No sound from E38 comms system - BMW Forum

mdh12345 · 01-08-2006, 03:54 PM

Hi,

I came across this site whilst looking for some guidance for my E38.

I have a 2000 year &"* which I have owned from new. It has the factory fitted communications system which includes the radio, TV and sat nav and phone system. Recently the sound has been playing up. The sound for the telephone works fine, but the sound for the radio/ TV/ sat nav just stops working.

It is an intermittent problem, sometimes it works for days at a time, then it stops working. I took it to my BMW dealer who after charging me £80 for testing told me there was nothing wrong with it as it worked fine during the car's time with them. I took it in a week later when the sound had stopped again and they wanted over £1000 to replace the system! (Warranty expired!)

I have checked all the voltages to the comms system and they are fine. The intermittent nature of the problem is the thing that is foxing me.

Has anyone had experience of this/ have any ideas of how to solve?

Alternatively, does any one know who manufacturers this unit? Perhaps I can find an independent specialist to look at it.

BTW, I live in Essex, NE of London. Am happy to travel to find a resolution, the lack of music is driving me mad!

All suggestions gratefully received.

Regards,

Mark

Dirty_Tool · 01-18-2006, 12:08 AM

Mark,
Sorry nobody has replied. i would guess because this question is over most people's heads. Also it could be because not too many owners have the full Video package. Here in the US where i'm located TV is not legal to have in view of the driver, so it is not nearly as common.
Its been a while since your post so Im assuming you probably have had it repaired by now. If not then i think the biggest clue is that the phone audio still works but nothing else does. Im not sure if the phone gets its audio signal from the audio amplifier on your model but the amplifier would definitely be my 1st guess as it is common for them to fail.
Good luck.
DT

dlambe · 12-10-2007, 06:55 AM

Mark
Did you get that issue resolved with your E38 sound system.. I am experiencing similar problems with my 1998 728i and the sound will work sometimes and then I can start the car up the next day and there will be no sound! The amplifier would seem to be the culpritbut I'd like to know how you got on before I spend unecessary money on a replacement.
Thanks
Dave

mdh12345 · 12-10-2007, 10:12 AM

Hi Dave,

I am sorry to say that I never did really resolve the problem. My dealer (non-franchise by then) told me that it needed a new amplifier unit that was going to cost me circa GBP1,000. I didn't really relish this! I did replace the battery as there seemed to be a correlation between dropping charge levels and the radio not working. It helped the problem (longer time between failures, shorter time off air) although it never resolved it. The reality is that I was never really sure if changing the battery helped or it was some of my other tinkering. However it is a much lower cost option! In the end I left it and then sold the car...

Sorry that I couldn't be more helpful.

Good luck.

Regards,

Mark

dlambe · 12-10-2007, 10:16 AM

Thanks Mark