Stock radio issues
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 24
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From: Newport Beach, CA
02 C320 custom
Stock radio issues
I'm looking for some help or some leads on this one as I'm stumped so far. I searched the forum and didn't find exactly what I'm looking for so here goes.
I have an 02 c320 with the stock stereo. A few months ago I began hearing static and popping in my rear speakers while driving. Well it's gradually has gotten worse and now it's every happens every min or less when the engine is running. While the engine is running I hear static through my speakers and they pop whether the radio is on or not. My sound will fade out of the rear speakers and some fronts while the radio is playing. When the motor is off and the radio is off I have no issues. I read on the forum that it could be the alternator. I changed that in Nov. '12 at a reputable MB repair facility and it did nothing. I then read that it could be interference from the tints if there is metallic, so I called my tint guy and he stated he hasn't used metallic in tints for about 6 years or so (tints where done last year). I had my car washed before the Winter SoCal Run on sat and when I drove away my radio didn't work at all for about 5 min and then it started to work but it took another couple of minutes to recognize I had CDs in the changer. Then it worked fine with the typical popping and static. I'm stumped again. I would like to get this fixed because I was planning on upgrading the stereo and adding navigation and a sub but I don't want start adding amps and stuff if I haven't fixed this problem first since that's just stupid. So I'm stumped again. I'm thinking it could maybe be a faulty amp or head unit? But I would rather have some input because throwing parts at it and wasting money is never a good idea.
Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks and have a good day!
I have an 02 c320 with the stock stereo. A few months ago I began hearing static and popping in my rear speakers while driving. Well it's gradually has gotten worse and now it's every happens every min or less when the engine is running. While the engine is running I hear static through my speakers and they pop whether the radio is on or not. My sound will fade out of the rear speakers and some fronts while the radio is playing. When the motor is off and the radio is off I have no issues. I read on the forum that it could be the alternator. I changed that in Nov. '12 at a reputable MB repair facility and it did nothing. I then read that it could be interference from the tints if there is metallic, so I called my tint guy and he stated he hasn't used metallic in tints for about 6 years or so (tints where done last year). I had my car washed before the Winter SoCal Run on sat and when I drove away my radio didn't work at all for about 5 min and then it started to work but it took another couple of minutes to recognize I had CDs in the changer. Then it worked fine with the typical popping and static. I'm stumped again. I would like to get this fixed because I was planning on upgrading the stereo and adding navigation and a sub but I don't want start adding amps and stuff if I haven't fixed this problem first since that's just stupid. So I'm stumped again. I'm thinking it could maybe be a faulty amp or head unit? But I would rather have some input because throwing parts at it and wasting money is never a good idea.
Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks and have a good day!
Last edited by Kevin Goofball; Feb 17, 2013 at 06:04 PM. Reason: Spelling
Super Moderator
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,295
Likes: 22
From: VA
THE C350
Well if you want a new HU and amp then you will be replacing the speakers to so why not just do it all at once and it will fix the issue. Your issue could be a ground issue, bad rear amp which can also get wet as it is in the trunk and they have been known to get wet if the channels are dirty. You said that they speakers pop when the radio is on or not do you mean the whole system is off or listening to cds?
