Comand firmware problem in my SLK

[Cixi]

Hello folks, I'm new into here.
I was plaing with my new SLK Comand ENG secret menu (Mute+3+4+6), because I wanted to play DVD with MP3 inside since I could only play CD's from Main Unit reader, when I don't know why maybe I touched some weird setting now the comand screen (I have a comand aps on my SLK 350 2004 edition) show "Software Update" and there it remains!
here the pic: http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/3623/060120081159hd1.jpg

I clicked on "invalidate application" just before that appear,
you can see pict here: http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/8918/17112007914qt0.jpg

How can I reset it?
How can I delete this "Software Update" screen?
How can I solve that?

It will drain my battery! I unplugged the battery with no success and then I removed two fuses. So now I do not have anymore any Comand function available since it is off.
I'm desperate!

Looking at the pics I took before the break i can tell you what firmware version I had:

EU SLK HeadUnit W171 589 00 22 00
SW-Rel 9.390 Build 15/04

And I read somewhere that I can buy this update cd and it cost 10 Pounds more or less.

Anyone know if that is true?
Anyone can give me this cd via internet since I read it is only few Mb?

I read that I must buy this versions of Update CD's:

W171 589 00 22 00 SW-Rel 9.390 Build 15/04

W171 589 01 22 00 SW-Rel 15.130 Build 51/05

W171 589 03 22 00 SW-Rel 21.090 30/06

Now, as far as I discovered only the first one (SW-Rel 9.390 Build 15/04 the one I had in the car) can be manipulated using ENG hidden menu.
Is that true?
Otherwise I buy newest versions if can be entered using combination keys.
I also heard some guy that have "hacked" Comand newest firmware version with Star Diagnose but from not authorized MB garages.

Hope you can help me out with the disc and at least understand which version of Update CD I must buy from the dealer to play DVD with MP3 and use ENG hidden menu.
Thank You very much.
Regards

[richard]

If removing the power didn't reset it, I suspect you have erased the flash (didn't know you could do that from the eng menu, but you can from factory mode star diagnosis). Invalidate Application has invalidated the application (i.e the navigation program itself)
I would install the latest version, that will give you better functionality (ETA on the main screen when navigating) and reliability - especially if you have lingatronic.

BUT I doubt that the eng mode will still be there - you can get everything in eng mode turned on by a star diagnosis system that has the factory password for the month - there are independants in UK that can do that, I dont know about Italy

RIchard

[richard]

The 4 items on the screen you posted are all configurable by any Mercedes dealer. (don't need the special factory password for the month)

I'm glad you didnt delete the bootloader, you'd definetly have needed star diagnosis or more

Regards
Richard

[Cixi]

I called the MB dealer and they do not want to sale me the cd I asked.
I asked for this cd W171 589 00 22 00 SW-Rel 9.390 Build 15/04 and they replied me that I can't buy!
Anyone of you have it so I can buy or download?

[television]

When playing with menus there is always a danger of the eprom failing, its slight but can happen when in the configuration menu.

from the factory they are written by machine and not individually. A missing number from new on the config menu can knock every thing out as in this case. and there is no way of telling until it all goes blank

[DansSlk]

You have just invalidated (erased) the flash no biggie, if the dealer wont sell you the disk then take the car to them and let them do the update as you can see the COMAND is waiting for it.

It will come back to life but you will lose any custom settings, not that it takes long to restore them.

IF you picked bootloader however then its all over, DAS wont help you.

Richard's correct you wont be able to access the menu once the unit is running the latest release, i appreciate you where just trying to enable a function and thats fine but if you don't know what something does then do NOT select it because it can get expensive.

[portzy]

IF you picked bootloader however then its all over, DAS wont help you.

Not wanting to hi-jack this but; would that mean that his COMAND HU including the AGW is effectively broken forever?. If that were the case would a new one be a straight swap i.e. a 2008 COMAND unit going into a 2004/5 car?

Portzy.

[DansSlk]

Not wanting to hi-jack this but; would that mean that his COMAND HU including the AGW is effectively broken forever?. If that were the case would a new one be a straight swap i.e. a 2008 COMAND unit going into a 2004/5 car?

Portzy.
The audio gateway would be serviceable because the menu in question only acts on the headunit.

Its no different to any other device that uses a bootloader app you are semi-protected because the bootloader can be accessed directly and new software can be loaded (easiest way with COMAND is the SW update CD) but once the bootloader is gone the unit can't load the OS or get itself into a state that you can communicate with, depending on the device that either means a return to factory or replacement.

