Harman kardon amplifier not working

[Alf1066]

Hello I am new to this forum. Hello everyone. I have just bought a mercedes s class AMG sports 2013 and find out the Harman Kardon amplifier is not working. Can theses still be bought new ? I am told my amplifier has water damage and not repairable. Can I replace the Harman Kardon amplifier with a standard S class amplifier?
THank you for your help

 

[John Laidlaw]

Welcome- there was a repairer somewhere in Slovakia I think....

 

[mioba]

would you replace your AMG for standard and expect the same results.

I guess in principle it can be replaced with any amp (might need wires made up) but don't expect the quality of a HK unit.

Can you access the damaged unit to see the PN. if so google it to see if available. Alt give MB a call with your vin and they will tell you. MB Grangemouth are well respected on here.

Got an S class AMG, keep it real!

 

[Alf1066]

Thank you, John. If I lost 3 speakers by replacing HK with a standard amplifier it would be better than I have now. I will do as you suggest.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Welcome!

As above, replacement is the only cure. I have had lots and lots have had "attempted" repairs but they always come back with the same fault unfortunately.

 

[Alf1066]

Thanks Alexander, Are HK amplifiers still available from Mercedes Benz? I think most MB dealers are closed at the present. Does anyone know where I can order a new HK amplifier. Most grateful for your replies.

 

[V6Matty]

Yes they are still available from MB try MB Grangemouth I think they are still taking parts orders.
FYI the amp is not cheep

 

[Alf1066]

Thank you for your reply. Any ideas on the price and would it be cheaper to order direct from Germany?

 

[V6Matty]

£1k+

 

[alexanderfoti]

Yes about 1300.
No cheaper from Germany unfortunately

 

[Martian]

Although I am not ofey with the Mercedes HK system, (but I may be soon if I find the right vehicle!), I am more than happy to take a look at the Amp although I could really do with some schematics, (which i am sure will probably not be available)?

I managed to salvage a couple of the HK Amps on my old Range Rover, (HK Amps located in each door), and i also managed to repair a CD Multichanger in my old Jag, (that had suffered water ingress and several tracks had corroded and several legs of a 32 pin SMT chip had also disintegrated too!

The chip type had not been erased so I could order a replacement chip and replace the original.

Most Amp issues are related to the output stage and they are usually power amps, (2 or 4 channel), and they can short thus burning out the safety load resistors.

But todays Amps also have lots of digital circuitry as that is how the volume and equaliser settings are controlled from the 'Head' unit.

Unfortunately some modules are hermetically sealed and it is virtually impossible to access the boards and or components.

 

[alexanderfoti]

It's a coms part that usually fails, as they stop Communicating on the canbus. I have attempted to repair them before, but most of the time there is no visual damage on the board, so without schematics it woukd be very hard.

 

[Martian]

Yes one of my amps had a control signal error and it was impossible to troubleshoot without a diagram.

 

[Alf1066]

Thank you for your kind offer to look at my HK amp. My amp was given to someone to look at but the message came back that the mother board was faulty due to water damage. I am at present trying to to get the amp back when i do I will come back you if you don't mind. I do not have a control diagram, sorry. Where abouts are you located? I bought the car a couple of days before lockdown and have only driven it from the auction but it seems a nice car so i do want to get the HK system working. Thanks for your help

 

[Martian]

No problem whatsoever and, (as Alex has already stated), repairs are very difficult without schematics!

But please let me know if you are still struggling - I am located in Lincolnshire.

 

[matthew k]

I had this issue on my w211 a year ago. I had a replacement secondhand and guaranteed HK unit fitted by Command Lighwater, guy posts on here under Alfie. They were good, and it's still working fine.

MB will supply a reconditioned amp for around £900 on an exchange basis with a two year guarantee.

 

[Dean Fletcher]

£1k+

 

[JamesW204]

Give http://www.bba-reman.com/gb/content...harman-kardon-logic-7-audio-amplifier-gateway a try-I've heard good things about their ECU repair service, otherwise I've seen the amps on eBay but you might have to wait a while for the right model to come up https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES...749086?hash=item1ef81e38de:g:iQYAAOSwbKdcpLJ2

 

[Alf1066]

Thank you James and everyone else for all your kind advice. I have found a replacement amp on ebay and waiting for it to arrive. The big question I have is if the original problem was water damage that destroyed the amplifier how can I guarantee that this will not happen again in the future. I have not owned the car for long but bought, it unknowally with the water damaged amp, from an auction. So I do not know the history of the water damage. The car is a 2013 S class AMG sports.
Is is a problem with this model that the car leaks either from the boot or rear lights. I would really welcome any advice on this problem, Thank you.
Alf

 

[bembo449]

HK amps are not good quality, the fail far too frequently and are ridiculously expensive to replace, repairs often dont last either , i was so happy when i got my 215 as it has Bose set up thow my land rover has HK so always a chance this wil go pop at some point