C-Class DAB reception
Discussion
I've had my 2014 C-Class Coupé for about a month now. It's my third in as many years and on this one the DAB reception is markedly worse than the last two I've had. Driving around the same areas where I have previously, stations which used to get perfect reception are patchy at best and I get continual break-ups. This is on major routes in Surrey so not exactly the middle of nowhere. On a recent drive round the A406 major stations were badly affected. I'm fairly sure it's the car. It was looked at by MB in Guildford today and they reported no fault codes and said it behaved well on a test drive (according to the trip computer they'd gone about three miles in it). I'm positive it's not right. They said a software upgrade is due in the summer but my previous cars have been older so they would not have benefitted from this upgrade either and they were fine. Any advice on where to go from here? Has anybody else experienced DAB reception issues on the C-Class with COMAND? I'm annoyed as I can't listen to my usual things at all anymore but I fear MB servicing is going to fob me off as it's a "difficult" one to solve.
Real stab in the dark, but are you using an iphone charger off the power port? I have a friend with a SEAT who had similar probs, and though it's a different manufacturer, the symptoms were only resolved when the charger was not in use.
If not, I'm surprised that Tony Purslow would've fobbed you off, though you should go back if the problem still exists.
If not, I'm surprised that Tony Purslow would've fobbed you off, though you should go back if the problem still exists.
MagicMike said:
Real stab in the dark, but are you using an iphone charger off the power port? I have a friend with a SEAT who had similar probs, and though it's a different manufacturer, the symptoms were only resolved when the charger was not in use.
If not, I'm surprised that Tony Purslow would've fobbed you off, though you should go back if the problem still exists.
I do sometimes but not all the time. Ditto Bluetooth connected or not too. It's worth seeing if there's a correllation.If not, I'm surprised that Tony Purslow would've fobbed you off, though you should go back if the problem still exists.
Unfortunately although I made the appointment I didn't drop it in or collect it as I was away. Maybe they fobbed the missus off. I'll sort it personally next time. Could try taking it to the guys at MB World too and get a second opinion.
From mb club -
Not happy and it must be the DAB module in COMAND?
THe DAB module is separate to the COMAND/Audio-20
However, the system changed in MY2012 (facelift) from one tuner (DAB only, NTG4) to a new tuner (DAB/DAB+/DMB dual tuner, NTG4.5).
W166 ML is NTG4.5
BUT, the general opinion is the older tuner is better at picking up signals than the newer one ..
On the advice of Mercedes Technical they have tried several things and have now ordered a replacement roof antenna which they are fitting tomorrow. I will let you know the outcome.
Sadly this is likely to do nothing. This is because the roof antenna is for L Band DAB (and the windscreen antenna is for Band III.
All UK transmissions are on Band III.
Do you have any chargers plugged in or wired into the cigarette lighters? (such as a speed camera detector USB thing, or tom-tom power supply etc)
Oh they are incompetent.
You could tell them
"The roof antenna is for DAB Band L. There is no Band L transmission in UK. A94/1 is the Band III antenna amplifier on the CLC which is on the left C pillar. All UK DAB transmission is on Band III. TV is also on Band III (so the antenna wire in the screen is the same length), which is why in the circuit diagram it is noted as, and can be used as the TV 1 amp. If they refer to WIS document "ar82.62-p-8300ec" they will see how to remove it."
I *also* think that in fact that Mercedes may not even be fitting the Band L wiring and roof antenna, so they may well be looking really in the wrong place. They've dropped Band L antenna on a lot of cars.
I'm not saying that this will fix the problem, but they are looking at the wrong thing.
Not happy and it must be the DAB module in COMAND?
THe DAB module is separate to the COMAND/Audio-20
However, the system changed in MY2012 (facelift) from one tuner (DAB only, NTG4) to a new tuner (DAB/DAB+/DMB dual tuner, NTG4.5).
W166 ML is NTG4.5
BUT, the general opinion is the older tuner is better at picking up signals than the newer one ..
On the advice of Mercedes Technical they have tried several things and have now ordered a replacement roof antenna which they are fitting tomorrow. I will let you know the outcome.
Sadly this is likely to do nothing. This is because the roof antenna is for L Band DAB (and the windscreen antenna is for Band III.
All UK transmissions are on Band III.
Do you have any chargers plugged in or wired into the cigarette lighters? (such as a speed camera detector USB thing, or tom-tom power supply etc)
Oh they are incompetent.
You could tell them
"The roof antenna is for DAB Band L. There is no Band L transmission in UK. A94/1 is the Band III antenna amplifier on the CLC which is on the left C pillar. All UK DAB transmission is on Band III. TV is also on Band III (so the antenna wire in the screen is the same length), which is why in the circuit diagram it is noted as, and can be used as the TV 1 amp. If they refer to WIS document "ar82.62-p-8300ec" they will see how to remove it."
