2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S550 4MATIC ESP

84 Control systems
COMAND operating safety
Warning!G
Any alteration of electronic components or
software can cause malfunctions.
Radio, satellite radio* (USA only), amplifier,
CD/DVD changer, navigation module, tele-
phone and Voice Control Systems* are in-
terconnected. Therefore, if one of the
components is not operational, or has not
been removed/ replaced properly, the func-
tion of other components could be impaired.
Such conditions might seriously impair the
operating safety of your vehicle.
We recommend to have any service work on
electronic components carried out by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!G
In order to avoid distraction which could
lead to an accident, the driver should enter
system settings while the vehicle is at a
standstill, and operate the system only
when permitted by road, weather and traffic
conditions.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/ h), your car covers a
distance of 44 feet (approximately 14 m) ev-
ery second.
COMAND supplies you with information to
help you select your route more easily and
guide you conveniently and safely to your
destination. For safety reasons, we encour-
age the driver to stop the vehicle in a safe
place before answering or placing a call, or
consulting the COMAND screen to read nav-
igational maps, instructions, or downloaded
information.
Warning!G
While the navigation system provides direc-
tional assistance, the driver must remain fo-
cused on safe driving behavior, especially
attention to traffic and street signs, and
should utilize the system’s audio cues while
driving.
The navigation system does not supply any
information on stop signs, yield signs, traffic
regulations or traffic safety rules. Their ob-
servance always remains in the driver’s per-
sonal responsibility. DVD maps do not cover
all areas nor all routes within an area.

85 Control systems
COMAND introduction
COMAND introduction
COMAND (Cockpit Management and Data
System) is an information and operating
center for vehicle sound and communica-
tions systems, including the radio and nav-
igation system, as well as other optional
equipment (satellite radio*, telephone*,
etc.).
Availability of functions while the vehi-
cle is in motion
For safety reasons, certain COMAND func-
tions are not available while the vehicle is
in motion or they are only available to a
limited extent. You will notice this, for ex-
ample, by the fact that certain menu items
cannot be selected or that the COMAND
display shows a corresponding message.
Switching COMAND on or off
Press the o shortcut button in the
center console (
page 86).
COMAND calls up the menu last select-
ed.
COMAND components
In your vehicle, COMAND can be used to
operate:

audio functions

the navigation system

the telephone* and communication
functions (SMS*)

Video DVD (USA only)

various vehicle settings
COMAND consists of the following:

COMAND shortcut buttons

COMAND display

telephone* keypad

COMAND controller
iWhen you switch off COMAND, you also
switch off the currently playing audio source.
During a telephone call, you cannot switch off
COMAND.

97 Control systems
COMAND introduction
Volume of navigation announcements
You can adjust the volume of the naviga-
tion announcements independently from
the volume of the respective audio source.
During a navigation announcement:
turn thumbwheel,
or
pressæ or ç on the multifunc-
tion steering wheel.
Adjusting volume for telephone calls
In hands-free mode, you can adjust the vol-
ume of a telephone call while the call is
currently active.
During a telephone call:
turn thumbwheel,
or
pressæ or ç on the multifunc-
tion steering wheel.Selecting sound settings
You can select different sound settings for
each individual audio source. The respec-
tive sound menu can be found via the sub-
menu for which you wish to make settings.
Example:
“Audio”
“Audio”
“FM/AM Radio”

“Sound” Adjusting treble or bass
Select “Sound”
“Treble” or “Bass”.
The setting last selected is indicated by
an outlined bar.
Adjusting treble and bass
1Setting last selected
2Current setting
Changing setting: Slide rmq or
rotateymz until desired treble or bass
setting is reached.
Exiting menu: Press n, L or
slideomp.
The setting is saved.

