How to unlock DVD display on COMAND APS while driving? - MBClub UK

lexie · 25-11-2004, 07:28 PM

Hello all,

I read here that some have been able to unlock the display playback of DVD movies on the COMAND APS while driving.

Yesterday I had my car serviced and asked the technician to enable DVD display playback while driving, but he couldn't find out how to do that. He even said to me if I would find out how to do it, he'd be glad to hear about it.

I own a E240 Estate (model 2004) with COMAND APS factory fitted.

Can anyone tell me exactly how to enable picture playback while driving?

(I'm sorry if this is a double post, but after 1 hour of searching the forom, I didn't find the answer yet)

Plodd · 25-11-2004, 09:40 PM

Why?

Apart from being illegal it's also potentially very dangerous.

If you have a legitemate reason for wanting to do this I would love to hear it.

splang · 25-11-2004, 09:54 PM

Maybe a passenger (front) would like to watch something whilst driving.....

When i have a front seat passenger often they watch DVD's on my laptop whilst I drive..(very safetly too) :-))

lexie · 25-11-2004, 11:41 PM

ok, whether this is legal or not is really another discussion. I can allways put my laptop on the dash and hook the audio to the AUX input... Also, is it illegal to be able to, or just to use it? is it illegal in all countries I visit?

If you really want to know, when going on hollidays I have 3 to 4 other people in the car, continuously anoying me with the fact they cannot watch their favourite movie while just sitting in the car for over 10 hours. Ofcourse I don't want the display for myself when I'm driving!
But it's also incredibly stupid that the front passenger has absolutely no way of seeing the movie, and in my case also the rear passengers since I didn't get the rear displays in the first place because when I ordered the car I didn't realize the COMAND could play movie DVD's...

Doesn't anyone know how it is done?

Maff · 26-11-2004, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lexie

Doesn't anyone know how it is done?

Dealers can do it, but wont. Unless you grease the hand of the right person in the workshop, or if you know your dealer well, ask them to connect your car upto the Star machine and they will walk away whilst you have a 'play'.

Also companies like Braybrooks can offer 'advice' on getting this done. (If your in the UK, dont know of any in Belgium)

miro · 26-11-2004, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maff

Dealers can do it, but wont. Unless you grease the hand of the right person in the workshop, or if you know your dealer well, ask them to connect your car upto the Star machine and they will walk away whilst you have a 'play'.

Also companies like Braybrooks can offer 'advice' on getting this done. (If your in the UK, dont know of any in Belgium)

I doubt that you can just pay for this since it requires the correct version of Star Diagnosis to provide this function. With this particular 2004 and 2005 series of W211 (e-class) I have read many posts by MBENZNL with clear advice on what is and what isnt possible.

The newer the car the more likely it needs upgraded version of Star Diagnose. Last week when Steve was in Australia he pointed out to me that the number of people in Europe that can unlock MP3 capable APS50 2004 E-Class was less a handful at most.

A lot of the advice around the place relates to the earlier models and old firmware.

lexie · 26-11-2004, 12:42 AM

Well, I just had the dealer have a go at it yesterday, but he didn't manage. He didn't told me, but I'm pritty sure they updated the soft. I noticed some modified texts and info on the navigation screens, and now it hapilly plays my MP3 DVD+RW which it wouldn't 2 days ago. Still he didn't know how to do what I asked him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maff

..., ask them to connect your car upto the Star machine and they will walk away whilst you have a 'play'.

So, if I read this correctly, they must have some kind of device to hook up to the vehicule which lets you alter these kind of parameters? Just as easy as that?
Well then, I'd better head back there and have a go at it myself then if the dealer couldn't figure that out for himself

lexie · 26-11-2004, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miro

Last week when Steve was in Australia he pointed out to me that the number of people in Europe that can unlock MP3 capable APS50 2004 E-Class was less a handful at most.

Well, since yesterday my Belgian S211 COMAND APS happily plays MP3. I dunno what version it is, but i'm guessing 50. As I said in my previous post I guess it's because of the presumed software update...

league67 · 26-11-2004, 12:58 AM

Hmm, if your passenger(s) are so desperate to watch the movie, ie not talking / or in any other way communicate with the driver ....

BigSis · 26-11-2004, 08:07 AM

Well, Lexie... If your current head unit looks like the one in this link:

http://groups.msn.com/MBenzNL/instal...o&PhotoID=2314

it's a Euro W211 comand. And if you do have that unit, TV / DVD in motion is possible. Like Miroj said, Steve MBenzNL knows how to do the trick.

Furthermore, if you want the passengers in the rear to be able to watch TV / DVD as well while driving for 10 hours or more, how about this set up?:

http://groups.msn.com/MBenzNL/instal...o&PhotoID=2445
http://groups.msn.com/MBenzNL/instal...o&PhotoID=2446

You do need an additional remote control with the rear monitor, though!~

Greetingz,

BigSis

glojo · 26-11-2004, 10:02 AM

Yes it can be done some versions of the 211 COMAND.

Yes, I agree with 'PLOD'

Yes it is illegal to have your laptop play a video in view of the driver, whilst they are driving

Yes I agree that the question is can it be done not whether it is illegal

That though is not a responsible attitude. If a dealer adapts the COMAND as a favour I gaurantee that if the driver kills someone they will not take responsibilty for their actions. "Yes it was my fault" Is not the most common statement heard in any court of law.

The conversion is not for me, it's for the front seat passenger, yes okay if you believe that, but again be honest with yourself, there will be a 'noise' or 'shout' and you will be tempted to look. The passenger might say, "Cor, look at THAT!!!" At 60mph you are travelling at just under thirty yards a second. Just think about that.

