Any ICE specialists - 04 X5 sound problem
Discussion
Right chaps/chapesses, your help is appreciated!
Model: 04 X5 with the TV/Nav option.
Problem: Sound cuts out from the right bank of speakers (front and rear) at some point in any journey. Sometimes cuts back in again, but invariably stays off. Comes back on when restarting the engine. Is not just limited to the radio, cuts out on sat nav directions and mobile phone conversations.
My limited knowledge tells me it could be related to the amp, there are no issues with the fuse, and a loose connection should mean that once it's lost contact, it's lost contact.
Any thoughts on potential causes of this? I would like to try a bit of domestic repair before throwing the wallet open to the wolves......
TIA,
Rich
Model: 04 X5 with the TV/Nav option.
Problem: Sound cuts out from the right bank of speakers (front and rear) at some point in any journey. Sometimes cuts back in again, but invariably stays off. Comes back on when restarting the engine. Is not just limited to the radio, cuts out on sat nav directions and mobile phone conversations.
My limited knowledge tells me it could be related to the amp, there are no issues with the fuse, and a loose connection should mean that once it's lost contact, it's lost contact.
Any thoughts on potential causes of this? I would like to try a bit of domestic repair before throwing the wallet open to the wolves......
TIA,
Rich
It could be the bm54 unit that's part of the set up in the boot. It's a well known problem with e46's and it's pretty much the same unit that's shared across the entire bmw range.
If you do a search on any specific bmw forum it's a problem that comes up quite frequently and is normally shown by one side of the vehicle's speakers being faulty. The trouble is that the unit can't really be opened, some people have had success by re-soldering some of the joints which have cracked but from what I've read there are as many failures as successes. Therefore second hand units are pricey on ebay but a brand new one from bmw is at least in the region of £500 I think.
Have a search...
If you do a search on any specific bmw forum it's a problem that comes up quite frequently and is normally shown by one side of the vehicle's speakers being faulty. The trouble is that the unit can't really be opened, some people have had success by re-soldering some of the joints which have cracked but from what I've read there are as many failures as successes. Therefore second hand units are pricey on ebay but a brand new one from bmw is at least in the region of £500 I think.
Have a search...
As above, BM54 unit is most likely to be at fault. I have the same setup in my e46 3 series, and the left rear drops out, and very very rarely does it come back on.
A lot of people sell refurbished BM54's on ebay, but its a gamble, and probably a lot of cash. Some people have opened up the unit to find its a dry joint (if in luck) and that getting a local/friendly AV/electronics place to re-flow the solder can often resolve it.
If you find that it is not that, then it means the amplifer section in the BM54 is probably dead (or on it's way out). Unless you have the Harmon Kardon option (not even sure if you could have that in the X5), you wont have a separate amplifier, so will need either:
1) a replacement BM54 (very pricey from a dealer, ebay can be a gamble)
2) look into having RCA connections added to the BM54 (search google) and then buy a small amp and have it fitted. Note this will impact the use of bluetooth since reports are it goes very quiet if you go this route.
3) Scrap the system and get an after market setup put in.
Hope that helps - I am still deliberating over this too, and trying to find a place to inspect the BM54 before I go any futher.
A lot of people sell refurbished BM54's on ebay, but its a gamble, and probably a lot of cash. Some people have opened up the unit to find its a dry joint (if in luck) and that getting a local/friendly AV/electronics place to re-flow the solder can often resolve it.
If you find that it is not that, then it means the amplifer section in the BM54 is probably dead (or on it's way out). Unless you have the Harmon Kardon option (not even sure if you could have that in the X5), you wont have a separate amplifier, so will need either:
1) a replacement BM54 (very pricey from a dealer, ebay can be a gamble)
2) look into having RCA connections added to the BM54 (search google) and then buy a small amp and have it fitted. Note this will impact the use of bluetooth since reports are it goes very quiet if you go this route.
3) Scrap the system and get an after market setup put in.
Hope that helps - I am still deliberating over this too, and trying to find a place to inspect the BM54 before I go any futher.
Hiya
It's either the BM54 amplifier module OR it's the radio tuner module.
The various E39 queries that are exactly the same symptoms and which come up almost every other day all mention these two as the most likely culprits. Best way to test would be to swap out each module for a while with known working units.
Exchange BM54 units that have been refurbished can be had for £250 from a specialist I know. I'm also pretty certain he offers a guarantee for a length of time (can't quite remember right now)
Radio module units - don't know the model number - you can probably pick up off out of ebay and the usual places and classifieds etc. No idea how much they are though.
Good luck!
Dennis!
It's either the BM54 amplifier module OR it's the radio tuner module.
The various E39 queries that are exactly the same symptoms and which come up almost every other day all mention these two as the most likely culprits. Best way to test would be to swap out each module for a while with known working units.
Exchange BM54 units that have been refurbished can be had for £250 from a specialist I know. I'm also pretty certain he offers a guarantee for a length of time (can't quite remember right now)
Radio module units - don't know the model number - you can probably pick up off out of ebay and the usual places and classifieds etc. No idea how much they are though.
Good luck!
Dennis!
If you are handy with a soldering iron the BM54 box (silver box in the boot with the biggest plug on) will come apart. I was told that often its a dry joint.
I must just add that I resoldered every joint with no joy. I believe the transistors can go too. I picked one up on ebay, so far so good.
Even working properly they are not the best sounding system. You may want to listen to a working one before spending too much money fixing it.
I must just add that I resoldered every joint with no joy. I believe the transistors can go too. I picked one up on ebay, so far so good.
Even working properly they are not the best sounding system. You may want to listen to a working one before spending too much money fixing it.
Dennis, could you share details of the person you know who might be able to offer units for around £250?
As for solder, I have also heard that, and since my unit occasionally works correctly, that suggests to me that no components have failed and that it might be joint issue. I assume a failed component will never start working again....?
As for solder, I have also heard that, and since my unit occasionally works correctly, that suggests to me that no components have failed and that it might be joint issue. I assume a failed component will never start working again....?
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