I *also* think that in fact that Mercedes may not even be fitting the Band L wiring and roof antenna, so they may well be looking really in the wrong place. They've dropped Band L antenna on a lot of cars.
I'm not saying that this will fix the problem, but they are looking at the wrong thing.
Same problem here.
2014 C-class coupe.
One of the previous cars was a 2012 Ford Focus with DAB and that had absolutely no problems anywhere I live when listening to DAB.
This C-Class drops out all over the place, DAB is just completely unusable as a result. Given up and listen to the iPod or FM radio.
The bluetooth is also pathetic, I regularily see the COMAND screen saying it has connected to my phone via Bluetooth, 4~5 minutes AFTER getting in the car. It does connect when I get in, so something appears to be happening that kicks off the BT connection and so it has to reconnect.
Another thing that Ford did perfectly was connect (via BT) to my iPhone and playing back music (either on the phone or via iMatch over the 3G connection) was flawless, COMAND didn't even recognise the iPhone as a music device. This is very strange as it DOES recognise the iPad as a music device, and the iPod. Not a problem for me any more as changed phones to a Nexus 5 android phone which plays music OK.
My car does have the shark fin roof aerial. If that's not for UK DAB, what does it receive? EU DAB? GPS?
2014 C-class coupe.
One of the previous cars was a 2012 Ford Focus with DAB and that had absolutely no problems anywhere I live when listening to DAB.
This C-Class drops out all over the place, DAB is just completely unusable as a result. Given up and listen to the iPod or FM radio.
The bluetooth is also pathetic, I regularily see the COMAND screen saying it has connected to my phone via Bluetooth, 4~5 minutes AFTER getting in the car. It does connect when I get in, so something appears to be happening that kicks off the BT connection and so it has to reconnect.
Another thing that Ford did perfectly was connect (via BT) to my iPhone and playing back music (either on the phone or via iMatch over the 3G connection) was flawless, COMAND didn't even recognise the iPhone as a music device. This is very strange as it DOES recognise the iPad as a music device, and the iPod. Not a problem for me any more as changed phones to a Nexus 5 android phone which plays music OK.
My car does have the shark fin roof aerial. If that's not for UK DAB, what does it receive? EU DAB? GPS?
2013 c63 with DAB, I don't use it because when I have tried it out it keeps getting interference, even repeating, as if it was buffering or something and dropping out as you said. I just use FM and haven't bothered reporting it (I'm also Mercedes Guildford). FYI, I have zero issues with BT and many different phones (Samsung through to iPhones).
Dunc
Dunc
I use the DAB in my C63 Coupe all the time but the reception is not perfect.
Strangely I had a C350 prior to the C63 and the DAB (non-COMAND) was perfect in that car and hardly ever lost signal.
I can only assume the DAB unit in the C63 / COMAND is very poor.
It's a very common issue with 2012> COMAND DAB.
Strangely I had a C350 prior to the C63 and the DAB (non-COMAND) was perfect in that car and hardly ever lost signal.
I can only assume the DAB unit in the C63 / COMAND is very poor.
It's a very common issue with 2012> COMAND DAB.
I started a thread a few months ago about DAB reception in our 2014 E63.
We previously had a 2010 C63 with DAB and reception was perfect. The E63 is terrible, as described above.
The car has been back to MB Manchester Central 3 times now and it is still exactly the same. They did a software update, checked all the wiring, and finally, after having the car for 4 days the last time, agreed there was a reception issue but there was nothing else they could do to fix it.
There's only a year left on the lease now, so I'll just be living with it.
We previously had a 2010 C63 with DAB and reception was perfect. The E63 is terrible, as described above.
The car has been back to MB Manchester Central 3 times now and it is still exactly the same. They did a software update, checked all the wiring, and finally, after having the car for 4 days the last time, agreed there was a reception issue but there was nothing else they could do to fix it.
There's only a year left on the lease now, so I'll just be living with it.
I also had a 2012 C63 with Command, the DAB reception was extremely poor. I don't know if they have updated the issue yet but, Mercedes made a mistake with DAB on that version of Command. On certain radio stations, (Planet Rock for example) it wouldn't pick up the now and next info for songs. I wrote to MB about it who admitted it was an software oversight and they would fix it in 2014.....
I have a 2015 C class estate and I too have poor reception issues to the point that in some places around Kent I only show 6 live DAB stations. I reported this and was told of the impending upgrade, which should be here within weeks as the garage has booked me in next month to have it done. I'm not sure how this will fix a reciption issue but I guess it's worth a try.
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