slight problem with M5 e39 radio

[SirSparky]

sometimes when i go over a slight bump while my radio is playing it cuts out...even when its on cd.....this is still the oem unit.

if on radio i search another station and it comes on again....sometimes this doesnt help...i have to stop the car....fiddle with some wires in the boot and then all is good again...what could the problem be?

 

[freerider]

probably a loose connection somewhere there by the wires you play with. Either that or a dry joint somewhere. Just pop it in to an auto electrician.

 

[SirSparky]

iam thinking i might be dry joint because i went over bump this morning and it did the same thing.just scanned for the station again and viola

 

[Beast_Power]

Could be slight corrosion on one of the connectors aswell !

 

[ANiMOSiTY]

Well you say that you can get it working again by fiddling with some wires in the boot..

Unplug those connectors, clean them, then plug them back in again.
See if that helps.

 

[SirSparky]

iam not too sure if its maybe co-incidance that if i fiddle then it works again...sometimes just tuning to next station then its back on again....and this only happens when i go over bumps...not always....but sometimes.....say 3-4 times a week

 

[ANiMOSiTY]

Try it anyway - you'll do no harm, as long as you remember where all the connectors go.
Do one at a time and make sure it's a nice tight fit.

If it still does that, we'll need to open-up the radio unit and check for dry joints on the PCB.

 

[SirSparky]

can dry joints be fixed?iam almost certain this is maybe the prolem!

 

[ANiMOSiTY]

Yup.. You open-up the radio and re-solder the dry joint.
If you don't have soldering skills, I can help.

 

[SirSparky]

sorry to sound dumb ass but.....how do you spot a dry joint...iam not really electronically inclined?

 

[gregac]

I have the same problem on my M5.
I'm told it is a common problem by a few people.

I have done some checking - i.e. cleaning all the connectors etc.
No joy, so went on to to my next favorite check - tapping around with the handle of a screwdriver.
when I tap the radio unit it goes off, so it looks like it might be a dry joint.

I haven't got around to taking it out yet.
I'm not entirely sure it's a good idea with modern electronics to go mad with a soldering iron - a lot of components are surface mount and easy to damage or dislodge (they can just slide off the board).
But once I get it open I will decide if it's worth the risk.

I asked my dealer where they send their problems to - they said Combined Electronic sevices in Kempton Park, so if I don't succeed I will take it there.

 

[Hellas]

I know a cowboy backyard mechanic that solves all electronic problems by spraying it with Q20 and drying it off. Funny enough most of the times it actually works...!

 

[freerider]

Combined electronics is very good.

 

[zaleonardz]

Well,

On the M5, the amp and the radio are two seperate units, the amp is in the boot, I suspect you are fiddling near the left hand side back.

If that is the case, and you can confirm its a fiddle fix, then its usually 1 of about 7 wires, that being power, ground, acc on, or should be three wires there which is linked to signal at the back.

first step disconnect 2 seperate plugs from the amp unit, it may be the device furthest to the back, ie closest to the outer skin of the car. Spray with contact cleaner, and that should solve it.

Alternatively, take out the amp, take it to any electronics guy, and ask him to resolder just the base connection pins, this should be really easy as they are large in nature (relatively squeeking) to the other IC based solder points,

However I am making an assumption on the signal wires, can anyone confirm if that signal coming out of the radio is analog or digital with a DAC in the AMP... I need to do some reading, I just popped mine out of the 540 and its in the garage now.

Hope this helps

LZ

 

[Mike1]

Relatively squeeking?

So the issue here all revolves around a bunch of mice?

I know Matt suffers from mouse syndrome around his cluster and steering wheel but I never knew they targeted amps and headunits too :shocked:

Mike

 

[zaleonardz]

Well I squeek, and my 2 and half year old meows randomly at people... im so proud