Audio/COMAND Operating Instructions - GF82.85-P-0014-11RFM

Model 253 (except 253.99) 

as of model year 2020 

Audio/COMAND operating instructions, general 

This description attempts to present operation of the full functional scope for the head unit (A26/17) while taking all the vehicle's standard and special equipment, as known at the copy deadline, into account. National-specific and equipment-specific deviations hereto are possible. The vehicle is equipped with digital operating instructions, which can be called up on the driver information system.

Digital operator's manual: The language of the operator's manual can be selected from the language packages offered for different national versions. Content can be called up through the table of contents, a visual search on the vehicle or using a keyword. The digital operator's manual also provides animations.

The functions and menu navigation for the driver information system are shown on the Audio/COMAND display (A40/8). The driver information system can be operated with the following controls:

• Audio/COMAND display 
• Touchpad (A105) 
• Head unit multifunction steering wheel button group (S163/2) 
• Upper control panel control unit (N72/1) 
• Left lower control panel (N72/4) 
• Right lower control panel (N72/5) 
• Voice control system (VCS [SBS]) 
• Gesture recognition system (with code 77B (contactless gesture control at the front)) 

The following special considerations must be taken into account:

• Display of vehicle and engine data 
• Smartphone integration (with code 14U (Smartphone Integration Package)) 

Audio/COMAND display 

The Audio/COMAND display detects swipe movements and touch movements on the display and transmits the operation signals to the head unit via the telematics CAN.

Touchpad 

User input (operating gestures and handwriting recognition) is detected and the palm rest is recognized via the touch-sensitive user interface.

The touchpad also recognizes when the integrated buttons are pressed. The active audio source can be operated using the Background Audio button (A105s2) in a pop-up window at the bottom edge of the screen without having to close the menu that is currently open.

Head unit multifunction steering wheel button group 

The head unit multifunction steering wheel button group is located on the multifunction steering wheel and allows the driver to operate the driver information system without removing their hands from the steering wheel. The head unit finger navigation pad (S163/2s10), the "Back" button (S163/2s13), and the "Home" button (S163/2s14) are used to control the head unit.

The following functions can also be directly operated with the head unit multifunction steering wheel button group:

• Accept telephone call/connecting call and reject/end telephone call via the accept/end phone call button (S163/2s15)
• Increase/decrease volume and mute function via the volume adjustment switch (S163/2s16)
• Switching voice control system on and off via the voice control ON switch and favorites
• Calling up favorites via voice control ON switch and favorites

Upper control panel control unit 

The upper control panel control unit is located in the center of the instrument panel and supplies the following control elements with which head unit menus can be opened:

• "TEL" button (N72/1s56)
• "NAVI/MAP" button (N72/1s68)
• "RADIO/MEDIA" button (N72/1s66)
• Vehicle button (N72/1s58)
• Favorites button (N72/1s67)

Left lower control panel 

Integrated in the left lower control panel are the volume control button (N72/4s7), and the "ON" button (N72/4s8) (with manual transmission). The "ON" button is used to switch the head unit on and off. The Volume control button is designed as a drum controller. Turning the Volume control button adjusts the volume. Pressing the volume control button mutes the audio source (mute function).

Right lower control panel 

Integrated in the right lower control panel are the volume control button (N72/5s1), and the "ON" button (N72/5s2) (with automatic transmission).

The "ON" button is used to switch the head unit on and off. The volume control switch is designed as a drum controller. The volume is adjusted by turning the volume control switch. The audio source is muted (mute function) by pressing the volume switch.

In vehicles with code U78 (AMG sport exhaust system), the muting of the audio sources via the volume control button is replaced by the ON/OFF function of the head unit. The "ON" button is not installed.

Voice control system (VCS [SBS]) 

The voice control system is switched on and off with voice control ON switch and favorites (S163/2s17) of the head unit multifunction steering wheel button group. During active smartphone integration, both the vehicle's voice control system (brief press), and the smartphone's voice control system (long press) may be called up using the voice control button.

