Perplexing audio question
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: San Diego
2004 E55
Perplexing audio question
Since I know there is a lot of traffic here, hopefully someone can chime in!
Here's the original thread:
https://mbworld.org/forums/audio-ele...ml#post3430466
Thanks for looking.
Here's the original thread:
https://mbworld.org/forums/audio-ele...ml#post3430466
The car is a 2004 E55 with original COMAND unit.
I know that to get DVD playback I have to get the Euro version of the COMAND, but I want to know why my stock COMAND cannot be reloaded to play DVD's. If the stock (2004) COMAND is capable of reading DVD data discs, then it has all the necessary hardware to play movies, all it is lacking is software. Has anyone out there heard of, or considered investigating this?? A simple flash or firmware update or what-have-you could turn all of our COMAND's into DVD playing units. I have been into the engineering menu for my COMAND and the settings are there to enable/disable driver distractions with regards to DVD play, so we can't be that far off from DVD play as it stands right now.
Any thoughts???
I know that to get DVD playback I have to get the Euro version of the COMAND, but I want to know why my stock COMAND cannot be reloaded to play DVD's. If the stock (2004) COMAND is capable of reading DVD data discs, then it has all the necessary hardware to play movies, all it is lacking is software. Has anyone out there heard of, or considered investigating this?? A simple flash or firmware update or what-have-you could turn all of our COMAND's into DVD playing units. I have been into the engineering menu for my COMAND and the settings are there to enable/disable driver distractions with regards to DVD play, so we can't be that far off from DVD play as it stands right now.
Any thoughts???
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: San Diego
2004 E55
I used the steps in that thread for getting into the engineering menu to enable mp3 playback and after I tried a CD, it also worked with mp3's on a DVD.
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From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
You're just referring to mp3 playback on a dvd, right? Not video playback? The dealer sells an update disc that will enable mp3 and some other features. It's $11.00
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: San Diego
2004 E55
What I'm saying is: if my COMAND CD slot can read data DVD's, why shouldn't it be able to play DVD video? If it has the necessary hardware to actually read a DVD, then I'm thinking a software or firmware upload/update could enable DVD video playback.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
Been discussed for years on here. Must have Euro COMAND.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: San Diego
2004 E55
I've searched around and didn't see any clear mention of the lack of video processor.. All I remember seeing is people saying, "just buy the euro comand", but nobody says why. I know that even though we have some incredible DIY'ers here, for the most part the general pop isn't up for tinkering.
Also if the video proc is software based and not a chip, then I still think it would be possible.
Also if the video proc is software based and not a chip, then I still think it would be possible.
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From: New Jersey
'06 E500 Flint Grey - Charcoal
Even if the Euro COMAND DVD playback uses a hardware processor the US can be programmed to use software.
The problem is either reverse engineering the COMAND software or trying to get a copy of the software and modifying it.
Pretty much with the software you could modify it to pretty much to look like the new COMAND's and use hardware based dvd ..
The problem is either reverse engineering the COMAND software or trying to get a copy of the software and modifying it.
Pretty much with the software you could modify it to pretty much to look like the new COMAND's and use hardware based dvd ..
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From: Orange County, CA
2004 MB E-500 & 2000 Honda Accord Coupe
I was talking to my mech yesterday and told me it is possible to enable DVD video using the SDS. I'm not entirely sure though. He ordered a SDS for his shop and told me to come back in a couple of weeks and he'll do it. I'll keep you guys posted if it's not BS.
I've read on some on other threads that some 03's US COMAND can play DVD video.
I've read on some on other threads that some 03's US COMAND can play DVD video.
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W221 S600, W220 S55 AMG Kompressor, W124 300E, W140 S320, W210 E3204M W164 ML320 Bluetec
I was talking to my mech yesterday and told me it is possible to enable DVD video using the SDS. I'm not entirely sure though. He ordered a SDS for his shop and told me to come back in a couple of weeks and he'll do it. I'll keep you guys posted if it's not BS.
I've read on some on other threads that some 03's US COMAND can play DVD video.
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From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
I was talking to my mech yesterday and told me it is possible to enable DVD video using the SDS. I'm not entirely sure though. He ordered a SDS for his shop and told me to come back in a couple of weeks and he'll do it. I'll keep you guys posted if it's not BS.
