What is mp3 capable?

[Renoir]

I have W210 E320 of 1998. It has MB Exquisite cassette player with a 6CD changer (have to look up the model yet). The dealer documents say the changer is mp3 capable.
I have tried different ways but failed in all. It does not play mp3.
So, are there any special tips?? or its just a lie?
I tried removing ID3 tags, burning files in the data format with no folders but all in vain.

 

[jberks]

Is the cd changer original?
Nothing was MP3 capable in 1998. I'm not so sure MP3s actually existed in those days. It was certainly before downloads took off.
I have a 2004 MB in dash CD changer in my 211 that I believe is one of the first MB cd changers that was MP3 compatible. In fact my Dad's (2003-211) doesn't play MP3s, so 1998 is way too early.

 

[anyweb]

actually mp3 is around a lot longer than that, look here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP3#Going_public

Going public

A reference simulation software implementation, written in the C language and known as ISO 11172-5, was developed by the members of the ISO MPEG Audio committee in order to produce bit compliant MPEG Audio files (Layer 1, Layer 2, Layer 3). Working in non-real time on a number of operating systems, it was able to demonstrate the first real time hardware decoding (DSP based) of compressed audio. Some other real time implementation of MPEG Audio encoders were available for the purpose of digital broadcasting (radio DAB, television DVB) towards consumer receivers and set top boxes.

Later, on July 7, 1994 the Fraunhofer Society released the first software MP3 encoder called l3enc. The filename extension .mp3 was chosen by the Fraunhofer team on July 14, 1995 (previously, the files had been named .bit). With the first real-time software MP3 player Winplay3 (released September 9, 1995) many people were able to encode and play back MP3 files on their PCs. Because of the relatively small hard drives back in that time (~ 500 MB) the technology was essential to store non-instrument based (see tracker and MIDI) music for listening on a computer.

we'd really need the model number of the cd changer/player to determine if it's mp3 capable.
, is it an original mercedes fitted part ?
cheers
anyweb

 

[television]

Enter them as audio tracks when making them and it will play them

 

[anyweb]

yeah but the point of 'mp3 capable' cd players are that you burn a cd on your computer with lets say 100 mp3 FILES on it. the mp3 capable cd player (i've one in my car, a sony model) plays the cd just fine. however if you burn the mp3 as an audio track you'll only be able to fit a maximum of approx 17 songs on the cd, as opposed to many many more if they are in mp3 format

 

[Legoman]

aye , ya gotta luv mp3. ive got a jvc mp3 dvd unit which has giga mp3 option , it means i can get 4.7gigs worth of music on one disc , goodbye to multichanger's , ive been meaning to try a dual layer disk to see if it can cope with that

 

[brandwooddixon]

I don't think that the player is MP3 compatible either. 1998 is too early for this, unless it's a upraded player. Even if it is you may find that the CD player isn't compatible.

 

[jberks]

actually mp3 is around a lot longer than that

True enough Anyweb, but it was still a relatively unknown technology as far as the general public were concerned. It didn't really get into the public's consciousness until the ipod came about.
If it's an after market cd changer then it is possible, but AFAIK the official merc ones weren't MP3 capable until mid to late 04.
Actually my Friends 18 month old Mondeo still isn't.

 

[Renoir]

Yes, the equipment is original. Installed in factory and has the MB logo on it.
I keep forgetting to write down the model
1998 is kinda early for mp3s and I also checked wikipedia on that and found that it could be possible to a certain extent back then.
The problem is that it wouldnt play any mp3, and it doesnt recognize CD-RW either which also sounds logical for 1998. But the dealer printout says mp3-capable...
So, I'll write down the model...

 

[television]

Most MB CD units will only recognise High reflective disc

 

[Renoir]

Forgot to mention that when I have an mp3 CD in it, it says Track 1 and is counting seconds as if playing something but all I get is a hissing noise. I can fast forward that noise too in the sense that it is showing progress in terms of time. I cannot jump to the next track though.
This is weird and is perhaps giving me some kind of hope. If it couldnt read mp3 at all would it show me anything like that?
Maybe its the bit rate?

 

[Renoir]

Most MB CD units will only recognise High reflective disc

Mine perfectly reads all CDs that I burn myself. No problem with that. Sound good too especially when burnt from FLAC files. VBR mp3 aint bad either.

 

[jberks]

does sound like it recognises the disk - or it would say "no disk".
I'd try a different bit rate.

 

[anyweb]

Forgot to mention that when I have an mp3 CD in it, it says Track 1 and is counting seconds as if playing something but all I get is a hissing noise. I can fast forward that noise too in the sense that it is showing progress in terms of time. I cannot jump to the next track though.
This is weird and is perhaps giving me some kind of hope. If it couldnt read mp3 at all would it show me anything like that?
Maybe its the bit rate?

i believe your cd player is NOT mp3 capable then, as I saw the very same thing when i inserted an mp3 cd on my previous (non-mp3) car radio/cd

 

[Chas]

I have W210 E320 of 1998. It has MB Exquisite cassette player with a 6CD changer (have to look up the model yet). The dealer documents say the changer is mp3 capable.
I have tried different ways but failed in all. It does not play mp3.
So, are there any special tips?? or its just a lie?
I tried removing ID3 tags, burning files in the data format with no folders but all in vain.

Burn the mp3 files with windows media player , which changes the mp3 file to cd audio format.
You will only get about 20 files on one cd

 

[Renoir]

The model number is MC3296 (A 002 820 5889)
Not much info was available through google, but it would seem that there is no way it could be mp3 capable. Nobody says that.
The dealer papers must be wrong.

Burning mp3 in audio CD format isnt a problem. Its what I do all the time.
I use Nero for that and Im happy with the result. To tell the truth, I was a bit concerned whether that unit would play CD-Rs, but its a perfect monster. It takes everything I insert except CD-RW.

 

[Renoir]

Here is the printout from dealer which got me interested: