Does anyone make a gateway or an integration kit that would tie the iPod into the Comand directly? Dension makes this for the d2b and MOST Comand units, but I don't see 221 on the list:

http://dension.com/compatibilityData...Maker=Mercedes

Seems like the steering wheel controls/cluster display without any Comand integration is the only option, is that true? This is what I found in my quick research:

The factory kit supplies an ipod cable that mounts in the glove box or center console and relays audio and commands to and from the ipod as well as charging. The factory kit allows you to control your ipod using the steering wheel controls and displays the ipod song title information on the instrument cluster driver display. Note: The factory ipod kit DOES NOT display song information on the actual command head unit nor does it allow control of the ipod using the head unit controls. It is integration kit part #B67824247 for the glove box, some on eBay for around $300:

http://cgi.ebay.com/iPod-Integration...item5883db17c1

 

checkout Midcity engineering...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-JDYn35KRE

They have taken an iPod dock from DLO that's meant to hook an iPod to a TV via S-Video, and plugged that into the S-Video connector that's in the glovebox.

You could do this your self very cheaply today and use the infra-red remote that comes with the DLO Home Dock Deluxe to control the iPod and be done, however Midcity went a step further and added a $box that allows the command controller between the seats to do the actual controlling . Here's info on the DLO Home Dock deluxe along with what the interface looks like.

http://www.dlo.com/products/view/homedock-deluxe

Sad as it is, this is still a better setup than on the 2010 S-Class as you can play video from the iPod/iPhone.

 

Any ideas how much that runs? I like it... I'm guessing this system won't work w/ an iPhone (for video/audion content, not phone operations), only iPod?

 

I am new to the MB world and just picked up a 2010 one. Here I have a thing called Media Interface in the compartment in front of the passenger seat and I have connected my iPod to it and I can manage it through the Comand interface as it was an iPod (artists, albums, playlists, etc.) via the Comand wheel between the seats. I don't know if this is specific to European models or to he facelifted model but it works like a dream.

 

The 2010 Command software is different from the previous version. A simple cable won't cut it for the earlier command system. Wusik, can you confirm that you can't play video from the iPod on the command interface.

Regarding the Mid-City setup, I was quoted $1500 for the setup back in August . Since the DLO dock uses the standard 30 pin iPod/iPhone connector (and it lists the iPod touch as a compatible product), I'd be surprised if it didn't work with the iPhone.

Definitely worth a question to sales@midcityengineering.com to get the latest update.

 

That's correct. I cannot play video. You get 3 cables with the media interface:
- For the iPod
- General USB - you can connect a flash drive or similar USB device
- A third cable with a jack, maybe a RCA connector

I was offered to get an extra video cable (3 RCA connectors) which fits into the 3rd cable above and with the right cable for the iPod you can then with this cable get video onto Command. I don't have this cable so cannot confirm this but it should work as it is a standard MB offering.

 

I've been getting lots of questions from folks about Video-in-motion, Telematics updates, aux-programming, and iPOD-integration - so here goes one option that I liked best and what the install looks like with pictures for '06-'09 S-Class cars...

MidCity Engineering has some nice options, albeit a bit pricey - but work very well and are easy to install (plug-n-play connections, built-in programmers)... With Midcity stuff, you will be able to:

1. Watch any type of Video source while in motion by pressing the 'mute' button on the steering wheel for 2 secs after starting the car. Why do they not enable it by default? Not sure, probably legal issues. If you are dumb enough to watch video while driving (like me) - then you consent to risks by holding down the mute for two seconds :-)
2. You will unlock AUX capability of the Comand
3. You can use the jog shuttle (the knob) center console control for the iPod dock and retain easy ability to switch between the iPod and Comand functions.

Here are Youtube links of what we're doing here:

Install-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-JDYn35KRE

Usage-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSYJiIIjpEc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj0MuotHW1E

BEFORE GETTING STARTED - you will need a Telematics update to enable the Video top level menu option in Comand. Eventually we will enable the AUX port which will present a second option in Video menu (Video DVD is first, AUX will be second) - but that we'll do later as part of the Midcity iPOD CAN BUS module which deals with using the jog shuttle.

All the parts you need:

1. Video in Motion CAN bus module
2. Jog shuttle control module
3. NavTV iPOD vehicle dock
4. Custom harness from Midcity guys to make the integration with Comand very easy. This is a key part of this kit.





