MERCEDES-BENZ CL-Class 2008 C216 Comand Manual
Page 111 of 769
110 Control systemsCOMAND satellite radioTuning in channels using the channel 
list
Select “Audio”  “Audio”  “Sat Ra-
dio”  “Sat Radio”  “Channel List”.
The channel list appears. The dotR in 
front of a list entry indicates the cur-
rently selected channel.
Select channel by rotating ymz or 
slidingqmr and press n.
Saving channels
Option 1
Select “Audio”  “Audio”  “Sat Ra-
dio”  “Sat Radio”  “Save Channel”.
Option 2
Press n when the main area is select-
ed.
Option 3
Select “Audio”  “Audio”  “Sat Ra-
dio”  “Presets”.
All three of these will call up a preset 
menu. The dot R in front of a preset posi-
tion indicates that this is the channel cur-
rently selected and being listened to.
Selecting a preset position: 
Slideqmr or rotate ymz.
Saving a channel to a selected preset 
position
If you have called up the channel preset 
screen using option 1:
Press n briefly.
In options 2 and 3:
Press and hold n until you hear a 
signal.
The channel is saved.
i
The contents of the channel list depends on 
which channels are included in your subscription 
and which program category you have selected 
(
page 107). If only the preview channel is acti-
vated, the channel list contains only the preview 
channel.
i
There are twenty preset positions available. 
Page 112 of 769
111 Control systems
COMAND satellite radio
Show program info
Select “Audio”  “Audio”  “Sat Ra-
dio”  “Info”.
You will see a screen that may contain the 
following information:
Selected program category
Selected channel
Artist of the track currently being 
played
Name of current track
Closing screen: Slide omp or 
pressn.
Channel update
The service provider may conduct a chan-
nel update.
During the update, the message “Updating 
channels...” will appear on the display.
No functions can be operated in satellite 
radio mode during the update.
Calling SIRIUS Service Center
Select “Audio”  “Audio”  “Sat Ra-
dio”  “Sat Radio”  “Service”.
The telephone number of the SIRIUS 
Service Center and the twelve-digit 
electronic serial number (SIRIUS-ID) of 
the particular receiver are displayed.
Closing screen: Slide omp or 
pressn.
i
If the program provider does not offer any in-
formation, the “Info” menu item cannot be se-
lected.
i
The program provider determines what in-
formation is displayed on the screen. COMAND 
shows no more than two lines per item of infor-
mation. If an item of information is too long, 
COMAND shortens it.
i
It may be necessary to call the SIRIUS Ser-
vice Center if, for example:
You want to cancel the subscription or 
re-subscribe at a later date.
You forget to pay the bill.
You sell the car to another person. 
Page 113 of 769
112 Control systemsCOMAND audio CD/audio DVD/MP3Safety precautions 
Notes about MP3 mode
Permissible media for MP3 files
CD-R and CD-RW
DVD-R and DVD-RW
PCMCIA card (
page 117)
Permissible file systems
ISO9660/Joliet for CDs 
UDF for DVDs
FAT16 or FAT32 for PCMCIA cards with 
storage medium
Warning!
G
COMAND is classified as a Class 1 laser 
product. You must not open the casing. 
There is a risk of exposure to invisible laser 
radiation if you open the casing, or if the 
casing is faulty or damaged.
COMAND does not contain any parts that 
you are able to maintain yourself. For safety 
reasons, all maintenance work must be car-
ried out by qualified technicians.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph 
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is 
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second.
Warning!
G
Only carry out the following when the vehi-
cle is stationary:
Inserting a disc
Ejecting a disc
There is a risk of accident by being distract-
ed from road and traffic conditions if you 
load a CD/DVD while the vehicle is in mo-
tion. 
Page 114 of 769
113 Control systems
COMAND audio CD/audio DVD/MP3
Multisession CDs
For multisession CDs, the first session 
type of the CD determines how COMAND 
will process the CD. 
For example, if the first session type is ac-
cording to the audio CD standard and the 
second session type is according to the 
data CD standard containing MP3 tracks, 
COMAND will treat the CD as a conven-
tional audio CD. This means that it is only 
possible to access the audio CD tracks. 
Access to the MP3 tracks is not possible. 
Similarly, if the first session type is accord-
ing to the data CD standard containing 
MP3 tracks and the second session type is 
according to the audio CD standard, 
COMAND will treat the CD as a data CD. 
