BMW radio repair

peppy · 09-14-2019, 01:22 PM

I'm thinking this is the best place to ask. My 335d radio is crapping out, and I'm looking to a place to send it to be repaired. Any suggestions?

KFC911 · 09-14-2019, 02:14 PM

What's wrong with it? Might be easier to replace...good luck!

peppy · 09-14-2019, 02:54 PM

It works sometimes and It never cuts out or off, but most times I get in the car and no sound(seat belt warning) no idrive, navigation, radio, or telephone. Just a blank screen.
It may be better to just replace it.

Eric Coffey · 09-14-2019, 04:02 PM

Next time it crashes (or fails to boot up), press and hold the radio power button for 30+ seconds. That should reset/reboot it.

peppy · 09-14-2019, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Coffey

Next time it crashes (or fails to boot up), press and hold the radio power button for 30+ seconds. That should reset/reboot it.

That doesn't work. I was thinking it was heat related, but it has been cool lately and it's not better.

Eric Coffey · 09-14-2019, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peppy

That doesn't work. I was thinking it was heat related, but it has been cool lately and it's not better.

Hmmm, that is definitely the correct method for doing a hard-reset/reboot...try it next time the i-drive is on/playing nice (might not work if there is a CD in the player). If it's still acting up after a hard-reset, then something else of obviously going on. You might first check all of the applicable radio/i-drive fuses behind the glove box. Also, not sure what the cut-off year was for the CIC upgrade, but the older systems had a module in the trunk that was notorious for going bad. It is a big white box under the spare tire (below the foam insert). I believe some folks have had issues with the satellite radio module mucking things up as well. It can be bypassed with a fiber-optic (loop) adapter.

peppy · 09-14-2019, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Coffey

Hmmm, that is definitely the correct method for doing a hard-reset/reboot...try it next time the i-drive is on/playing nice (might not work if there is a CD in the player). If it's still acting up after a hard-reset, then something else of obviously going on. You might first check all of the applicable radio/i-drive fuses behind the glove box. Also, not sure what the cut-off year was for the CIC upgrade, but the older systems had a module in the trunk that was notorious for going bad. It is a big white box under the spare tire (below the foam insert). I believe some folks have had issues with the satellite radio module mucking things up as well. It can be bypassed with a fiber-optic (loop) adapter.

Thanks for the info.
This is the CIC unit and I have checked power and fiber optic to the radio and amp. That other box in the trunk I think it is the sat radio and telephone is also in the fiber optic loop for the MOST. I have ordered the test loop to bypass that to test.

My fear is still the radio.

KFC911 · 09-15-2019, 02:03 AM

Is there an easy way to "swap" the radio to see...or is it intermittent? Mebbe try that if feasible...

peppy · 09-15-2019, 04:00 AM

Yes I could swap the radio, but it would need to be coded. It was intermittent, but now it is off most of the time.

peppy · 09-18-2019, 12:26 PM

I am now pretty confident that it is the cic radio. I have found 2 places that repair them. Does anyone have experience with this?

BMW CCC CIC PROFESSIONAL REPAIR SERVICE! | BMW LOGIC7

https://mca.electricmura.ro/en/repairs/cic-idrive-repair/?gclid=CjwKCAjwq4fsBRBnEiwANTahcDyd3yEsxypQwjGs4UN P0Bk-_c7rK195Kn0GigTMBSbfqfOjwNbgShoC3BAQAvD_BwE

Eric Coffey · 09-18-2019, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peppy

I am now pretty confident that it is the cic radio. I have found 2 places that repair them. Does anyone have experience with this?

BMW CCC CIC PROFESSIONAL REPAIR SERVICE! | BMW LOGIC7

https://mca.electricmura.ro/en/repairs/cic-idrive-repair/?gclid=CjwKCAjwq4fsBRBnEiwANTahcDyd3yEsxypQwjGs4UN P0Bk-_c7rK195Kn0GigTMBSbfqfOjwNbgShoC3BAQAvD_BwE

No experience with either, but I probably would pass on the second one, if for no other reason than to avoid potential issues with shipping to/from Romania.

The first one has a pretty good diagnostic write-up here:
How to Troubleshoot MOST bus

Have you had a chance to attempt to track down/bypass a faulty MOST unit?

peppy · 09-18-2019, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Coffey

No experience with either, but I probably would pass on the second one, if for no other reason than to avoid potential issues with shipping to/from Romania.

The first one has a pretty good diagnostic write-up here:
How to Troubleshoot MOST bus

Have you had a chance to attempt to track down/bypass a faulty MOST unit?

I have bypassed each most connection and the radio will not turn on. I used the link you showed to help with diagnosis. I am scared to send it to the repair place in Texas because the address is a UPS store.
I'm not crazy enough to send it to Romanian.

peppy · 09-18-2019, 02:27 PM

I found this one in CA

https://hitechserv.com/electronics-repair/oem-navigation-dvd-cd-changer-repair/67/

Eric Coffey · 09-18-2019, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peppy

I found this one in CA

https://hitechserv.com/electronics-repair/oem-navigation-dvd-cd-changer-repair/67/

I don't see any info relating to newer (CIC) units there, but probably worth a call.

You might give these guys in Chesapeake a call as well:

Auto Envy BMW
(757) 842-4517

They are listed as an authorized BimmerTech dealer/installer (BimmerTech offers OEM CIC retrofits).
If they don't offer repair/swap service, they might have some leads/referrals.

Or, you might try your luck with swapping in a used unit yourself. There are quite a few on eBay for around $200-ish.
You would just have to code it, which is DIY-able if you are somewhat tech-savvy.

peppy · 09-18-2019, 03:27 PM

The coding is what I don't think I can do.

Eric Coffey · 09-18-2019, 03:50 PM

I hear you...But if you want to give it a go, this is probably the place to start:

https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=175
(I'd start with the E-series sticky).

peppy · 09-18-2019, 04:11 PM

Thanks for the link

pwd72s · 09-18-2019, 04:15 PM

Are BMW radios made by Becker? If so, might be worth giving these folks a ring..

https://www.beckerautosound.com/classic-becker-radios

peppy · 09-22-2019, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Are BMW radios made by Becker? If so, might be worth giving these folks a ring..

https://www.beckerautosound.com/classic-becker-radios

I think so, my radio had ???/becker on a sticker on it. Not sure if they work on the newer ones.

I have packed up the radio to send off. The person I talked to said there was a 75% chance everything would work when he was finished

pwd72s · 09-22-2019, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peppy

I think so, my radio had ???/becker on a sticker on it. Not sure if they work on the newer ones.

I have packed up the radio to send off. The person I talked to said there was a 75% chance everything would work when he was finished

I guess that's a lot better than a zero chance. Hope it works out for you. Do keep us posted.