My 6-CD OEM CD changer in my '96 328is has recently stopped working. It will CD CHECK fine and loads the CDs okay, but will linger on each one until finally displaying "CD ERROR." This is the same for all discs, factory or burnt.
Things I think might have affected it:
1. Heat. It's very hot here, especially in the trunk of that black car.
2. Humidity. We've had a lot of that here lately.
3. Vibration. The route I take to work 5 days a week is a very bumpy one, especially when you factor in the 328's not-so-soft suspension.
Considering these factors, what could be the problem, and what could I do to fix it that doesn't involve plunking down $400+ dollars for a new one?
I would take it to a repair shop you can trust, let them take a look at it (around here its 20-35 for an estimate, that applies towards the bill if you decide to have it repaired). You should be able to have it fixed for less than $100. Anything more than that, I'd put an aftermarket CD player in the dash and you will gain WAY more performance.
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Originally posted by 24valve@Jun 14 2005, 01:27 PM My 6-CD OEM CD changer in my '96 328is has recently stopped working. It will CD CHECK fine and loads the CDs okay, but will linger on each one until finally displaying "CD ERROR." This is the same for all discs, factory or burnt.
Things I think might have affected it:
1. Heat. It's very hot here, especially in the trunk of that black car.
2. Humidity. We've had a lot of that here lately.
3. Vibration. The route I take to work 5 days a week is a very bumpy one, especially when you factor in the 328's not-so-soft suspension.
Considering these factors, what could be the problem, and what could I do to fix it that doesn't involve plunking down $400+ dollars for a new one?
Originally posted by BeachBunny+Jun 16 2005, 12:18 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BeachBunny @ Jun 16 2005, 12:18 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-24valve@Jun 14 2005, 01:27 PM My 6-CD OEM CD changer in my '96 328is has recently stopped working. It will CD CHECK fine and loads the CDs okay, but will linger on each one until finally displaying "CD ERROR." This is the same for all discs, factory or burnt.
Things I think might have affected it:
1. Heat. It's very hot here, especially in the trunk of that black car.
2. Humidity. We've had a lot of that here lately.
3. Vibration. The route I take to work 5 days a week is a very bumpy one, especially when you factor in the 328's not-so-soft suspension.
Considering these factors, what could be the problem, and what could I do to fix it that doesn't involve plunking down $400+ dollars for a new one?
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Did you check all the wires, yet?
When did you clean it last?
Is the warranty up?
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I reset the wires three times today, to no avail.
I also blew $20 on a fancy disc cleaner with little microbrushes, but it didn't work and probably wouldn't, giving the way the CD player is having errors (it doesn't change tracks and the brushes are probably past the point where the lens normally is at track 1, being that it moves across the disc.)
Other than that, I'm not sure how I'd clean it.
And is there a warranty? This is BMW OEM, I seriously doubt that BMW has a 9+ year warranty on their CD changers, being as they're not exactly generous when it comes to warranties anyway.
And while I'm griping, I'm also getting check control errors for Tail Light Failure (not true, consistently), Brake Light Circuit (every now and then, also not true), the Check Engine light comes on whenever it rains, and the headliner in the rear passenger compartment, which has never been used, is starting to sag and fall off.
Originally posted by 24valve@Jun 15 2005, 11:26 PM I reset the wires three times today, to no avail.
I also blew $20 on a fancy disc cleaner with little microbrushes, but it didn't work and probably wouldn't, giving the way the CD player is having errors (it doesn't change tracks and the brushes are probably past the point where the lens normally is at track 1, being that it moves across the disc.)
Other than that, I'm not sure how I'd clean it.
And is there a warranty? This is BMW OEM, I seriously doubt that BMW has a 9+ year warranty on their CD changers, being as they're not exactly generous when it comes to warranties anyway.
And while I'm griping, I'm also getting check control errors for Tail Light Failure (not true, consistently), Brake Light Circuit (every now and then, also not true), the Check Engine light comes on whenever it rains, and the headliner in the rear passenger compartment, which has never been used, is starting to sag and fall off.
I feel better now.
