Horrible IPOD integration/noisy and low volume!?!? - Benzworld.org

echyde · 01-06-2006, 11:42 PM

I recently had my IPOD integration kit installed by my dealer. This is a 2006 SLK 350. There is obvious noise in the connection when selecting the AUX option on COMAND. It almost sounds like a hum or road noise. Should this be happening on a digital connection?

Secondly, the volume is absolutely atrocious. The volume on the IPOD is turned up to 95-100%, and it makes little difference. Even with the car's audio turned up to near max it is about as 1/4 loud as the CD player, Sat, or Radio. I've tried everything from increasing gain on the songs, to unplugging and trying every option on the IPOD and the COMAND.

I can only assume a flawed installation occurred. It does properly list song names and the lack on the driver's gauge area, but I cannot even explain how bad the connection sounds.

I don't know if this was my dealer's first install, but it did take the TWO DAYS to complete the install. Is this normal? I can't see how it would be. My DVD MP3 discs and CDs sound at least 100x better, and many of the files on the IPOD are 320 kpbs MP3s. I've tried everything I know and searched this forum from top-to-bottom, but I haven't found a solution.

I made an appointment with the dealer, but I'm a little hestitant that they can fix it. I REALLY hope they didn't screw up the fiber when they installed.

Can anyone tell me how their IPOD sounds, and how it is compared to other Audio Options (i.e. CD Player, Radio, Satellite).

Thanks for any and all help.

Best Regards,
Evan

abz350 · 01-07-2006, 12:18 AM

I don't have an iPod link in my car but I have experience of fitting a Dension ice-link in a friends Audi.

A commonly reported 'problem' with Dension users was that of low volume on playback through the car systems as apparently iPods are volume limited to prevent ear damage when using with earhones. The solution was/is to download an MP3 data file from a web link and then when this was 'played' by the iPod a software change was effected to remove the volume limiter. A web search may find the location of a similar MP3 file.

Regards

taroliw · 01-07-2006, 12:52 AM

This must be a failed installation. The audio you're getting out of the dock connector is not controlled by the iPod's volume control, nor would it be limited by the ear protection logic. I can easily turn up the volume on mine to the point where it can be painful. There is some variability, though, in that some of my older MP3's seemed muted compared to the newer AAC encodings. I chalk this up to not having them all normalized for volume during playback.

But buzzing and significan't reduced volume level during playback is a very bad sign. Definitely need to have it looked into.

dan66 · 01-07-2006, 10:09 AM

Quote:

echyde - 1/6/2006 11:42 PM

I recently had my IPOD integration kit installed by my dealer. This is a 2006 SLK 350. There is obvious noise in the connection when selecting the AUX option on COMAND. It almost sounds like a hum or road noise. Should this be happening on a digital connection?

Secondly, the volume is absolutely atrocious. The volume on the IPOD is turned up to 95-100%, and it makes little difference. Even with the car's audio turned up to near max it is about as 1/4 loud as the CD player, Sat, or Radio. I've tried everything from increasing gain on the songs, to unplugging and trying every option on the IPOD and the COMAND.

I can only assume a flawed installation occurred. It does properly list song names and the lack on the driver's gauge area, but I cannot even explain how bad the connection sounds.

I don't know if this was my dealer's first install, but it did take the TWO DAYS to complete the install. Is this normal? I can't see how it would be. My DVD MP3 discs and CDs sound at least 100x better, and many of the files on the IPOD are 320 kpbs MP3s. I've tried everything I know and searched this forum from top-to-bottom, but I haven't found a solution.

I made an appointment with the dealer, but I'm a little hestitant that they can fix it. I REALLY hope they didn't screw up the fiber when they installed.

Can anyone tell me how their IPOD sounds, and how it is compared to other Audio Options (i.e. CD Player, Radio, Satellite).

Thanks for any and all help.

