Replaced BM53 radio module - Now TCU isn't recognized by car or NavCoder - Page 3

Brian-bmw · #21 11-28-2010, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikem0re

I tried already both ways, I tried with the 6 pins (the analog way), I tried with the coax (the digital DSP way), I tried everything. My problem is in the car, not in the Dice devices.

I need to recode the Radio or the Amp somehow.

This should be plug-and-play and self-detecting...

Here is a quick overview of how the system works. The Dice emulates a CD changer. When you turn on the car, the radio scans the devices on the I-Bus, and the Dice responds saying that it is a CD changer. This is why you get the CDC option on the radio menu and the basics work. The fact that you can select the CDC and control the songs is very good-- it shows that the Dice and the radio are talking to one another.

There is no impedence sensing or other other action that applies. That is related to the totally independent Aux input function. When you select the CDC option, the radio does two things related to the audio signal path. One, it tells the DSP amp to receive its audio through the analog radio inputs. (In the old generation radios, the radio would have told the DSP amp to switch to its digital input, but the BM53 stays with the analog path.) Second, the radio switches itself to its CD changer analog input.

Here is what I recommend. Disconnect the Dice completely and reinstall your CD changer. Get that working again. This will re-confirm that you have the general hookup correct. After you have the CDC fully working, remove it and simply plug the 3-pin and 6-pin plugs from the CDC into the Dice. If that doesn't work, then the problem is likely in the Dice.

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mikem0re · #22 11-28-2010, 06:00 PM

Brian, this is good, thanks for taking the time to describe this.

But I never had a cd changer. The car is pre-wired to receive one, in the trunk next to the amp, there are the 3 pins Ibus connector and the 6 pins audio connector that plugs in the radio. I already did a continuity test on the 3 wires of the audio one.

Also, I know for sure that the Dice works perfectly, because when I connect a hearphone on the audio wire, I get the sound.

Since I was out of options with the analog input, and sine I have the coax input connector on the amp, I tried with the Dice DSP converter plug in the amp. Same story, no sound either. Like I said earlier in the thread, I have validated that my Dice DSP converter works by hooking it ip with my home sound system, it does work.

I have eleminated all elements, my only remaining options was:

-Amp or Radio is defect somehow
-Amp or Radio is not properly configured (because no CDC has ever been connected to it? Because of coding, according to answers above, it seems more and more unlikely)

big bob · #23 11-28-2010, 06:12 PM

If that's the case maybe you need to configure or flash the DICE into analogue audio mode. I don't know about them.

mikem0re · #24 11-28-2010, 06:20 PM

I just remember that there is a fuse in the back of the radio on the side of the main connector, could it be just that?

mikem0re · #25 11-28-2010, 06:23 PM

Big bob,

Dice is always analog by default. If you want to input using the dsp, you buy an extra and separate converter, and you plug the two together, there is no flashing involved.

big bob · #26 11-28-2010, 06:39 PM

If you have FM audio, the tuner fuse is in tact.

Can you borrow a CD player? Have you done a battery off - wait 20 minutes - reset? Do you have any other non-BMW equipment you can unplug? Did you say you were able to hear analogue audio from the DICE CD changer outputs with headphones, if so how?

Brian-bmw · #27 11-28-2010, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikem0re

I never had a cd changer. The car is pre-wired to receive one, in the trunk next to the amp, there are the 3 pins Ibus connector and the 6 pins audio connector that plugs in the radio. I already did a continuity test on the 3 wires of the audio one...

I have eleminated all elements, my only remaining options was:

-Amp or Radio is defect somehow
-Amp or Radio is not properly configured (because no CDC has ever been connected to it? Because of coding, according to answers above, it seems more and more unlikely)

We can probably eliminate the DSP amp from the likely list of problems. If all the other audio functions are working, then the amplifier is most likely OK. These are the list of likely culprets...

1) Bad wiring between the 6-pin plug and the radio
2) CDC analog audio wires connected to the wrong pins on the radio
3) Radio module bad

Here's one thing to consider. In U.S. market cars, the Premium Sound option (DSP) always came with a CD changer. That is probably true for the Canadian market too. So, that means that a previous owner probably removed the CD changer. The question is, did it get removed because it was not working? Anyway, back to the project...

First, validate that the analog outputs are connected to the correct locations on the radio harness. The three wires of the CD audio input cable feed to the white radio sub-plug: Pin 2 (audio ground), Pin 8 (left audio signal), and Pin 9 (right audio signal) on that white radio plug.

Here are the pinouts for the radio's white 12-pin sub-plug X13321

Pin 1 Not used
Pin 2 CD changer audio common/ground (White/Brown or Brown)
Pin 3 Not used
Pin 4 Not used
Pin 5 Not used
Pin 6 Not used
Pin 7 Not used
Pin 8 CD Changer left audio signal (White/Red or Yellow)
Pin 9 CD Changer right audio signal (White/Blue or Black)
Pin 10 Not used
Pin 11 Nav/TV audio signal (Blue/White)
Pin 12 Nav/TV audio common/ground (Blue/Black)

So, use some kind of test harness to verify that you are getting analog audio at pins 8 and 9 at the white radio plug. If so, then you know audio is reaching the radio. If that is the case, then there is probably not much else you can do to test. At that point, I suspect a fault in the radio module. It could be a broken wire at the plug to any number of internal faults. The best test would be to connect a BMW OE CD changer, but that is not an option for you.

mikem0re · #28 11-30-2010, 08:43 AM

Brian,

Since I tried with the "Dice radio harness", I think that we can say that it's not #1 and #2. If you are familiar with the Dice product, you know that you can order the trunk harness or the radio harness. I have both.

The radio harness plugs directly into the radio, No luck it's not working either.

Your theory about the previously installed CDC is interesting, that may explain a lot of things.

One more piece on the puzzle is this, when I bought the car, I ask the dealer to install a BMW iPod interface. They spent a day trying to make it works without success. They told me the reason is that the interface is not compatible with the DSP. The BMW iPod interface connects on the radio the same way the Dice does, using the same pins... The one of the CDC (analog)...

Brian-bmw · #29 11-30-2010, 03:24 PM

I am not familiar with the Dice radio harness, but it sounds like it is a replacement to the OE wiring. This, plus your input about the iPod adapter clarifies things a lot. I am pretty sure you have a bad radio module.

mikem0re · #30 11-30-2010, 05:54 PM

Yeah it looks like. I'm curious about one thing if you are familiar with this radio, on mine, I have the DSP button, that's the one at the top. It says "audio / dsp". When I press on the DSP side, I get access to the DSP menu, no problem, it works. But I have this LED at the right, next to the button. It never light up. Is it supposed to?

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