I have been following this and other forums for several months and decided it was time to post.

The single slot drive in my '05 command unit had never worked. (not for audio or mp3 CDs) The disk would load but nothing would happen. No compact disk logo or anything. I brought it to the dealer under warranty. The dealer replaced the entire head unit. I expressed my concern to the service writer about the possible loss of the DVD mp3 feature. As I expected, no one knew what I was talking about. Two calls to MBUSA resulted in two different answers. The response to the first call was, the DVD should work. The response to the second call was, “the DVD was a safety issue and is no longer available. Any replacement units will not have the DVD” The safety issue was that some people were able to play videos. This seems like a radical solution to a simple problem. The DVD mp3 helped to make up for some other short coming like lack of RDS. The replacement unit that the dealer installed has a different part number than the original. Since the original never worked, I have no way to prove that it supported the DVD mp3 feature. If it did, I would like pursue this issue further with the dealer/MBUSA.

My question is, has anyone checked the model number of their head units through the engineering menu (mute+serv+end)? Is there any difference between the units that do vs. the unit that don’t support the DVD? It can be found under MOST/Components then scroll down to the head unit command. The part number is MB number.

My original part was 211-820-23-97
The replacement is 211-820-27-97

Any feed back would be helpful

 

As a matter of reference Mute+Serv+End didn’t work to retrieve number. My CLS was built 8/05 (delivered 10/05) and USA COMAND plays CD MP3s as does CDC. I read somewhere here on the forum that you can test the COMAND drive by inserting a movie DVD whereas you will here audio without seeing video. In testing this theory, the DVD was not recognized and, in turn, was ejected.

Now if we can get these guys with USA COMAND to do the simple test mentioned above with a movie DVD and reply with their year and model maybe we can get viable feedback. If, or course, this test is proven reliable.

 

Just found this DTB however, no DVD details. Also, I do not see part 211-820-27-97 listed anywhere.

P-B-82.85/238d AUG05 – COMAND Replacement Part Numbers

MY2004
Original: A211 827 63 42 and A211 870 02 89
Replacement for both: A211 870 02 89 80

MY2005
Original A211 820 23 97; Replacement A211 820 23 97 80
Original A211 870 02 89; Replacement A211 870 02 89 80

Certain model year vehicles may use different COMAND part numbers based on the VIN. Interesting note, replacement part numbers with suffix 80 indicate a remanufactured part.

 

Thank you for the information.

I have tried numerous MP3 DVDs, but I haven't tried a movie DVD. From everything I have read, I sadly suspect the replacement unit only has a CD drive.

My replacement part had a suffix of 88. I learned from the parts department that a -70 suffix is an exchange core.

I found that to reliably get into the engineering menu, you have to press mute first then press serv and end together while still holding down mute.

One other point of interest, under engineering menu/devices/head unit if you scroll down, it actually says "LowCostCommand: YES"

 

I'm told 211-820-27-97 lists for $6000; from VIN A445786 (9/30/03) and from X123273 (1/30/04). Seems like an older unit than your original 211-820-23-97. Unless my source is wrong. However, according to the DTB my CLS should also have your original unit 211-820-23-97 (built 8/05) - haven't checked yet.

 

I can chime in on this one. I had an '04 E500 that could read MP3s burned onto DVDs in the single slot. I loved it, since a single DVD holds so much. Now, I have an '05 E55 and it does not read DVDs in the single slot, regardless of file types. It will, however, read MP3s burned to CDs (as will the 6X changer). Kind of a bummer, but oh well. You can swap it out, but I am leary of messing with the electronics. Hope that helps. I even remember some mention of the '04 manual mentioning the DVD read capability. Problem is that you can't use that as a gripe, since Benz made a decision to drop the feature. If they had mistakenly replaced your old unit with one that was supposed to be installed only in newer cars, then you could say something. Unfortunately, they are allowed to delete features under warranty as well.

 

Long time... How's everything?

 

It has been. You still da man, and I still owe you.

Things have been good. Nice CLS. Hehe. Been through 4 Benzes since we communicated. Well, through 1 (the E500) and into 3 new ones. Not so happy with the ML500, but the new Es are classic Benzes. I told you I'm loyal to the brand. Hope all is going well for you.

 

80 on the end is the remanufactured part number as you order it from MB, the price is the total of it and the core charge. 88 is on the end of the part number when you get it from MB. If you turn in the core you don't pay the core charge. The core part number will end with a 70.

Let's say you want a fictional mud valve. It is available 2 ways from MB. New as part number 210 069 12 34 and its list price $123.45 (the body of it is expensive to make). Or it is available as a MB remanufactured part as number 210 069 12 34 88 and its list price is $12. ($10 plus the $2 core)

Got in however couldn’t find the actual part #, I also have LowCostComand:YES listed.