109 Control systems
COMAND satellite radio* (USA only)
Press n when the main area is select-
ed.
The preset menu appears. The dotR
in front of a preset position indicates
that this is the channel currently select-
ed and being listened to.
Select station preset and briefly
pressn.
COMAND tunes in the corresponding
channel as long as it is included in your
subscription and is still available.
If the channel is not included in your
subscription, you will see the message
described in the section “Satellite radio
service is not activated” (
page 107).If the channel is no longer available or
only the preview channel is activated,
you will see the message “Invalid Chan-
nel”.
Closing message: Press n.
Tuning in channels using manual chan-
nel number entry
Select “Audio”
“Audio”
“Sat Ra-
dio”
“Sat Radio”
“Channel Entry”.
The menu for manual channel number
entry appears.
Exiting menu without making an
entry: Press L back button in the
center console (
page 86).
Increase or decreasing number:
Slide qmr or rotate ymz.
Selecting next number: Slideomp.
Confirming channel entry: Press n.
Further operation depends on whether
the selected channel number is valid or
if the channel is included in your sub-
scription.
Channel number is valid and channel is
included in subscription
COMAND tunes in the channel entered.
Channel number is invalid
You will see the message “Invalid Chan-
nel”.
Closing message: Press n.
Channel number is valid but channel is
not included in subscription
You will see the screen described in the
section “Satellite radio service is not acti-
vated” (
page 107).
Closing display: Press n.
iThis function is not possible when only the
preview channel is activated. If you try to tune in
a channel in this instance, you will see the
screen described in the section “Satellite radio
service is not activated” (
page 107).

113 Control systems
COMAND audio CD/audio DVD/MP3
This means that it is only possible to ac-
cess the MP3 tracks. Access to the audio
CD tracks is not possible.
File structure on a disc
When you create an MP3 disc, the MP3
tracks can be organized in folders. A folder
can also contain other folders. A disc can
contain a maximum of 255 folders. Each
folder can contain a maximum of
255 tracks and 255 folders. A disc can
contain a maximum of 4 000 tracks. Usual-
ly this number will not be reached because
each minute of an MP3 track requires ap-
proximately 1 MB of storage space.
Track and folder names
When you create an MP3 disc, you can as-
sign names to the MP3 tracks and folders.
COMAND uses these names for the corre-
sponding display in MP3 mode. Empty fold-
ers or folders which contain data other
than MP3 tracks are not displayed by
COMAND.If MP3 files are saved in the root directory
itself (uppermost directory on storage me-
dium), the root directory will also be treat-
ed as a folder. COMAND will then show the
name of the root directory as the folder
name.
You must observe the following when as-
signing track names:

Track names must have at least one
character.

Track names must have the extension
“mp3”.

There must be a period between the
track name and the extension.
Example of a correct track name:
Track1.mp3
COMAND is unable to recognize an MP3
track if:

there is no period between the track ti-
tle and the extension

there is no extensionPermissible MP3 formats
COMAND supports the MPEG1 Audio Lay-
er 3 format.
Permissible bit and sampling rates

Fixed and variable bit rates up to
320 kbit/s

Sampling rates of 24 kHz – 48 kHz
Notes on copyright
The music tracks that you create for MP3
mode and can play back in MP3 mode are
generally subject to copyright protection in
accordance with the applicable interna-
tional and national regulations.
iCOMAND does not support ID3 tags.
iThis format is generally known as “MP3”.
iOnly use MP3 tracks with a bit rate of at
least 128 kbit/s and a sampling rate of at least
44.1 kHz. Smaller rates can cause a noticeable
deterioration in sound quality. This is especially
the case if you have activated a surround sound
function.

