I followed these steps to get me into the menu:

it's 5, then 3-7, hold until menu appears;
- change to the appropriate settings
- turn off the command (without switching screens)
- turn off the car, leave off for about 5 minutes
- come back and check to make sure the settings took

 

I can't get in at all with 3-5-7. I know it's possible because I got in after fooling around with various key combos but I can't remember which one it was.

 

Try this:
Radio mode
Press 5-then 3 + 7 (hold all three together)
You should get the menu if it is going to work.


(PM me if you need more info...at least how mine works)

 

The best place to get this to work is when you are in CD mode (not CDC), since the buttons do not have any immediate effect if you do the sequence wrong. Before someone on the board had figured out that it was the 537 trick, I was setting presets like crazy when I was in the Radio mode.

 

Can anyone confirm the build dates to see if it will work on mine?

I have a build date of 07/04 MY05

I'll give the 5-3-7 on CD function a try. The frustrating thing is I know it works because I got into to it at one point but I was just pushing buttons like crazy and it popped up. Now I can't get it back.

 

It's important that you press the 5-button just a little tick before you press 3 and 7 simultaneously. Then hold all three buttons for a couple of seconds.

 

Okay, thanks for your help guys. I got the menu to come up while in CD mode and by pressing the 5 slightly before the 3 and 7, then holding until it comes up (about 5 seconds).

I set it up and turned off the car for about 10 minutes and now I have the AMG splash screen but no DVD video capability. Guess my build doesn't come with the DVD drive.

 

The strange thing about all of this is that this is not the menu I got into earlier, which is what I thought was the 357 menu. That menu had to do with navigation and somehow allowed me to choose a guide voice with a british accent (the setting/language chosen was English GB). The problem is I didn't shut off the COMAND long enough to let the setting stick. I also don't know how I got into that menu since I was just going crazy with the buttons.

Anybody know of this menu and how to get in?

 

1. It is not necessary to shut off the car to activate the settings. Just turn off the Comand unit for 5 minutes or so and it will activate.

2. If you set the menu selection to the European W211 setting, you will have the Brit voice along with a few different Audio selections than the U.S. settings. (unless the '05 is different from the earlier versions)

 

I think this might be exactly what's going on.

 

Hi
2004 E55 with CD changer
Loaded a DVD into disk number 1 slot and shows error message...car was in "park"
Any ideas why this did not work?

 

Any details? I have a 3/04 build with Premium Sound (COMAND interface, no Nav).

What upgrade would I need if it's possible to play MP3's.

TIA,
Bud

 

It looks like both of our cars were built in the same month. Except mine was made in Austria. But anyway, I had a problem with the navigation system freezing a couple of times and when they updated the software for that problem, mi single CD slot in the Comand unit started to read MP3s. I really like it.

I would call the dealer and ask for the update needed in the software to fix the navigation system hanging up (even if you don't have the navigation). I would ask for this like that because no one at my dealership knew that the software update would actually enable the playing of MP3s. So then I showed them that it did after they updated the software. So, since they don't know too much sometimes, then they will not do it.

I hope you get it done, it is great to have. I thought you were going to sell the 300E. I guess you are still to attached to it right? I must admit, I really loved mine! But I don't miss it when I drive my W211 anymore.

Steve

 

Thanks Steve. Does your COMAND now show MP3 as a playback option?

I couldn't get my wife to drive the new E320 so I've kept the 300E. I just took the new car down to the dealer and complained about the brakes. They were hard to modulate, thumped at low speed and operated like an on/off switch. They bled the brakes and installed the Pulsation Dampener and Flex Lines and now the brakes a perfect.

I told my wife she no longer has an excuse for not driving the new car. Still, it's nice to have two cars and the 300E is running perfectly. One of these days I'll try to sell it but not so some jerk who'll take it to Jiffy Lube

 

357 trick does not work on the W211 we picked up last weekend. So it probably has the newer firmware SteveNL mentioned in previous posts where the secret menu no longer works.

I could play MP3 CDs in single slot and changer. But I have yet to get the single slot to read any mp3 DVDs. It kept saying CD Error. I have tried DVD-R and DVD-RW. Any suggestions?

