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  #1  
Old 10-03-2021, 10:41 AM
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Anyone restore volume knob functionality?

Hey there everyone!


I've got a volume knob (left side knob in relation to cd slot) that mutes when pushed but does nothing when rotating it. The only way to adjust volume is via the steering wheel which is less than handy.


Has anyone managed to restore the use of this knob? Perhaps spraying some electrical contact cleaner? My research seems to indicate that replacement of this involves the entire brain of the audio/idrive system and is not really an option.


Thanks for your time!
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  #2  
Old 10-03-2021, 01:03 PM
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Anyone restore volume knob functionality?

I think that knob is a form of a digital counter, not a potentiometer, so repair means finding out which capacitor or transistor failed and replacing it. SMD level PCB repair.

If you don't have hot air reflow, most likely best bet is to find a replacement head unit.

I'm not sure what parts are attached to the head unit on e70. I have e53 and the dash MID is a glorified remote control the actual brain is elsewhere.

Unfortunately I think the knob may be attached to the brain.

Funny you say using the button on the dash is less convenient when the entire point is to make it more convenient. (though I do understand the sentiment as I never use the "more convenient" steering wheel button.

I would check on YouTube for a volume knob fix BMW idrive (don't include car model). There is a good chance some E tech has solved and might be a simple resistor replace.
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Last edited by andrewwynn; 10-03-2021 at 01:08 PM.
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Old 10-03-2021, 03:32 PM
ard ard is offline
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Any evidenced that anything was ever spilled on that? Could be worth removing, opening and cleaning…
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Old 10-03-2021, 04:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andrewwynn View Post
I think that knob is a form of a digital counter, not a potentiometer, so repair means finding out which capacitor or transistor failed and replacing it. SMD level PCB repair.

If you don't have hot air reflow, most likely best bet is to find a replacement head unit.

I'm not sure what parts are attached to the head unit on e70. I have e53 and the dash MID is a glorified remote control the actual brain is elsewhere.

Unfortunately I think the knob may be attached to the brain.

Funny you say using the button on the dash is less convenient when the entire point is to make it more convenient. (though I do understand the sentiment as I never use the "more convenient" steering wheel button.

I would check on YouTube for a volume knob fix BMW idrive (don't include car model). There is a good chance some E tech has solved and might be a simple resistor replace.

Thanks for the info and suggestions. I've been Googling and Youtubing for a bit on this but will continue to dig. By the steering wheel being less convenient, I just meant that the passenger of our cars often has need to turn down the volume to talk but in this vehicle, only the driver has that capability.



Quote:
Originally Posted by ard View Post
Any evidenced that anything was ever spilled on that? Could be worth removing, opening and cleaning…

Nothing to make me think it suffered a spill but who knows. It seems from what I've found on the web that this is not a wholly unknown issue. I've found a lot of people with the same problem. Now knowing that the knob is not a potentiometer, it seems contact cleaner probably wouldn't do a thing to help.
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Old 10-03-2021, 04:54 PM
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That's correct. However it's likely a rotary encoder. The part could have failed and could be replaced if so, but it's likely 7/10 or 8/10 difficulty.
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Old 10-03-2021, 05:03 PM
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Photo of your dash. Is the volume knob part of the navigation or radio control? If like my car and separate it might be the glorified remote and not terrible expensive to find a replacement on eBay.


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Old 10-03-2021, 05:20 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by schwim View Post
Now knowing that the knob is not a potentiometer, it seems contact cleaner probably wouldn't do a thing to help.
Optical encoders can absolutely get fouled
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Old 10-03-2021, 09:15 PM
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Yep for sure.

I spent ten minutes trying to find a teardown to find out what type of encoder but I need to know the exact head unit.
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Old 10-03-2021, 11:05 PM
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Sorry for the delay, although this is a pic off Google, this is what ours looks like. (See attached image)
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Old 10-04-2021, 01:23 AM
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Anyone restore volume knob functionality?

Ok I may be about to make your day.

The rotary encoder seems to be part of the $180 face plate not the $2000 infotainment computer.

https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-1...uine-bmw-part/

That's for a new part. Look on eBay for a used one.

If you get a used working faceplate, send me your old one if I can find the encoder and replace it can sell the fixed one on eBay and may cover much of the cost.

$80 eBay. Hi

Careful on model number. I used realoem for wife's 2012 I didn't catch what year is your car find the exact part using real oem and search eBay.
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