Abe

On my way to work today listening to a CD, the audio system went completely mute with "Error establishing audio connection" message showing on the audio display. Turned the unit on and off and nothing would work and the same message displayed. The VR60 integrated phone would not work either. I took the phone out of the cradle and called my MB dealer. While talking to the dealer, the radio came back on without any input on my end! I placed the phone back in the cradle and this time the message "telephone unavailable" dislayed. I turned the phone on and off, took it out of the cradle and put it back in to no avail. It just would not recognize the phone. When I got to work, I called the dealer again to explain in more details what happenned. Then I went back out and started the car again, and everything worked as it should!!
Oh, prior to all these events this morning, the teleaid malfunction message gave me a greeting!
I am beginning to wonder if MB tests these cars with all the systems and modules that come with them. What a shame one has to experience such unfortunate issues in a car with such a reputation for quality.

Kassav

I feel your pain.

bmms8

i hope none of this happens to mee

jhb

And I thought it was just the Alabama plant when I first got an ML320, the inside lights would come on and off at will as would the "check engine" warning light, etc.

Makes me wonder if next year would be a better time?????

skymast

That's not good ... but the standard mute button is a GREAT feature to have in the car! The fact that it stops the CD is also a nice feature!

Dema

Right, mute should work as PAUSE for CD. And maybe TIVO like functionality for radio?

bmms8

what do you mean by standard mute, like when you get a phone call?

amg55

Abe, this is not a unique issue among German cars.
Have had 2 BMW's, and Audi and a MB do the same thing(s) to me in the past....glitchy electronics which, when re-booted usually clean up.
I just write it off as a nuisance since these problems have never persisted in my cars. I've read this is a common problem, not just in W211.

jhb

AMG55 thanks for the perspective.

skymast

It as a mute button like a tv remote. When you use it with the cd on, it stops / restarts the cd at the same spot. Minor but i like it.

Abe

AMG55:
I realize these may be isolated problems and not specific to MB. I have owned a 96 BMW 740IL and a 99 740IL followed by a 2001 Audi A8L: never had anything electronic go bad in these cars, not even a warning light. Prior to these cars, I had a 92 S class MB, and that one was a nightmare on wheels. I guess it is just my luck with this car.