MERCEDES-BENZ R-Class 2006 W251 Comand Manual
Page 31 of 242
29 At a glance
Multifunction steering wheel
Switch the multifunction display to the 
respective system if you wish to 
operate the system using the buttons 
on the multifunction steering wheel.
On the multifunction steering wheel, 
press è or ÿ repeatedly until 
one of the following, Radio, Single CD 
or MP3 CD, CD changer*, Satellite 
radio* or Telephone* display appears 
in the multifunction display of the 
instrument cluster.Radio operation
1Waveband
2Station frequency
Single CD/ CD changer*operation
1Current CD
2Current trackMP3 CD operation
1MP3 mode
2Current MP3 track
Selecting the multifunction display 
Page 32 of 242
30 At a glance
Multifunction steering wheel
Satellite radio* operation
1SAT mode and preset channel number
2Channel nameTelephone* operation
List with a phone book entry
On display will appear either:
the main display with the READY 
message
a list with either a phone book entry or 
one of the last 10 outgoing calls
In order to close the list display, 
press t.
This switches to the telephone main 
display.Rear Seat Entertainment* operation
1AUX mode 
Page 33 of 242
31 At a glance
Menu system
 Menu system
The menu system allows for easy 
operation of COMAND. 
Main menus are provided for the following 
main functions:
Audio (AM/FM radio, CD, 
CD changer*, MP3 CD, AUX, Rear 
Audio*)
Satellite radio*
Telephone*
Navigation
ServiceCalling up main menus Menu display
A display may consist of three areas.
Example: FM menu
1Soft keys area
2Main area
3Status bar
The functions currently assigned to the 
soft keys are displayed in the soft key 
sections 1.
Main functionActivating main 
menu
Audio 
(
page 42)
Press A.
Satellite radio* 
(
page 118)
Press B.
Telephone* 
(
page 134)
Press a.
Navigation 
(
page 152)
Press b.
Service 
(
page 210)
Press C. 
Page 34 of 242
32 At a glance
Menu system
The main area 2 shows messages and 
settings.
You can change the settings by operating 
the system.
The status bar 3 is divided into three 
areas.
Left side: 
The current operating mode is indicated. In 
this example: RadioCenter:
The status of the current operating mode 
or other selectable functions are indicated.
In this example:FM = current waveband
1 = memory location of station, 
e.g. “1”
Right side:
General status information is indicated 
independent of the operating mode.
In this example:
Ready = Telephone* is ready for 
operation
 = Reception strength of the 
mobile phone*Menu functions and submenus
Using the soft keys, functions can be 
switched ON or OFF, or submenus can be 
called up.
E.g. the radio menu:The FM/AM soft key switches between 
FM and AM band.
The Scan soft key starts/stops the 
channel scan.
i
A maximum of five soft keys may be 
displayed on each side of the main area 
2. 
Page 35 of 242
33 At a glance
Menu system
In some situations, soft keys may not have 
any function and are not operational. A 
soft key without function appears shaded 
out.
E.g.: Soft keys on the left and right sideExiting from submenus
Use the 
Back soft key 1 to exit a 
submenu. The display switches to the next 
higher menu level.
The system does not accept setting 
modifications which have not been stored. 
There are exceptions where pressing the 
Back soft key will also store new settings. 
These exceptions, whenever applicable, 
are referenced on the following pages. 
Page 36 of 242
34 At a glance
Quick reference COMAND
 Quick reference COMAND
Switching on
Turn the key in the starter switch to 
position 1 or 2 if the COMAND was 
switched off by turning the key in the 
starter switch to position 0 and 
removing it.
or
Press e.
In both cases, the system will activate 
the operating mode which was active 
when the system was switched off.Switching off
Turn the key in the starter switch to 
position 0 and pull the key out.
or
Press e.
When the audio is playing, the volume 
knob will adjust the audio volume, and also 
the volume for telephone and navigation.
During a telephone call (talking or ringing), 
the volume knob will adjust the telephone 
voice and ringer volume.
The volume for the navigation announce-
ments can only be changed while an 
announcement is being made.
When you adjust the volume, the system 
will automatically store the setting for the 
current operating mode.
i
You have the following options to 
control the system:
at the COMAND
at the multifunction steering wheel 
(refer to vehicle Operator’s Manual)
This Operator’s Manual describes the 
control at the COMAND.