 

Steve, I realize this is getting "off-topic" from the "Secret menu in 05's COMAND unit", but I wanted to share this with you:

My '05 (built 6/04) plays mp3's without any COMAND update. Plays them in the single slot (COMAND Audio options screen shows "MP3" or "CD" depending what media is in the slot). Tried an mp3 in the six-disc changer last week and it played it from there as well. I have not tried a DVD based mp3 disc yet in either player.

 

My car was built in 2004 as a 2004 model. My Comand does not have the DVD drive in it. So it will not do what your system does. When I hit the AUDIO button it will say MP3, radio, CDC . . . etc. If I don't have an MP3 CD ROM on the center slot, then it says CD,CDC. . . etc. My CD changer will NOT play MP3s, it is not new enough. But I have plenty of music available. 6 self burned CDs in the changer and about 15 albums in the MP3 player plus 150 channels of SAT radio, I doubt I NEED more.

Steve

 

My 3/04 built car with COMAND interface but no Nav unit does not show an MP3 option. If I insert an MP3 CD in the single slot, it says *Not Audio CD*.

Normal CD's burnt using iTunes works OK. BTW, I don't have a Mac computer but the iTunes software is outstanding. I should know since I spent most of my working life writing and designing software.

Sorry for getting so far off topic.

 

How long have we lasted before this topic has resurfaced.

I am certainly not objecting to the questions being asked, folks ask questions to get answers, but by crikey there are more than enough answers on this subject.

I have a feeling that very shortly someone will ask about how can they play DVD's.

Then we have a little discussion on DVD's in motion.

Then I get on my soap-box.

Then hopefully 'someone' will volunteer a code that resets the memory of COMAND and we alll start the cycle over again.

Is this what Americans call Ground Hog day or was that only the film?

Can anyone tell me why my DVD slot plays Mp3's but not DVD films please?

Ooops just remembered my DVD does play DVD films. :v

Sorry for being cheeky. I'm in a bit of pain and need cheering up.

Take care everyone
Regards,
John

Dusk in Torquay

 

I don't think my COMAND has a DVD drive either, so I'm sure that DVD mp3's won't work. Sounds like the only difference between our setups is that my cd changer plays mp3's. I wonder if it is a hardware difference between our two changers or a software/firmware difference? Like you, I'm not concerned about carrying more mp3's or cd's. I am talking myself into the Siruius upgrade though! My COMAND audio button displays are exactly how you describe yours.

 

Well, I am almost sure that it is a hardware difference. It might be as simple as a connection, but I know that you can buy a CD changer that will play MP3s and it says it on the box it comes in. It would be nice to have that capability, but it is by no means necessary for me.

As for the SAT radio, GET IT!! I now end up writing down the artist and song to all the music I liked, but never knew who it was. Then I download them and burn them. My music collection has become much more varied and enjoyable since I got the SAT radio. Also, the comedy channels and news are great. If you spend much time in the car on road trips or commuting, then it is well worth it.

Steve

 

SO does it mean 2004 W211 can play MP3 CD now??? I never do software update, but ever tried to put MP3 CD there and it said "CD ERROR". If anyone with 2004 can play MP3 software update, etc... Please confirm confirm...

 

I have XM in the Escalade...believe me I'm SOLD on it. The only holdback for me - I WILL NOT put the hockey puck antenna on my trunk, and up to this point my MB dealer refuses to consider all of the other alternatives discussed en mass on this forum. I know I have choices about other dealers, but it's really a matter of how far I want to drive to get this done (or some would say how bad I want Sirius!). I'm hopeful that when my delaers service manager and parts manager (same person) returns from MB "school" next week, he will have checked with other service managers that are doing these variations on antenna placements (he said he would "ask around").

Take Care-

Jeff

 

so.. anyone figured out how to get the car to play DVD when in motion?

 

Sorta the wrong forum, I know, but I'm looking for guidance on getting RDS to work on my new US CLS55 - nothing valuable on this topic in other forums, I'm afraid.

I've had no problems using the 3-5-7 trick to get into the hidden/secret menu. And I've had no problem changing the setting to 211 ECE (or 240 ECE, also available on my COMAND unit). The changes seem to be holding (not reverting to the originals) after shutting down COMAND and waiting a while.

Problem is . . . nothing happens. No Brit Chick, no loss of "Home" soft-button, and certainly no RDS.

Any thoughts/ideas?

Thanks.