Radio/amp stopped working..... - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

DavidsM5 · 16th April 2006, 07:16

The radio and CD on my beast suddenly was intermittent yesterday and finally stopped working today.
The DSP option on the menu page is not even shown.
The radio functions still seen to work, I can change channels and such but there is no sound.

I suspect that the DSP amp is gone.

Anyone experience this issue?
Is it time for a nice aftermarket amp?

David

TQ2K · 16th April 2006, 08:26

Experienced the same issue and dealer found fault codes in the radio module so they've reset it. Since then no more issues.

CWY_M5 · 17th April 2006, 06:38

I'm an expert with this issue, since it has happened a few times now.

If your radio light still turns on, and you can switch chanels, CD tracks, etc, but just no sound, do the following:

1. Rear left corner, unplug EVERYTHING on the DSP, and wait over night. Some say this fixes it, althought this has never fixed it for me.
2. My sure way of fixing this is to remove all DSP connectors (3 of them), and another smaller unit (I believe it's called FM Module) sitting right to the rear of the DSP unit. It should have 3 connections: 1. co-ax, 1. optial, and another square - difficult to remove connector. With this square connector removed, there will be a fuse in ther - 7.5amp I believe - unplug this, and if not tripped, plug back in, everything should work now.

If your Nav / Radio light doesn't work, then you may have a Nav computer problem, or just a "conflict" with your other additional units - in my case, bluetooth retrofit from EIS.

Hope you fixes it.

Chino

DavidsM5 · 17th April 2006, 06:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by CWY_M5

I'm an expert with this issue, since it has happened a few times now.

If your radio light still turns on, and you can switch chanels, CD tracks, etc, but just no sound, do the following:

1. Rear left corner, unplug EVERYTHING on the DSP, and wait over night. Some say this fixes it, althought this has never fixed it for me.
2. My sure way of fixing this is to remove all DSP connectors (3 of them), and another smaller unit (I believe it's called FM Module) sitting right to the rear of the DSP unit. It should have 3 connections: 1. co-ax, 1. optial, and another square - difficult to remove connector. With this square connector removed, there will be a fuse in ther - 7.5amp I believe - unplug this, and if not tripped, plug back in, everything should work now.

If your Nav / Radio light doesn't work, then you may have a Nav computer problem, or just a "conflict" with your other additional units - in my case, bluetooth retrofit from EIS.

Hope you fixes it.

Chino

Thanks Chino.
I'll try this now.

Update!
Did the above but still not working....
I'll leave it unplugged till the morning.
Hopefully it will cure itself but I'm not holding my breath.
It's a good excuse for an amp upgrade anyways!

David

dave_gt · 17th April 2006, 11:40

I hope it all works this morning mate.

If you do decide to go down the route of upgrading the stereo there are gigantic benefits that can be had over the stock set up while still keeping the standard head unit. Unfortunately there is a 'but.' As far as I know, the DSP amplifier that you have uses digital signals as inputs (not 100% sure cos I don't have DSP) and this means that they can't be used as a line signal into an aftermarket amplifier.

This would be an issue that I wouldn't recommend trusting to your local car-audio shop unless they really do know their BMWs but board sponsor Bavarian Soundwerks may be able to help you out.

Alpine have just released their vehicle hub which is designed to be used to integrate amplifiers, games consoles, reversing camera etc into factory head units. I'm thinking of getting one for mine so I can add bits & clean up the factory signal a bit. http://www.alpine-electronics.co.uk/...ith-Alpine.htm

KBK · 17th April 2006, 17:17

The front end of the car...dash display..is a 'digital controller' ONLY.

a digital control signal is ent back to the rest of the system. It IS possbile to make a 'black box' to 'fit' after that front end box..and run the dash display..on a real audio system. But that's quite a large bit of work.

After all the stealth box guys have done exactly that, for the valentine radar detectors. They made a box that translates the digital signals from the valentine and inserts them into the BMW hardware/software system.

So it can be done. The work is slightly different, but not that different.

DavidsM5 · 17th April 2006, 17:48

Update:
All plugged back and still not working....
Off to the dealer I go.

KBK · 17th April 2006, 18:27

If you have customized the system with this 'bluetooth' stuff, or any other such electrical/digital signal/'interruptive' cabling, it is likely that these cables and connections are at fault.

Re-connect to original spec. If it is not good then (with proper re-connecting to original!)..then there is a fault with the DSP gear/DSP box. Could still be cabling, though.

The front box (dash display) sends a pure digital control signal to the rear DSP box. If that signal pathway is degraded, it is possible to get non-operational kinds of faults. The radio still works as it is in the front box, and sends an analog singal to the rear DSP box, oddly enough. The DSP won't work, though, as it is not getting correct transfer of it's digital control signals. The electrical signal pathway for the DSP box, from the front..is very much like the single digital cable that runs from your DVD player to your surround processor in your video system at home. Different format and function, but basically the same.

Once gain, if there is custom wiring, to interrupt the digital signal from the front box to the DSP control box..this is the likely cuprit.

ehssan_alkhiyami · 17th April 2006, 18:46

David , Don't waste your time buddy , the Amps if gone ,,belive me cuz I had it before on my 540 .. and even WilM5AD had the same problem ,,, and we both replaced it with another one ,, but we bought a second hand ..

available on ebay I belive ... good luck bro .

KBK · 17th April 2006, 19:06

If you need a new amp box, David, I've got a line on a few. Let me know. I just turned one down for $150US. I'm not that sure about that source...but I have about 20 other places I can buy the box, that are reputable.