I've read on some on other threads that some 03's US COMAND can play DVD video.
I've read on some on other threads that some 03's US COMAND can play DVD video.
As of 2004, all cars received the dumbed down, US COMANDS. These will not play DVDs, no matter how much you try to tinker with them.
Ever wonder why it's so hard to find a 2003 with NAV? This is why.
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From: San Diego
2004 E55
Yes, the few 2003's that have COMAND possess the HARDWARE to render dvd video. This is because, they're actually replacement cars for the people who purchased 2003's new, and were promised NAV to be retrofitted later. It was a HUGE fiasco and MBUSA ended up replacing all of these cars with new cars, that were labeled 2003, but actually had all of the 2004 goodies. These cars were equipped with COMANDs that had all of the same hardware as the EURO cars.
As of 2004, all cars received the dumbed down, US COMANDS. These will not play DVDs, no matter how much you try to tinker with them.
Ever wonder why it's so hard to find a 2003 with NAV? This is why.
As of 2004, all cars received the dumbed down, US COMANDS. These will not play DVDs, no matter how much you try to tinker with them.
Ever wonder why it's so hard to find a 2003 with NAV? This is why.
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From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
No harm, no foul. Many people have fought through this exact same battle over the years only to finally succumb to the fact MBUSA screwed us.
For peace of mind, contact Steve (MbenzNL) or Wanda (BIGSIS) on this forum. Steve is widely considered as the World's know-all end-all when it comes to OEM MB retrofits. He used to have a very detailed side by side comparison between the US and EURO COMANDs on his website. Unfortunately, I can't find it there any more. He had a complete rundown of the differences and capabilities between the two. He has side by side pictures of them with their lids off and you can plainly see the differences.
Shoot him a PM. I find that Wanda tends to reply faster as Steve is always traveling somewhere doing an install.
Report back what they say.
Last edited by Benz-O-Rama; Mar 28, 2009 at 08:02 PM.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
So.....there ya go.
UPDATE APRIL 2005
Since this article was written, much has been learned and has changed about the W211 E-class COMANDs. Mercedes has come out with two additional model years. And, in the USA, changes have been made to both the hardware and the software. Here are some additional facts that we have found. The remainder of this document will remain untouched as documentation; but information in this update section should be considered more accurate if it contradicts other information.
What we've learned:
Most US-spec cars from 2003 that ship with COMAND (these were called "replacement" cars) had what is really a European-specification COMAND that had been updated with US software. It is possible to easily reconfigure these COMANDs to European-spec.
The COMANDs from some 2004 US-spec cars have DVD drives built-in, and some have CD drives. CD-drive units will not be able to read DVD discs at all, but DVD-drive units can read DVD audio-formatted discs. With appropriate upgrades (when possible), these can also read and play MP3 files if the disc has an ISO filesystem with Joliet extensions. It appears that no US-spec 2004 COMANDs have video capabilities as they are still lacking this hardware.
2005 US-spec cars can play the MP3 files on discs in the format above; again, some have DVD drives, and some have CD drives. Again, it appears none have the required video decoder hardware.
Since the hardware AND software changes so quickly on the cars and makes many cycles even within a given model year, these rules cannot be considered inflexible but have been mostly true; to be sure, you will need to fully examine the hardware in question to determine its true hardware and software capabilities.
Since this article was written, much has been learned and has changed about the W211 E-class COMANDs. Mercedes has come out with two additional model years. And, in the USA, changes have been made to both the hardware and the software. Here are some additional facts that we have found. The remainder of this document will remain untouched as documentation; but information in this update section should be considered more accurate if it contradicts other information.
What we've learned:
Most US-spec cars from 2003 that ship with COMAND (these were called "replacement" cars) had what is really a European-specification COMAND that had been updated with US software. It is possible to easily reconfigure these COMANDs to European-spec.
The COMANDs from some 2004 US-spec cars have DVD drives built-in, and some have CD drives. CD-drive units will not be able to read DVD discs at all, but DVD-drive units can read DVD audio-formatted discs. With appropriate upgrades (when possible), these can also read and play MP3 files if the disc has an ISO filesystem with Joliet extensions. It appears that no US-spec 2004 COMANDs have video capabilities as they are still lacking this hardware.
2005 US-spec cars can play the MP3 files on discs in the format above; again, some have DVD drives, and some have CD drives. Again, it appears none have the required video decoder hardware.
Since the hardware AND software changes so quickly on the cars and makes many cycles even within a given model year, these rules cannot be considered inflexible but have been mostly true; to be sure, you will need to fully examine the hardware in question to determine its true hardware and software capabilities.
CONCLUSION
It appears that because Mercedes-Benz USA did not want to support video features, and given the large size of the US market, it was well worth the hardware savings to create a completely different COMAND unit which dispensed with the unneeded hardware. Just removing the features through software would have not generated any savings, and the small investment in the design and tooling change is probably far outweighed by the savings in components and drive hardware.
For those interested in video applications, it appears a Euro-spec COMAND will be the way to go. Modification of the US COMAND to internally support video seems to be not cost-effective.
For existing owners of US-spec COMANDs who wish to acquire video capabilities, MBenzNL will offer a trade-in on US-spec COMANDs that are in cosmetic and functioning shape. Please contact us to purchase a Euro-spec COMAND and indicate that you would like to trade in your US-spec COMAND for significant savings!
It appears that because Mercedes-Benz USA did not want to support video features, and given the large size of the US market, it was well worth the hardware savings to create a completely different COMAND unit which dispensed with the unneeded hardware. Just removing the features through software would have not generated any savings, and the small investment in the design and tooling change is probably far outweighed by the savings in components and drive hardware.
For those interested in video applications, it appears a Euro-spec COMAND will be the way to go. Modification of the US COMAND to internally support video seems to be not cost-effective.
For existing owners of US-spec COMANDs who wish to acquire video capabilities, MBenzNL will offer a trade-in on US-spec COMANDs that are in cosmetic and functioning shape. Please contact us to purchase a Euro-spec COMAND and indicate that you would like to trade in your US-spec COMAND for significant savings!
Last edited by Benz-O-Rama; Mar 28, 2009 at 08:01 PM.
Thread Starter
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From: San Diego
2004 E55
Now I'm not saying that I know more than Steve... Cuz that would be a huge lie lol. I am just trying to do some investigating. I feel like too many people have just accepted the answer "just go get a euro comand" and haven't really asked why or how.
I should pull my COMAND and pop the top to cross reference the hardware inside with that in Steve's pic, since I know for sure that it is capable of reading DVD.
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W221 S600, W220 S55 AMG Kompressor, W124 300E, W140 S320, W210 E3204M W164 ML320 Bluetec
Your quote though says that NO 2004 COMANDS have the hardware to read DVD's.. I don't believe that is accurate.
Now I'm not saying that I know more than Steve... Cuz that would be a huge lie lol. I am just trying to do some investigating. I feel like too many people have just accepted the answer "just go get a euro comand" and haven't really asked why or how.
I should pull my COMAND and pop the top to cross reference the hardware inside with that in Steve's pic, since I know for sure that it is capable of reading DVD.
Now I'm not saying that I know more than Steve... Cuz that would be a huge lie lol. I am just trying to do some investigating. I feel like too many people have just accepted the answer "just go get a euro comand" and haven't really asked why or how.
I should pull my COMAND and pop the top to cross reference the hardware inside with that in Steve's pic, since I know for sure that it is capable of reading DVD.
The COMANDs from some 2004 US-spec cars have DVD drives built-in, and some have CD drives. CD-drive units will not be able to read DVD discs at all, but DVD-drive units can read DVD audio-formatted discs. With appropriate upgrades (when possible), these can also read and play MP3 files if the disc has an ISO filesystem with Joliet extensions. It appears that no US-spec 2004 COMANDs have video capabilities as they are still lacking this hardware.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2007
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From: San Diego
2004 E55
The COMANDs from some 2004 US-spec cars have DVD drives built-in, and some have CD drives. CD-drive units will not be able to read DVD discs at all, but DVD-drive units can read DVD audio-formatted discs. With appropriate upgrades (when possible), these can also read and play MP3 files if the disc has an ISO filesystem with Joliet extensions. It appears that no US-spec 2004 COMANDs have video capabilities as they are still lacking this hardware.
I would be willing to risk it...
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W221 S600, W220 S55 AMG Kompressor, W124 300E, W140 S320, W210 E3204M W164 ML320 Bluetec
You must be interpreting DVD as DVD movies. DVD is the media format in general, which can hold different types of data - files, audio, DVD-A, DVD-Video, etc.
In regards to the hardware to decode the video - that I don't know. According to Steve, it will not play DVD-Video discs because of a lack of hardware.
Half of it is there which is what is strange. The drive is a DVD drive, which means the laser optics is capable of reading DVD media and CD media. So if they did remove part of the COMAND to save money, part of it (the optics part) is still there. So the question is, if you flash your US COMAND with ECE software (which has supposedly been done and bricked the COMAND) will it enable DVD-Video playback.
Really the fact that the US COMAND will even read DVD media is an undocumented feature AFAIK - I don't think it is listed in any manuals, etc. I think people just figured it out. There is really no need for it to have a DVD drive as none of the documented features take advantage of it.
In regards to the hardware to decode the video - that I don't know. According to Steve, it will not play DVD-Video discs because of a lack of hardware.
Half of it is there which is what is strange. The drive is a DVD drive, which means the laser optics is capable of reading DVD media and CD media. So if they did remove part of the COMAND to save money, part of it (the optics part) is still there. So the question is, if you flash your US COMAND with ECE software (which has supposedly been done and bricked the COMAND) will it enable DVD-Video playback.
Really the fact that the US COMAND will even read DVD media is an undocumented feature AFAIK - I don't think it is listed in any manuals, etc. I think people just figured it out. There is really no need for it to have a DVD drive as none of the documented features take advantage of it.
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From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
Yep yep.....
Nobody is saying it won't read DVDs. Some 2004s, like mine, will read DVDs, it just won't play a DVD movie. But, flashed with the proper COMAND software, it will play DVD mp3's. I have performed this flash myself, and I now enjoy gobs and gobs of music on one DVD disc.
It just won't play a DVD movie. Sorry man.
If nothing else, you're persistent.
If you feel the risk is worth it, keep trying and let us know your results. If you end up being able to play DVD movies on a US COMAND (Non-2003) , I'm sure you'd make a lot of friends around here.
Good luck on your endeavor.
Nobody is saying it won't read DVDs. Some 2004s, like mine, will read DVDs, it just won't play a DVD movie. But, flashed with the proper COMAND software, it will play DVD mp3's. I have performed this flash myself, and I now enjoy gobs and gobs of music on one DVD disc.
It just won't play a DVD movie. Sorry man.
If nothing else, you're persistent.
If you feel the risk is worth it, keep trying and let us know your results. If you end up being able to play DVD movies on a US COMAND (Non-2003) , I'm sure you'd make a lot of friends around here. Good luck on your endeavor.
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From: Vancouver Canada
S213 2020 E450 4Matic CDN Spec 07/19 build
You must be interpreting DVD as DVD movies. DVD is the media format in general, which can hold different types of data - files, audio, DVD-A, DVD-Video, etc.
In regards to the hardware to decode the video - that I don't know. According to Steve, it will not play DVD-Video discs because of a lack of hardware.
Half of it is there which is what is strange. The drive is a DVD drive, which means the laser optics is capable of reading DVD media and CD media. So if they did remove part of the COMAND to save money, part of it (the optics part) is still there. So the question is, if you flash your US COMAND with ECE software (which has supposedly been done and bricked the COMAND) will it enable DVD-Video playback.
Really the fact that the US COMAND will even read DVD media is an undocumented feature AFAIK - I don't think it is listed in any manuals, etc. I think people just figured it out. There is really no need for it to have a DVD drive as none of the documented features take advantage of it.
In regards to the hardware to decode the video - that I don't know. According to Steve, it will not play DVD-Video discs because of a lack of hardware.
Half of it is there which is what is strange. The drive is a DVD drive, which means the laser optics is capable of reading DVD media and CD media. So if they did remove part of the COMAND to save money, part of it (the optics part) is still there. So the question is, if you flash your US COMAND with ECE software (which has supposedly been done and bricked the COMAND) will it enable DVD-Video playback.
Really the fact that the US COMAND will even read DVD media is an undocumented feature AFAIK - I don't think it is listed in any manuals, etc. I think people just figured it out. There is really no need for it to have a DVD drive as none of the documented features take advantage of it.