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:lol: Poor lil guy. The changer's the same one that came with the car?! Damn. That's insane.... but that may be ur problem right there... I've had my CD changer (I believe alpine was the same brand BMW was offering me, plus the few extra hundred for... the logo on it?) for almost three years and it's about had it. I tried the cleaning thing as well... but things only last for so long... I dunno if BMW does something special or if they also use an adapter to hook up the changer... I don't know what would happen if your adapter needed to be replaced... but, it would be too easy and cheap to just replace THAT, so that's probably not it.
Maybe you could go back to the dealer and find out how long people last before needed a new changer? Maybe it does need to be repaired, that would be my guess. Maybe you could buy a used one or something? I didn't pay more than three hundred for mine... If your changer ends up not being the problem, you can just return the new one (at most places). It doesn't sound like some huge electrical problem, ya know?
As for the break and tail light failures, you may need a new fuse or two? Dunno about the rain, that's kinda weird. used And "I feel ur pain" on the headliner! I need to glue a couple sections of mine. Ask AlanH about the glue he's gonna use for his weather stripping... I forget what it's called, but I'm borrowing some of it when he gets the stuff for my headliner! ... I think super glue would work too.
Originally posted by BeachBunny+Jun 16 2005, 01:20 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BeachBunny @ Jun 16 2005, 01:20 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-24valve@Jun 15 2005, 11:26 PM I reset the wires three times today, to no avail.
I also blew $20 on a fancy disc cleaner with little microbrushes, but it didn't work and probably wouldn't, giving the way the CD player is having errors (it doesn't change tracks and the brushes are probably past the point where the lens normally is at track 1, being that it moves across the disc.)
Other than that, I'm not sure how I'd clean it.
And is there a warranty? This is BMW OEM, I seriously doubt that BMW has a 9+ year warranty on their CD changers, being as they're not exactly generous when it comes to warranties anyway.
And while I'm griping, I'm also getting check control errors for Tail Light Failure (not true, consistently), Brake Light Circuit (every now and then, also not true), the Check Engine light comes on whenever it rains, and the headliner in the rear passenger compartment, which has never been used, is starting to sag and fall off.
I feel better now.
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:lol: Poor lil guy. The changer's the same one that came with the car?! Damn. That's insane.... but that may be ur problem right there... I've had my CD changer (I believe alpine was the same brand BMW was offering me, plus the few extra hundred for... the logo on it?) for almost three years and it's about had it. I tried the cleaning thing as well... but things only last for so long... I dunno if BMW does something special or if they also use an adapter to hook up the changer... I don't know what would happen if your adapter needed to be replaced... but, it would be too easy and cheap to just replace THAT, so that's probably not it.
Maybe you could go back to the dealer and find out how long people last before needed a new changer? Maybe it does need to be repaired, that would be my guess. Maybe you could buy a used one or something? I didn't pay more than three hundred for mine... If your changer ends up not being the problem, you can just return the new one (at most places). It doesn't sound like some huge electrical problem, ya know?
As for the break and tail light failures, you may need a new fuse or two? Dunno about the rain, that's kinda weird. used And "I feel ur pain" on the headliner! I need to glue a couple sections of mine. Ask AlanH about the glue he's gonna use for his weather stripping... I forget what it's called, but I'm borrowing some of it when he gets the stuff for my headliner! ... I think super glue would work too.
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Let me know how that superglue does on the headliner, I was afraid to use superglue because I thought it might create spots that would bleed through.
As for the CD changer, I think I might call up BMW of Towson just for laughs and see what kind of absurd price quote they give me just for acknowledging the fact that I exist and own a BMW with a CD changer. I've heard that audio repair places will give it a new lens assembly for $100, maybe I'll try that when I find one.
I think the Tail Light Failure thing would be a fuse problem but the Brake Light Circuit thing happens so irregularly that I have no idea what it could be - irregular as in twice in 8 months. (It also doesn't come back on when the car is stopped and then restarted.) Who knows. I love this car and its wonderfully smooth engine, but sometimes I hate it with a passion.
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used And "I feel ur pain" on the headliner! I need to glue a couple sections of mine. Ask AlanH about the glue he's gonna use for his weather stripping... I forget what it's called, but I'm borrowing some of it when he gets the stuff for my headliner! ... I think super glue would work too. 
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