OEM Bose audio went beserk today. Lost audio with Audio and ---- under the word audio then this loud clicking starts. I mean loud and continues when ignition is turned off.

I get a call to the dealer and one guy who's still (it's Saturday) there says let it sit for a while and hopefully it'll stop.

The loud clicks stop and become a low whir. Sounds like a cassette rewinding but I don't have a cassette player. I have the Bose CD player. It continues and I'm hoping it doesn't drain the battery.

Anyone have any ideas?

No drain on the battery. Started right up. But still have the message, "Audio
----"

Have searched these forums at length and have found nothing pertaining to this noise even after ignition is turned off. Have seen the W210 has some issues with electrical gremlins and rust (just found bubbles over MB logo on tail gate). Nice to know I'm not alone.

Thanks to Darren and Steve at Continental Imports in Gainesville problem solved. Over the phone aka, gratis. Thanks!

In case anyone else has the same issue. Darren asked what I was doing before I lost Audio and the loud clicking started. I replied, plugging in a phone charger. Darren told me to check the fuses. Found the audio fuse but couldn't tell if it was blown. Then I saw Fuse #5 for "Command" Hmmm, pulled it out and the whirring stopped. But still no audio. Called Darren back and he handed me to Steve who suggested I plug the 5 Fuse back in and see what happened. When I did, the audio came back on with a prompt for the code. Darren made a call and passed the code on to me.

So I have no idea what happened because no fuses were replaced but having experience with Fiats in the late 70s has convinced me that auto electronics are like an English Major. There's never a right or wrong answer - - and you can always wing it.