Component Description For COMAND Controller Unit - GF82.85-P-3136RDM

Model 172.4 

as of model year 2017 

with code 531 (COMAND APS) 

Shown on model 172.4 

Fig 1: COMAND Controller Unit Components Location - Model 172.4 As Of Model Year 2017 With Code 531

Courtesy of MERCEDES-BENZ USA

Location 

The COMAND controller unit is located in the center console.

Tasks 

The COMAND controller unit fulfills the following tasks:

• Central control unit for the entertainment and communication systems integrated into the vehicle 
• Integration of smartphones 
• Reading in of input signals as well as actuation of output media and system components 

Central control unit for the entertainment and communication systems integrated into the vehicle 

The COMAND controller unit provides the user with a structured and uniform user interface for the following system components:

• Telephony
• Internet (including WLAN hotspot (Wireless Local Area Network))
• Voice control system (VCS [SBS])
• Navigation (map navigation with data from internal hard disk) including extended functions
• Digital operator's manual (interactive)
• Audio (e.g. radio, CD/DVD, Bluetooth® audio, SD card (Secure Digital), Universal Serial Bus (USB))
• Video (in high resolution or frequently used video formats such as MPEG, DIVX, WMV)
• TV (with code 865 (TV tuner))

The user interface is shown on the Audio/COMAND display (A40/8).

Using the "Vehicle functions" menu, equipment-dependent contents and functions of additional systems (e.g. climate control, seat adjustments) can be shown and controlled on the Audio/COMAND display.

Integration of smartphones 

The COMAND controller unit allows for the integration of Smartphones. In order to ensure that the content is prepared in a vehicle-related way, only apps that have been developed for the following integration standards are supported:

• Android Auto (Google)
• CarPlay (Apple)

In order to be able to use the smartphone apps, the smartphone must be connected via USB to USB connector 2 (A90/5x2) of the multimedia connection unit (A90/5) and the integration standard selected in the telephone menu. If a smartphone is connected and the integration standard Android Auto or CarPlay is activated, the COMAND controller unit is switched to a special operating mode ("integration mode") in which the following functions of the COMAND controller unit cannot be used:

• Media player
• Navigation
• Voice control system
• Telephony (with CarPlay)

The radio (AM and FM), vehicle settings and safety-relevant functions such as the emergency call function (with code 360 (HERMES UMTS) or with code 362 (HERMES LTE)) can still be used.

With Android Auto, the following usage restrictions apply for the telephony: Calls can only be made through the connected smartphone. Telephony with code 379 (Telephone module with Bluetooth® (SAP)) is not possible.

In integration mode, the COMAND controller unit supports smartphone applications in the following ways:

• Volume adaptation for all audio signals
• Forwarding of control signals (e.g. from buttons on the COMAND controller unit, from the Audio/COMAND control panel (A40/9), long press of the voice control system ON button (S111s4), pressing the accept/terminate phone call button (S111s3))
• Forwarding of signals from inside rearview mirror microphone (A67b1) (e.g. for voice control or telephony)
• Audio outputs (e.g. for voice control or telephony) over the speaker system or forwarding of the signals to the sound system amplifier control unit (N40/3) (with code 810 (Sound system))
• Muting of the radio reception in the COMAND controller unit (mute function), e.g. for smartphone telephony
• Forwarding of position data (e.g. GPS signals (global navigation system), gyro sensor signals, wheel speed signals)
• Forwarding of generated video signals from the smartphone to the Audio/COMAND display
• Forwarding of status information for displaying in the instrument cluster (A1)

The smartphone applications themselves are not shown in the instrument cluster.

If the smartphone is being used to make a call, with Android Auto, the COMAND controller unit receives and sends the telephone signals from and to the smartphone over the Bluetooth® antenna (A2/91), and with CarPlay over the USB connection to the multimedia connection unit.