This means that it is only possible to ac-
cess the MP3 tracks. Access to the audio 
CD tracks is not possible.File structure on a disc
When you create an MP3 disc, the MP3 
tracks can be organized in folders. A folder 
can also contain other folders. A disc can 
contain a maximum of 255 folders. Each 
folder can contain a maximum of 
255 tracks and 255 folders. A disc can 
contain a maximum of 4 000 tracks. Usual-
ly this number will not be reached because 
each minute of an MP3 track requires ap-
proximately 1 MB of storage space.
Track and folder names
When you create an MP3 disc, you can as-
sign names to the MP3 tracks and folders. 
COMAND uses these names for the corre-
sponding display in MP3 mode. Empty fold-
ers or folders which contain data other 
than MP3 tracks are not displayed by 
COMAND.
If MP3 files are saved in the root directory 
itself (uppermost directory on storage me-
dium), the root directory will also be treat-ed as a folder. COMAND will then show the 
name of the root directory as the folder 
name. 
You must observe the following when as-
signing track names:
Track names must have at least one 
character.
Track names must have the extension 
“mp3”.
There must be a period between the 
track name and the extension.
Example of a correct track name: 
Track1.mp3
COMAND is unable to recognize an MP3 
track if:
there is no period between the track ti-
tle and the extension
there is no extension
i
COMAND does not support ID3 tags. 
Page 115 of 769
114 Control systemsCOMAND audio CD/audio DVD/MP3Permissible MP3 formats
COMAND supports the MPEG1 Audio Lay-
er 3 format.
Permissible bit and sampling rates
Fixed and variable bit rates up to 
320 kbit/s
Sampling rates of 24 kHz – 48 kHzNotes on copyright
The music tracks that you create for MP3 
mode and can play back in MP3 mode are 
generally subject to copyright protection in 
accordance with the applicable interna-
tional and national regulations.
In many countries, reproductions are not 
permitted without the prior consent of the 
copyright holder, not even for private use.
Make sure that you know the applicable 
copyright regulations and that you comply 
with these.
If you own these rights yourself, e.g. for 
your own compositions and recordings, or 
the copyright holder has granted you per-
mission, these restrictions do not apply.
Notes about audio DVD operation
COMAND can playback commercially 
available, prerecorded audio DVDs that 
bear the following label. You will usually 
find the label on the DVD booklet, the inlay, 
or the DVD itself.
i
This format is generally known as “MP3”.
i
Only use MP3 tracks with a bit rate of at 
least 128 kbit/s and a sampling rate of at least 
44.1 kHz. Smaller rates can cause a noticeable 
deterioration in sound quality. This is especially 
the case if you have activated a surround sound 
function.
i
Audio DVDs differ from recordable DVD-R 
and DVD-RW discs. 
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115 Control systems
COMAND audio CD/audio DVD/MP3
Data on audio DVDs are stored either in 
uncompressed format or in lossless com-
pressed format. The sound quality on au-
dio DVDs is therefore better than on 
recordable DVDs that contain MP3 data 
because the MP3 format uses a lossy type 
of compression.
You cannot delete data from or record 
additional data to commercially available, 
prerecorded audio DVDs.
Please note the following information 
about CDs/DVDs and pay special atten-
tion to the notes on copied and/or 
self-written CDs/DVDs.
Notes about CDs/DVDsi
Audio CDs with copy protection are not 
compatible with the CD audio standard and 
therefore may not be able to be played by 
COMAND.
There may be playback problems when playing 
copied discs.
There is a large variety of discs, disc-writing soft-
ware and writers available. This variety means 
that there is no guarantee that the system will be 
able to play discs that you have written/copied 
yourself.
There may be playback problems if you use CD-R 
or CD-RW type discs you have copied yourself 
with a storage capacity of more than 700 MB. 
These CDs are not compatible with currently ap-
plicable standards.
!
Do not affix stickers or labels to the discs. 
These could peel away and damage COMAND.
COMAND is designed to hold discs which com-
ply with the IEC 60908 standard. You can there-
fore only use discs with a maximum thickness of 
1.3 mm.
If you insert thicker discs, e.g. those that contain 
data on both sides (DVD on one side and audio 
data on the other), they cannot be ejected and 
can damage COMAND.
Do not use discs with an 8-cm diameter, even if 
they have an adapter.
Only use round discs with a 12-cm diameter. 
Page 117 of 769
116 Control systemsCOMAND audio CD/audio DVD/MP3Notes about handling CDs/DVDs 
Only hold discs by the edge.
Handle discs carefully to prevent play-
back problems.
Avoid getting scratches, fingerprints 
and dust on discs.
Clean discs from time to time with a 
commercially-available cleaning cloth. 
Do not wipe them with a circular mo-
tion, but only in straight lines from the 
center outwards.
