Long shot I know, but do you think the unit can play movies from the HDD like most new DVD players/TV's?

sjhugh

I haven’t tried to hook-up a HDD but I did try to play MPEG and WMV through a USB memory stick and neither worked. When I checked the manual, it said 'the Media Interface only supported MP3 and WMA'.

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superlubricity

Two things, even though they really don't help your situation.

1) In 2010+ models the iPod connection/adapter in the glove box allows for everything to be viewed and controlled on screen.
2) I highly-recommend Amazon MP3 as a DRM-free alternative to iTunes downloads.