Reading in of input signals as well as actuation of output media and system components 

The COMAND controller unit sends and receives signals via the following connections:

• CAN 
• Media Oriented System Transport (MOST) 
• Ethernet 
• Direct line 

CAN 

The COMAND controller unit is a subscriber of the telematics CAN (CAN A) and the interior CAN (CAN B):

• The COMAND controller unit receives, e.g. the control signals from the Audio/COMAND control panel over the telematics CAN.
• The COMAND controller unit sends control signals to the Audio/COMAND display, for example, via telematics CAN.
• Via the interior CAN, the COMAND controller unit receives the signals of the left multifunction steering wheel button group (S110) and the right multifunction steering wheel button group (S111) from the instrument cluster, for example, and from the front SAM control unit with fuse and relay module (N10/1) it receives the RPM signals from the Electronic Stability Program control unit (N30/4), among other things.
• Via the interior CAN, the COMAND controller unit sends e.g. navigation displays to the instrument cluster, position data for the HERMES control unit (with code 360 (HERMES UMTS) or code 362 (HERMES LTE)) to the front SAM control unit with fuse and relay module and the status of the voice control system to the automatic air conditioning control and operating unit (N22/7).

Media Oriented System Transport (MOST) 

The COMAND controller unit exchanges data over MOST with the following control units:

• Sound system amplifier control unit (with code 810 (Sound system))
• Tuner unit (A90/4) (with code 536 (SIRIUS satellite radio), with code 537 (Digital radio (DAB)) or with code 865 (TV tuner))

Ethernet 

The COMAND controller unit is connected to the diagnostic connector (X11/4) via the Ethernet.

Direct line 

The COMAND controller unit has the following direct connections:

• Circuit 30g
• Circuit 31
• FM, AM and CL [ZV] antenna amplifier (A2/18) (input)
• FM 2, DAB and TV antenna amplifier (A2/19) (input)
• Inside rearview mirror microphone (input)
• GPS signal (input):
  • Multifunction antenna (A28/11) (with code 362 (HERMES LTE) or with code 386 (Comfort telephony))
  • GPS antenna (A2/23) (except code 362 (HERMES LTE) and except code 386 (Comfort telephony))
• Mute function signal from the HERMES control unit (N112/9) (with code 360 (HERMES UMTS) or code 362 (HERMES LTE)) (input)
• Low voltage differential signal line (LVDS) from tuner unit (with code 865 (TV tuner)) (input)
• LVDS line from the reversing camera (B84/3) (with code 218 (Reversing camera)) (input)
• Bluetooth® antenna (input and output)
• WLAN antenna (A2/83) (input and output)
• Multimedia connection unit (input and output)
• COMAND fan motor (M4/13) (input and output)
• USB line to the HERMES control unit (with code 367 (Live Traffic Information)) (input and output)
• Dedicated Short-Range Communications control unit (A50/6) (with code 498 (Japan version), dealer option) (input and output)
• Vehicle Information and Communication System (VICS) control unit (A2/37) (with code 498 (Japan version), dealer option) (input and output)
• Wake-up line for MOST (output)
• LVDS line for video data to the Audio/COMAND display (output)
• USB wake-up to the multimedia connection unit or the engine sound control unit (N40/1) (with code B63 (iESS vehicle sound)) (output)
• Audio output to speaker system (except code 810 (Sound system)), in vehicles with code B63 (iESS vehicle sound) to engine sound control unit (output)
• Switch-on (wake-up) signal for mobile phone contact plate (X237/1) and cellular telephone system antenna amplifier/compensator (A28/3) (with code 386 (Comfort telephony)) (output)
• Microphone output to the HERMES control unit (with code 360 (HERMES UMTS) or code 362 (HERMES LTE)) (output)

Structure 

The following components are integrated in the COMAND controller unit:

• Arithmetic unit
• Operating elements
• Voice control system
• DVD changer (with code 814 (DVD changer)) or single DVD drive (with code 815 (Single DVD drive))
• Hard disk with searchable database for audio files (music server), including cover art, cover flow and Gracenote Database
• SD card slot
• Bluetooth® receiver
• WLAN receiver
• Radio tuner for AM reception, FM phase diversity and separate FM tuner function for data services, e.g. traffic messages
• HD radio tuner (High Definition) (with code 494 (USA version))
• 4 channel amplifier (except CODE 810 (Sound system))
• GPS receiver
• Gyro sensor and 3D acceleration sensor
• Navigation processor and traffic data recorder
• COMAND electrical fuse (A40/3f1) (at the rear panel)