M-Class (W166) Produced 2012-2015

USB Media

Old Jan 16, 2023 | 04:00 PM
  #1  
CMC89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
2013 ML250
USB Media

Hi all, I've used the search function and not found the answers I'm looking for.

I've bought a thumb drive/ memory stick to be used for music files in my 2013 w166.

I've loaded the files onto the drive then when I put it in the car it says USB unreadable.

Can someone talk me through what is needed and what would oppose it from working so I can identify the issue

Thanks in advance
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2023 | 05:31 PM
  #2  
GLK Super Fan's Avatar
Senior Member
5 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
 
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 482
Likes: 140
GLK250 ML350
Why not use a memory card?
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2023 | 06:16 PM
  #3  
pjw1967's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 187
From: TX
2023 GLE3502W, 2024 GLC3002W, 1967 Pontiac GTO 4 sp (sold...sniff)
Waaaaay over my pay grade, but it may have something to do with the format of the drive. FAT32 seems to be the format that works with MB. NTSF looks like the default in Windows formatting. Format another thumb drive to FAT32 and put one song on it and see what happens.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2023 | 08:33 AM
  #4  
Don_CA's Avatar
Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 122
Likes: 24
From: Toronto, ON
ML 350 Bluetec
I agree, exFAT or FAT32 and not NTFS format on the USB.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2023 | 08:37 AM
  #5  
eddieo45's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,122
Likes: 222
From: Milton/Westport, MA USA
me: 2015 SL400 & 2015 ML400; wife: 2022 GLC Coupe; daughter: 2017 GLC SUV
Originally Posted by GLK Super Fan
Why not use a memory card?
shouldn't he be able to use all the available options??
Originally Posted by pjw1967
Waaaaay over my pay grade, but it may have something to do with the format of the drive. FAT32 seems to be the format that works with MB. NTSF looks like the default in Windows formatting. Format another thumb drive to FAT32 and put one song on it and see what happens.
seems to be well within your pay grade, lol! when I loaded my stick I had started in a Mac then switched to a Windows device. my issue wasn't formatting; it was emptying trash to make room for +/-5000 songs. pjw's advice sounds worth trying.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2023 | 08:38 AM
  #6  
CMC89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
2013 ML250
Originally Posted by GLK Super Fan
Why not use a memory card?
Unless I'm being entirely stupid I can't see a memory card slot anywhere. In my centre console I have a USB and a Aux but no memory card slot.

I'm beginning to think it's too big of a drive as its a 2tb memory stick formatted in FAT32. I put a 512mb FAT32 formatted drive and it worked first time.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2023 | 09:36 AM
  #7  
GLK Super Fan's Avatar
Senior Member
5 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
 
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 482
Likes: 140
GLK250 ML350
Originally Posted by CMC89
Unless I'm being entirely stupid I can't see a memory card slot anywhere. In my centre console I have a USB and a Aux but no memory card slot.

I'm beginning to think it's too big of a drive as its a 2tb memory stick formatted in FAT32. I put a 512mb FAT32 formatted drive and it worked first time.


Hopefully this help
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2023 | 12:09 PM
  #8  
CMC89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
2013 ML250
Originally Posted by GLK Super Fan

Hopefully this help
I have the same unit minus the SD slot.
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 17, 2023 | 01:35 PM
  #9  
Barry45RPM's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,017
Likes: 16
From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
I found that when you set the mp3 to play "Random Media" (which is to play random songs within the entire drive, as opposed to the other "Random", which is randomization within a single folder at a time), the randomization is more complete with better "shuffle" on the USB drive than on the SD Card. Fewer repeats very time.
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2023 | 08:19 AM
  #10  
eddieo45's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,122
Likes: 222
From: Milton/Westport, MA USA
me: 2015 SL400 & 2015 ML400; wife: 2022 GLC Coupe; daughter: 2017 GLC SUV
Originally Posted by CMC89
I'm beginning to think it's too big of a drive as its a 2tb memory stick formatted in FAT32. I put a 512mb FAT32 formatted drive and it worked first time.
2TB is likely too big as you suspect, and 512MB is too small, but an effective test case. Get yourself a 32GB stick; I put about 5000 songs on one. I upgraded a Mac to a 500GB solid state hard drive and made a portable drive of the old one; I just ordered a Mercedes data cable which I'm hoping will allow me to use that in the slot that normally connects a phone.
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2023 | 08:04 PM
  #11  
drwolf's Avatar
Super Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 897
Likes: 94
From: at the mercedes dealer next to you
2020 GLE350 2020 Toyota Rav4H AWD XLE
I was using a 256GB USB thumb drive in my ML, and it worked fine. I didnt have any issues.

What is the manufacturer of the USB drive?

Originally Posted by CMC89
Hi all, I've used the search function and not found the answers I'm looking for.

I've bought a thumb drive/ memory stick to be used for music files in my 2013 w166.

I've loaded the files onto the drive then when I put it in the car it says USB unreadable.

Can someone talk me through what is needed and what would oppose it from working so I can identify the issue

Thanks in advance
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:
You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:51 PM.

story-0
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-1
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-4
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-6
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

Slideshow: From bulletproof sedans to surprisingly tough SUVs, these Mercedes models proved that the three-pointed star can go the distance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-08 09:55:49


VIEW MORE