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Old 02-02-2002, 02:44 AM
David C Klasse's Avatar
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Unhappy Stock BOSE stereo problems....GRRR!

Well it all started the other day when I got in my car, started it, and heard some static sounds from the lower dash. I thought it sounded like electrical shorting... so I freaked out, turned off the car, felt around, and did not feel or see anything abnormal. So I turned the car on again, and there was no more abnormal sound... everything seemed fine.
Same thing happens again later on in the day... I find out the sound is coming from my radio (front left spkrs) making weird hissing/buzzing sounds for the first few seconds after switched on... but fades away a short while later.
Over the past two days, this problem progressively got worse, and for most of yesterday, I had no sound from any of the speakers except the driver's side dash and door speaker, and it wasn't even music... just a static pattern sort of sound. During this time, I couldn't get any music to play, and my sub woofer was turning on and off (playing the actual music, well it was only thumping bass!!!)... but nothing else would play! So I basically just kept the stereo off.
Well today the stereo has been working on the front right side and in the trunk (sub) ONLY. Occasionally I get a few weird quirky noises from the rear passenger side door, but that's it. And the front driver's side speakers are still making the weird static(ky?) noises... so I have unplugged them both.

How my stereo is working as of now: (When car/radio is first turned on, only the sub plays for a few minutes, then the front pass. speakers kick on) Front passenger door and dash speakers work, along with the aftermarket sub & amp. Sometimes only the sub will play, and the pass front speakers won't even turn on until I fiddle with the F/R & L/R controls.

I thought it had something to do with my aftermarket sub and amp, somehow screwing with the system... so I left it over at Circuit City today (where I had the sub installed about 50,000 miles ago). Their conclusion was that it was either the stock BOSE amp switching off some channels (for protection?) (IE only one output plays...'pass front spkrs'), or it was the stock head unit. They said that they had replaced a few Mercedes Bose amps previously with aftermarket units... which work like original (he said about $250 for this). I know the guy (that does the car stereo installs) fairly well, so I do not think that I am being lied to (but I do have an open mind....).

Do either the BOSE amps or the Blaupunkt (?) head units go bad ever? He said that since I am pulling more power from the MB head unit (sub and amp), and always turn it up, it is possible. Does this seem plausible? What do you guys think I should do?

(BTW, my aftermarket Subwoofer (with 250W Amp) gets audio directly from the head unit.... meaning it bypasses the factory BOSE amp, supplying the sub with it's own power (avoiding MBenz's unique ohm/stereo conflictions).

THANKS.....

BTW, This applies to a 1995 C280 with premium BOSE, in the US...

I know this "should" go in stereo section, but I want all the knowledge I can get. Thanks again.

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2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

Last edited by David C Klasse; 02-02-2002 at 02:52 AM.
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  #2  
Old 02-02-2002, 07:30 PM
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I have replaced quite a few of these amps with aftermarket for the exact same problem. I'd go for the new amp.
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Old 02-02-2002, 10:12 PM
Gilly's Avatar
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Location: Evansville WI
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One of our techs just got a good deal on a 98 C280. It had a blown Bose amp also. He found out a "short" time later that the rear window was leaking water right down onto the poor thing. Luckily he discovered this right away so he could temporarily move the new amp out of the way, now he needs to have the rear glass removed and resealed. The leak occured on the left side of the glass, just inside the trunk trim, he noticed the trunk floor mat was getting damp on that side and investigated until he noticed the dripping when he had the left side trunk trim removed.
Gilly
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Old 02-03-2002, 04:25 AM
David C Klasse's Avatar
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Location: Mission Hills in the City of San Diego
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Ok, so you guys are pretty sure that it's the amp? Do the head units ever fail? I ask this because the sub still cuts out sometimes (which bypasses the BOSE amp)... but plays most of the time. I am able to get the pass. side front speakers to turn on if I fiddle with the fade & balance for 20-40 seconds. But boy does it suck with only those 2 speakers!!

Also, I checked all the connections to the amp and to the back of the stereo... they were all tight and normal.

I got a few quotes on used Bose amps for my car... usually they were about $250-300 with 6 month warranties (most of the cars had low mileage). Or should I just got with a new amp if they can just install it right at circuit city?

THanks again guys...
__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)
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  #5  
Old 02-03-2002, 12:12 PM
Gilly's Avatar
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Evansville WI
Posts: 9,616
I can ask the tech who bought the used 98 C280 what his symptoms were. Given his problem, before proceeding with any repair I would check for the water leak in this area.
Gilly
ps The head units such as this aren't especially troublesome. We've replaced only a couple.
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  #6  
Old 02-05-2002, 03:46 AM
David C Klasse's Avatar
CheFrac is Back!
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Mission Hills in the City of San Diego
Posts: 2,355
Funny thing... today the entire system started working again... I just turned it on, and adjusted the speakers (fade + balance), and all of the speakers were working!! I still heard a little crackle from the driver's side dash tweeter though...?
Anyway, I guess I'm ok for NOW... *knock on wood* !!

But now I have some unexplainable climate control quirk!

Thanks guys for the help... I might need this information if it goes out again....!

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)
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  #7  
Old 02-05-2002, 06:38 AM
Gilly's Avatar
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Evansville WI
Posts: 9,616
David:
Just be especially wary of any wetness on the left front corner of the trunk mat. You may want to check this area after washing or driving in a rain storm.
Gilly
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  #8  
Old 06-25-2015, 12:41 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 2
C280 Speakers fade

When I drive my car and use the stero, all speakers work well. When I swithc to CD trunk player, the sound is so much better, then once I hit a bump the left front speaker goes out. Then maybe a block later it comes back on and then a bump later it goes out again.

I cannot see the radio face as it is no longer clear, it is black across the middle so I have to adjust by ear.

Suggestions other than getting a new susyem, I like keeping all the old stuff in. 1998 C280.

Thanks,

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