france2112

Hi all. I need information ASAP with regards to the OEM rear entertainment system. Where do the DVD's load and how do you control the player. I have a 5 year old daughter and I want to be able to change the DVD while driving if possible. Do they load in the front command unit or is there a separate loading area in the back? Is it different for 2007 models then 2008? I believe the newer models you load the DVD in the command unit and control it from there but I am not sure. Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Larry

xxGenericSNxx

I know on the 06/07 rear seat entertainment for the GL and ML you load it under the passenger 2nd row seat. I'm unsure if they changed the location for the 08 and newer cars.

france2112

Thank you. That was a deal breaker for me. Appreciate the information. Looking for an 09 now. Hopefully it is different. Need to confirm that.

Larry

Richard

Hi

(for ML, note GL and R are different)

RSE before MY2009 (i.e MY08 and before)
DVD drive under left hand rear seat, with the slot accessible behind a sliding cover. Pretty much impossible to change without stopping
Video can be fed from RSE DVD player or TV tuner if you have it.
Headphones are wired only.
Sound can be routed from RSE to main system, but not the other way.
Screens look very solid and like they are part of the seat


RSE MY2009 until end of production
DVD drive is where the rear ash-tray is at the "back" of the centre console. (the back section of the centre console is subtly different on cars with RSE)
Easy for front passenger or middle seat to change DVD on the fly.
However, each screen can take video from
a) AUX in on RSE DVD drive
b) DVD in RSE DVD drive
c) AUX in on side of screen
d) Video feed from the DVD/DVD-Changer in the COMAND unit
e) TV tuner if you have it
And also each screen can be set to just take Audio from the COMAND - not sure how useful that is.
Technically RSE can work without COMAND, but i'm not quite sure if it was ever sold like that.
Headphones are wireless (or you can plug in wired ones for better sound)
COMAND can select the RSE DVD drive's sound.
Screens look a bit less solid then the older system, although I do like them
Note that I think on GL the RSE drive is in the same place, and on R class it is in the centre armrest.

I have retrofitted both, so quite up to speed on this :-)

RIchard

xxGenericSNxx

Thanks for that extremely informative post, Richard. I can see how the 09 has a few advantages compared to the 07 version in my R such as the ability to play DVD from the front and having three inputs.

Don't know if france2112 is interested in the R Class or not, but the newer ones is located in the front armrest as mentioned above. I think 06-08 are in the same location, under the center console in the second row, making it somewhat easier for the driver to change it but overall still difficult.

Richard

Yes, on the R class before MY2009 it is in that rear centre armrest, and if you have the 7 seat option you lose that rear armrest thing and I think then no RSE available.

Note on the 09 ML/GL it is in the back of the centre console section, below where the rear aircon controls are, but it is in a compartment that opens and the top of the DVD player is upright (i.e not parallel with the floor) making it a lot easier to insert something from the front.

R

france2112

Richard and xxGenericSNxx thank you very much. Great information!! I have some of my own. I spoke with a local audio shop called Technicar in West Palm Beach, FL and they told me they could relocate and aftermarket DVD player in the glove compartment of the 07 and 08 ML's with RES so I could change the DVD's on the go. They even said that the 6 disc cd changer in the glove would not have to go. Price was $1,200. Not too bad IMO so now I am going full bore to get an 07 or 08 ML63. Thanks again to all and I will post pictures when all is complete.

Larry

xxGenericSNxx

Sweet, enjoy the ML! ...or you can try and get an R63!

serendipity

For that much money, you'd be better off getting an ML63 without RSE and adding aftermarket units.