Quick comment on quality of parts from MidCity - this is not a first generation module: it's nicely manufactured and uses good CAN bus controllers from Microchip, check it out:



REMOVE BEAUTY COVER: you have to be somewhere between being very careful and not being a ***** when you pop this off :-) Should come easily, be careful not to damage the leather:





REMOVE COMAND's SLIDING COVER - two screws behind plastic covers on top, two on the bottom:



REMOVE COMAND UNIT itself:

 

UNPLUG COMAND harness - do not force it:



REMOVE OPTIC FIBRE from the original Comand harness, you will need to re-insert this into the MidCity-provided harness that will plug into Comand in the next step:



PLUG IN MIDCITY HARNESS - one side into the Comand (with fibre optics plugged into the harness directly on the Comand unit) and the other side of the harness goes back to the original factory plug. This is what it looks like if you did it right, it's almost impossible to get it wrong (except for the fibre part):



HIDE THE MODULES: mine went under the dash on the driver side:

 

IPOD LOCATION - I found the glove box to the best place to the iPOD, it fits perfectly under the factory strap, I'm wondering if it's designed for that. To route the cable, I popped a felt-wrapped little cover and using a Dremel, did away with one corner to fit the cable. Looks almost stock. Alternative place using a cradle is the center console, but that requires a lot more work. Here is the glove box install:





PROGRAMMING THE COMAND to enable AUX port: follow the MidCity instruction to program, the have a CAN-based programmer in their modules that is activated by keyed sequences using steering wheel controls. This sets specials conditions via the CAN bus network on the Comand unit. AUX port enabled:





OPERATION:

1. Start the car and enable video in motion mode: hold the 'mute' button on the steering wheel for 2 seconds
2. Select 'AUX' in Comand's Video menu
3. Hold the 'mute' button on the center console for 2 seconds to turn on the NavTV vehicle dock.
4. To pause or play videos or songs, use the RETURN button on the center console or you can use the jog shuttle to accomplish this.
5. NAVI/TEL/DISC/RADIO buttons all function and take you out of the iPod mode into the Comand modes like normally.
6. MUTE button on center console - allows you to select if you want to control iPOD vehicle dock or Comand unit menus by holding down for a few secs.
7. Jog Shuttle or center wheel: browse iPOD menus, select items and go back/forth between selections.

To play DVD video - go to Video option on Comand and insert a DVD into the Changer unit, here is example while vehicle is in motion:




Playing video from the iPOD - go to vehicle dock mode, select video from the iPOD:






Let me know if you guys think was useful and if you have any questions....

-Serge

 

Nice write up. How long did it take for the install? Did you do it yourself? Also what was the total cost? My understanding of how the Video in Motion or the enabling of the backup camera when in drive, is that the Mid-City engineering box sends a signal to the command system that makes the car think it is in park. Is the Nav affected when you have the video playing? Also what about the backup camera, there were comments in the past that enabling video in motion messed with the backup display.

 

Hey Serge,

How much did the parts run you?

Tony

 

The install took about 3 hours, but you could probably pull it off in 1 hour if you had taken Comand out before and know how the panels come out... A lot of the time was me playing with the locations to mount things, etc...

Midcity worked out a good deal for me, I returned an older VIM module I had from them for some credit, and they gave me a new Video-in-Motion module and the NavTV Vehicledock with another Midcity module that plugs into the remote control sensor port of the NavTV module which hooks up to the jog shuttle on the center console via the CAN bus. I was into it $840 w/ shipping plus the original $200 I spent on a used old Midcity VIM module from another member here... So about a grand.

There are no issues with reverse camera view or video while driving. The behavior I have is that if I am playing the video from Comand DVD or Comand AUX port from Vehicledock/iPod while driving forward and then stop and reverse, the Video is interrupted and the reverse camera is correctly shown. When I select Drive and move forward, the video is shown correctly.

I haven't done a lot of testing with using the NAV screens plus navigation audio with this, I will test and post some info.

I have not seen camera/backup display issues, and my car is equipped with Park-assist camera module. Once issue you have with using the camera while driving forward is that you need to rewire the camera module to have a constant power source while the car is running. Otherwise camera is only powered on when in reverse. That's why you see the screen blur up and the image isn't smooth immediately. I haven't figured out which is the power source feed on the harness for it, but I will post the details once I do. To rewire, you simply remove the pin from the harness and run another wire to position #137 on the rear fuse box location. You can stick a regular blade style fuse, I think it will be a 3 or a 5 amp and solder the wire to the fuse terminal.

 

Retail for the package from Midcity is $1299, they gave me a nice deal by letting me trade in an older VIM module from them for full retail credit of $400, so I only needed to pay $800 to get everything else. If you buy the NavTV module direct, it's $400. The VIM module is $400 and so you are paying the additional amount for getting tight integration with the center jog shuttle, which was worth it to me. I would hate to have a remote control for that stuff...

 

Thanks Serge,

I may have to try that, I'm tired of my satellite radio, MP3 Disc, and the PCMCIA card as well. My daughter has an extra ipod touch that she never uses since she has an iPhone 3GS. I think I may use it with the installation, that way I want let the almost $600 paid for it go down the drain.

 

just registered on here just because of this thread

so do we need to buy 2 things or is the $1300 ipod interface everything I need to control the ipod through the comand system?
i have a 2007 S550 fully loaded except for the damn ipod lol