Doug427

Where to begin....I guess it's easiest to say that my once flawless factory COMMAND radio in my 2006 E55 is acting as is possessed by poltergeists. First, about 6 months ago, out of nowhere, the nav just stopped working. It says that is can't find the CD player for the nav unit in the trunk. As the nav feature in the car is primitive at best, I did only precursory trouble shooting, couldn't find anything, and left it be. I really didn't use it anyway, I prefer to use my phone for nav, it works much better than the Jurassic system MB installed in 2006. By the way, if it matters it's the Harmon-Kardon system that is installed in my car.

Now, again out of nowhere, it's just going crazy. I usually listen to the CD changer filled with MP3 discs. I never listen to the radio, and since there is no Bluetooth, the CD changer is my only real option. It all used to work great for the two years I have owned the car. Suddenly while listening to a disc, the music will stop then start. Then it will say "loading CD", followed quickly by switching itself to radio. Then the music on the radio will stop and start. Then it will switch back to the CD changer, which will play a bit, then show loading CD followed by the switch back to radio and so on.

Is this typical of a COMMAND unit that's just toast? Has anyone ever seen this or similar behavior? Is it terminal? If it's broken, then I guess my only option is to put in one of the Chinese eBay units. If that's what I need to do, then I'll start a separate thread on that, as I am not really a tech guy and in doing a search I came up with lots of tech oriented micro details on what to buy and what other gizmos are needed to make it all work, and 90% of it went right over my head. I'll be needing "Chinese eBay M-B radio buying for dummies" type guidance. I am not going to install it myself, but I need to ensure that I have absolutely everything I need on hand when I get the guy (I don't have a guy yet) to do the install. I also need to know what it will and won't do. I don't need backup cameras, etc.

As an aside, do any of you Houston area guys know a good independent car audio installer? It would be great to find a guy like I used to have where I previously lived. he was mobile, came to the house and did installs right in your own garage or driveway.

Any input you guys have would be greatly appreciated.

Benzton

Sounds like your amp for $300 there a place I United States in Florida that will fix your amp better than new I Highly recommend them comes with a six month warranty I haven’t had any problems but you do have to send the unit out M&B specialist Mercedes Electronic Repair WWW.MANDBSPECIALIST.COM (954)942-8530

Pmarino

Sounds like the cd changer or NAV unit. Finding the culprit by process of elimination; If you get a Fiber Most Optical Optic Loop Bypass ( ) you can isolate each component. Keeping the MOST fiber optic ring active. You can add blue tooth very easily.

LOL just saw the OP's thread date.....

cstevenson

I assembled some information on the MOST system from WIS and am providing it here, I hope it helps some people.

If your MOST ring goes down, I'd recommend buying a MOST bypass adapter off Amazon and bypassing components one by one until the ring goes back online. This should save you a trip to the dealer, and their diagnosis fee. Hopefully, this method is also more definitive than a "MOST ring open at position #" code. Below is a wiring diagram for USA market vehicles (MY 2011, but it should be the same for other years as well). Amplifier is the MOST controller, and dies frequently as everyone on this thread has pointed out, so I'm not sure what will happen if you bypass it when it's dead. I think the modules communicate independently, so you may still be able to view iPod songs in COMAND (for example) if the amplifier is dead. Bypassing other dead modules should allow the MOST ring to function, it will just list the bypassed module as unavailable.

