[Mandingo]

I have just bought a 2009 S550 4-Matic with AMG sport kit, Premium 3 and iPod. Absolutely loving the car.

I do have one question - I am having trouble with pausing the iPod either manually or when a call comes in.

I listen to a lot of audiobooks so losing my place is a real pain. Muting doesn't pause the ipod and incoming phone calls don't seem to pause it either (?). Only way I have found to pause iPod is to turn audio off from the Audio menu or by switching inputs (e.g. go to FM). However this is hard to do when a phone call is coming in without hanging up on the caller.

Anyone else with this system got any tips or tricks for a newbie?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Diesel Benz]

I don't have the kit but I remember this being discussed before and other users reporting the same.

Can't you convert your audio books into MP3 (if not that already) and play them from the PCMCIA interface, there pause would work during a phone call. DVDs would be the same but I find PCMCIA with memory cards more convenient.

I guess it has to be an issue with this older approach for iPod interface where the control is not coming from the head unit and the mute signal does not reach iPod (interface).

 

[stutenn]

I have just bought a 2009 S550 4-Matic with AMG sport kit, Premium 3 and iPod. Absolutely loving the car.

Only way I have found to pause iPod is to turn audio off from the Audio menu or by switching inputs (e.g. go to FM).

Anyone else with this system got any tips or tricks for a newbie?

I know you won't like the answer but the only way I have found to do it is by physically pressing Pause on the iPod itself. I have an iPhone and it's the same problem there. You may as well not put the iPod in the glovebox but keep it sitting on the center console because you can't pause it easily any other way. Why you can have all the features on the COMAND screen for an iPod in an E-class but not in the S-class is one of M/B greatest mysteries and software mistakes.

 

[Mandingo]

Thanks.

I actually ordered a PCMCIA adapter and 8GB CF card - I plan to put the audiobooks and podcasts on that so I can pause/control those. I'll leave my music on the iPod since I am not as bothered about losing my place on songs (can always back up a track or two from the steering wheel controls).

I'll let you know how that works out.

 

[stutenn]

Thanks.

I actually ordered a PCMCIA adapter and 8GB CF card - I plan to put the audiobooks and podcasts on that so I can pause/control those.
I'll let you know how that works out.

That would be good. I also just ordered a PCMCIA adapter with two USB 2.0 ports in it. I have a Kingston 8GB thumb drive with about 1200 songs on it (and divided into folders) so I want to see if that can take the place of the iPod issue of Pausing. I should receive it in about a week and will post back if I have any luck. I'm also hoping it will show up on the COMAND screen because someone said that PCMCIA input will. I'll believe it when I see it

 

[Mandingo]

Well I have good news, good news and good news.

Note I used Transcend Ultra Speed 133x 8GB CF and Transcend PCMCIA CF Adapter.

• The 8GB card and PCMCIA reader worked perfectly first time (didn't even require formatting)
• The door closes completely
• Copying the files was very straightforward, even if you use iTunes to manage podcasts (in iTunes select "Show in Windows Explorer" and just copy the Podcast folder straight over)
• The files are read quickly into the system
• The COMAND screen shows the folder contents in a very clear way
• Long filenames are displayed properly
• Navigation around the folders is easy
• IT PAUSES WHEN YOU MUTE

Appears that my problem is solved - hopefully.

 

[stutenn]

Well I have good news, good news and good news.

Note I used Transcend Ultra Speed 133x 8GB CF and Transcend PCMCIA CF Adapter.

• The 8GB card and PCMCIA reader worked perfectly first time (didn't even require formatting)
• The door closes completely
• Copying the files was very straightforward, even if you use iTunes to manage podcasts (in iTunes select "Show in Windows Explorer" and just copy the Podcast folder straight over)
• The COMAND screen shows the folder contents in a very clear way
• IT PAUSES WHEN YOU MUTE

Appears that my problem is solved - hopefully.

Wow! That is excellent! And anyone who likes David Sedaris and drives an S550 is in the Hall of Fame I'll look into this solution, if the thumb drive doesn't perform. Thanks again.

 

[stutenn]

Note I used Transcend Ultra Speed 133x 8GB CF and Transcend PCMCIA CF Adapter.

