COMAND, what are the benefits?
Discussion
One of the potential new cars I looked at today (Facelift SLK 171, mid 2008) has COMAND fitted.
I've seen many mentions of this as a "must have" accessory, but with limited time with the vehicle it was hard to understand completely what it does. It's got navigation, which is great, but the view seems to be from directly above rather than along the road like my Tom Tom which isn't as good, is that a display that's configurable?
I saw it had voice control, presumably you can dial the phone with this? I guess that'd be useful.
I thought this age car came with Media Interface, but the only thing I could find was an "aux in" socket in the glovebox. There was some kind of black "puck" in the armrest locker, but no connectors that I could see. I guess Media Interface could be fitted, any idea where it would go and what it would cost? (I'd want it main dealer fitted).
Last question, what's the slot just above the CD slot for? It looks like it's for an SD card.
Any advice about the benefits of COMAND gratefully received, I'm really interested to know what special things it does because at a glance it didn't seem to offer that much more than Audio 20 other than the nav and the voice control.
I've seen many mentions of this as a "must have" accessory, but with limited time with the vehicle it was hard to understand completely what it does. It's got navigation, which is great, but the view seems to be from directly above rather than along the road like my Tom Tom which isn't as good, is that a display that's configurable?
I saw it had voice control, presumably you can dial the phone with this? I guess that'd be useful.
I thought this age car came with Media Interface, but the only thing I could find was an "aux in" socket in the glovebox. There was some kind of black "puck" in the armrest locker, but no connectors that I could see. I guess Media Interface could be fitted, any idea where it would go and what it would cost? (I'd want it main dealer fitted).
Last question, what's the slot just above the CD slot for? It looks like it's for an SD card.
Any advice about the benefits of COMAND gratefully received, I'm really interested to know what special things it does because at a glance it didn't seem to offer that much more than Audio 20 other than the nav and the voice control.
I think you've got the measure of it.
That last bit is a joke.
Merc brochure said:
The Harman Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system combined with
Becker Map Pilot can be integrated with and operated via the Audio 20
The COMAND Online system combines
hard-drive navigation with entertainment features
such as a tuner, speed-sensitive volume adjustment, an
audio file library with 10 GB of storage space, and a
DVD drive that plays CDs, MP3s, and video or audio
DVDs. It also enables you to connect a variety of external
devices and storage media – via USB port, aux-in socket,
SD memory card slot or Bluetooth interface – and lets
you access the Internet as well as a variety of online
Mercedes-Benz services (Internet- enabled mobile
phone required). Maps and menus are presented on a
high-resolution 7-inch colour display (three years of
map updates are offered free of charge) and all key
functions can be operated either via the central
controller, from the multi-function steering wheel or
using Linguatronic voice control. Also available with
integrated 6-disc changer.
COMAND is also essential for resale.Becker Map Pilot can be integrated with and operated via the Audio 20
The COMAND Online system combines
hard-drive navigation with entertainment features
such as a tuner, speed-sensitive volume adjustment, an
audio file library with 10 GB of storage space, and a
DVD drive that plays CDs, MP3s, and video or audio
DVDs. It also enables you to connect a variety of external
devices and storage media – via USB port, aux-in socket,
SD memory card slot or Bluetooth interface – and lets
you access the Internet as well as a variety of online
Mercedes-Benz services (Internet- enabled mobile
phone required). Maps and menus are presented on a
high-resolution 7-inch colour display (three years of
map updates are offered free of charge) and all key
functions can be operated either via the central
controller, from the multi-function steering wheel or
using Linguatronic voice control. Also available with
integrated 6-disc changer.
That last bit is a joke.
I've had both the older and newer versions of COMAND, the older was on an 08 E Class so probably the same as the car you're looking at.
The nav is OK, but will probably be out of date, and doesn't pick up speed cameras etc so I really wouldn't pay extra for it - its nothing special. The "puck" in the armrest is for a phone cradle, however you can just use bluetooth and bypass this, the only additional benefit of the cradle is charging. Linguatronic is a nice gimmick, but I rarely use it.
You won't get much if any extra when trading a car in with it in my experience!
The nav is OK, but will probably be out of date, and doesn't pick up speed cameras etc so I really wouldn't pay extra for it - its nothing special. The "puck" in the armrest is for a phone cradle, however you can just use bluetooth and bypass this, the only additional benefit of the cradle is charging. Linguatronic is a nice gimmick, but I rarely use it.
You won't get much if any extra when trading a car in with it in my experience!
swerni said:
Okay, my car arrived today and has a foot thick manual and 1500 buttons.
Now being left with it for a day I have some dumb questions.
It's a new E220 with comand.
1. It says it plays DVD's and CD's. I'm buggered if I can find somewhere to stick the damn things, where's the slot?
2. How do I get the internet to work with my blackberry curve?
I go to setup and pick Vodafone, it then fails to connect, any thoughts?
slot is part of the system, above the on/off button. Now being left with it for a day I have some dumb questions.
It's a new E220 with comand.
1. It says it plays DVD's and CD's. I'm buggered if I can find somewhere to stick the damn things, where's the slot?
2. How do I get the internet to work with my blackberry curve?
I go to setup and pick Vodafone, it then fails to connect, any thoughts?
car needs to recognise the phone. Once it does, and your phone recognises the car, you can import the names/contacts and use the internet. But only when stationary
gizlaroc said:
The one with the slot for SD cards is a nice system.
