Radio Fault W211

[Brian WH]

My radio has started acting strangely.

A few weeks ago I got into the car and even before I put the key in I noticed that the radio was displaying a line of ---------------. Very strange, and when I turned it on nothing happened, tried it with ignition on and off - nothing but the lines. Anyway after a number of goes it suddenly came on and until today no further problem.

Today I started on a journey and thought I would have the radio on. Switched ON it lit up as usual but NO SOUND???? Tried turning up with controls on steering wheel and the radio, still no sound, tried Mute and nothing. CD and Tape played I could hear the works turning but still No Sound. Came back this afternoon and still the same. So hands-free rang local dealer and booked it in for a check on Friday. They run a Fast Track diagnosis system and they can then see what is required and order as necessary.

Anyway just as I got home I tried the radio again and ---- You guessed it --- It Bl**dy well worked. So it is still going in on Friday and I will let you know what happens.

 

[Steve_Perry]

Good luck sorting it, intermitent faults are the worst to cure

Didn't Rich M have problems with his W211's audio system when he first got his car? Wasn't it fixed with a software/firmware update?

*EDIT* Found this earlier thread...
http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=4152&highlight=audio
(I'm getting a sense of deja-vu )

S.

 

[RichardM]

I don't think its ever really been fixed, although it hasn't happened for a long time. They will probably change the audio gateway Brian.

My current issue with the stereo is it keeps cutting out for a second, almost like the CD jumping but also happens with the radio.

 

[marcos]

Mine has these symptoms but I'm just used to it now. My dad's however used to turn off and stay off for days and everytime it went to the dealers the bloody thing worked perfectly. The dealers ended up changing the head unit, gateway, instrument cluster and cd changer and it turned out to be a fibre link that was loose that my dad found under the glovebox.

 

[Brian WH]

Thanks all, strangely worrying after all that info?????????

We shall see what the technician says. Its still working as I speak??

 

[fuzzer]

The more i read ... the more likely it is that the 211 is going bye byes

 

[Flash]

The more i read ... the more likely it is that the 211 is going bye byes

I would have thought that your one would be ok as a later model. I wonder what chages they are planning on making ont he face lift which should be fault free as they usually iron out the teething probelms at this point.

Flash

 

[Brian WH]

The more i read ... the more likely it is that the 211 is going bye byes

I haven't had that many problems Fuzzer, only a few minor niggles so far at 21000 miles.

Nothing that would make me think of changing the car, I love it TOoooo much.

 

[Brian WH]

Well had my car Diagnosed today. Result was that the CD player wasn't talking to the processor??

They reprogarammed it and all is well now they say.

Asked about Audio Gateway and headunit software and was told that they are only doing on an as required basis.

 

[Andy Stanton]

I've had two different problems with my command.

Firstly the DVD player refuses to acknowledge there is a disc in the drive. Won't play and won't eject. Onyl way to get around this is to ignore it for an hour and try again!

Secondly, I'm having problems with MP3 playback. Some tracks are fine, others play a second, cut out a second . Has an effect of someone repeatedly pushing the mute button. Doesn't happen on all tracks though which is weird.

On a slightly different note, the speaker in the passenger rear door 'pops' too early so on some tracks (with volume at max) and I can hear it's annoying distortion and have to turn it down a bit.

These are only minor niggles and things I guess I'll have to live with. On the whole it's a blimin great system and sounds excellent. If I could change anything, I'd ask for more 'punch' in the bass department. Don't get me wrong it has plenty of bass, but not the sort that kicks yer kidneys. Probably more bias toward Clasical music than rock and pop! Who said it was an old mans car?? I love it!

 

[Brian WH]

I've had two different problems with my command.

Firstly the DVD player refuses to acknowledge there is a disc in the drive. Won't play and won't eject. Onyl way to get around this is to ignore it for an hour and try again!

Secondly, I'm having problems with MP3 playback. Some tracks are fine, others play a second, cut out a second . Has an effect of someone repeatedly pushing the mute button. Doesn't happen on all tracks though which is weird.

On a slightly different note, the speaker in the passenger rear door 'pops' too early so on some tracks (with volume at max) and I can hear it's annoying distortion and have to turn it down a bit.

These are only minor niggles and things I guess I'll have to live with. On the whole it's a blimin great system and sounds excellent. If I could change anything, I'd ask for more 'punch' in the bass department. Don't get me wrong it has plenty of bass, but not the sort that kicks yer kidneys. Probably more bias toward Clasical music than rock and pop! Who said it was an old mans car?? I love it!

Sorry - Why do you have to live with it mate???? Surely it is under warranty and is not right?

 

[marc777]

My radio/CD displays these problems from time to time, but the next day they tend to go.

I tend to live with it becasue going to the dealer is always such a bind, and when you get there it displays none of the symptoms.

Yesterday It was on but I couldn't change the volume at all. This morning it was fine.

Bizarre.

 

[Brian WH]

My radio/CD displays these problems from time to time, but the next day they tend to go.

I tend to live with it becasue going to the dealer is always such a bind, and when you get there it displays none of the symptoms.

Yesterday It was on but I couldn't change the volume at all. This morning it was fine.

Bizarre.

Mine was working when I got to the dealers, but he found the fault on the Diagnostic check records.

Don't live with it till the warranty runs out mate.

 

[Andy Stanton]

Sorry - Why do you have to live with it mate???? Surely it is under warranty and is not right?

I guess the thought of some oily technician pulling the interior panels out of my car fills me with dread. I'm sure the speaker will be resolved by a straight replacement (if it's the speaker at fault) but the other annoying little rattles are probably untraceable and I can all see it being a nightmare. Additionally I simply don't have time to chase the dealer via the fleet department to try and explain what needs to be done. Possibly resignation on my part too due to too many experiences of the No Fault Found situation when the car is returned. (Vauxhall and Ford primarily).

 

[Brian WH]

I guess the thought of some oily technician pulling the interior panels out of my car fills me with dread. Additionally I simply don't have time to chase the dealer via the fleet department to try and explain what needs to be done. Possibly resignation on my part too due to too many experiences of the No Fault Found situation when the car is returned. (Vauxhall and Ford primarily).

Depends where you live as I have never had problems with "oily fitters" at my MB dealers.

NFF is not an option on the later MBs with ECU computer fault memory.