What Kind Of COMAND Is In My Car? (Pic Included!)

[Tom Sederburg]

Hey guys, Could someone please tell me how it figure out exactly exactly what type (C or D I guess?) of COMAND headunit is in my Mercedes? Here is some info: Model: CL600 Date of Manufacture: 6/01 Chassis Number: I don't know where to find it :-( Pic of unit itself: Thanks! :-) Later, Tom P.S. Some misc. questions: Is there any way of knowing if it has TV inputs without removing it and physically checking? What type of cable is used to connect the navigation section to the main unit? Is it possible to modify the in dash (DX nav) cd unit to play audio CD's instead? Oh, also I have been reading a LOT of stuff today trying to find out all I can about this unit and noticed people mentioning "Unlock" & "Option" codes & I was curious wtf they are talking about?

To remove this ad, register today or login if you already are registered!

[JonMBZ]

2001-2003 are type D
full chassis number is the European style VIN# it can be decoded with the vin
the short chassis # for your vehicle is 215.378
These commands do not have TV inputs
The wiring is D2B fiber optic cables
Also there is an audio and electronics forum for these questions

[Tom Sederburg]

My bad like other than the bonus Q's I didn't see my query as being specifically audio related. Aren't there non-audio comand functions? Like the nav thing is technical right? I can't get it to work where the thing will just follow me on the map as I drive around without having some destination keyed in. Why did they make it so much more complicated than the one I had in my w211?

Regards,
Tom

P.S. Do you know what people are likely using those unlock codes I mentioned for?

[Dutch1e]

Tom, have a look at http://www.mercupgrades.com/COMAND+FAQ-faq-1.html#17 that should cover most of your questions, including links to where you can download the manual.

[Tom Sederburg]

Originally Posted by Dutch1e

Tom, have a look at http://www.mercupgrades.com/COMAND+FAQ-faq-1.html#17 that should cover most of your questions, including links to where you can download the manual.

Hey thanks for the link! :-)

I checked that website out and there was some very interesting info such as this:

7. What are the pinouts of the C1 and C2 connectors on COMAND?
This is for COMAND 2.0
Note the pin ordering in the tables matches the layout of the connector


Comand C1 connector 1 RGB-Video Red 5 CD Changer Ground
2 RGB-Video Green 6 CD Changer +12
3 RGB-Video Blue 7 RGB V-Sync
4 RGB-Video Gnd 8 RGB Shield

Comand C2 connector 1 10 D2B Wakeup
2 TV-Audio Right 11 TV-Audio Left
3 TV-Audio Green 12 TV-Audio shield
4 Aux-Audio Right 13 Aux-Audio Left
5 Aux-Audio Ground 14 Aux-Audio Shield
6 Speed Signal 15 Reversing signal
7 CAN-B Shield 16 CAN-TV Shield
8 CAN-B LO 17 CAN-TV LO
9 CAN-B HI 18 CAN-TV HI


This is for COMAND 2.5 (Fitted to S/CL up until end of MY2002) European and US versions - NOT Japan
Note that connector A is not wired in the standard DIN manner. Connector B (the loudspeaker connector is)
Comand 2.5 A connector 1 +12 V 5 +12v switched out to aerial
2 Ground 6 spare
3 Phone Mute 7 spare
4 +12 v 8 Ground

Comand C1 connector 1 TV Audio Shield 5 TV Audio Gnd
2 TV Audio Left 6 TV Audio right
3 spare 7 spare
4 spare 8 spare

Comand C2 connector 1 K diagnosis line 10 spare
2 To Plug E/21 11 CAN-B Shield
3 To Plug E/22 12 To Plug E/9
4 To Plug E/23 13 To Plug E/10
5 To Plug E/26 14 To Plug E/13
6 To Plug E/25 Shield 15 CAN-B L
7 D2B Wakeup 16 CAN-B H
8 spare 17 RB-CAN L (TV & E/3)
9 spare 18 RB-CAN H (TV & E/2)

Comand D connector (5 pin round) 1 TV Video Red 4 TV Video Sync
2 TV Video Green 5 TV Video Gnd/Shield
3 TV Video Blue

Comand E connector (Nav Unit) 1 Gnd 14 +12V
2 To C2/18 RB-CAN H 15 spare
3 To C2/17 RB-CAN L 16 spare
4 spare 17 spare
5 spare 18 spare
6 spare 19 To CTEL Wakeup
7 Speed Signal Left 20 Speed Signal Right
8 spare 21 To C2/2 (shield for 9,10,22,23)
9 To C2/12 22 To C2/3
10 To C2/13 23 To C2/4
11 spare 24 spare
12 spare 25 To C2/6 (shield for 13/26)
13 To C2/13 26 To C2/5

I have no clue what all that pin out stuff is but it seems very interesting to me. would very much like to know what the deal is eg: modification potential and all those spare pins?

I really didn't like some of that guys responses though, for example:

22. Can I add an AUX input on the COMAND 2.5 in my S-Class
No, the input electronics is used for the tape player. The widescreen COMAND 2.0 in later S-Class vehicles has an AUX input capability as it does not have an integrated tape player.

That is categorically incorrect.

As this affects me directly, I have done hours of research regarding comand 2.5. Thus, I know you can add one by disconnecting the CD changer and installing an adaptor for it.

Also, would it be completely impossible to simply disconnect the tape player and modify its inputs to work with something else?

He has no creativity and just glazes it over with an ignorant NO rather than thinking outside the OEM parts bin for 2 seconds.

All this bs makes me feel like perhaps I am spending entirely too much time trying to figure out how to make comand 2.5 cooler than it was ever designed to be & perhaps I should just give up until I can drop a few thousand on the aftermarket system of my dreams.

Whatever though, I will probably just keep messing around with this antique until then. :-)

Later,
Tom

[JonMBZ]

I wouldn't that system is terrible and outdated. You can pickup a 10x better kenwood unit with a garmin navi on eBay. The only reason I am sticking with my command unit is because the phone system is great. I never heard of codes for your cars command. I know newer commands can be programmed to show the AMG emblem and play a certain sound file when you leave the vehicle, but nothing for your command or what I think you are looking for eg tv/video. They are hard to find now with new technology since tv is digital and the signal is difficult to pull while in motion.