Audio Cutting out. Pissing me off

[BMW JAY84]

As above E46 M3 2001 with earlier style 4:3 screen and CD changer in boot. Often when im driving along the audio will just cut out for no particular reason. If I remove the magazine from the changer and then replace it cuts back in again. It also will return sometimes if I switch discs on the changer or switch from radio to cd.

Doesn't seem to make any difference whether I am listening to radio or CD so wondering what is causing this and a possible solution
Im going to disconnect the changer tomorrow see if that cures the problem :rolleyes:
As always all input appreciated.

[felstmiester]

If its cutting out when your listening to the radio, then it cant be nothing to do with the changer or anything in the boot, it must be a loose wire in the dash behind the head unit.

[zarnd]

throw it back at Munich Legends - you get three months warranty free whe you buy from any dealer regardless of what they say. Assuming you haven't had it for more than three months???

cheers and good luck

[BMW JAY84]

Hi thanks for the replies. Has any one removed the head units on these before. Is it easy to do ?

I would do alex but the car was bought as a trade sale so no warrranty I dont think :(

[XKaLiBaR]

have you tried disconecting the battery for 15 mins?

[BMW JAY84]

No not tried that. What would that achieve ?

[XKaLiBaR]

donno, worth a try :p

[BMW JAY84]

Yeah I suppose I could try that alarm wont go crazy will it ?

[XKaLiBaR]

na, alarm wont go on.

[BMW JAY84]

Ill give it a go then and report back. Not sure it ll have any effect but worth a try

[Pontio]

usually that is the first signs of the radio tuner going down. all the audio goes through that. you'll lose radio,cd + tv/nav audio when it happens. you can try unplugging it, removng the fuse for it or even easier taking the batt off for 15 min to reset the control unit and see if this cures it otherwise eventually it'll stop working all together and you'll need a new control unit. There not cheap from what i remember either..

[BMW JAY84]

Well i've done the battery disconnection. Only time will tell. Is the control unit the BM54 ?

[Pontio]

No, it is the radio tuner in the n/s boot corner.

[BMW JAY84]

Ok cheers. Lets hope it sorts itself out then :(

[XKaLiBaR]

the radio tuner is the bm54. its expensive :(

[Miss Naughty]

Well i've done the battery disconnection. Only time will tell. Is the control unit the BM54 ?
HI PM Andy icecold he will know:)

[BMW JAY84]

Ok I will do. Cheers

[Chaos]

He's away until mid-week I think.

[adood84]

I'm sure you would be able to find a totaled M3 which still has an intact rear end (since the part seems to be there) and you can just take the part of that

[666 ACS]

If it is keeping all your radio memories etc, then it sounds like a dodgy earth.

My was doing similar had the radio out and the earth pin had a little play in it, stopped the play and had no problem since.

[Pontio]

its expensive but not that much you need to by a rear end off another m3.. I didnt think it was the bm54, could be wrong. when you see so many different control units you dont tend to remember them with letters and numbers, just there names. hopefully it being reset will save you though, good luck

[BMW JAY84]

If it is keeping all your radio memories etc, then it sounds like a dodgy earth.

My was doing similar had the radio out and the earth pin had a little play in it, stopped the play and had no problem since.

Was this on the back on the headunit or at the tuner in the boot. Suppose that is entirely feasible :)

[XKaLiBaR]

why dont you drive up to north london for the sunday meet, and see if its still workin :D

[Pontio]

why dont you drive up to north london for the sunday meet, and see if its still workin :D

That would be a waste of his time as they are crap and getting worst..

[BigFas]

That would be a waste of his time as they are crap and getting worst..

what are getting crap? The meets?

[BMW JAY84]

Hmm tempted. Where bouts is it ? What time ?

[Pontio]

yes.. thought I'd let him know to save dissapointment

[BigFas]

yes.. thought I'd let him know to save dissapointment


LMAO. I guess the meets you've organised are real hoots!

[Pontio]

there not organised, just a bunch of ppl meeting in a car park. alot of wally's trying to break the sound barrier with there silly exhausts and attracting unwanted attention. They were good when they frst started but now ppl sit there in the cold trying to make friends.

[BigFas]

there not organised, just a bunch of ppl meeting in a car park. alot of wally's trying to break the sound barrier with there silly exhausts and attracting unwanted attention. They were good when they frst started but now ppl sit there in the cold trying to make friends.

You been to an EvoTechnik meet before? We lift up bootlids and play thumping ragga tunes, we do donuts, we do burnouts, swear like soldiers and generally let our hair down. For our FWD buddies, we get trays from macdonalds, stick them under the rear tyres and light them up! it' off the chain and more importanly, chicks dig it.