Activation of the voice control system can also take place using the keywords "Hey Mercedes". The user can switch this function on and off via the head unit. If the function is switched on, the head unit permanently monitors the driver hands-free system microphone (B25/20), and the front passenger hands-free system microphone (B25/21) after the keywords for activation.

The voice control system can understand natural language and offers users the opportunity to formulate their wishes freely without having to learn pre-determined voice commands. If the user's message is not clearly recognized, the voice control system will query it.

For vehicles with code 355 (pre-installation for navigation retrofit), and code 362 (HERMES LTE), the user can additionally activate the online voice control in the Mercedes-Benz customer portal. However, the online voice control is not available for all system languages of the head unit. With the online voice control, the message of the user is understood even more reliably and additional functions can be used that are available not just for the online voice control:

• Entry of "what3words" addresses
• Dictation
• Weather forecast

If the online voice control is active, the head unit sends the recognized voice commands to the Mercedes-Benz back-end. High-performance back-end servers analyze the voice inputs and convert them into control signals for the vehicle or answers for the voice output. The Mercedes-Benz Back-end transmits the control signals and answers back to the vehicle again. The back-end server makes it possible to better recognize spoken language and, by accessing external information, provide detailed answers to the user's voice queries.

The head unit in the vehicle always carries out voice recognition simultaneously. The head unit compares this with the recognition from the back-end and selects the better result. If the back-end does not send a reply, the head unit uses the recognition carried out in the vehicle.

Gesture recognition system (with code 77B (contactless gesture control at the front)) 

The hand motion sensor (B84/15) in the overhead control panel detects the driver's and front passenger's hand movements using a camera and converts the detected gestures into operation signals.

The gesture detection system provides the following functions:

• Activation of functions, e.g. Favorites, through recognition of pre-determined hand gestures.
• Highlighting of displays on the Audio/COMAND display when a hand is moved in close proximity to the touchpad or display.
• Showing functions in menus when a hand approaches the touchpad or the Audio/COMAND Display.
• Switches reading lamps on an off by recognition of a hand moving in close proximity to the inside rearview mirror or a gripping motion above the front passenger seat.

The gesture recognition system whether the driver or the front passenger carries out the hand movement.

The gesture recognition system can be switched on and off and configured via a menu in the head unit.

Display of vehicle and engine data 

Selected vehicle and engine data can be displayed in specially prepared views on the Audio/COMAND display via the "DYNAMIC SELECT" menu item, depending on the equipment:

• Vehicle data (view of three-dimensional vehicle model with background screen and accompanying graphics, depending on selected transmission mode): e.g. type of road, longitudinal and lateral acceleration, accelerator pedal and brake pedal activity, level adjustment animation, dampening, vehicle level display, wheel angle, compass
• Engine data (view of analog instruments): e.g. engine torque, output, engine oil temperature, on-board electrical system voltage, transmission oil temperature

Smartphone integration (with code 14U (Smartphone Integration Package)) 

The smartphone integration makes it possible to operate and display apps of the smartphone via the display and control elements of the head unit. The head unit supports the following integration standards:

• Apple CarPlay (with code 16U (Carplay smartphone integration))
• Android Auto (with code 17U (Google Automotive Link smartphone integration))
• Baidu CarLife (with code 18U (Baidu CarLife smartphone integration))

For the use of smartphone integration, a suitable smartphone is connected to a USB port equipped with the smartphone integration pictogram.

Smartphone integration pictogram 

Courtesy of MERCEDES-BENZ USA

If the smartphone integration is active, the following restrictions apply when using the head unit:

• The smartphone used for smartphone Integration may not be used for media mode via Bluetooth® at the same time.
• Only one route guidance may be active at a time. If the user starts route guidance on the smartphone and route guidance is active on the head unit, the head unit ends route guidance.