MERCEDES-BENZ R-Class 2008 W251 Comand Manual
Page 81 of 232
81 Audio
AUX operation
 AUX operation
An external audio source can be 
connected to the COMAND via the 1/8" 
socket located inside the glove box.
M-Class illustrated
CLK-Class illustrated
11/8“ socket
Open the Audio menu (page 44).
Press the AUX soft key.
The AUX menu is displayed. The exter-
nal audio source is played back if it is 
connected and switched to playback.
AUX menu
At the COMAND, you can set the following 
for the AUX operation:
Volume (page 38)
Balance control and fader (page 39)
Bass and treble control (page 40)
Sound functions* (page 41)
i
Vehicles equipped with a Rear Seat 
Entertainment* (
page 87) system do 
not include the 1/8" AUX socket. The 
audio signal from the Rear Seat 
Entertainment* system is the 
permanent AUX source.
i
For instructions on how to operate the 
external audio source, please see the 
operation manual of the device 
connected.  
Page 82 of 232
82
Page 83 of 232
83 Rear Audio/Video*
Rear Audio operation* (except CLK-Class)
Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) operation* (except CLK-Class) 
Page 84 of 232
84 Rear Audio/Video*
Rear Audio operation* (except CLK-Class)
 Rear Audio operation* (except CLK-Class)
Both 1/8" sockets 1 are located in the 
Rear climate control panel at the back of 
the center console. You can connect one 
headset to each socket.
11/8“ sockets
Gently push the headset connector into 
the socket 1.
The following functions are available when 
using the Rear Audio feature
Select the audio source
Switch off
Adjust headset volume
WarningG
The driver should not operate any of the 
Rear Audio features at the Rear climate 
control panel while driving the vehicle under 
any circumstances. These features can 
distract the driver from traffic conditions 
and should only be operated by the rear seat 
occupants.
Similarly, the driver should not wear a Rear 
Audio headset while operating the vehicle 
under any circumstances. The use of a 
headset while driving the vehicle could 
drastically impair the ability to react to 
audible traffic conditions (e.g. emergency 
sirens from police/fire/ambulance, another 
driver’s horn, etc.).
WarningG
When not in use, headsets should be stored 
in a safe location (e.g. one of the vehicle’s 
storage compartments) so that they are not 
loose within the passenger compartment 
during braking, vehicle maneuvers or a 
traffic accident. Objects moving within the 
passenger compartment could cause 
serious personal injury to vehicle 
occupants.
WarningG
Due to a potential choking hazard, wired 
headset usage by children should only occur 
with adult supervision.
i
Only use 32 Ohm headsets.
For further information please contact 
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Connecting headsets 
Page 85 of 232
85 Rear Audio/Video*
Rear Audio operation* (except CLK-Class)
At the COMAND open the Audio menu 
(
page 44).
Press the Rear soft key.
The Rear menu will appear.
Rear menu
Push the joystick to g or G to 
select the audio source you want.
Press E.
The audio source is selected. Playback 
begins.
Selecting the audio source
i
You can select different audio sources 
for the COMAND and the Rear Audio 
operation*. The selected audio source 
for the COMAND will playback through 
the speakers while the selected audio 
source for the Rear Audio will playback 
through the headset(s). The Rear Audio 
source is the same for both headset 
sockets.
i
The factory setting is Off _, so you 
can not hear an audio source via the 
headset.
If a MP3 CD is loaded into the CD drive, 
MP3 will appear instead of CD.
The 
CD and SAT options are 
available if a CD changer* and a 
satellite radio* equipment (with 
subscription to satellite radio service 
provider) are connected to the 
COMAND.
i
In vehicles equipped with a Rear Seat 
Entertainment* system (
page 87) 
the audio signal from the Rear Seat 
Entertainment system is the 
permanent AUX source.
i
An audio source, e.g. CD for CD 
drive, will appear greyed out, if e.g. 
there is no CD loaded in the slot.
Loading a CD (
page 54).
i
Voice instruction during route 
guidance, telephone ringing or a 
caller’s voice is not heard via the 
headset. 
Page 86 of 232
86 Rear Audio/Video*
Rear Audio operation* (except CLK-Class)
Push the joystick g or G to select 
Off.
Press E.
The Rear Audio operation* is switched 
off. 
To switch on again, select an audio 
source and press E.
If the position of the volume knob 1 is 
in, push it in and then release.
Turn the knob to the desired volume 
level.
1Volume knobs
Switching off
Adjusting the volume
i
Both volume knobs are located in the 
Rear climate control panel at the back 
of the center console. There are two 
possible positions for each knob, in or 
out. Volume adjustment is only 
possible when the knob is out. 
Page 87 of 232
87 Rear Audio/Video*
Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) operation* (except CLK-Class)
 Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) operation* (except CLK-Class)
Tips on caring for your DVDs
Treat DVDs with care to prevent 
malfunctions during playback.
Do not scratch, touch or soil your 
DVDs.
Do not attach labels to or write on your 
DVDs.
From time to time, clean your DVDs 
with a commercially available cleaning 
cloth. Never wipe circularly, but in a 
straight line from inside to outside.
After use, put your DVDs into the DVD 
box.
Protect your DVDs from high 
temperatures and direct sunlight.
WarningG
The RSE CD/DVD player is a Class 1 laser 
product. There is a danger of invisible laser 
radiation when you open or damage the cov-
er.
Do not remove the cover. The RSE CD/DVD 
player does not contain any parts which can 
be serviced by the user. For safety reasons, 
have any necessary service work performed 
by qualified personnel.
WarningG
The driver should not wear a Rear Seat 
Entertainment headset while operating the 
vehicle under any circumstances. The use of 
a headset while driving the vehicle could 
drastically impair the ability to react to 
audible traffic conditions (e.g. emergency 
sirens from police/fire/ambulance, another 
driver’s horn, etc.).
WarningG
When not in use, headsets or external video 
sources should be stored in a safe location 
(e.g. one of the vehicle’s storage 
compartments) so that they are not loose 
within the passenger compartment during 
braking, vehicle maneuvers or a traffic 
accident. Objects moving within the 
passenger compartment could cause 
serious personal injury to vehicle 
occupants.
WarningG
Due to a potential choking hazard, wired 
headset usage by children should only occur 
with adult supervision.
General information on CD/DVD 
operation 
Page 88 of 232
88 Rear Audio/Video*
Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) operation* (except CLK-Class)
Multi session discs
With multi session discs, the content of the 
first session determines how the RSE CD/
DVD player treats the CD.
For example, if the first session contains 
data in audio CD format and the second 
session contains data in MP3 format, the 
RSE CD/DVD player will treat the CD as a 
conventional audio CD.The following file and disc formats can be 
played in the RSE CD/DVD player:
Audio CD which bears the below label
CD-R and CD-RW containing MP3 files 
or CDDA files with title text.
DVD-Video which bears the below label
DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW 
containing video content.
Tips on creating MP3 CDs (
page 72)
Tips on copyright (
page 73)
i
Your RSE CD/DVD player has been de-
signed to play CDs/DVDs which corre-
spond to the IEC 60908 standard. You 
can therefore only use CDs with a max-
imum thickness of 1.3 mm.
If you insert thicker data carriers, e.g. 
ones that have data on both sides (one 
side with DVD data, the other side with 
audio data), they cannot be ejected and 
will damage the drive. 
i
CDs, software and hardware for writing 
data to CDs vary widely. Therefore, we 
cannot guarantee that the system will 
be able to play every user-written CD.
i
The system may not be able to play 
copied CDs or those with copy 
protection.
!
Do not attach labels of any type to the 
CD. They may become detached and 
damage the drive.
!
Do not play single CDs (80mm) with an 
adapter. An adapter could become 
stuck and damage the drive. Only use 
12 cm diameter CDs.
Permissible CDs/DVDs 
Page 89 of 232
89 Rear Audio/Video*
Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) operation* (except CLK-Class)
You can operate the RSE via 
the Remote control and 
the button panel at the front on the two 
rear monitors.
Point the remote control with the 
infrared transmitter 1 at the receiver 
diode l on one of the two rear 
monitors.
Switching between the rear monitors
Move the left/right monitor switch 3 
on the right side of the remote control 
to switch between the left monitor and 
the right monitor.Soft key selection via remote control
Turn the thumb wheel up or down.
You navigate through the soft keys. The 
corresponding soft key on the selected 
rear monitor changes its color.
Press the thumb wheel.
The function is selected.
DVD playback requirements
i
Some DVDs may not comply with the 
NTSC or PAL TV playback standards. 
Sound, picture and other playback 
problems may occur when you play 
such DVDs. 
The RSE CD/DVD player can playback 
video DVDs meeting the following 
requirements:
Correct regional code
NTSC or PAL TV standard
The appropriate information is usually 
given either on the DVD or the DVD 
box. The factory setting of the RSE CD/
DVD player is regional code 1. The 
setting can be changed at an 
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. This 
will allow you to playback video DVDs 
with other regional codes, as long as 
they comply with the NTSC or PAL TV 
standard.
Operating the Rear Seat 
Entertainment* (RSE) 
Page 90 of 232
90 Rear Audio/Video*
Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) operation* (except CLK-Class)
Remote control Rear monitor
RSE CD/DVD player