W211 - need help diagnosing REALLY weird audio problem
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 724
Likes: 50
From: Vancouver Canada
S213 2020 E450 4Matic CDN Spec 07/19 build
W211 - need help diagnosing REALLY weird audio problem
Hi there. Have a 2004 W211 (well, S211 actually) that has an audio bug that's driving me crazy.
Earlier this year, purchased and installed a used CD changer, after which an audio problem started propping up that I thought HAD to be due to the replacement changer because the audio problem does not appear when listening to the radio or auxilliary input. Did not have this problem with CD audio until after the replacement CD changer was installed.
Hard to describe exactly what's going on, but intermittantly it's as if the CD audio looses its top end and almost sounds mono, and then flips back to normal. It's really frustrating.... sometimes there's no problem for an hour, and then it flips back and forth from good to bad occasionally.
Replaced the changer again, thinking it was defective, and lo and behold the second replacement changer is exhibiting the same problem.
What are the odds of that? Can the glitch instead be related to another component in the MOST loop, AGW perhaps? See, I'm thinking not, because the audio path for the auxilliary and radio flow through the same MOST loop, if I understand the loop correctly.
Radio signal is processed in the AGW, IIRC, whereas the auxilliary audio flows out from the COMAND unit to the AGW.
So, long story short, could the bug be somewhere else, or did I just win (lose) the lottery and happen across two CD changers with the same bug in them?
Any help GREATLY appreciated.
Earlier this year, purchased and installed a used CD changer, after which an audio problem started propping up that I thought HAD to be due to the replacement changer because the audio problem does not appear when listening to the radio or auxilliary input. Did not have this problem with CD audio until after the replacement CD changer was installed.
Hard to describe exactly what's going on, but intermittantly it's as if the CD audio looses its top end and almost sounds mono, and then flips back to normal. It's really frustrating.... sometimes there's no problem for an hour, and then it flips back and forth from good to bad occasionally.
Replaced the changer again, thinking it was defective, and lo and behold the second replacement changer is exhibiting the same problem.
What are the odds of that? Can the glitch instead be related to another component in the MOST loop, AGW perhaps? See, I'm thinking not, because the audio path for the auxilliary and radio flow through the same MOST loop, if I understand the loop correctly.
Radio signal is processed in the AGW, IIRC, whereas the auxilliary audio flows out from the COMAND unit to the AGW.
So, long story short, could the bug be somewhere else, or did I just win (lose) the lottery and happen across two CD changers with the same bug in them?
Any help GREATLY appreciated.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 16
From: Berkshire, UK
2004 SL55, 2015 A250d, 2016 GLC250d
Firstly, ensure that
a) The COMAND unit has had the MY2007 firmware update done (I don't know what the equivalent is for USA COMAND) - dealer should know if there have been any firmware updates since your car was new
b) Ensure the AGW has the latest firmware - there was an update in 2006 - thise again needs Star Diagnosis the dealer computer system
c) Ensure that the AGW was configured to have the CDC on the fibre optic MOST ring.
At least at that point you know the system has latest firmware and is configured correctly
Richard
a) The COMAND unit has had the MY2007 firmware update done (I don't know what the equivalent is for USA COMAND) - dealer should know if there have been any firmware updates since your car was new
b) Ensure the AGW has the latest firmware - there was an update in 2006 - thise again needs Star Diagnosis the dealer computer system
c) Ensure that the AGW was configured to have the CDC on the fibre optic MOST ring.
At least at that point you know the system has latest firmware and is configured correctly
Richard
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,063
Likes: 27
From: Tampa, FL
2005 S500 4-Matic, 1978 450SL
And last, be sure nothing is causing a fiber optic cable to kink too tightly - especially if there is something pressing against one to cause a "kink" or too tight a curvature in the cable.
You could lose audio quality if this is happening; and you could have static as well.
Also be sure all of your fiber optic leads are tightly plugged in.
You could lose audio quality if this is happening; and you could have static as well.
Also be sure all of your fiber optic leads are tightly plugged in.
Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, CA
2005 SL500, Black on Stone
Murman,
I'm going to take a guess at your problem. I have just installed the Dension Gateway 500 in my Mercedes SL500. It's working perfectly, but I know the sound you are talking about.
When I have my IPOD playing, and I enable my telephone to make a calll via bluetooth, before I actually make the call, while dialing but before sending, my stereo has the same "mono", low fidelity type sound.
I wonder if it has anything to do with your bluetooth or phone interfering with the audio system? See if you can correlate it to your telephone in some way.
Jazzphile
I'm going to take a guess at your problem. I have just installed the Dension Gateway 500 in my Mercedes SL500. It's working perfectly, but I know the sound you are talking about.
When I have my IPOD playing, and I enable my telephone to make a calll via bluetooth, before I actually make the call, while dialing but before sending, my stereo has the same "mono", low fidelity type sound.
