BM54 Radio module failure
Discussion
Hi there
There isn't a cheaper alternative thats OEM, so the £400 odd price you see is for second hand units on Ebay, so they are actually the cheaper option!
I'm also looking within the trade for a BMW OEM systems repairer, but the bad news is it doesn't look like there is one, the last I heard from a few other repairers is that BMW didn't realease the details of schematics, parts numbers etc to approved repairers so they can't offer repairs on the more complex BMW units. I think some of the more basic units can be repaired though.
A common failure of the BM54 amp from the brief skim reads I've done on related forum postings is that some owners bypass the power transistors of the unit and fit direct connections to the pre-amp stage of the circuit board itself. Then, Phono connections to an aftermarket amplifier.
If you scour some of the more BMW focussed forums, you'll see the 'Want to modify my damn BM54 amp' posts
Cheers, Dennis!
There isn't a cheaper alternative thats OEM, so the £400 odd price you see is for second hand units on Ebay, so they are actually the cheaper option!
I'm also looking within the trade for a BMW OEM systems repairer, but the bad news is it doesn't look like there is one, the last I heard from a few other repairers is that BMW didn't realease the details of schematics, parts numbers etc to approved repairers so they can't offer repairs on the more complex BMW units. I think some of the more basic units can be repaired though.
A common failure of the BM54 amp from the brief skim reads I've done on related forum postings is that some owners bypass the power transistors of the unit and fit direct connections to the pre-amp stage of the circuit board itself. Then, Phono connections to an aftermarket amplifier.
If you scour some of the more BMW focussed forums, you'll see the 'Want to modify my damn BM54 amp' posts
Cheers, Dennis!
DennisCooper said:
Hi there
There isn't a cheaper alternative thats OEM, so the £400 odd price you see is for second hand units on Ebay, so they are actually the cheaper option!
I'm also looking within the trade for a BMW OEM systems repairer, but the bad news is it doesn't look like there is one, the last I heard from a few other repairers is that BMW didn't realease the details of schematics, parts numbers etc to approved repairers so they can't offer repairs on the more complex BMW units. I think some of the more basic units can be repaired though.
A common failure of the BM54 amp from the brief skim reads I've done on related forum postings is that some owners bypass the power transistors of the unit and fit direct connections to the pre-amp stage of the circuit board itself. Then, Phono connections to an aftermarket amplifier.
If you scour some of the more BMW focussed forums, you'll see the 'Want to modify my damn BM54 amp' posts
Cheers, Dennis!
Thanks Dennis, I'll take a look at some of the BMW forumsThere isn't a cheaper alternative thats OEM, so the £400 odd price you see is for second hand units on Ebay, so they are actually the cheaper option!
I'm also looking within the trade for a BMW OEM systems repairer, but the bad news is it doesn't look like there is one, the last I heard from a few other repairers is that BMW didn't realease the details of schematics, parts numbers etc to approved repairers so they can't offer repairs on the more complex BMW units. I think some of the more basic units can be repaired though.
A common failure of the BM54 amp from the brief skim reads I've done on related forum postings is that some owners bypass the power transistors of the unit and fit direct connections to the pre-amp stage of the circuit board itself. Then, Phono connections to an aftermarket amplifier.
If you scour some of the more BMW focussed forums, you'll see the 'Want to modify my damn BM54 amp' posts
Cheers, Dennis!
Hi Scratch Pervert,
Yep, when the BM54 does give up, many owners are then shocked at how pricey the 2nd hand 4/5+ year old units are on ebay.
I 'think' the usual issue means that by doing the RCA output modification and skipping the power stage means you can continue to use your current unit. However, it may also be that it's totally useless regardless if you do the mod. These unit's are now going to start to fail more frequently as they're getting old, it'll be interesting to see what owners do, especially if they stump up £300-400 and find 6 months later that unit could pack up...
Good luck with resolving your situation !
Cheers, Dennis!
Yep, when the BM54 does give up, many owners are then shocked at how pricey the 2nd hand 4/5+ year old units are on ebay.
I 'think' the usual issue means that by doing the RCA output modification and skipping the power stage means you can continue to use your current unit. However, it may also be that it's totally useless regardless if you do the mod. These unit's are now going to start to fail more frequently as they're getting old, it'll be interesting to see what owners do, especially if they stump up £300-400 and find 6 months later that unit could pack up...
Good luck with resolving your situation !
Cheers, Dennis!
DennisCooper said:
Hi Scratch Pervert,
Yep, when the BM54 does give up, many owners are then shocked at how pricey the 2nd hand 4/5+ year old units are on ebay.
I 'think' the usual issue means that by doing the RCA output modification and skipping the power stage means you can continue to use your current unit. However, it may also be that it's totally useless regardless if you do the mod. These unit's are now going to start to fail more frequently as they're getting old, it'll be interesting to see what owners do, especially if they stump up £300-400 and find 6 months later that unit could pack up...
Good luck with resolving your situation !
Cheers, Dennis!
Thanks Dennis.Yep, when the BM54 does give up, many owners are then shocked at how pricey the 2nd hand 4/5+ year old units are on ebay.
I 'think' the usual issue means that by doing the RCA output modification and skipping the power stage means you can continue to use your current unit. However, it may also be that it's totally useless regardless if you do the mod. These unit's are now going to start to fail more frequently as they're getting old, it'll be interesting to see what owners do, especially if they stump up £300-400 and find 6 months later that unit could pack up...
Good luck with resolving your situation !
Cheers, Dennis!
A quick google brings up loads of cases of these units failing. A bit annoying really when you pay a premium to buy a car with all the toys and they then become useless.
Hi SP
A heads up in case you do stump up the cash for the replacement unit, I'll assume for a second the setup you have in your car also has the TV tuner? if so, then realise in 18 months or so, that'll be useless as well and to continue to use the OEM equipment, you'll need the Hi SP
A heads up in case you do stump up the cash for the replacement unit, I'll assume for a second the setup you have in your car also has the TV tuner? if so, then realise in 18 months or so, that'll be useless as well and to continue to use the OEM equipment, you'll need the Analogue/Digital Hybrid OEM unit. That, second hand will cost you around £500-600 off ebay as well, it has a DVB-T tuner and so will pick up the then only Digital signals.
The Dynavin E46 replacement Chinese made unit at (currently) £650 fitted might be a better solution for you and many other E46/E39/E38/E53 owners - Have a quick search around here on PH and other forums and perhaps that might go on your evaluation list, or as personally what I'd do, look at the Aftermarket to get the very best quality at perhaps 10-20% reduction in the 'looks'.
Cheers, Dennis!
A heads up in case you do stump up the cash for the replacement unit, I'll assume for a second the setup you have in your car also has the TV tuner? if so, then realise in 18 months or so, that'll be useless as well and to continue to use the OEM equipment, you'll need the Hi SP
A heads up in case you do stump up the cash for the replacement unit, I'll assume for a second the setup you have in your car also has the TV tuner? if so, then realise in 18 months or so, that'll be useless as well and to continue to use the OEM equipment, you'll need the Analogue/Digital Hybrid OEM unit. That, second hand will cost you around £500-600 off ebay as well, it has a DVB-T tuner and so will pick up the then only Digital signals.
The Dynavin E46 replacement Chinese made unit at (currently) £650 fitted might be a better solution for you and many other E46/E39/E38/E53 owners - Have a quick search around here on PH and other forums and perhaps that might go on your evaluation list, or as personally what I'd do, look at the Aftermarket to get the very best quality at perhaps 10-20% reduction in the 'looks'.
Cheers, Dennis!
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