DAB Radio E Class

[mogster]

I have a 2012 E500 Coupe with DAB radio
I have complained to my dealer about it losing signal and when it loses the signal it makes a screeching noise which is horrendous
It has recently had a software upgrade which has slightly improved reception it but the drop out noise is still
The dealer says they all do that!!!! And that DAB is still new!!!
car is still under warranty and will be going back

 

[Davelincs]

No problem today with Absolute ras, although I was only driving for about 50 minutes, will keep you posted

 

[Handydave]

My 2014 E Coupe has poor DAB reception. Especially on Smooth and Absolute stations. Even on BBC there are frequent drop-outs. There's a faint 'crump' - sounds like you've just driven over an aluminium drinks can - honest! Dealer tried to repair but no improvement.

 

[billyc]

Arghh. This is worrying. I'm waiting for a 2014 E Coupé delivery

 

[ras8963]

No problem today with Absolute ras, although I was only driving for about 50 minutes, will keep you posted

Thanks buddy. I phoned the dealer today who have asked for the car back to check things out which is good.

BTW you a making me feel bloody guilty about that umbrella,.....do you want it?

Cheers
R

 

[Davelincs]

Thanks buddy. I phoned the dealer today who have asked for the car back to check things out which is good.

BTW you a making me feel bloody guilty about that umbrella,.....do you want it?

Cheers
R

No thanks I bought one from Audi

 

[ras8963]

Update

Thought I would follow this through with updates in the event it might be sorted....Took car back to dealer today, (pre arranged appointment), I informed the service chap that one thing that would certainly rile my mood was "if he called me that they had checked the car out and could find nothing wrong".....guess what he did....suffice to say I was probably not polite in my response.

They have suggested they will get a different tech to check it out and asked to keep the car another day........oddly enough in the e class loaner i have DAB works perfect, hows that for a kick in the wotsits?!

Lets see what occurs tomorrow....

 

[IanT]

Good luck.

I retrofitted The DAB box, compatible head unit, display and Bluetooth modules to my mundane Astra that I use for everyday tasks and have found that while it was a PITA to fit the antenna as I had to drop the headlining, it has been pretty much flawless on the major stations that I listen to (BBC radio 4, 1, 2) and local stations (Crapital, Heart, Kiss etc).

Modifying the looms wasn't too hard and programming it all to work together can only be done with Tech2, but it was worthwhile. The problem I expect you might have with a modern Merc is that the undesirable whip antenna will be beautifully integrated into the roof and back window and lack the clear view to the transmitter that my (dated) Astra gets and that might be the source of the problem. Form over function.

Hope you get it fixed, I can vouch that Ford managed it in their later range of Focus etc, as we get those as hire cars sometimes.

Ian.

 

[Davelincs]

Mines been working fine on Absolute, and radio 2, is still drops out on smooth but again I think it's the signal as it drops out on fm in certain areas of Lincolnshire

 

[ras8963]

Ok...So after 2 days in the workshop and after test drives etc the service Team are clear that the radio does drop out "a little", I guess everthing is subjective...

I informed them my wife's C class and even the loaner e class saloon both suffered minimal if any drop out in the same geographic locations yet in this car a drop out of signal in less than 2 minutes could be just about guaranteed.

I was told I got a software update, (odd as the car is fresh from the factory in the last month) and everything else they checked is confirmed to function as it should.

I collected the car almost on the basis of an acceptance of a terminal (no pun intended) condition........

Service team gave assurance the matter is not being dropped and they have contacted MB for any thoughts....I guess,

Summary - it still doesn't work.

ATB

 

[ras8963]

Further update....

Well I had thought this might get forgotten and would become a problem "lived with"....but....today I took a call from the service team...it seems MB have suggested some component changes and they would like the car back in for a few days to do the work...due to commitments it wont go in for a few weeks but i will post the outcome...

ATB

 

[Davelincs]

Excellent Ras, let's hope they sort it out for you, I have had no further problems with mine, on r2 or absolute.

 

[StevenJD]

So, like RAS, I have been working with my MB service team (Solihull and excellent chaps), and basically we agreed a few months ago that this was a long term problem and they would escalate the MB.

They rang me last week and asked to have the car in for the day. They had it on Friday and implemented a "short term solution" that had been recommended by MB whilst they work on something more permanent.

The short term solution is to remove some component from the antennae that deals with the TA announcements, so basically my TA is now disabled.

Result, near perfect DAB radio reception on all stations. It's been 4 days now and I've just been back in to MB to let them know that the temp fix worked.

So if you are having the same problem go to your service dealer and tell them to do this. It will take a day as they have to remove the headlining etc.

Will keep you posted if MB come back with a more permanent solution.

Hope this helps everyone. :bannana:

 

[ras8963]

Thats interesting, thanks for posting.
MB (Germany) have suggested "several" fixes and the dealer wants the car back a few days....TBH I dont really want to sacrifice anything for something else but TA function has always been off in my cars, I always consider it a PITA

ATB

 

[StevenJD]

Me too, it always seemed to be telling me about traffic problems I was already stuck in!! :fail

Anyway, worth having a chat with your service manager and see what he has planned. Keep us posted.

 

[Littleted]

Anybody have any joys with this, I've got a week old A45 and the dabs is totally useless, and fm is poor too..

How can Mb sell crap like this annoys me

 

[ras8963]

Hi,
My car is in at MB today, they say they need it 2 -3 days and hoping for collection by Friday.

Apparently MB (Germany) have suggested some part replacements....heres hoping....

I will post outcome either way....

 

[Littleted]

Thanks RAS post ASAP will you so I can send it to my dealer I really cannot be ****d going back and forth while some young kids trying firm wares and ****, it's gotta be hardware issue, it's was bloody terrible......

 

[ras8963]

The software updates etc was the first they tried on mine, at whgich pijnt they said everythng was fine,,...it wasnt and the kept the car for "tests" for another day,....then the advice from /germany which is where I am at now.

It is frustrating, and TBH to the point where I almost can be bothered with getting it fixed, but we must persevere.....there is no reason this should not function as sold / designed!!

ATB

 

[Littleted]

Yeah totally agree, seems so touch and go, some have pefect some dont.. Weird, look forward to your fix