Amplifier - MOST controller, located in left side of trunk, dies frequently
Satellite Radio - In trunk, optional equipment
Media Interface - Beneath passenger footrest, optional?
CTEL - mobile phone, optional equipment
Voice Control System (VCS) - In trunk
Digital Sound Processor - Optional, for cars with the upgraded stereo
COMAND - The CD changer in the dashboard

Lucianman

I recently moved to Germany and had my 2010 S550 shipped from the US. My brother who owns a 2013 S550 in US called to tell me his audio system stopped working after having his brakes changed at Mercedes Benz dealer. The dealership said it was no fault of thers but he agreed to have them check it and after changing every component in the audio system told him it would cost about US $6000 but they the couldn't tell him what was wrong. Though the system worked he decided to opt out and for them to replace old parts. I have been going to same dealership while I was in US. I have been an avid maintainer of my car. I fix almost everything they recommended during annual service. When I was moving to Germany I was told Mercedes honors their work worldwide at MB dealership with 2 yrs warranty on all their work. Here i am thinking I am in the motherland for MB and considering a trade in for another later S model and the my radio and auxiliary systems stopped working, no sound even if they came on. I couldn't take my car to a dealership in cuz at the time everything was closed due to COVID. Strangely my phone was still connecting i could talk. Then it stopped. It connects to the command unit but won't pick up the calls. The i needed a D service. For restrictions were eases and I was able to get my service done and had them look at my audio system, strangely enough, I had the same issue my brother faced, the could figure it out and was expectations was probably going to cost in the thousands of Euros. That shocked me as I was in the motherland for MB. I chose not the have the work on it and started searching the net for some cheaper solutions until I found this forum. For an S class Mercedes-benz that cost so much new or as a certified used, I think a radio system that is so easy to break on top of the line MB is ridiculous especially the cost to fix. This can cost almost as much as buying a brand new engine. I order the optical bypass loop and panel removal kit and waiting on them. Once I get them, I check out the fans on amp to see if there's dirt or moisture and check the other system components to see which one is bad. SMH, I am suspect now about getting another MB. This was my second, I owned an S430 before that that had air suspension problems and traded for a S550. Not sure what problems the S560 as I was eyeing it but I am spooked now by MB quality on the whole especially now I am in their birthplace and the quality and cost of service is no different. By the way they couldn't see my service history as was told to me by the US dealership.

Lucianman

I recently moved to Germany and had my 2010 S550 shipped from the US. My brother who owns a 2013 S550 in US called to tell me his audio system stopped working after having his brakes changed at Mercedes Benz dealer. The dealership said it was no fault of thers but he agreed to have them check it and after changing every component in the audio system told him it would cost about US $6000 but they the couldn't tell him what was wrong. Though the system worked he decided to opt out and for them to replace old parts. I have been going to same dealership while I was in US. I have been an avid maintainer of my car. I fix almost everything they recommended during annual service. When I was moving to Germany I was told Mercedes honors their work worldwide at MB dealership with 2 yrs warranty on all their work. Here i am thinking I am in the motherland for MB and considering a trade in for another later S model and the my radio and auxiliary systems stopped working, no sound even if they came on. I couldn't take my car to a dealership in cuz at the time everything was closed due to COVID. Strangely my phone was still connecting i could talk. Then it stopped. It connects to the command unit but won't pick up the calls. The i needed a D service. For restrictions were eases and I was able to get my service done and had them look at my audio system, strangely enough, I had the same issue my brother faced, the could figure it out and was expectations was probably going to cost in the thousands of Euros. That shocked me as I was in the motherland for MB. I chose not the have the work on it and started searching the net for some cheaper solutions until I found this forum. For an S class Mercedes-benz that cost so much new or as a certified used, I think a radio system that is so easy to break on top of the line MB is ridiculous especially the cost to fix. This can cost almost as much as buying a brand new engine. I order the optical bypass loop and panel removal kit and waiting on them. Once I get them, I check out the fans on amp to see if there's dirt or moisture and check the other system components to see which one is bad. SMH, I am suspect now about getting another MB. This was my second, I owned an S430 before that that had air suspension problems and traded for a S550. Not sure what problems the S560 as I was eyeing it but I am spooked now by MB quality on the whole especially now I am in their birthplace and the quality and cost of service is no different. By the way they couldn't see my service history as was told to me by the US dealership.

Oh but the way my brotherbrother's issues still ongoing. Hopefully one of us vet the answer to help the other. Fingers crossed.