Yes the 211 COMAND can be converted.

Yes my COMAND displays a map that can be seen by the driver whilst the vehicle is in motion.

Regards to you all,
John

lexie · 26-11-2004, 04:32 PM

John, I am aware of safety and therefor fully respect your opinion on this matter. Maybe I crossed the line here by asking this very question on this forum.

As what the legal part is concerned, I don't know yet exactly what the Belgian law (where I live) has to say about it, but I'll have this checked soon enough.

Shude · 26-11-2004, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plodd

If you have a legitemate reason for wanting to do this I would love to hear it.

It's for watching DVDs while running the car on a dynamometer. Happens all the time!

Brian WH · 26-11-2004, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shude

It's for watching DVDs while running the car on a dynamometer. Happens all the time!

Or when sitting waiting for the wife when she is shopping.

glojo · 26-11-2004, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lexie

John, I am aware of safety and therefor fully respect your opinion on this matter. .

Hi Lexie,
Please, do not take me to seriously. I tend to 'rant' a little over issues that I have a strong opinion on. I should have ignored the question

Take care,
John

25-11-2004, 07:28 PM	#1
lexie Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Belgium Car: E240 Estate (S211/2004) Posts: 49	How to unlock DVD display on COMAND APS while driving? Hello all, I read here that some have been able to unlock the display playback of DVD movies on the COMAND APS while driving. Yesterday I had my car serviced and asked the technician to enable DVD display playback while driving, but he couldn't find out how to do that. He even said to me if I would find out how to do it, he'd be glad to hear about it. I own a E240 Estate (model 2004) with COMAND APS factory fitted. Can anyone tell me exactly how to enable picture playback while driving? (I'm sorry if this is a double post, but after 1 hour of searching the forom, I didn't find the answer yet)

25-11-2004, 09:40 PM	#2
Plodd Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Manchester Car: 2007 VW Golf R32 Posts: 564	Why? Apart from being illegal it's also potentially very dangerous. If you have a legitemate reason for wanting to do this I would love to hear it.

25-11-2004, 09:54 PM	#3
splang Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: May 2004 Location: Hampshire Car: W212 E250 Avantgarde Posts: 1,047	Maybe a passenger (front) would like to watch something whilst driving..... When i have a front seat passenger often they watch DVD's on my laptop whilst I drive..(very safetly too) :-))

25-11-2004, 11:41 PM	#4
lexie Member Threadstarter Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Belgium Car: E240 Estate (S211/2004) Posts: 49	ok, whether this is legal or not is really another discussion. I can allways put my laptop on the dash and hook the audio to the AUX input... Also, is it illegal to be able to, or just to use it? is it illegal in all countries I visit? If you really want to know, when going on hollidays I have 3 to 4 other people in the car, continuously anoying me with the fact they cannot watch their favourite movie while just sitting in the car for over 10 hours. Ofcourse I don't want the display for myself when I'm driving! But it's also incredibly stupid that the front passenger has absolutely no way of seeing the movie, and in my case also the rear passengers since I didn't get the rear displays in the first place because when I ordered the car I didn't realize the COMAND could play movie DVD's... Doesn't anyone know how it is done?

26-11-2004, 12:58 AM	#9
league67 Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: London Car: E 270CDI aka Gunther Posts: 230	Hmm, if your passenger(s) are so desperate to watch the movie, ie not talking / or in any other way communicate with the driver ....

26-11-2004, 08:07 AM	#10
BigSis Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 107	Well, Lexie... If your current head unit looks like the one in this link: http://groups.msn.com/MBenzNL/instal...o&PhotoID=2314 it's a Euro W211 comand. And if you do have that unit, TV / DVD in motion is possible. Like Miroj said, Steve MBenzNL knows how to do the trick. Furthermore, if you want the passengers in the rear to be able to watch TV / DVD as well while driving for 10 hours or more, how about this set up?: http://groups.msn.com/MBenzNL/instal...o&PhotoID=2445 http://groups.msn.com/MBenzNL/instal...o&PhotoID=2446 You do need an additional remote control with the rear monitor, though!~ Greetingz, BigSis

26-11-2004, 10:02 AM	#11
glojo Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Torquay Car: S211 Sprinter 213CDI, & the new T-class Posts: 14,149	Yes it can be done some versions of the 211 COMAND. Yes, I agree with 'PLOD' Yes it is illegal to have your laptop play a video in view of the driver, whilst they are driving Yes I agree that the question is can it be done not whether it is illegal That though is not a responsible attitude. If a dealer adapts the COMAND as a favour I gaurantee that if the driver kills someone they will not take responsibilty for their actions. "Yes it was my fault" Is not the most common statement heard in any court of law. The conversion is not for me, it's for the front seat passenger, yes okay if you believe that, but again be honest with yourself, there will be a 'noise' or 'shout' and you will be tempted to look. The passenger might say, "Cor, look at THAT!!!" At 60mph you are travelling at just under thirty yards a second. Just think about that. Yes the 211 COMAND can be converted. Yes my COMAND displays a map that can be seen by the driver whilst the vehicle is in motion. Regards to you all, John

26-11-2004, 04:32 PM	#12
lexie Member Threadstarter Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Belgium Car: E240 Estate (S211/2004) Posts: 49	John, I am aware of safety and therefor fully respect your opinion on this matter. Maybe I crossed the line here by asking this very question on this forum. As what the legal part is concerned, I don't know yet exactly what the Belgian law (where I live) has to say about it, but I'll have this checked soon enough.

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