I don't know if the headunit can be brought back from the edge by Becker (We just RMA to MB what happens after that i don't know) but i do know that it wont communicate on the MOST so the DAS can't speak to it, i don't think it even goes into it's fail-safe mode that provides a pass-through to keep the network operating.

Not that it really matters since if your headunit is down you don't really care if your navi processor can still function.

As for replacement if a 2008 unit is compatible with a 2005 car then thats normally what gets fitted, it depends on the parts catalog really so you just pick the latest part number for the VIN.

[Cixi]

You have just invalidated (erased) the flash no biggie, if the dealer wont sell you the disk then take the car to them and let them do the update as you can see the COMAND is waiting for it.

It will come back to life but you will lose any custom settings, not that it takes long to restore them.

IF you picked bootloader however then its all over, DAS wont help you.

Richard's correct you wont be able to access the menu once the unit is running the latest release, i appreciate you where just trying to enable a function and thats fine but if you don't know what something does then do NOT select it because it can get expensive.

Thank You.
You made my smile come back in my face!
I'll follow your suggestion. I'll never touch anymore something "weird".
Do you know which is the latest upgrade I can use that have enabled the ENG menu key combination?
Thank You

[Cixi]

I did all that because I could not play DVD-RW (Rewritable) even with only 1 file mp3 in the whole DVD named "songtest.mp3" to avoid lenght problems.
But I could not succesfully play DVD.
Probably the DVD do not read DVD-RW but only CD-RW and i have to test DVD-R or +R/+RW.
If you know what kinda DVD I must record I'll happy to hear from you.

[DansSlk]

W171 589 01 22 00 - That should have the menu active.

If your headunit was playing MP3's on CD then you have no need to use the menu at all, it does not have one setting to play from CD and another from DVD.

The unit is very fussy with disk's and the way you burn them and especially so with DVD's, try using Roxio to burn the disk and use a DVD-R.

[Cixi]

Does anyone have this version W171 589 01 22 00 installed and can read the ENG menu?
Does anyone in here have the ISO for this W171 589 01 22 00 ?
I got the last one. only 6Mb zipped.
I hope someone can have it and that can send me.

About DVD burning.. i can't try right now.. I have everything locked.
Thank You

[DansSlk]

Why do you need the menu?

[Cixi]

Why do you need the menu?

To enable the followings menu:
Backdoors
Driver Distraction
Region Code

[Diesel Benz]

To enable the followings menu:
Backdoors
Driver Distraction
Region Code

If I wanted video in motion, I would use an external device to solve that (or an old version of DAS where applicable) and update the HU to the latest SW revision.

Region Code is probably not often an issue and where it is, you can simply burn a DVD copy without the region restriction (probably useful for other players too).

Backdoor as such does not sound useful if you don't intend to use it for any other purpose than the two above.

[Cixi]

If I wanted video in motion, I would use an external device to solve that (or an old version of DAS where applicable) and update the HU to the latest SW revision.

Region Code is probably not often an issue and where it is, you can simply burn a DVD copy without the region restriction (probably useful for other players too).

Backdoor as such does not sound useful if you don't intend to use it for any other purpose than the two above.

I don't want to buy a new device since I have that in the car already.
I think is stupid do that when I have a 4000 Euro In Car Entertainment Tool and "buy something else" maybe bulky and with a lot of problems.
Just few of them: Can be stolen easely, Need space in a not so roomy car, need to be plugged into a power source and so wires all all around, is unconfortable to see or carry since there is no place to lay it, I don't want spend's days re-coding all DVD's, etc etc etc.
So I guess the best bet is let it do what the Comand do since I paied a In Car Entertainment useful to what?

[Diesel Benz]

I don't want to buy a new device since I have that in the car already.
I think is stupid do that when I have a 4000 Euro In Car Entertainment Tool and "buy something else" maybe bulky and with a lot of problems.
Just few of them: Can be stolen easely, Need space in a not so roomy car, need to be plugged into a power source and so wires all all around, is unconfortable to see or carry since there is no place to lay it, I don't want spend's days re-coding all DVD's, etc etc etc.
So I guess the best bet is let it do what the Comand do since I paied a In Car Entertainment useful to what?

I was not talking about any bulky device, just the "video in motion" enabler at the CAN bus (I did not check your Comand details, I assume it would take the speed signal from CAN).

I don't think you have paid for video in motion. MB never promised it to you. But I'm not trying to say you should not do it, just make aware of the compromise.

[richard]

All of those items are 'codable' with a Star diagnosis and the factory password for the month (the password being hard to get). - there are also various other outfits who can enable video-in-motion without Star somehow.

I dont know of any Mercedes authorised dealers, or recognised independants (i.e those with genuine machines) in UK that will enabledd v-i-m. Rather dangerous in my view.

Im pretty sure the latest software gives you the ETA on the navigation screen option - which is rather nice, so now you have to balance between that and the ENG menu.

I'm glad you got your unit going again !

Cheers

Richard

[DansSlk]

I dont know of any Mercedes authorised dealers, or recognised independants (i.e those with genuine machines) in UK that will enabledd v-i-m. Rather dangerous in my view.



Ditto, very risky indeed.

[DansSlk]

Those devices you can buy that connect between the voltage distributer and the AGW bypass the video in motion lock by removing the speed signal from CAN as said.

The major downsides to this are your speed dependent volume adjustment wont work and if you have HK neither will your DRO mic and the nav wont dead-reckon so if you have GPS drop out it wont function.

[steve.link]

I called the MB dealer and they do not want to sale me the cd I asked.
I asked for this cd W171 589 00 22 00 SW-Rel 9.390 Build 15/04 and they replied me that I can't buy!
Anyone of you have it so I can buy or download?

I have this version of the SW on a genuine MB disk but it is a E class version W211 589 06 22 00. I think it will work OK. It allowed the enginering menu access.

I no longer have the E class so you are welcome to the disk on condition you keep it to pass it on to another forum member should they need it in the future.

Regards

Steve

[richard]

I have this version of the SW on a genuine MB disk but it is a E class version W211 589 06 22 00. I think it will work OK. It allowed the enginering menu access.

I no longer have the E class so you are welcome to the disk on condition you keep it to pass it on to another forum member should they need it in the future.

Regards

Steve

The 211 disk will not work, Dont try it.

MB Europe have decided not to allow dealers to sell special tools (this disc is classified as such as it starts with a 'W') to anyone but their own workshops. Everyone else has to register with MB as an independant (and they do vrarious checks) and order centrally, which then takes an age.


This sounds really miserable, but comand.co.uk has 171 589 01 22 00 -> 04 22 00 (for EU and USA) and of course the 211 disks - so they can install it for you for a small charge, but they won't break their contracts to copy or send it anywhere since that is illegal.

Richard

Richard

[DansSlk]

It doesn't work quite like that.

[Diesel Benz]

It doesn't work quite like that.

You don't want to elaborate on that?

[DansSlk]

Oh not having a pop at richard at all he's a decent guy.

Was just saying it doesn't work like it was made out, it will at best cause a few dealers to be more selective over supplying the parts.

It wont stop anything.

[Cixi]

Thank you all.
I've got the CD's.
Installed in a few minutes and averything went back to normal with the old settings preserved. :)

[glojo]

I did all that because I could not play DVD-RW (Rewritable) even with only 1 file mp3 in the whole DVD named "songtest.mp3" to avoid lenght problems.:) Don't worry about that as it is not a problem. I name my files using spaces and capital letters without any problems.

If English is not your first language then congratulations on your excellently worded posts.

Regards
John

[steve.link]

The 211 disk will not work, Dont try it.

MB Europe have decided not to allow dealers to sell special tools (this disc is classified as such as it starts with a 'W') to anyone but their own workshops. Everyone else has to register with MB as an independant (and they do vrarious checks) and order centrally, which then takes an age.


This sounds really miserable, but comand.co.uk has 171 589 01 22 00 -> 04 22 00 (for EU and USA) and of course the 211 disks - so they can install it for you for a small charge, but they won't break their contracts to copy or send it anywhere since that is illegal.


Richard,

My W211 had the W171 version on it when I got the car that is why I bought the correct disk. This was simpler than than trying to explain the issue to the dealer.

The car was new but pre registered 3 months before I had it and I have no idea why the comand sw was incorrect. After the W211 version was loaded there was absolutly no difference so I concluded they were interchangeable.

[Cixi]

:) Don't worry about that as it is not a problem. I name my files using spaces and capital letters without any problems.

If English is not your first language then congratulations on your excellently worded posts.

Regards
John

Really?
Thank You.
Sometime I think "oh my god what other people can think about my writing errors" :)
Thank You

[shiraz]

Hi,

Our car is booked in for brakes tomorrow. We still have the original 2003 dated software and I'd like to enable MP3 playback. I'm already sensing having problems with the dealership about updating the software - they'll have to enquire about it.

If I have a problem, would you make that disc available to me please. If so, at what cost?

Regards,
Shiraz