Best Regards,
Evan

Evan,
I had the same experience with my first install at the dealership. This is not acceptable. I went to a different dealership and they redone it; they commented on some exposed and frayed wires; they actually changed the location from the center console to the glove box. The quality is great, but the volume is still about 75 % of my Sat volume. I do not think MB has a fix just yet for the volume. In fact, I just installed another Ipod kit on a 2006 E 55, and the volume is about the same. For a sedan, it might be just fine, but for a convertible is not enough when you go with the top down [:(!].
Dan

apbaphil · 01-07-2006, 11:39 AM

Not directly on topic, but related comment. I tried my iPod with the AUX input via miniplug today for the first time and it worked great.

The comment is that the volume setting on on the ipod changed the volume through the car system; but that would be expected. I was able to adjut the volume on the ipod such that the volume of the iPod playing was the same as the radio, although both were slightly different from the SAT. I was more than satisfied.

A bit off topic is that with the iPod playing, and the Logic 7 turned on, I was able to hear sound from the rear speakers ... not loud but there. Whether I could hear it depended on the song. Perhaps there was some bleed over from the other audio channels but this is the first sound I can say I definitely heard from them. I do love the audio system, so don't interpret that as a negative from me.

[:D]

bclark · 01-07-2006, 12:48 PM

Quote:

apbaphil - 1/7/2006 1:39 PM

Not directly on topic, but related comment. I tried my iPod with the AUX input via miniplug today for the first time and it worked great.

A bit off topic is that with the iPod playing, and the Logic 7 turned on, I was able to hear sound from the rear speakers ... not loud but there. Whether I could hear it depended on the song.
[:D]

I, too, have my iPOD plugged into the AUX and was glad
to recently notice that, like you, depending on the song
(assume recording and transfer format), I was able to
appreciate the rear speakers as part of being "enveloped" in music which is what I've been looking
for.

gbvoigt · 01-07-2006, 09:32 PM

Evan

I also have an '06 SLK350 with the i-Pod integration kit (installed by my MB dealer). I've noticed the volume of the i-Pod music is about 20% below that of the radio and CD's. In my case, the "delta" isn't bothersome enough to bring to the dealer's attn.

How is the I-Pod secured in your glovebox? I have a pretty easy installation suggestion/solution if you need assistance.

Take care.

Jeff Voigt

echyde · 01-08-2006, 05:16 PM

My IPOD was installed into the Center Console, and I've been using Two-Sided velcro tape to secure it.

Is there a reason to put it in the center console over the glovebox? One mistake that might have been made, was that I didn't leave my IPOD with the dealer when they did the install. Thus, unless someone had one -- they may not have been able to check their work.

I e-mailed my salesman to have him schedule an appointment (their website service appointment was not working), and he replied back that it would be taken care of:

"Evan,

I am truly sorry about your experience with the IPOD integration. First on my agenda Monday is to set up a January 13 appointment and reserve a loaner
car for you so that you can go about your ways while we attend to your car. Also, please leave the IPOD in the car to eliminate compatibility issues as
we resolve this anomaly.

Again, I am sorry to have inconvenienced you and appreciative of providing me with the opportunity to make it all better."

If they can fix it then I'm satisified. I just wanted to make sure this was NOT normal. It honestly sounds like the IPOD is hooked up through a crappy tape deck or using FM tranmission on a clogged channel. It sounds nothing like the SAT or CD Player does.

babysml · 01-08-2006, 11:03 PM

I have an IPOD shuffle and it fits into the glove box perfectly. The sound has been as good as CDs when using the AUX connection. Can't happier.

Julien · 01-09-2006, 04:45 AM

Quote:

echyde - 1/8/2006 8:16 PM

My IPOD was installed into the Center Console, and I've been using Two-Sided velcro tape to secure it.

Is there a reason to put it in the center console over the glovebox? ...

The iPod was designed to go in the glove box of all MB models, However the 05 SLK w/COMAND came standard with the CD changer. This left no room so the console was chosen and the install instruction list it this way so many dealer/installers just put it there unless you specify the glove box.