Unless otherwise indicated, the 
descriptions and illustrations refer to 
the COMAND.
Switching the COMAND control unit 
on and off
i
For an explanation of starter switch 
positions, refer to vehicle Operator’s 
Manual.
i
If the key is not in the starter switch in 
position 1 or 2, the system will automa-
tically stop after around 30 minutes.
Volume 
Page 37 of 242
35 At a glance
Quick reference COMAND
Adjusting the volume
At the COMAND, turn the rotary control 
at the e key.
or
Press J or I on the 
multifunction steering wheel.
The volume is turned up or down 
depending on the direction of rotation 
or the key pressed on the 
multifunctional steering wheel.
The system remembers the volume 
setting when it is switched off.Automatic volume control
The automatic volume control feature 
adjusts the volume depending on:
vehicle speed (only in vehicles without 
premium sound system*)
or
ambient noise inside the vehicle (only 
in vehicles with premium sound 
system*)
i
When the system is switched on again, 
the volume may be lower or higher than 
at the time when the system was 
switched OFF. 
This will be the case when the volume 
was adjusted to a value outside a 
certain range when the system was 
switched off.
i
This function is active all the time and 
can not be turned on and off. 
Page 38 of 242
36 At a glance
Quick reference COMAND
Common balance and fader settings apply 
to the following systems:
Radio operation
CD operation (CD)
CD changer* operation (CD)
MP3 CD operation
AUX
Satellite radio*
When you make balance or fader settings, 
the system will automatically save the 
settings for the current operating mode 
and others.Setting balance and fader
In any audio source operation:
Press the Bal/Fad soft key.
Cross-hairs are displayed. The 
horizontal hair line indicates the 
balance setting. The vertical hair line 
indicates the fader setting. You can 
now make balance and fader settings.
For M class:For R class:
Push the joystick to H or h.
Move the cross-hairs horizontally and 
adjust the balance.
or
Push the joystick to g or G.
Move the cross-hairs vertically and 
adjust the fader.
Balance and fader 
Page 39 of 242
37 At a glance
Quick reference COMAND
Press E or the Back soft key.
or
Wait until the display changes.
The new setting is saved.
Different bass and treble settings are 
possible for the following operating modes:
Radio: FM-, AM- and 
Weather (WB) bands
Single CD (CD) and CD changer* 
(
CD)
MP3 CD operation
AUX
Satellite radio*When you adjust bass or treble, the 
settings apply to other sources within the 
group, but not to the other modes. For 
example, if you adjust the bass while 
listening to FM, that same bass level 
applies to AM and Weather band, but not 
to satellite radio* or CD/MP3 CD.
Activating the Bass or Treble menu
In any audio source operation:
Press the Bass or Treble soft key.
The Bass or Treble menu will appear. 
Setting Bass and Treble
Push the joystick to H or h.
Bass or Treble is adjusted.
Press E or the Back soft key.
or
Wait until the display changes.
The new setting is saved.
 
i
Push the joystick to F and f to 
move the cross-hairs simultaneously in 
vertical and horizontal direction.
Bass and Treble
i
Press the Bass or Treble soft key and 
keep it depressed to move the cursor 
continuously. Release the soft key to 
set the current value. 
Page 40 of 242
38 At a glance
Quick reference COMAND
If your vehicle is equipped with the 
premium sound system*, the sound 
functions* will be available for the 
following operating modes:
Radio: FM-, AM- and 
Weather (WB) bands
Single CD (CD) and CD changer* 
(
CD)
MP3 CD operation
AUX
Satellite radio*The following sound functions* are 
available:
Default Settings:
COMAND sets the default settings 
(Bass, Treble, Bal/Fad) for the active 
source mode.
Standard:
COMAND sets the sound linear for the 
center of the vehicle.
Speech:
Playback optimized for language 
comprehensibility.
LOGIC7 Surround:
Surround playback.
You can use different sound functions* for 
the modes mentioned above.
E.g.: 
For radio operation the function
Standard, for CD operation the function 
LOGIC7 Surround.
Sound functions*i
LOGIC7 Surround sound offers a sound 
quality superior to conventional stereo 
sound. 
If the radio reception is poor, the 
system should be switched back to 
standard stereo playback. Switching 
back to standard stereo playback may 
improve audio quality.