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

Model 190 as of 12/1/18 

as of model year 2019 

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 control panel (A40/9) (Except Code 446 (Touchpad only)) 
• Touchpad (A105) (With Code 446 (Touchpad only) or With Code 531 (COMAND APS)) 
• Voice control system (VCS [SBS]) (With Code 531 (COMAND APS)) 
• Head unit multifunction steering wheel button group (S163/2) 
• Right lower control panel (N72/5) 

Audio/COMAND control panel (Except Code 446 (Touchpad only)) 

The Audio/COMAND control panel is located on the center console. As the main control, the Audio/COMAND control panel includes the Audio/COMAND controller (A40/9s11), which makes navigation in menus and lists, the selection of display-generated buttons (softkeys) and the entry of characters possible by tilting, pressing and turning. The "Back" button (A40/9s2) and the "Home" and "Favorite" button (A40/9s16) support menu navigation. Using the "Back" button, you can switch to the last display with a short press and switch to the main menu with a long press. The main menu and functions that have been saved as favorites can be called up using the "Home" and "Favorites" buttons.

Touchpad (With Code 446 (Touchpad only) or With Code 531 (COMAND APS)) 

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. Using the Background Audio button (A105s2), the active audio source can be operated in a pop-up window at the bottom edge of the screen without having to close the menu that is currently open.

For vehicles except code 446 (Touchpad only), the touchpad must be switched on via the vehicle menu in the head unit.

For the greater touch touchpad with code 446 (Touchpad only), the Audio/COMAND control panel must be omitted due to the limited installation space on the center console.

Voice control system (VCS [SBS]) (With Code 531 (COMAND APS)) 

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. With the voice control system switched on, numerous equipment dependent functions of the driver information system (e. g. navigation, radio and media sources, telephony, vehicle menu) can be operated via voice command in dialog with the VCS. The voice control system recognizes coherent commands that can be spoken by any person (e. g.: "Navigate to Bahnhofstrasse 87 in Stuttgart"), without the need for teach-in. If the message of the voice command is not clearly identified, a query is made by the voice control system.

If CarPlay or Android Auto is active, voice control for CarPlay or Android Auto is started by pressing and holding down the "Voice control ON" and "Favorites" switch. The voice control system of the head unit is switched on by briefly pressing the "Voice control ON" and "Favorites" switch.

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) allow for control of 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

Right lower control panel 

The "Volume adjustment" and "Head unit ON" switch (N72/5s1) is integrated into the right lower control panel. The head unit is switched on and off by pressing the power-on symbol. The audio source is muted (mute function) by pressing the speaker symbol. The volume is adjusted by pushing the switch up or down.

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

Integration of smartphones 

The head unit enables the integration of smartphones by supporting the following integration standards:

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

The vehicle-related preparation of the contents is safeguarded by the integration standards.

If a smartphone is connected and an integration standard is active, the head unit is switched into a special operating mode ("integration mode") in which not all head unit functions can be used. The following functions of the head unit are not available if Android Auto or CarPlay is activated:

• Media player
• Telephony (with CarPlay)

With Android Auto, the following usage restrictions apply for the telephony: Calls can only be made through the connected smartphone. Telephony with code 380 (Car telephony package) is not possible.

When using navigation, starting the navigation system of CarPlay or Android Auto ends the navigation system of the head unit, and vice versa.

Voice control for CarPlay or Android Auto is started by pressing and holding the "Voice control ON" and "Favorites" switch (S163/2s17). The voice control system of the head unit is switched on by briefly pressing the "Voice control ON" and "Favorites" switch.

The radio (AM and FM) functions, vehicle settings and safety-relevant functions such as, e.g. emergency call system (with code 362 (HERMES LTE)), can still be used in any case.

In order to be able to use the smartphone apps, the smartphone must be connected at USB port 2 (A90/5x2) and the integration standard must be selected using the "Connect" menu. If the "Automatic connection" setting has been selected, activation cannot take place via the menu.

Smartphone applications are operated using the following controls:

• Audio/COMAND control panel (except code 446 (Touchpad only))
• Touchpad (with code 446 (Touchpad only) or with code 531 (COMAND APS))
• "Volume adjustment" and "Head unit ON" switch in the right lower control panel
• Individual control elements of the head unit multifunction steering wheel button group, e.g.:
  • Accept/terminate phone call switch
  • Voice control ON and favorites switch (press and hold)

If voice control is implemented in the smartphone app, the app can be operated using voice inputs which are received by the head unit via the driver hands-free system microphone (B25/26) as they are for the voice control system.