BEWARE: Marin Auto Stereo & Alarm

[RealShakaZulu]

So I bought my X5 from this guy in Marin. Usually I test drive w/o the radio playing so that I can listen for rattles, engine noise, etc. I should have auditioned the stereo more thoroughly. The engine had a whining noise that is tied to engine movement... VERY ANNOYING. I called the dealer who installed the system and asked why they did not hardwire many of the components (they used RF for the XM and CD) and was told they could not conquer the whining so they went RF to suppress the noise... Very Suspicious. So I begin troubleshooting the system, over the course of 3 months I have tried ground loop connectors re-grounding the amp, checking the connections for loose or frayed wires... STILL WHINE.

So tonite I took the trunk interior panels off and removed the amp to find ...

[Intel55]

WTF !! I file a complaint with the BBB or similar. TAke it back to them and show 'em. Wow that is nuts!!!

[SuaveX5]

WTF, wowo they are crazy, to be honest, you should not waste your time or let them touch your X..
if anything just try to get your money back BUT DO NOT LET THEM TOUCH YOUR X.

[el_duderino]

I know how annoying engine whine is, and it should be removed. While the X5 can be problematic, it's not an impossible task.

After 18 years in the installation business, I have to say a couple of things:

1) The car dealer usually doesn't know anything about installation. Asking them questions doesn't usually yield accurate info, unfortunately. Often, if the dealer has work done, they don't pay for optimal pars or albor - even though they ought to with a BMW.

2) Most installations look like crap after you pull everything out.

Would I use that LOC? No. Would I wrap or cover my inductor coils? Yes. Would I want my wiring a little neater? Yes.

But I don't see any poor connections, I don't see any obvious errors in wiring that would cause noise. I see a big mess of wires that look intimidating and sloppy - a mess that I could make look fine with about 10 minutes, a bunch of wire ties and a side cutter, and some adhesive foam sheet and a pair of scissors. I suspect that the wiring wasn't originally messy, that they probably kept changing things and changing things trying to get the noise out and that was part of it.

So I guess I'm saying you can bag on these guys all you want, but I don't see any smoking guns about your noise. In FACT, it kind of looks like there are some unused component power connectors in there - so unless you removed something, I think that this guy probably went somewhere and said to them, "Pull my gear out and make it work, but don't spend too much time on it".

I can come down there and get rid of your noise if you want : ) Wasn't planning to visit SF area soon but I could make a special trip - I have friends down there. BTW, Shaka, did you used to be with the SFPD? I knew a guy that had that nickname...

[RealShakaZulu]

Originally Posted by el_duderino

Would I use that LOC? No. Would I wrap or cover my inductor coils? Yes. Would I want my wiring a little neater? Yes.

But I don't see any poor connections, I don't see any obvious errors in wiring that would cause noise. I see a big mess of wires that look intimidating and sloppy - a mess that I could make look fine with about 10 minutes, a bunch of wire ties and a side cutter, and some adhesive foam sheet and a pair of scissors. I suspect that the wiring wasn't originally messy, that they probably kept changing things and changing things trying to get the noise out and that was part of it.

So I guess I'm saying you can bag on these guys all you want, but I don't see any smoking guns about your noise. In FACT, it kind of looks like there are some unused component power connectors in there - so unless you removed something, I think that this guy probably went somewhere and said to them, "Pull my gear out and make it work, but don't spend too much time on it".

I can come down there and get rid of your noise if you want : ) Wasn't planning to visit SF area soon but I could make a special trip - I have friends down there. BTW, Shaka, did you used to be with the SFPD? I knew a guy that had that nickname...

Nah, I am not SFPD... I just golf with them and Alameda/CoCo sheriffs. I appreciate the offer and will PM you. That said I taught electronics for several years before moving into hi-tech and this surprised the hell out of me. Various gauges of wire for the same line, no solder or good crimps, no shrink wrapping of the terminals, melted electical tape, the amp secured to the vehicle via a tin snipped piece of sheet metal, low end components, two sets of noise suppressors, unshielded RCA connections, etc.

The kicker is he paid these guys $1,700 in parts and $1,700 in labor, they did not return his OEM DSP amp or his cargo cover and the system still has engine whine, shuts down at high volume and sounds like sh*^...

