cousjcc

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I've seen cables already in the glove box in some '09s here in the states. No USB cable thus far, but the ipod and aux jacks for sure.

As for the problem playing songs from the Zune player, it may be that they were WMA and not MP3? Although you said they play fine from a thumb drive in WMA format so I dunno...

XBarbarian

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ya, not sure why, but mayvbe UK doesnt include the cables. In Florida, mine included the iPod /Aux. I had to order the USB. As you can see from my string of posts, I got.

Incidently, the dealer wasn't correct; the cables are not fibre, it looks like a proprietary connection, similar to the iPod's pins, but more. the original cable dongle I received with the car had bot ends on one, the USB is a single ended cable replacing the original.

it's definitly a tad slower to brows the USB than it was the Sd, but we're talking maybe 2 secs to move up a directory level. I'm very happy I went that route.

WhiteRabbit

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So, I'm using an USB thumb drive (8 Gig) with WMA format recordings. The car sees all the albums, tracks and meta-data for each. It plays every song and sounds great. However, it keeps stopping after playing just one or after playing just a few tracks. I can use the next track button to play the next song but it should just keep playing the tracks in order, right? is there some trick to this? The CD changer plays every track and CD in order so it should do the same thing for the USB drive, too.

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SLK55UAE

Are the tracks stored or arranged in separate folders?

Also check the metadata if track number is included or not... that might confuse COMAND.

cousjcc

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My first guess would have been folders. The command may not be programmed to automatically play the next song after it switches folders, except for with Ipods which for some crazy reason MB supports more than other formats. I know why... consumer demand... I just don't understand the consumer demand for those things . At any rate if it is because of the songs being in seperate folders then maybe you could make just 4 or 5 folders for different "mixes" to sort of solve the problem.

stampo

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I have a new '09 SLK200 here in the UK with the Universal interface. I can confirm it did not come with any of the cables. I pointed out to the dealer that it was misleading to offer something without disclosing the full price to use it (they tried referring me to the small print!).

Eventually they agreed to pay half the cost of cable pack. It cost £50 for three cables (iPod, AUX and USB)

watoke

Then with the ipod connected, can we select songs or playlist from the steering wheel buttons? anyone tried before? (for the new 2009 SLK)

cousjcc

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I do believe a user already reported earlier in this thread that his ipod playlists worked via the ipod interface. I'm not sure if it was with head unit buttons, steering buttons, or ipod itself. I think the ipod goes into "dummy" mode when connected so presumably it's the stereo/steering buttons to navigate the ipod's music.

vincent007

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You have full control of the iPod using the steering wheel buttons or the the head unit.

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2009 SLK 350, Arctic White, SmartTop roof module v3.22

cousjcc

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Just ordered the part from the MB dealership here in SA, for $36 bucks and it'll be here in a few days (like by wed or thurs). Much better than ordering from *************. Cancelled my order with ************* already. As a side note, I was also able to get the hood vents with the 3 "fins" for $140 each. Dunno how great of a price that is, but they too will be in within a few days!

XBarbarian

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whiterabbit..that behavior is not like mine. mine doesn't stop at all. In fact, I have been just running "random" on the entire stick, so it bounces all over the place through my eclectic collection. So, that makes me think that it has nothing to do with the folders ideas stated here. It may be more wma issue? or as stated, the numbering in the wms metadata? not sure because obviously my tracks have varying numberings, yet it skips flawlessly through entire stick. maybe its a defective stick.

sakabacus

Thanks for all your help, got my cable from mercedes plymouth this morning three cables 45 GBP Connected the I pod and it came up with the mercedes logo all playlists and songs navigatable through the head unit and nicely displayed showing artist album track duration and source, the controls on the steering wheel (when in audio mode) allow you to scroll up and down and display the track name in the upper display between the dials.
I am very impressed with the facelifts interface with the bluetooth phone working really well and the music brilliant.
Not so good is what you need to specify to get the I pod connection on a basic audio 20 set up. first it is the 6 cd changer (will not work without it) at 250 GBP then the interface itself 140 GBP and after all that the cables are extra.

cousjcc

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I don't think that's true man. I'm getting the basic stereo system, with the premium package which includes the interface. It's coming with ipod and aux cables already. I had to order my usb cable but no biggie. It should work with the ipod without the 6 disc CD changer, doesn't make any sense why that would even be necessary.

keroubim

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Well it is true for us in Europe, well at least GB and CH...
I'm glad that you seem to have a better deal in the USA.

I too thought that not including the cables was a cheap move for MB. And it's not like I can buy them in any electronics store. As far as I know the connector in the glovebox is proprietary ...

All the best!
Keroubim

WhiteRabbit

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Mine is working just fine now. Plays each song in order. Not sure what the problem was at first. Maybe I didn't give it enough time to register the USB stick. Gotta say the USB interface is far superior to the CD one. I may never use a CD in the car again.

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watoke

Thanks Vincent, I am expecting my 350 next month and hopefully there are cables available for me to connect to the ipod. CHeers

XBarbarian

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w00t whiterabbit! ya, just speant a few more hours organizing and adding to the stick last night. up to 16gb now =)

and ya, Solid State media is soooo superior to optical. CD's scratch! hassle ( comparatively ) to manage in the cockpit.

iPod would have been fine, but anything other than a nano, has a 1" Hard drive, meaning moving parts. Using the USB, and going big like I did, means once it's loaded ( remember I got a 32GB stick - not my entire digital collection, but way big enough to have plenty - some for the wife, etc, and allot of variety for me ) I can just leave it permenantly in the glove box and have oodles of available music, and NO Moving parts!

Once I'm satisfied with the collection, I need to remember to synch it to my data hard drive, so I have a back up in case the stick fails for any reason

cousjcc

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It seems that unless you have the Command head unit, you can't search through tracks on the USB thumb drives. The Audio 20 will only play them in alphabetical order. Am I missing something here?

Also, whoever said that the UMI is only functional with the 6 disc CD changer was apparently right. I didn't order the 6 disc CD changer but it apparently comes bundled in with the one and only "premium" package for 2009, which I did get.

Finally, my dealer is telling me Mercedes has the USB cable on "technical" hold right now, whatever that means. Can anyone verify this? If anyone is able to get one I will gladly send you a check for the cost, shipping, and a little extra to send it to me.

WhiteRabbit

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Not sure what you mean by search. I can scroll though the tracks using the next and previous buttons on the head unit or using the steering wheel buttons.

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WhiteRabbit

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Update: I played around with my USB stick in the car and found that there is a search feature that's prettry cool. 09 models without command (at least those with Premium Pkg I) can do searches by using the telephone keypad to the right of the head unit. With the USB drive selected just press a number and the corresponding 3 -4 letters for the number will appear on the screen. Do nothing else and all artists starting with the first letter will be displayed. If you hold the number down the next letter assigned to the number will be selected then used for the search. I don't know if this is in the owner's manual or not.

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