I wonder if it has anything to do with your bluetooth or phone interfering with the audio system? See if you can correlate it to your telephone in some way.
Jazzphile
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 724
Likes: 50
From: Vancouver Canada
S213 2020 E450 4Matic CDN Spec 07/19 build
Firstly, ensure that
a) The COMAND unit has had the MY2007 firmware update done (I don't know what the equivalent is for USA COMAND) - dealer should know if there have been any firmware updates since your car was new
b) Ensure the AGW has the latest firmware - there was an update in 2006 - thise again needs Star Diagnosis the dealer computer system
c) Ensure that the AGW was configured to have the CDC on the fibre optic MOST ring.
At least at that point you know the system has latest firmware and is configured correctly
Richard
a) The COMAND unit has had the MY2007 firmware update done (I don't know what the equivalent is for USA COMAND) - dealer should know if there have been any firmware updates since your car was new
b) Ensure the AGW has the latest firmware - there was an update in 2006 - thise again needs Star Diagnosis the dealer computer system
c) Ensure that the AGW was configured to have the CDC on the fibre optic MOST ring.
At least at that point you know the system has latest firmware and is configured correctly
Richard
a) think this was done when I added the first CD changer awhile ago. Next time I'm in, I'll ask the dealer.
b) will ask for this to be checked.
c) this has been done.
M
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 724
Likes: 50
From: Vancouver Canada
S213 2020 E450 4Matic CDN Spec 07/19 build
And last, be sure nothing is causing a fiber optic cable to kink too tightly - especially if there is something pressing against one to cause a "kink" or too tight a curvature in the cable.
You could lose audio quality if this is happening; and you could have static as well.
Also be sure all of your fiber optic leads are tightly plugged in.
You could lose audio quality if this is happening; and you could have static as well.
Also be sure all of your fiber optic leads are tightly plugged in.
It's only sound from the CD player that's the problem...
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 724
Likes: 50
From: Vancouver Canada
S213 2020 E450 4Matic CDN Spec 07/19 build
Murman,
I'm going to take a guess at your problem. I have just installed the Dension Gateway 500 in my Mercedes SL500. It's working perfectly, but I know the sound you are talking about.
When I have my IPOD playing, and I enable my telephone to make a calll via bluetooth, before I actually make the call, while dialing but before sending, my stereo has the same "mono", low fidelity type sound.
I wonder if it has anything to do with your bluetooth or phone interfering with the audio system? See if you can correlate it to your telephone in some way.
Jazzphile
I'm going to take a guess at your problem. I have just installed the Dension Gateway 500 in my Mercedes SL500. It's working perfectly, but I know the sound you are talking about.
When I have my IPOD playing, and I enable my telephone to make a calll via bluetooth, before I actually make the call, while dialing but before sending, my stereo has the same "mono", low fidelity type sound.
I wonder if it has anything to do with your bluetooth or phone interfering with the audio system? See if you can correlate it to your telephone in some way.
Jazzphile
As far as I can tell, there's no correlation with the phone system operation, as I get the buggy sound even if there's no phone paired with the puck.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,063
Likes: 27
From: Tampa, FL
2005 S500 4-Matic, 1978 450SL
It may not affect radio or AUX, since that's built into the H/U. It could affect other components.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 724
Likes: 50
From: Vancouver Canada
S213 2020 E450 4Matic CDN Spec 07/19 build
Now that I think of it, isn't the radio tuner actually housed in the AGW?
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 724
Likes: 50
From: Vancouver Canada
S213 2020 E450 4Matic CDN Spec 07/19 build
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 16
From: Berkshire, UK
2004 SL55, 2015 A250d, 2016 GLC250d
You can get MOST looping tool to make this easier. If you can't find one in Canada, try this: -
http://www.comandonline.co.uk/most-loop-tool.html
Richard
Last edited by Richard; Dec 12, 2010 at 04:24 PM. Reason: Canada not USA
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
2004 w211
Hello guys
well i have a w211 200 k 2004 and there is a problem with the CD changer i guess . it is a 6 cd command and it gets jammed by replaying the same song over and over again and not shifting . sometimes it works fine but it jams again ! btw the cd's are not faulty coz i tried several ones . wts seems to be the problem!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 16
From: Berkshire, UK
2004 SL55, 2015 A250d, 2016 GLC250d
well i have a w211 200 k 2004 and there is a problem with the CD changer i guess . it is a 6 cd command and it gets jammed by replaying the same song over and over again and not shifting . sometimes it works fine but it jams again ! btw the cd's are not faulty coz i tried several ones . wts seems to be the problem!
That would be a strange fault if it just repeats the whole of the same song - as it's not physically moving the disks around, and it is clearly managing to read the whole of the song
Cheers
Richard