[el_duderino]

Originally Posted by RealShakaZulu

Nah, I am not SFPD... I just golf with them and Alameda/CoCo sheriffs. I appreciate the offer and will PM you. That said I taught electronics for several years before moving into hi-tech and this surprised the hell out of me. Various gauges of wire for the same line, no solder or good crimps, no shrink wrapping of the terminals, melted electical tape, the amp secured to the vehicle via a tin snipped piece of sheet metal, low end components, two sets of noise suppressors, unshielded RCA connections, etc.

The kicker is he paid these guys $1,700 in parts and $1,700 in labor, they did not return his OEM DSP amp or his cargo cover and the system still has engine whine, shuts down at high volume and sounds like sh*^...

Various gauges of wire for the same line will not cause noise problems, and smack of equipment being removed.

I don't solder much of anything. In fact, in the pics of janix's X5 install ( a pretty high-end install) there are no solders visible.

Did any of the crimps come apart when you pulled on them? Was there any exposed wire? Those are the determining criteria for good crimp connections.

If a crimp connector comes with a nylon insulator I don't shrink-wrap it. I don't shrink-wrap ground connectors either.

As far as a "tin-snipped" pice of sheet metal" being used as a mounting bracket, I guess that's a value-free statement. That's how most brackets get made.

I still think that this system was modified before the car was sold, and that some components were swapped out - and that swap may or may not have been done by the folks that did the original install.

Have you talked to them about this car?

[RealShakaZulu]

Originally Posted by el_duderino

Various gauges of wire for the same line will not cause noise problems, and smack of equipment being removed.But that's amatuer hour. You don't splice different guages inline on an install

I don't solder much of anything. In fact, in the pics of janix's X5 install ( a pretty high-end install) there are no solders visible.Call me old school but I (and my buddies at UA) solder connections on all the whips we work on

Did any of the crimps come apart when you pulled on them? Was there any exposed wire? Those are the determining criteria for good crimp connections.YES, YES, I know (and that does cause noise)

If a crimp connector comes with a nylon insulator I don't shrink-wrap it. I don't shrink-wrap ground connectors either.I do.

As far as a "tin-snipped" pice of sheet metal" being used as a mounting bracket, I guess that's a value-free statement. That's how most brackets get made.That's sad. I would do like the SIM guys and either build a box or properly secure the unit with pieces that are cut and the ends at least filed.

I still think that this system was modified before the car was sold, and that some components were swapped out - and that swap may or may not have been done by the folks that did the original install. The system was absolutely not modified and all of the components are as describe on the invoice from Marin.

Have you talked to them about this car?

Of course. The bottom line is that this was a piss poor install. If this was done at Best Buy, so be it. But this was done at high end custom shop on a $70K automobile. Feel free to go to Marin is this is acceptable to you... as for me NEVER AGAIN. I will go to Car Toys or do it myself...RSZ

PS

I see you did not comment on "The kicker is he paid these guys $1,700 in parts and $1,700 in labor, they did not return his OEM DSP amp or his cargo cover and the system still has engine whine, shuts down at high volume and sounds like sh*^" - but I assume that this is acceptable to you also.

[el_duderino]

Originally Posted by RealShakaZulu

Of course. The bottom line is that this was a piss poor install. If this was done at Best Buy, so be it. But this was done at high end custom shop on a $70K automobile. Feel free to go to Marin is this is acceptable to you... as for me NEVER AGAIN. I will go to Car Toys or do it myself...RSZ

PS

I see you did not comment on "The kicker is he paid these guys $1,700 in parts and $1,700 in labor, they did not return his OEM DSP amp or his cargo cover and the system still has engine whine, shuts down at high volume and sounds like sh*^" - but I assume that this is acceptable to you also.

Dude, you're pissed, and maybe that's why you posted one picture and made a bunch of statements that were unclear, and not explained I asked for further explanation and you got all bent.

Am I supposed to read your mind about what you've already done? That you have the invoices? I asked questions, and I won't be apologetic about that. Perhaps if all this information had been explained in the first place, no one would have asked you questions and gotten you irritated.