Sounds good and easy to use.
You can also rip music from cd or sd card to the hard drive.
The nav has a 3D mode too by the way.
That's really useful, thank you. Sounds good and easy to use.
You can also rip music from cd or sd card to the hard drive.
The nav has a 3D mode too by the way.
Good news about the 3D mode on the sat nav, far more intuitive.
It was a quick reply as I was on the train using my ipad.
I would not want the pre Sept. 2008 Nav system in my car, but the later one is a pretty good system, it is based on the Navigon sat software that Becker also use, pretty good routing, it picks up the traffic really well these days (I think Navigon, Garmin and TomTom are all using live traffic now) and it is always there.
The sound quality from the unit is also really nice, very full and warm sounding, it will go loud without sounding shrill.
The phone system integrates well and will download your contacts etc. and will read texts out depending on your phone.
The media side of things just make life easy, being able to have a load of SD cards with your favourite albums in the car is nice, with 8gig cards now costing peanuts it is unlimited storage.
You also have a hard drive so transferring your real faves to the car is also possible.
All in all it is a pretty good system, commands around a grand more than a car without but I think it is well worth it, as do many others.
You still got the Mini??
Guy
I would not want the pre Sept. 2008 Nav system in my car, but the later one is a pretty good system, it is based on the Navigon sat software that Becker also use, pretty good routing, it picks up the traffic really well these days (I think Navigon, Garmin and TomTom are all using live traffic now) and it is always there.
The sound quality from the unit is also really nice, very full and warm sounding, it will go loud without sounding shrill.
The phone system integrates well and will download your contacts etc. and will read texts out depending on your phone.
The media side of things just make life easy, being able to have a load of SD cards with your favourite albums in the car is nice, with 8gig cards now costing peanuts it is unlimited storage.
You also have a hard drive so transferring your real faves to the car is also possible.
All in all it is a pretty good system, commands around a grand more than a car without but I think it is well worth it, as do many others.
You still got the Mini??
Guy
So, just to be clear about the SD card thing.
If I load CD's that have been burned to my PC (which are Windows Media Audio files) onto a card in files like they are on the PC, will I then be able to search for albums by name and play them?
If so it seems the easiest solution would be to burn the whole lot to a 32gb card and bingo, entire CD library in the car!
Is that how it works?
If I load CD's that have been burned to my PC (which are Windows Media Audio files) onto a card in files like they are on the PC, will I then be able to search for albums by name and play them?
If so it seems the easiest solution would be to burn the whole lot to a 32gb card and bingo, entire CD library in the car!
Is that how it works?
Ari said:
So, just to be clear about the SD card thing.
If I load CD's that have been burned to my PC (which are Windows Media Audio files) onto a card in files like they are on the PC, will I then be able to search for albums by name and play them?
If so it seems the easiest solution would be to burn the whole lot to a 32gb card and bingo, entire CD library in the car!
Is that how it works?
possibly, My 61 plate c class has the comand system, and it has a 10gb hard drive. I install the songs via a plug in the arm rest. The comand finds them, but you need to go onto the "music register" to store them, and then play the songs via the music registery. If I load CD's that have been burned to my PC (which are Windows Media Audio files) onto a card in files like they are on the PC, will I then be able to search for albums by name and play them?
If so it seems the easiest solution would be to burn the whole lot to a 32gb card and bingo, entire CD library in the car!
Is that how it works?
Oh, the mercedes websiate has an interactive owners gudei under model type/model information
I have Command on my Sept 2008 SLK280.
Sat Nav- UK and Europe- integrates really well with voice recognition.
SD card- not used it but could store thousands of tracks (MP3s/WMAs etc)
Hard drive has 4G capacity- I have about 1000 of my favourite tracks downloaded on it as MP3s/WMAs- who needs a media interface with an i-Pod/MP3 player? If you want more than 4G of storage space use the SD card slot.
6 CDs or DVDs can be placed into slot on unit. I use DVDs as music already on hard drive. Useful if waiting around sometimes for SWMBO.
Bluetooth included, so pairs phone faultlessly, again use voice recognition to use or can use screen to find numbers.
Overall, excellent system, not the most intuitive to use and not the most advanced graphics, but a solid performer.
I listen to music a lot( sound quality is excellent- not quite as good as my Mark Levinson system in my Lexus, but unless you're looking for true audiophile performance you should be happy), I have my phoned paired up with bluetooth and see the odd DVD snippet, so overall I am glad I have it in my SLK.
Sat Nav- UK and Europe- integrates really well with voice recognition.
SD card- not used it but could store thousands of tracks (MP3s/WMAs etc)
Hard drive has 4G capacity- I have about 1000 of my favourite tracks downloaded on it as MP3s/WMAs- who needs a media interface with an i-Pod/MP3 player? If you want more than 4G of storage space use the SD card slot.
6 CDs or DVDs can be placed into slot on unit. I use DVDs as music already on hard drive. Useful if waiting around sometimes for SWMBO.
Bluetooth included, so pairs phone faultlessly, again use voice recognition to use or can use screen to find numbers.
Overall, excellent system, not the most intuitive to use and not the most advanced graphics, but a solid performer.
I listen to music a lot( sound quality is excellent- not quite as good as my Mark Levinson system in my Lexus, but unless you're looking for true audiophile performance you should be happy), I have my phoned paired up with bluetooth and see the odd DVD snippet, so overall I am glad I have it in my SLK.
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