Nothing personal what so ever, I'm glad someone else takes interest in this

Ricky,

If you wanted to get some pretty cool remote options, check out RemoteCentral.com. Those guys stay on top of all the latest remotes from Harmony, Philips, URC, UEI, etc. The forums there are also chock full of info on various models. There are a few PDA based remote software solutions out there do you have some good options there as well.

As for seeing the RSE system in person, are you overseas at the moment? I ask because I see your profile location as Sugarland and the RSE isn't available here yet. If you are and you have the chance to check one out, please do take pictures as I'd love to see more real world (not brochure glamour shots) pics of it.

Jeff

hi guys. i saw a new S500 (550 in the states) with RSE package today when i was dropping my car for a service.

it was the dealership boss' daily driver so i couldnt really get into the car and play around with it.

here's a photo of the RSE system it had. sorry, took it with a camera phone.



let me know if you guys want some more pics. i'll be able to take more when i pick up my car tommorow.

You bet! Click away...

Schwarz,

Thanks for the offer and I'll second Jayhawk's request. Please do take lots of pics! If you wouldn't mind and if possible, could you ask a few questions about it for us saps who don't have the option available yet here in the US? The ones I would like to know are:

- Does the IR remote shown in the pic at the beginning of this thread come with the system? (I've never seen mention of it anywhere else hence my question)

- If it does, where is the IR receiver? Somewhere around the screen, up front, etc?

- Can the RSE playback discs or any other sources from the COMAND system up front? Or is it limited to just the DVD player in the rear armrest and it's 2 aux inputs?

- Can you start up or otherwise control the RSE system from the COMAND system up front? The example would be for cases where young children are riding in the rear and can't control the system themselves. You could get it going for them before you drive off but if the disc ends while you're on a long drive, it would be nice to be able to restart it from the driver's seat.

- This is related to the last question but involves a specific scenario. Apparently there is an audio system option required in order to playback the RSE audio through the vehicle's speakers (at least in HK according to another poster here). If this vehicle has that ability, can you ask if it's possible to choose the RSE source from up front. In other words, let's say you had an MP3 player connected to one of those RSE aux inputs. According to the manual, it seems as if you have to start the RSE system from the rear controls and select that aux source. After that, you can select "Rear" as a source for the front COMAND audio system and it will playback whatever source was selected previoulsy for the RSE system. I was wondering if you could select a particular source from the RSE and not just "Rear" all from the system up front.

- Is the DVD player in the rear armrest just a single disc or a changer?

Thanks in advance for any details you can uncover.

Jeff

just got back from the dealership and i could only find out a few things from the sales rep i was talking to since he didnt know much about the RSE system itself. seems that this car is one of the rare s500 to have a RSE package in town.

there was nothing mentioned about an IR remote for the system in the official W221 brochure. but it did say that it'd have the controls in the center armrest as pictured in the first photo of this thread.

yes, the RSE can play DVDs, music CDs, and MP3 CDs from the COMAND system.

yes, the COMAND system can be used to control the RSE.

in conjunction with the Logic7 speakers, a DVD stacker is optional with it being placed in where the standard CD stacker is up front.

i hope this information helped.

oh, and the photos.... the rear armrest was folded in yesterday and today. so i couldnt get any photos of the rear controls.

Thanks for the info. Your information is great to have and certainly is different from what the manual seemed to indicate and that's very good.

Right, that's why I was asking because neither the brohure info nor owner's manual, nor anywhere else I have seen (and I certainly have combed through any information that is out there) mentions the mysterious remote that rstone posted a pic of in the first post. I knew about the rear controller of course but the remote was something that just wasn't talked about anywhere else.



This is very interesting and certainly is good news. From the manual it looked like the RSE system couldn't access the front changer which was a limitation since the rear DVD drive appeared to be single disc only. That guves you a lot more flexibility.


Now that really is good news. It would be great to start up the RSE and select a source from the COMAND Controller up front so I can do that for my kids even while driving.

thanks again for the info.

Jeff

i may be wrong but after using the rse system i think that the command and the system are tottaly independant of each other i.e. you cannot control the upfront cahnger from the back or the rse from the front. Or maybe my car is jsut not configured correctly.

i may be wrong but after using the rse system i think that the command and the system are tottaly independant of each other i.e. you cannot control the upfront cahnger from the back or the rse from the front. Or maybe my car is jsut not configured correctly.

skd: i might also be wrong as i didnt really use the RSE myself i just relied on the sales rep's words...

Any recent news on RSE (Rear Seat Entertainment) for the US market?

Do you think we will get something this fall?

Should I pull my order and wait?

Will it be available in 2007 model year for 2008?

It will definitely NOT be available on the US 2007 model year. If they do offer it, it won't be until the 2008 MY and we won't know for sure until sometime in early 2007 (the 2007/2008 model changeover will be mid-year).

Jeff

Hey don't know how I missed this message.
Yes I would love a kaleidescape system in the trunk!! Man that would be the final peice. I dont know if the K is up to the task of the bumps although the S is very smooth.

I also have a regular Xbox that has tons of games and movies on the upgraded hardrive.

I'm currently performing a mobile video and audio system upgrade in a new S600 . I've custom fabricated some headrest monitor shrouds that resemble the factory option, I'll be posting pictures of the Install shortly. I'm thinking of mass producing the completed headrest.

The RSE system can be fitted afterwards if necessary. I have done my personal car (w203 C class) already with w221 RSE system.

Is the RSE kit available for purchase yet in the US? My NJ dealer says not yet.

It won't be available in the US market until the 2008 model year, if at all. So, I wouldn't think that the parts would be available here until at least then. Euro parts are always a different story of course and probably are available now.

Jeff

Almost finished, I also performed a navigation screen video converson an this vehicle. The headrest monitor housings are covered in custom dyed vinyl. I used 7" wide screen monitors and routed the wiring inside the headrest post. The vehicle will be completed on Monday so I will post many pictures of the Install.

Here are some additional photos of the install. What do you think.....

Very impressive! Is the right-side head rest not functioning?

They both work great, bad photo angle....I'll post some daylight shots and pics of the nav screen conversion. I'm about to start work on S550 in which I will install touch-screen monitors in the headrests along with the nav screen conversion.

Here are some better pics of the first install...

aux input

navigation screen video conversion

dvd player in glove box

headrests

I don't like how tick the headrests become when rear seat screens are added... be it orginal or aftermarket. There has got to be a better cosmetic solution somewhere... urghh!

The headrests gained a total of .5 inches in depth to accomodate the monitors. in most people's opinion the headrests look more finished with the monitors that with out..... That dinky little box behind the plush headrest looks out of place. I now have 12 orders from MBZ dealers in 3 states to install similar systems. I'm working on a new mold that will utilize 9" wide screen monitors.

I agree it does look rather bulky. Still one of the cleanest installs I've every seen though. Must be nice to have skills like that!