E Class COMAND CD Changer and MP3s

[benzo]

I know similar issues have been covered in the past. I am sure I have read them all but can't find the info I need.

Can someone tell me authoritatively if MP3 CDs play on the E class comand CD changer? I know they play on the single DVD slot at the top of the comand unit, but I want to know if anyone has got them to play on the CD CHANGER itself - and HOW??

I have tried windows media player and Nero 7 using two separate cd writers. They play on the comand dvd unit but not on the cd changer. Do I need some sort of firmware upgrade or am I doing something incorrectly??

it's a 2004 W11.

Responses appreciated.

 

[television]

I do not think it is possible to use MP3 in the changer, the hard ware and the soft ware are not the same as in the head unit. Many people have asked this around the world, I have made a note of it,should anything change I will post it.

Malcolm

 

[JamesMR]

I learned that MH 3510 and MH 3512 CD changers (for W211) can paly MP3, MH 3210 CD changer can not play MP3. You may have to check the model of the CD changer. I am not sure if the software needs to be upgraded when one change model (e.g. MH 3210 to MH 3510) of the CD changer.

 

[ravens1488]

right, it depends on which CD Changer is installed! If you hve an old player, you have to change the player, it`s not just a software thing!

Chris

 

[kft]

The MP3 player should work in the multichanger in a 2004 model unless it was an older changer that was installed - well that is what I have been told!

The problem I have is that it will only play 99 tracks of MP3's and then returns to the first track and it's a pain in the neck when you want to search for a specific track. It would have been far better to put a multi-card reader in - and probably cheaper too.

Keith
2005 E320CDI AVANTGUARD

 

[jberks]

The MP3 player should work in the multichanger in a 2004 model unless it was an older changer that was installed - well that is what I have been told!

The problem I have is that it will only play 99 tracks of MP3's and then returns to the first track and it's a pain in the neck when you want to search for a specific track. It would have been far better to put a multi-card reader in - and probably cheaper too.

Keith
2005 E320CDI AVANTGUARD

Agreed though I think it was changed part way through 04 as a number of things seemed to change around then.
I get around the 99 track issue by merging some 'album' tracks. Quite easy to do. Once written, I pop into dos and do a "dir /s" which produces a list of tracks in the order that they will be played. Pop that into excel, add a number column and then paste that list onto the cd box. Then you can pick a track off the list (or the passenger can), hit hash and the number on the head unit, and up it comes.
Not perfect but it works.

 

[177k]

99 Tracks

I just tried this out on my '04 E-class and I can get 255 tracks. I burned a DVD of 559 MP3s and it started playing without a problem. However, the track count at the bottom of Comand read 1/255 and it lets me go directly to any track up to 255 by using the * button on the telephone keypad. I hit *255 to go to the last track but it doesn't let me go beyond this track.

Hope this helps someone as you can get a fair bit of music with 255 tracks.

 

[television]

I just tried this out on my '04 E-class and I can get 255 tracks. I burned a DVD of 559 MP3s and it started playing without a problem. However, the track count at the bottom of Comand read 1/255 and it lets me go directly to any track up to 255 by using the * button on the telephone keypad. I hit *255 to go to the last track but it doesn't let me go beyond this track.

Hope this helps someone as you can get a fair bit of music with 255 tracks.

Thanks for that info,, what program did you use to do it

 

[Miffy]

Have you tried to create folders each containing upto 255 tracks? as it maybe just a root folder file restriction and may well be fine with folders ?

 

[177k]

1. I used Nero to burn the DVD and used the ISO option. Just use the ISO option on any burner program and it should work fine.

2. Hmm, I did see the folder option on the soft buttons but haven't investigated any further. I'll post up again when I get time to experiment.

 

[177k]

Miffy, the folder suggestion worked great. My albums are already in folders on my PC so I just dragged and dropped the albums across into Nero and I now have about 50 albums on a DVD. The 'Folder' soft button displays all the folders/albums in alphabetical order so you can scroll to the one you want to play. You can then use the steering wheel buttons to navigate tracks within an album and the track name also appears on the speedo.

 

[Alps]

late 2004 w211`s have the mps changers as they are MY2005 build, anything earlier will have the standard non mp3 ones