111 Control systems
COMAND satellite radio* (USA only)
Show program info
Select “Audio” “Audio” “Sat Ra-
dio” “Info”.
You will see a screen that may contain the
following information:
Selected program category
Selected channel
Artist of the track currently being
played
Name of current track
Closing screen: Slide omp or
pressn.
Channel update
The service provider may conduct a chan-
nel update.
During the update, the message “Updating
channels...” will appear on the display.
No functions can be operated in satellite
radio mode during the update.Calling SIRIUS Service Center
Select “Audio” “Audio” “Sat Ra-
dio” “Sat Radio” “Service”.
The telephone number of the SIRIUS
Service Center and the twelve-digit
electronic serial number (SIRIUS-ID) of
the particular receiver are displayed.
Closing screen: Slide omp or
pressn.
iIf the program provider does not offer any in-
formation, the “Info” menu item cannot be se-
lected.
iThe program provider determines what in-
formation is displayed on the screen. COMAND
shows no more than two lines per item of infor-
mation. If an item of information is too long,
COMAND shortens it.
iIt may be necessary to call the SIRIUS Ser-
vice Center if, for example:
You want to cancel the subscription or
re-subscribe at a later date.
You forget to pay the bill.
You sell the car to another person.
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.
119 Control systems
COMAND audio CD/audio DVD/MP3
Submenu overview
iThe components and operating principles of
COMAND can be found on (
page 85).
CD or DVD-A or MP3Pause/Stop/Play
(audio DVD mode only)Tracks/Track
List/Tracks A-ZFolders
(MP3 mode only)ChangerSound
Normal Track SequencePause playbackShow track list
(audio CD mode and
audio DVD mode)Select folderSelect mediumTreble
Random TracksStop playbackDisplay alphabetical
track listing
(MP3 mode only)Bass
Random folder
(MP3 mode only)Restart playbackBalance/Fader
Repeat folder
(MP3 mode only)3D Sound
Group
(DVD-Audio mode only)
120 Control systems
COMAND audio CD/audio DVD/MP3
Switching to audio CD, audio DVD or
MP3 mode
Load CD/DVD (page 115) or
PCMCIA card (
page 117).
or
Select “Audio” “Audio”, then “CD”,
“DVD-Audio” or “MP3”.
or
Press the M shortcut button once or
twice.Example display in audio CD mode
1Current playback option
2Track number
3Disc number
4Disc name (only if saved on the disc)
5Track name (only if saved on the disc)
6Track time
7Graphic time and track display
8Sound settings
9Medium selection
aTo call up track listing
bDisc type
cPlayback optionsExample display in audio DVD mode
1Current playback option
2Track number
3Disc number
4Disc name (only if saved on the disc)
5Track name (only if saved on the disc)
6Track time
7Graphic time and track display
8Sound settings
9Medium selection
aTo call up track listing
bStop function
cPause (“Play” appears if paused)
dDisc type
ePlayback options
iThe M shortcut button takes you directly
to the previously set disc mode (audio CD,
audio DVD or MP3-CD/DVD). The number of
times you have to press the shortcut button de-
pends on the previously set mode.
121 Control systems
COMAND audio CD/audio DVD/MP3
Example display in MP3 mode
1Current playback option
2Medium type
3Disc number (not on PCMCIA card)
4Track name
5Current folder path
6Current folder
7Track time
8Graphic time and track display
9Sound settings
aMedium selection
bFolder listing
cTrack listing
dPlayback optionsStop function
Stopping playback: Select “Audio”
“Audio” “DVD-Audio” “Stop”.
Restarting playback: Select “Audio”
“Audio” “DVD-Audio” “Play”.
Playback starts at the beginning of the
DVD.
Pause function
In audio CD, audio DVD and MP3 mode
Pausing playback:
Press F briefly.
Continuing playback: PressF
again briefly.
Only in audio DVD mode
Pausing playback:
Select “Audio” “Audio” “DVD-Au-
dio” “Pause”.The “Pause” screen changes to “Play”.
Continuing playback: Select “Audio”
“Audio” “DVD-Audio” “Play”.
The “Play” screen changes to “Pause”.
Selecting CD/DVD/MP3 media
Select “Audio” “Audio”.
Select “CD”, “DVD-Audio” or “MP3”.
COMAND begins playback.
In audio CD, audio DVD and MP3
mode: Select “Changer”.
or
In audio CD and audio DVD mode
only: Press n when the main area is
selected.
The media list appears. The dot R in-
dicates the current medium.
Select a medium or folder.
COMAND changes the medium.
iThis function is only available in audio DVD
mode.
122 Control systems
COMAND audio CD/audio DVD/MP3
Selecting a track
Selecting by skipping to tracks
Skipping forwards or backwards to
a track (in CD or DVD mode only):
Rotate ymz.
Selecting from the track list
Select “Audio” “Audio”.
Select “CD”, “DVD-Audio” or “MP3”.
Select “Tracks”, “Tracks A-Z” or “Track
list”.
or
Only in MP3 mode: Press n when the
main area is selected.
The track list of the current folder ap-
pears. The dotR indicates the current
track.
Select a track by rotating ymz or slid-
ing qmr.
Fast forward/rewind
Select main area.
Slide and hold omp until desired place
is reached.
Selecting a folder
Select “Audio” “Audio” “MP3”
“Folder”.
or
Press n when main area is selected.
The track list of the current folder ap-
pears.
This is what the illustration in the right
column is showing as well.
1Back folder symbol
2Current track symbol
3Track symbol
Selecting one folder higher: Select
the Q symbol.
The display changes to the next folder
up in the folder structure on the disc.
iSkipping forwards through the tracks skips
to the next track. Skipping backwards through
the tracks skips to the beginning of the current
track if the track has been playing for more than
8 seconds. If the track has been playing for less
than 8 seconds, it skips to the start of the previ-
ous track.
If you have switched on the “Random Tracks”
playback option, the order of the tracks is ran-
dom.
iIn MP3 mode, the list shows all the tracks in
alphabetical order.
iThis function is only available in audio MP3
mode.
124 Control systems
COMAND video DVD (USA only)
Depending on your vehicle’s production
date the COMAND video DVD function may
not be available.Automatic picture fade-out
If a video DVD is playing when the vehicle
is shifted from P into N, D or R the picture
is faded out automatically and the follow-
ing message appears in the display: “In or-
der not to distract driver, picture is faded
out while the vehicle is in motion”.
When the vehicle is shifted back intoP, the
picture comes on again.
Notes about video DVD operation
COMAND can playback commercially
available, prerecorded video DVDs that
bear the following label. You will usually
find the label on the DVD booklet, the inlay,
or the DVD itself.Some DVDs may not comply with the
NTSC or PAL TV playback standards.
Sound, picture and other playback prob-
lems may occur when you play such DVDs.
COMAND can playback video DVDs meet-
ing the following requirements:
Correct regional code
NTSC or PAL TV standard
The appropriate information is usually giv-
en either on the DVD or the DVD box. The
factory setting of COMAND is regional
code 1. The setting can be changed at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. This
will allow you to playback video DVDs with
other regional codes, as long as they com-
ply with the NTSC or PAL TV standard.
Warning!G
COMAND is classified as a Class 1 laser
product. You must not open the casing.
There is a risk of exposure to invisible laser
radiation if you open the casing, or if the
casing is faulty or damaged.
COMAND does not contain any parts that
you are able to maintain yourself. For safety
reasons, all maintenance work must be car-
ried out by qualified technicians.
iVideo DVDs differ from recordable DVD-R
and DVD-RW discs.
iThere may be playback problems when play-
ing copied DVDs.
There is a large variety of discs, disc-writing soft-
ware and writers available. This variety means
that there is no guarantee that the system will be
able to play discs that you have written/copied
yourself.
125 Control systems
COMAND video DVD (USA only)
Notes about handling DVDs
Only hold discs by the edge.
Handle discs carefully to prevent play-
back problems.
Avoid getting scratches, fingerprints
and dust on discs.
Clean discs from time to time with a
commercially-available cleaning cloth.
Do not wipe them with a circular mo-
tion, but only in straight lines from the
center outwards.
Only use a pen designed for such a pur-
pose to label discs.
Place discs back in their boxes after
use.
Protect discs from heat and direct sun-
light.
Functional limitations
Depending on the DVD, it is possible that
certain functions or actions may be tempo-
rarily or permanently unavailable. If you try
to utilize such functions or carry out such
actions, you will see the 7 symbol in the
display.
Inserting or ejecting DVDs
Inserting a DVD (page 115).
or
Ejecting a DVD (page 117).
!Do not affix stickers or labels to the discs.
These could peel away and damage COMAND.
COMAND is designed to hold discs which com-
ply with the IEC 60908 standard. You can there-
fore only use discs with a maximum thickness of
1.3 mm.
If you insert thicker discs, e.g. those that contain
data on both sides (DVD on one side and audio
data on the other), they cannot be ejected and
can damage COMAND.
Do not use discs with an 8 cm diameter, even if
they have an adapter.
Only use round discs with a 12 cm diameter.
Warning!G
Only insert or eject a DVD when the vehicle
is stationary. There is a risk of accident by
being distracted from road and traffic condi-
tions if you load a DVD while the vehicle is in
motion.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second.