Weird Sound Problem - Sound disappears

[trebbi]

Hi All.

As i couldn't find any threads with the eccact same problems i hope you can help me out with this major problem.

Car is a BMW 330Ci '01
Software version is 3-1/63

The problem is that the sound disappears periodically.
The problem consists on all inputs (radio, tv, navigation, cd) and happens randomly.

It can happen both by driving and hitting a small hole and on smooth new asphalt so the road doesn't appear to have any influence on the problem.

It happens nearly every time i'm driving the car, often many times pr drive.
Sometimes though, it plays for several hours without any problems.

I have noticed that most of time, switching the input (to AM radio and back to FM again, or changing track on the CD player. Just switching radio channel doesn't help) will solve the problem for a moment and the radio will continue playing.

However i also noticed that if the navigation is used, the sound will come back if the navigation gives me directions.
Just after "in 200 meters turn right" - the sound will return and the radio/cd will be playing again (at least for a while).

When listening to cd's and the sound disappears, I can see that the cd keeps playing because it is cycling through the tracks.

On other occasions though, none of the above listed solutions can bring back the sound.
Even shutting down the car helps, next time i start the car there is no sound at all.

It seems like it goes into some kind of mute condition and returns when the mode/input is changed or it gets a new input but i can't figure out
what is going on or what the solution is.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Barney Rubble]

I would check all your power connections; amp; radio; CD changer. The pins in the connectors may be loose.

[radbourne78]

I have the EXACT same problem - can you tell me if you have resolved this and how
Mine is a 330D 01 with the 4:3 screen
I know that on mine, disconnecting the tv tuner seems to make it work again (could just be coincidence) even though it makes the screen go blank.
Not sure if it is some form of conflict between systems.
What part of the system contins the amp - that would be my first thought but can't find much info at all.

[trebbi]

Haven't found a solution yet. Tried to check the cables but could not fint the amp ?!
Checked everywhere, except for the dashboard/centerconsole

Tried to disconnect the battery to see if that should help (mostly because the PDC doesn't work - didn't sort out any problems at all.

On the other hand i discovered that now the radio shows the radio name in the display, instead of just showing the frequenzy of the channel.

Seems more and more weird, dont really know what to do with it

[radbourne78]

Right - Think im there with this although i have been lucky in my case.

If your's is the same as mine then you have no seperate amp, the radio module takes care of all audio. I spoke to a automotive electrical enginner who described the problem to me perfectly, he also said that if it is the radio module that controls audio, then there will be 6 pairs of twisted wires where the speakers connect into it. He said the only way to know for sure if the module is damaged is to get the car plugged in to the diagnostics to find out. I found a specialist in Milton Keynes who proptly told me my radio module was in fact knackered. This is where i've been lucky - Since they told me it was dead, it was worked flawlessly - no idea why, perhaps they reset it
Fingers crossed it stays that way.
I would suggest you get it plugged in, if nothing else than to be sure it is dead. The garage i found only charged a 30min fee of £26.50
If that doen't work for you, I found a company that can repair these units.
They can only repair the BM24 units (Has a heat sink 3/4 the way along it's length)(which mine is and im guessing yours will be) and charge £200 but they told me they have a 100% success rate
Car Audio Repair Service 01273 734085
www.caraudiorepairs.co.uk

Hope that helps

Rich

[RichardP1]

BM24 radio modules are renowned for having dry joints that cause this sort of problem. Fitted to European cars with Sat Nav between about 1999 and 2001.

[trebbi]

Where is the BM24 radio module located ?
Some information points to the left side of the trunk, but isn't that the amp ?

I'm having the Harmann Kardon Sound system with Navigation if that does make a difference.

[Halston Pitman]

It does sound like you have a connection issue.