There are two possibilities:
1. There is something wrong with your C4D installation; or
2. You are doing something wrong.
Are you using render presets — found in the lower-left corner of the render settings? If so, make sure the icon to the left of your setting is active (white). It’s possible to click on a setting and see its properties, but that setting won’t actually be used in the render unless the icon to its active (icon to left is white).