broken volume knob on 2007 e70 x5

[Ron07x5]

My 2007 x5 does not have navigation. My radio volume knob is broken. The volume knob wiggles side to side like it's core shaft is broken. One still can press the knob in carefully to turn off and on the radio but one can't twist the knob to change the volume. So I must use the steering wheel volume control and I fear the knob may totally fail and then I will not be able to turn on or off the radio.

One apparently can not just buy the knob but must instead replace the full unit.
Cost of a new radio like $1600?

So can I salvage another a knob from a used navigation unit or must I find a radio only unit which seems harder to find.

[Ron07x5]

Anybody else have this problem?

[Zucchero]

Originally Posted by Ron07x5

Anybody else have this problem?

Ron, I have the same problem. The issue is a broken electronic volume encoder on the circuit board. If you can find one, a small electronics (like cell phone) repair person should be able to fix it.

Here's a picture of the piece on the circuit board.

[Ron07x5]

Apparently same problem exists on e46. the problem is a circular plastic mount about the size of a half dollar that holds knob breaks at one or more of 3 screw hold down points. For.the e46 but not.the e70 there are diy youtube videos and Bavarian auto sells the mount which would seem worth $5 for $30 which is still way cheaper than the whole radio.
One of the posters here says for about $65 he may be able to fix my problem. I would need to send my radio. What worries me is I might get a radio which doesn't even turn on in return?
I likely will send him my radio

[Ron07x5]

I found a navigation radio head for e70 on ebay cheap. $75 including shipping from Latvia. Ok ebay guarantees deal and seller has good reviews. The gamble is I do not know if volume part will be the same as my non-navigation unit. A small gamble I will post about when I get into it.

[uran_gashi]

Sorry to start this thread up again but I have the same problem on my X5. Have you fixed yours? I took apart my dash and took the radio to an audio repair shop but they wanted $120 which seems like a lot for a volume encoder.

[MudyOvl]

Bummer about the radio/volume knob. If you find you cannot use the knob to turn on the radio, try the i-Drive knob. I think you can turn on the "Entertainment" using that.

[Doug Huffman]

"Core shaft is broken" needs more than a knob to fix.

[MudyOvl]

Doug, I did read that the "core shaft is broken", but does Ron07x5's vehicle have iDrive even though he does not have navigation? If not, disregard the remainder of this post. If he does, then give my suggestion a shot.

I just checked this process in my 09 X5 and it worked. You can turn on the radio by going into the Entertainment zone in iDrive, highlight FM at the top of the screen and <select> by pushing on the iDrive knob. If Ron's X5 does have iDrive he might be able to access his radio for a while until he can get a replacement radio.

[uran_gashi]

Its not the same problem as on the e46, the mount is not broken, its the actual shaft that needs to be replaced.