• The 8GB card and PCMCIA reader worked perfectly first time (didn't even require formatting)
• The door closes completely
• Copying the files was very straightforward, even if you use iTunes to manage podcasts (in iTunes select "Show in Windows Explorer" and just copy the Podcast folder straight over)

I do use iTunes but how did you get the files onto your CF card in the first place? Did you plug the PCMCIA adapter and CF combo into a laptop and move them that way? I have a Toshiba laptop with an Express Card slot which (I'm told) is incompatible with PCMCIA, and an HP desktop with a CF card reader slot so I guess I could use the HP. Thats' the primary reason I have been opting for UBS thumb/flash drives to move stuff around.

 

[Mandingo]

I do use iTunes but how did you get the files onto your CF card in the first place?

I have a cheap Radio Shack USB reader that takes a variety of different card types including CF - works like a charm.

So basically I let iTunes do its thing downloading the latest podcasts then copy the entire "podcasts" folder onto the CF card. No more effort (or time) than syncing an iPod.

One more trick I just discovered - you need to *push and hold* the COMAND control knob to the side to FF and REW through a track - turning the control skips forward and back a whole track at a time.

 

[stutenn]

One more trick I just discovered - you need to *push and hold* the COMAND control knob to the side to FF and REW through a track - turning the control skips forward and back a whole track at a time.

I really get a kick out of all their undocumented stuff. You'd think when they install the iPod adapter, they would have a separate little user guide for it, but Nooooooo! If the PCMCIA-to-USB adapter doesn't work for me, I'll just use the CF reader on my HP desktop. I think I can get the Transcend combination from Amazon.com fairly reasonably. Thanks for your input.

 

[Mandingo]

Hmm, might have discovered one problem.

If I am mid-way through an audiobook and lock the car, it seems inconsistent whether it remembers where I was in the file when I return and start the car later.

It appears to remember some times and not others - I need to track down the behavior.

Might be related to how long you leave the vehicle or whether I switched audio sources before leaving the car.

Be a bummer if it resets to the start of each file each time - I want to be able to go to any book and have it resume from where it was left (equivalent to "remember playback position" in iTunes).

 

[stutenn]

Hmm, might have discovered one problem.

If I am mid-way through an audiobook and lock the car, it seems inconsistent whether it remembers where I was in the file when I return and start the car later.

It appears to remember some times and not others - I need to track down the behavior.

Might be related to how long you leave the vehicle or whether I switched audio sources before leaving the car.

Be a bummer if it resets to the start of each file each time - I want to be able to go to any book and have it resume from where it was left (equivalent to "remember playback position" in iTunes).

I have heard that problem on other forums, that it simply starts over every time if using the PCMCIA interface. I'm not sure that there is a proper link to the whole COMAND system through this device and that it was an afterthought prior to MB developing their somewhat goofy iPod adapter. That could become a real chore, finding where you left off each time. I tend to use "shuffle play" for the MP3s so if it starts over again, I'll go back into shuffle mode and be surprised at what comes up next!

 

[Mandingo]

Pausing iPod

OK, I spent some time trying the PCMCIA/CF route - it has the advantage of pausing properly for phone calls etc BUT has the major disadvantage of not remembering your place if you move off the mp3 track (switch to radio for example). So I am listening to an audiobook, ~4 hours in, if I switch to the radio and come back it plays the book from the begining again.

In the end I have come back around to the iPod which will always remember your position on each file (assuming you have set that option in iTunes).

I have discovered the iPod will pause if you:-

a) Select Audio Off from the drop down menu in the COMAND interface

b) Use voice command "Audio Off"

c) Switch to a different input (e.g. FM)

d) Toggle the ON (power) button for the whole COMAND system on the center console (the button above the volume wheel)

For most situations hitting the ON button (d above) does the job just fine but it switches off the entire system (except Climate) so it won't help if you are on the phone.

So this is where I have netted out:-

1) If I just need to pause the iPod quickly I use the ON button

2) If the phone rings I answer the call and quickly go to the audio menu and switch audio off

Not perfect, but workable.

 

[stutenn]

PCMCIA adapter with USB ports doesn't work!

I was glad to hear about the solution from mandingo about using the PCMCIA and CF adapter. Even using the On/Off button and changing the Audio to facilitate answering phone calls is better than nothing. When I plug in the Rosewill (or even Transcend) PCMCIA adapter with USB ports in them, COMAND doesn't recognize them in the AUX mode. Bummer! I suppose I understand but it would have been nice. I'll just use the CF adapter combination. :crybaby2: