COMAND HEAD UNIT software update to enable MP3
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
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2005 E55
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: On an island in Washington State
1999 Mercedes Benz SL500 & 2009 E350 4Matic Wagon
COMAND Re-progam 2009 E Class
We have a 2009 E350 wagon (built 06 0f 08) and it appears to have all the latest bells & whistles except a baackup camera. I have read the C Class article where he just added just a camera for $200 and it works fine. I can great routes while in motion, but can't see any DVD pictures with the car in gear. Before I do anything, I would like to turn on the Backup feature in the Comand. Do you have the proper code (routine) to turn on this function. I have tried the one for the C Class (hangup+1+#) but it does not work?
Thanks
Thanks
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W221 S600, W220 S55 AMG Kompressor, W124 300E, W140 S320, W210 E3204M W164 ML320 Bluetec
We have a 2009 E350 wagon (built 06 0f 08) and it appears to have all the latest bells & whistles except a baackup camera. I have read the C Class article where he just added just a camera for $200 and it works fine. I can great routes while in motion, but can't see any DVD pictures with the car in gear. Before I do anything, I would like to turn on the Backup feature in the Comand. Do you have the proper code (routine) to turn on this function. I have tried the one for the C Class (hangup+1+#) but it does not work?
Thanks
Thanks
You should be able to add a backup camera to the 2009 but I am unsure on that since I have worked on few 2009s.
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From: Usa
mgLipGD
!!SUCESS!!
I own an E500 with DVD COMAND here in australia and it DID NOT play any MP3's on either CD-R nor DVD-R. I approached Merc dealer in Adelaide and they guy insisted on convincing me than they have already tried the latest version of COMAND and still were NOT able to get MP3 playback.
Being an Engineer myself I have a habit of wanting to take matter into my own hands and to give every bit of effort into doing things myself before i give up on them.
I came back home today and i did a search and stumbled across a few fourms which hint that firmwares can be found here and there on the internet, and so i managed to find a few versions of firmware and NON worked. in fact the moment i insert the update cd when COMAND Requests for it i get "Version Varriant" Error and the CD is instantly ejected.
"I Assume they were for a different UNIT all together OR a US Version??"
SO ANYWAYS. I read your post and did a Google search for that Firmware you stated above and managed to download one / burn it. and IT WORKED!,
!!!!!!!Now i got MP3 Playback on CD-R and DVD-R and Dual Layer DVD's!!!!!!!
If this didn't work then I was prepared to spend $1500 for an after market replacement from DYNAVIN which did mp3's etc.
you just saved me $1500
thanks you my good sir! Regards
Xpresion
Last edited by Xpresion; Nov 22, 2011 at 06:20 AM.
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From: Los Angeles
2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
The main thing you will need to be concerned with regarding your needs would be what optical drive comes in the unit. It seems the US COMAND units shipped with "undocumented" DVD optical drives until around MY2005. All Euro COMAND models with the VIDEO button have the DVD optical drive. If it has a DVD optical drive, it will play DVD-based MP3 media assuming it has current software.
Only thing is I tried a burned DVD-R movie and an actual store DVD-ROM movie and neither read in my comand. Do I have to burn the DVD-R in UDF vs ISO such as stated in other threads or I'm only able to play DVD-R MP3's?
Also another thing, has anyone figured out what speed to burn CDs/DVDs? I burned the MP3 DVD and a MP3 CD at 8x speed but still some songs don't work on them. Do I have to go as low as 2x or does 4x or 6x work well (since these are older drives/optical readers in these cars?). Maybe the 05-08 ones read faster speeds for MP3 CDs?
So, so far for my 02/04 build MY04 W211 it plays the following:
Comand:
-Audio CD
-MP3 CD-R
-MP3 DVD-R
CD Changer
-Audio CD
What's been stated before is that the MY05-08 CD changers have the MP3 CD capability but 03-04 ones don't.
Also I haven't tried CD-RW, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, or dual layer DVD (xpression below is able to play dual layer DVDs after the upgrade).
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From: Usa
mgLipGD
I have burnt a number of DVD-R's @ 16x and have only had a couple not load in the car, i just return them @ 16x again and it works so I believe its the medium I am using is of poor quality and some disks are defected.
I have not burnt anything slower than 16x and haunt had playback issue. the only issues I get is if a song is of high VBR "Variable bit rate" and the decoder in the COMAND is unable to decode it correctly. the song then sounds all jumbled up etc.
p.s Only just recently i found out i had an auxiliary port in the glove box... i used to question why is there AUXin the audio menu but no port.. lol funny enough i got all the books etc and non indicate the location of the AUX, so it must be a dealer installation rather than factory.
I have not burnt anything slower than 16x and haunt had playback issue. the only issues I get is if a song is of high VBR "Variable bit rate" and the decoder in the COMAND is unable to decode it correctly. the song then sounds all jumbled up etc.
p.s Only just recently i found out i had an auxiliary port in the glove box... i used to question why is there AUXin the audio menu but no port.. lol funny enough i got all the books etc and non indicate the location of the AUX, so it must be a dealer installation rather than factory.
