W205 estate - water damaged amplifier

[billo2]

Earlier this year I found that my Burmester Amplifier (located in the boot, and mounted to the side) had suffered water damage. There was no sign of any water anywhere in the area, but when taking the amp apart I found the connecter was slightly wet, and evidence on the PCB that water had got in, causing it to fail.







After removing the amp I tried (unccessfully) to find a leak by checking after large downpours, and also after washing. After a good few weeks and no further sign of water in the area I put it down to water possibly getting in whilst the boot was open, and replaced the amp with a second hand unit.

Unfortunately the replacement unit has (maybe predictably) suffered the same fait! Based on where the water is in the amp I suspect the water is travelling down the wires, and in through the connecter. Again, the area is completely dry, and it's only a couple of drops that have made it on to (and damaged) the circuit board.

Has anyone experienced the same issue, and if so do you have any advice for where any leak might be coming from - or how to prevent the same issue happening again?

Any advice would be appreciated! Even if I can locate the leak I'm keen to protect the top of the amp, which seems to be pretty vulerable in its location, from future water issues somehow.

2016 W205 c220d estate

James

 

[Srdl]

Sorry James, I can’t help but I’ll follow this with interest as my GLC is very similar to the C and I have Burmester in mine!

 

[Snake Charmer]

Does the rear wash wipe work ok? On my S211 the hose pops apart in the rear and sprays water over everything in the vicinity.

 

[billo2]

Does the rear wash wipe work ok? On my S211 the hose pops apart in the rear and sprays water over everything in the vicinity.

Right!! Checked, no evidence of any leaks or issues related to rear washer


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ernieh]

Right!! Checked, no evidence of any leaks or issues related to rear washer


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Probably not much help, but I've had 2 C Class W205s with Burmeister systems. The first car had quite a bad water leak into the boot which got fixed under warranty and had probably been there for a while before I got the car. Fortunately, the leak didn't reach the amplifier. The other car was OK.

Ernie

ps. Just noticed that your car is an Estate, so maybe different!

 

[rob2024]

Earlier this year I found that my Burmester Amplifier (located in the boot, and mounted to the side) had suffered water damage. There was no sign of any water anywhere in the area, but when taking the amp apart I found the connecter was slightly wet, and evidence on the PCB that water had got in, causing it to fail.

View attachment 89323

View attachment 89324

View attachment 89325

After removing the amp I tried (unccessfully) to find a leak by checking after large downpours, and also after washing. After a good few weeks and no further sign of water in the area I put it down to water possibly getting in whilst the boot was open, and replaced the amp with a second hand unit.

Unfortunately the replacement unit has (maybe predictably) suffered the same fait! Based on where the water is in the amp I suspect the water is travelling down the wires, and in through the connecter. Again, the area is completely dry, and it's only a couple of drops that have made it on to (and damaged) the circuit board.

Has anyone experienced the same issue, and if so do you have any advice for where any leak might be coming from - or how to prevent the same issue happening again?

Any advice would be appreciated! Even if I can locate the leak I'm keen to protect the top of the amp, which seems to be pretty vulerable in its location, from future water issues somehow.

2016 W205 c220d estate

James

Afternoon,

I have had exactly the same issue on my class estate 2016. The Original amp suffered water ingress, and failed!! So I purchased a used one from ebay, £300. I self amalgamated the cables and moved them so any further water ingress wouldn't follow the cable straight into the fibre connection on amp. The amp lasted 3 months and then died. I exposed the circuit boards on both and there was evidence of corrosion. I cleaned them up, but they still failed to kick into life. I just purchased another (amp no.3) off ebay. Before I tested it, I opened it up and the circuit board was completely xxucked. I have just spoken to mercedes at Wakefield who have been very helpful. A new amp is £920. They are on back order as the UK or Germany don't have any!! So ...... just waiting now!! Pics are of amp no.3!!!

 

[Steveid]

I have the 2015 C Class estate, my sound system stopped and the screen just displayed device unavailable, I paid an auto electrician to tell me what was wrong, turns out it is the Burmester Premium sound amplifier, A2229005110, it's not producing the light down the fibre optics in the car, £980 for a replacement, but, none in the country, so I'm told, could one from another country work?

 

[rob2024]

Mercedes benz parts at wakefield quoted me £815 inc vat. They had to order from Germany but was only a week lead time.

 

[billo2]

Afternoon,

I have had exactly the same issue on my class estate 2016. The Original amp suffered water ingress, and failed!! So I purchased a used one from ebay, £300. I self amalgamated the cables and moved them so any further water ingress wouldn't follow the cable straight into the fibre connection on amp. The amp lasted 3 months and then died. I exposed the circuit boards on both and there was evidence of corrosion. I cleaned them up, but they still failed to kick into life. I just purchased another (amp no.3) off ebay. Before I tested it, I opened it up and the circuit board was completely xxucked. I have just spoken to mercedes at Wakefield who have been very helpful. A new amp is £920. They are on back order as the UK or Germany don't have any!! So ...... just waiting now!! Pics are of amp no.3!!!

Thanks for sharing! I have taken a similar approach with self amalg. Did you ever work out what was causing water ingress? So far I’m doing ok with my third amp

 

[billo2]

I have the 2015 C Class estate, my sound system stopped and the screen just displayed device unavailable, I paid an auto electrician to tell me what was wrong, turns out it is the Burmester Premium sound amplifier, A2229005110, it's not producing the light down the fibre optics in the car, £980 for a replacement, but, none in the country, so I'm told, could one from another country work?

I don’t see why it wouldn’t, as long as the serial matches. I don’t know if it’s a requirement, but you could also match up the hw and sw version to be more confident (printed on the amp). I’ve sourced both my replacements from eBay.