Only use a pen designed for such a pur-
pose to label discs.
Place discs back in their boxes after 
use.
Protect discs from heat and direct sun-
light.
Inserting CDs and DVDs  Loading the CD/DVD changer
The CD/DVD changer can hold up to a to-
tal of 6 audio CDs or DVDs.
1Disc slot
2Load button (all magazine trays)
3Magazine tray buttons 1 – 6Warning!
G
Only insert a CD or DVD when the vehicle is 
stationary. There is a risk of accident by be-
ing distracted from road and traffic condi-
tions if you load a CD/DVD while the vehicle 
is in motion.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph 
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is 
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second.i
If the CD/DVD has a printed side, this must 
face upwards when the CD/DVD is inserted. If 
neither side is printed, the side to be played 
should face downwards.
i
Each magazine tray button3 indicates the 
status of the corresponding magazine tray by 
means of an LED.
LED off = magazine tray is empty
LED constantly lit = magazine tray is loaded
LED flashes = CD/DVD changer requesting 
disc to be loaded 
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117 Control systems
COMAND audio CD/audio DVD/MP3
Loading an individual magazine tray
Press desired magazine tray button 3.
If a disc is loaded, it will be ejected.
Take disc out of slot 1.
Wait until LED for magazine tray 
button3 which you pressed flashes 
quickly.
Insert disc into slot 1.
The DVD changer draws the disc in and 
begins playback if:
it has been loaded correctly
it is a permissible type of disc
Loading all six magazine trays
Press load button 2.
The DVD changer checks the load sta-
tus of all magazine trays and switches 
to the first empty tray.
Wait until LED for corresponding maga-
zine tray button 3 flashes quickly.
Insert disc into slot 1.The DVD changer switches to the next 
empty magazine tray.
Repeat last two steps until all trays are 
loaded.
The DVD changer will play the last disc 
you loaded if:
it has been loaded correctly
it is a permissible type of disc
Inserting a PCMCIA card1Slot for PCMCIA card
Insert PCMCIA card into slot 1.
The side with the contact must point 
towards the slot.
If the PCMCIA card contains a storage 
medium with MP3 tracks, COMAND 
switches to MP3 mode.
i
If a disc is not inserted within approximately 
15 seconds COMAND resumes playback of the 
last disc.
i
COMAND supports commercially available 
PCMCIA cards or PCMCIA card adapters with 
storage media that may not be designed for the 
temperatures which occur in the vehicle. You 
should therefore remove the PCMCIA card from 
the vehicle when not in use since extreme tem-
peratures could damage these devices. 
Page 119 of 769
118 Control systemsCOMAND audio CD/audio DVD/MP3Ejecting CDs and DVDs 
Ejecting from the DVD changer
1Disc slot
2Magazine tray buttons 1 – 6
3Eject button (all discs)
Ejecting one disc: Press desired mag-
azine tray button 2.
Take disc out of slot 1.
If you do not take the disc out of 
slot1, the DVD changer will draw it 
back automatically in approximately 
15 seconds.
Ejecting all discs: Press eject 
button3.
The DVD changer switches to the first 
loaded tray and ejects the disc.
Take disc out of slot 1.
The DVD changer switches to the next 
loaded magazine tray and ejects the 
disc.
Repeat last step until magazine is 
empty.
Ejecting a PCMCIA card
1Eject button
2Slot for PCMCIA card
Press eject button 1 twice.
The PCMCIA card is ejected.
Take PCMCIA card out of slot 2.
Warning!
G
Only eject a disc when the vehicle is station-
ary. You may otherwise be distracted from 
the traffic conditions and could cause an ac-
cident.
i
If you eject one disc while playing another 
disc, the DVD changer interrupts playback. Play-
back continues once the disc has been ejected.  
Page 120 of 769
119 Control systems
COMAND audio CD/audio DVD/MP3
Submenu overviewi
The components and operating principles of 
COMAND can be found on (
page 83).
CD or DVD-A or MP3
Pause/Stop/Play
(audio DVD mode 
only)
Tracks/Track 
List/Tracks A-Z
Folders
(MP3 mode only)
Changer
Sound
Normal Track 
Sequence
Pause playback
Show track list
(audio CD mode and 
audio DVD mode)
Select folder
Select medium
Treble
Random Tracks
Stop playback
Display alphabetical 
track listing
(MP3 mode only)
Bass
Random folder
(MP3 mode only)
Restart playback
Balance/Fader
Repeat folder
(MP3 mode only)
3D Sound
Group
(DVD-Audio mode 
only)