Mercedes SL audio system dead

My 2000 Mercedes SL with a gasoline engine has a completely dead audio system. The error memory shows a fault, and I suspect the display is defective based on some research. Has anyone else experienced this? I also have a disturbing speaker crackle sometimes and the volume control doesn't seem to work. Audio quality was always sub-par but now I have no audio at all. Bluetooth never worked.

4 comment(s)

I have a similar SL model. I experienced comparable symptoms: no audio, volume control issues, error codes pointing towards the display unit. A defective display module is a plausible diagnosis. The MOST ring may be the culprit. Bypass the display unit to check if you retrieve the sound system functionality.

Bypass the display unit? Could you elaborate on that a bit further? Is there an easy way to do this?

Yes. The MOST ring is a fiber optic network. If the display unit is faulty, it can disrupt the entire audio system. A fiber optic bypass loop connector can be used to bypass the display unit. However, if you lack experience I would suggest a workshop. Repair cost would be around 725€.

Understood. Thanks for the confirmation and advice. I'll take it to a shop as suggested. Seems like the faulty display is indeed the culprit.

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