Comand Problem New (2003) E class Estate

[Sanny]

The Comand System/Sound keeps shutting off momentarily on my 2003 E class estate. This is an intermittent fault which occurs most days. Two vists to MB dealer have failed to solve the problem and I'm not sure they understand the fault - they did try to tell me they had soldered a fibre optic cable at one point.

MB Dealer has updated software which has reduced the problem but not cured it. Normally manifests itself as a shutdown of sound but can also shutdown and reboot Comand system. After fault occurs the Traffic Alert switches on.

Car is still under warranty so would like to assist the dealer in finding a solution.

Any suggestions?

 

[OlafMaxwell]

You need to take it back to the dealer and insist that they replace the unit. And you need to be prepared to leave the car with them until it is done, however long it takes to sort it out. As you have found unfortunately they dont know how to fix these things, so you must insist they replace it. The other option is that if it fails again you insist on a refund of the extra cost charged for the option.

I use a 2000 W210 Estate and am very reluctant to even contemplate a change when all the time we are confronted with stories like yours.

 

[piestore]

command

hi

Unfortunatley the 211 has been dogged by audio and telephone faults a lot of thes problems have been caused by the pace of the telephone market software, it is most unlikly to be the command that is at fault, although it is possible it needs a software update another possible cause is that the audio gateway is faulty, this has been very common or it could be the ctel control unit if this is fittted.

Have you got navigation as a seperate unit on this car as it sounds very like a known problem, update navi disc to version 2. Ask the dealer if there is a watchdog error in the fault memory.

Please don't let the toys not working correctley spoil a fantastic car I know which I would rather be driving

 

[Sanny]

Comand Problem - New E class Estate

Thanks for the suggestions. The car is booked to go back into the dealer for a third attempt to sort the problem.

This is a minor niggle and the car overall is fantastic in every way.

 

[Sanny]

Conad problem E270CDi

After 4 attempts by MB in London to fix this problem, I finally got frustrated enough to speak to the supplying dealer (Western Edinburgh) to see if they had any suggestions. This was after speaking to the Service Manager at my local dealer who prmised to check with Germany and call me back. After waiting four weeks for a call which never materialised, I called Edinburgh.

Solution - Western collected the car from London, took it to Edinburgh on a transporter, plugged in for diagnosis and found a software upgrade was needed. Service department says it took approx 2 mins to find a fault which MB London could not find in 4 separate visits.

Car was returned working perfectly, and cleaned too! Well done to Western Mercedes - customer service is alive and well just not in London

 

[Arnie]

If you check for "e-class problems" on the internet, you'll find a lot of people with similar grief to yours, particularly in the USA. In nearly all cases, the dealers rely on updated software from MB, and unfortunately, this does not always appear to solve the problems, which among the ones you listed, also includes the sat-nav system not switching off and draining the battery.

It seems that with these new electronic systems, that use complex CAN-bus communication between various units, the development work is being done at the expense of the customer.

It's probably best to wait two or three years after a new model launch to make sure that the most annoying bugs will have been ironed out.

I read a few weeks ago in some motoring magazine (CAR, I think) that for future models, MB has already decided to abandon the new sensotronic brakes and air-suspension as these have been giving too much trouble.

Glad to hear you car was finally sorted.

 

[number_11]

Hi, I hope your 2 min fix has fixed your problem. Just a quick question, at any of your visits to a dealer has anybody checked the routing of and damage to the fiber optic cables located in your car. The latest fiber optic system called MOST is VERY sensitive to poor routing or damage. The symptoms of this problem are cutting out of the sound, failure of individual MOST components, ie phone, cd changer radio etc, and a static like interference heard through the speakers. There are two main areas of damage, behind the command head unit itself (the cable is trapped between the unit and the heater box) and in the cable duct beneath the carpet just infront of the passengers side rear seat. If your problem re occours then mention this to your dealer, it is a known problem and the fix is to replace the cables with a modified one for behind the command unit and new cables for the navi unit and phone. The job is a major one but it does fix the problem, I know ive done several and not had one come back. Please dont let these problems spoil your enjoyment of a brilliant all round car. Having driven most variants from the E200 upto the E55 I know you have a good car. Enjoy!