Hate to revive an old thread but I decided to burn a MP3 DVD-R to see if it works (just as Polar Bear stated in the above post in another thread). Was skeptical at first but I made one, popped it in, and BOOM it's playing my music with all the folders arranged.
Only thing is I tried a burned DVD-R movie and an actual store DVD-ROM movie and neither read in my comand. Do I have to burn the DVD-R in UDF vs ISO such as stated in other threads or I'm only able to play DVD-R MP3's?
Also another thing, has anyone figured out what speed to burn CDs/DVDs? I burned the MP3 DVD and a MP3 CD at 8x speed but still some songs don't work on them. Do I have to go as low as 2x or does 4x or 6x work well (since these are older drives/optical readers in these cars?). Maybe the 05-08 ones read faster speeds for MP3 CDs?
So, so far for my 02/04 build MY04 W211 it plays the following:
Comand:
-Audio CD
-MP3 CD-R
-MP3 DVD-R
CD Changer
-Audio CD
What's been stated before is that the MY05-08 CD changers have the MP3 CD capability but 03-04 ones don't.
Also I haven't tried CD-RW, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, or dual layer DVD (xpression below is able to play dual layer DVDs after the upgrade).
Only thing is I tried a burned DVD-R movie and an actual store DVD-ROM movie and neither read in my comand. Do I have to burn the DVD-R in UDF vs ISO such as stated in other threads or I'm only able to play DVD-R MP3's?
Also another thing, has anyone figured out what speed to burn CDs/DVDs? I burned the MP3 DVD and a MP3 CD at 8x speed but still some songs don't work on them. Do I have to go as low as 2x or does 4x or 6x work well (since these are older drives/optical readers in these cars?). Maybe the 05-08 ones read faster speeds for MP3 CDs?
So, so far for my 02/04 build MY04 W211 it plays the following:
Comand:
-Audio CD
-MP3 CD-R
-MP3 DVD-R
CD Changer
-Audio CD
What's been stated before is that the MY05-08 CD changers have the MP3 CD capability but 03-04 ones don't.
Also I haven't tried CD-RW, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, or dual layer DVD (xpression below is able to play dual layer DVDs after the upgrade).
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From: Los Angeles
2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
gonna try a dual layer MP3 DVD when i get the chance and see what happens
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I don't have a US spec COMAND in my car but my ECE COMAND has a DL-DVD-ROM drive in and I love it. 10 GB of music, plus 6x CDC and my iPod integration kit, analog/digital TV tuner for the passanger's "inflight" entertainment 
can't ask for more. Oh wait a fridge and a toilet and I could live in my car. LOL
can't ask for more. Oh wait a fridge and a toilet and I could live in my car. LOL
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From: Cali
2003 E500, 2004 S430 w/BT-Puck/Tail
Konigstiger...you included MY03 in the update. Doesn't that have Audio-50 only. Or is it possible to get MP3 on audio-50 also. That would make me very happy!
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From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
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Joined: Apr 2012
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Mercedes E500 2005
Hello, I am new to this website & have no clue what going on. All I know is that I have 2005 E500 4Matic & I live in NY. Which one of you masters has time to tell me what to do. My email is besart0608@hotmail.com
Member
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'97 E200, '06 E350 & '23 E350
Hey guys, i still have the old COMAND version with 1 E-Class When you press the service button, it does read MP3 CDs in the dash and the CD-Changer, but no luck when it comes MP3 DVDs, how can i update it ?
PS: Since i'm living in Lebanon where the FM Stations can be 104.4 or 88.0 my mechanic modified the US COMAND to read them correctly. Will updating cause this modification to go away ?
PS: Since i'm living in Lebanon where the FM Stations can be 104.4 or 88.0 my mechanic modified the US COMAND to read them correctly. Will updating cause this modification to go away ?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,085
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From: Los Angeles
2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
Hey guys, i still have the old COMAND version with 1 E-Class When you press the service button, it does read MP3 CDs in the dash and the CD-Changer, but no luck when it comes MP3 DVDs, how can i update it ?
PS: Since i'm living in Lebanon where the FM Stations can be 104.4 or 88.0 my mechanic modified the US COMAND to read them correctly. Will updating cause this modification to go away ?
PS: Since i'm living in Lebanon where the FM Stations can be 104.4 or 88.0 my mechanic modified the US COMAND to read them correctly. Will updating cause this modification to go away ?
Banned
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 118
Hey guys, i still have the old COMAND version with 1 E-Class When you press the service button, it does read MP3 CDs in the dash and the CD-Changer, but no luck when it comes MP3 DVDs, how can i update it ?
PS: Since i'm living in Lebanon where the FM Stations can be 104.4 or 88.0 my mechanic modified the US COMAND to read them correctly. Will updating cause this modification to go away ?
PS: Since i'm living in Lebanon where the FM Stations can be 104.4 or 88.0 my mechanic modified the US COMAND to read them correctly. Will updating cause this modification to go away ?
Banned
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 118
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,085
Likes: 59
From: Los Angeles
2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
