NCook

Every time I start the car the radio volume is just loud enough to be a distraction, even though I turn the volume all the way down prior to shutting off the engine. Is there a setting I'm overlooking that can be changed to keep the radio off upon restart?

Mike_W

My car, a 2008, has a button marked "mute", that according to the COMAND manual, will restart in the last configuration it was in. See attached. I have never actually tried it - but will tonight.
Mike

Efivehundred

I don't think there is a setting that will have the radio off upon restart. You will have to press the "mute" or "pwr" button prior to shutting off to have no sound when you restart.

Shotime

Turn the power off on the radio every time before you shut down. Speakers can be damaged when powering up loudly upon startup.

NCook

Just before shutting down I turn the volume as low as it will go, I don't shut off the power because I use the navigation first thing when starting the next morning. But even if I do shut off the power to the radio, upon powering up the nav the radio volume is just audible, just loud enough to be a distraction. I tried the mute trick and that works, but it seems that this is not normal behavior.

Mike_W

Check to see if you have auto volume adjust enabled. Auto volume changes the volume based on ambient noise, window settings and more.
Mike

edwinwalke

If you mute it before you turn off the car it will remain muted the next time you start.

Diesel Benz

Perhaps good to know how the mute-feature should work but I don't see it a solution at all for the OP. If one wants to have the radio at a decent volume while driving and at the same volume after turning the engine off and later on when starting a new trip, one should not need any tricks, no actions at all. If the car was behaving as it is supposed to behave, the audio volume would remain the same (except perhaps in some cases if you switched ignition off at extreme high audio volume).

I've seen similar behaviour reported at the W204 forum for some cars, I cannot remember their solution and it probably doesn't work for W211 anyway but my point is that there is something wrong with the car and it needs to be fixed (instead of inventing tricks on how to manage with the fault).

Mike_W

Disagree. The OP asked, in his original post - is there a setting that he is overlooking that can be changed to keep the radio off to keep the radio off during restart. He was provided with one - mute. Is his radio behaving normally - perhaps - if he has auto volume enabled. We haven't heard the answer to that yet.
If all we did on this board was to tell folks to "take it to the dealer and get it fixed" when ever they asked a question - this board would be a lot less interesting.
Mike

NCook

The auto volume is enabled. I'll try disabling it, although I like that feature. Interesting that if I set the volume to a mid level, then shut off the car and restart, the volume is still at mid level. But if I turn the volume all the way down, then shut off the car and restart, it is now at a low level.

Diesel Benz

I agree. Reading the post carefully, this is what was asked. I did not read it carefully and though nobody would be happy with that solution.

Diesel Benz

I guess you are referring to the speed dependent automatic volume control (some cars do it based on cabin noise measurements with a mic). This should not change the volume from what it was when ignition is switched off to the next restart when the engine is running again but if you have a setting to switch it on and off, it makes sense to try it anyway.

Mike_W

Been there ... Done that.
Mike

cuchanonM

I don't think there is a setting that will have the radio off upon restart.

Thom99

Thanks for posting that information... my problem is solved!