116 Control systems
COMAND audio CD/audio DVD/MP3
Loading the CD/DVD changer
The CD/DVD changer can hold up to a to-
tal of 6 audio CDs or DVDs.
1Disc slot
2Load button (all magazine trays)
3Magazine tray buttons 1 – 6Loading an individual magazine tray
Press desired magazine tray button 3.
If a disc is loaded, it will be ejected.
Take disc out of slot 1.
Wait until LED for magazine tray
button3 which you pressed flashes
quickly.
Insert disc into slot 1.
The DVD changer draws the disc in and
begins playback if:

it has been loaded correctly

it is a permissible type of discLoading all six magazine trays
Press load button 2.
The DVD changer checks the load sta-
tus of all magazine trays and switches
to the first empty tray.
Wait until LED for corresponding maga-
zine tray button 3 flashes quickly.
Insert disc into slot 1.
The DVD changer switches to the next
empty magazine tray.
Repeat last two steps until all trays are
loaded.
The DVD changer will play the last disc
you loaded if:

it has been loaded correctly

it is a permissible type of disc
iEach magazine tray button3 indicates the
status of the corresponding magazine tray by
means of an LED.

LED off = magazine tray is empty

LED constantly lit = magazine tray is loaded

LED flashes = CD/DVD changer requesting
disc to be loaded
iIf a disc is not inserted within approximately
15 seconds COMAND resumes playback of the
last disc.

123 Control systems
COMAND audio CD/audio DVD/MP3
1Back folder symbol
2Current folder symbol
3Folder symbol containing tracks
Selecting a folder: Select desired fold-
er.
You will see the tracks in the folder.
Select a track.
The track is played and the correspond-
ing folder is now the active folder.
Setting the audio format
This function lets you choose the audio for-
mat that you would like COMAND to play
and is only available in DVD-Audio mode.
Select “Audio”
“Audio”
“DVD-Au-
dio”
“Group”.
The list of available audio formats appears.
A dot R indicates the format currently se-
lected.
Changing setting: Slide qmr or
rotateymz.
Exiting menu: Slide omp.
Playback options
The following options are available:

“Normal Track Sequence”
Tracks playback in the order on the
disc (e.g. track 1, 2, 3, etc.).

“Random Tracks”
Tracks playback in a random order
(e.g. track 3, 8, 5, etc.).

“Random Folder” (in MP3 mode only)
Tracks in the active folder and any sub-
folders playback in random order.

“Repeat Folder” (in MP3 mode only)
Tracks in the active folder will be re-
peated until you switch the function
off.
Selecting an option: Select “Audio”

“Audio”.
Select “CD”, “DVD-Audio” or “MP3”.
The option list appears. A dot R indi-
cates which option is switched on.
Select an option and press n.
The option is switched on. For all op-
tions except “Normal Track Sequence”,
you will see a corresponding indicator
in the main area.
iThe tracks on an audio DVD can be stored in
various audio formats. The number of audio for-
mats depends on the audio DVD.
iThe “Group” menu item cannot be selected
if only one audio format is saved on the DVD.
iThe “Normal Track Sequence” option is au-
tomatically activated when you select a different
medium. If an option is activated, it remains acti-
vated after COMAND is switched on/off.

130 Control systems
COMAND video DVD (USA only)
Stopping the film or skipping to the
beginning/end of a scene
Select a menu item of your choice from
the DVD menu.
The selection menu appears.
1Stop film
2Skip to the end of a scene
3Skip to the beginning of a scene
Stopping the film: Select “Stop”.
Skipping to the end of a scene:
Select H.
Skipping to the beginning of a
scene: Select G.Switching to the next highest DVD
menu level
Press the L back button in the cen-
ter console.
or
Select the corresponding menu item in
the DVD menu.
or
Select a menu item of your choice from
the DVD menu.
Select the menu item “Go up” in the se-
lection menu.
Back to the film
Press the L back button until you
can see the film.
or
Select the corresponding menu item in
the DVD menu.
or
Select a menu item of your choice from
the DVD menu.
Select the menu item “Back (to the
film)” in the selection menu.
iDepending on the DVD, it is possible the
menu items H and G either have no func-
tion or have no function in certain parts of the
DVD menu.
iDepending on the DVD, it is possible the
menu item “Go up” either has no function or has
no function in certain parts of the DVD menu.
iDepending on the DVD, it is possible the
menu item “Back (to the film)” either has no
function or has no function in certain parts of the
DVD menu.