[BMW JAY84]

Wow well looking forward to this then. :D

[FullHouse]

You been to an EvoTechnik meet before? We lift up bootlids and play thumping ragga tunes, we do donuts, we do burnouts, swear like soldiers and generally let our hair down. For our FWD buddies, we get trays from macdonalds, stick them under the rear tyres and light them up! it' off the chain and more importanly, chicks dig it.

LOL FAS.... U DA MAN

[Styler]

Holly shite, there's gonna be chicks there as well!! :p This meet's gonna be awesome!

[XKaLiBaR]

hehe, Fas has been to the meets :p
ther is chicks? i see one chick the other week in a skyline, doing donuts non stop :D


there not organised, just a bunch of ppl meeting in a car park. alot of wally's trying to break the sound barrier with there silly exhausts and attracting unwanted attention. They were good when they frst started but now ppl sit there in the cold trying to make friends.

yet you still temp yourself to go week after week :D

[adood84]

I attended one meet and it was fun :cool:

[Mah_c180]

You been to an EvoTechnik meet before? We lift up bootlids and play thumping ragga tunes, we do donuts, we do burnouts, swear like soldiers and generally let our hair down. For our FWD buddies, we get trays from macdonalds, stick them under the rear tyres and light them up! it' off the chain and more importanly, chicks dig it.

HAHAH u joka.

Wait ive got a rear wheel drive and i still cnt do a burnout (well dnt know if its the car or me :confused: )

[BMW JAY84]

No its the fact the rear brakes will come on too. To do proper ones you need line lockers ;)

[gIzzE]

As above E46 M3 2001 with earlier style 4:3 screen and CD changer in boot. Often when im driving along the audio will just cut out for no particular reason. If I remove the magazine from the changer and then replace it cuts back in again. It also will return sometimes if I switch discs on the changer or switch from radio to cd.

Doesn't seem to make any difference whether I am listening to radio or CD so wondering what is causing this and a possible solution
Im going to disconnect the changer tomorrow see if that cures the problem :rolleyes:
As always all input appreciated.


If you have a 2001 with the 4:3 screen you will probably have a BM24 radio module, this is the earlier version.
These were notorious for exactly this fault and it is a dry joint somewhere on the main board, but no one really knows where, people go over every joint and it tends to fix it. Too much hassle to go over a joint and then test each time, there are hundreds.

The only other thing it may be is battery drain, if the battery is starting to get low the unit also gives the same symptoms too. It is worth testing to see if you have a drain on your car and test what volts your battery is giving out, being down to 11 volts can give this problem.

If you switch to AM when the sound cuts out does it come back on again??

[Mah_c180]

No its the fact the rear brakes will come on too. To do proper ones you need line lockers ;)

and how do you do that :confused:

[Pontio]

Fas have you been there before? lol I think Mc D's realised they were loosing trays fast and stopped leaving them lying around.

XKaLiBaR I dont go week after week, have been twice in a year and a half and both times were to look at customers cars.

[zarnd]

could be an excuse to upgrade the screen and the radio in one go...

[BMW JAY84]

and how do you do that

Line lockers are a solenoids that clamp off the rear brakes so only the fronts activate allowing you to perform proper burnouts. Alternatively you can clamp the rear brake lines has the same effect. Not exactly recommended though for street and pretty sure they're illegal


could be an excuse to upgrade the screen and the radio in one go...

Exactly what I was thinking Alex, will have a chat with Andy at Ice Cold after the 2nd Jan and see what the options are. :D

[Mah_c180]

Line lockers are a solenoids that clamp off the rear brakes so only the fronts activate allowing you to perform proper burnouts. Alternatively you can clamp the rear brake lines has the same effect. Not exactly recommended though for street and pretty sure they're illegal


Ooo so its only the rear tires are unlocked when i press the brakes.
Well i wont try it anymore as i know i cant do it :rolleyes:

Everything is illegal man

[BMW JAY84]

If you have a 2001 with the 4:3 screen you will probably have a BM24 radio module, this is the earlier version.
These were notorious for exactly this fault and it is a dry joint somewhere on the main board, but no one really knows where, people go over every joint and it tends to fix it. Too much hassle to go over a joint and then test each time, there are hundreds.

The only other thing it may be is battery drain, if the battery is starting to get low the unit also gives the same symptoms too. It is worth testing to see if you have a drain on your car and test what volts your battery is giving out, being down to 11 volts can give this problem.

If you switch to AM when the sound cuts out does it come back on again??

Thanks for that info Gizze. Does seem to be about right. Usually can be rectifed by switching to CD and then back to radio.

[BMW JAY84]

Hi guys just to say thank you for everyone's help and input. Resolved this issue now it turned out to be the carkit that was causing the problem got one of my mates to discopnnect it and now all ok. :D

Cheers

[Doc Matt]

Lol, you don't need lockers to do a rear burnout, just the right amount of pressure on the brake will keep the car still.

Unless you want to do a 2 minute one :eek: