BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BMW 5-Series (G30) Forum iDrive, Audio, Bluetooth, Phone, Cameras, Electronics + Coding 2021 M550 HK Audio Issues?

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      11-20-2020, 06:34 AM   #1
MikeElmendorf
Captain
725
Rep
642
Posts

Drives: 2022 BMW X5/2021 M550
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Albany, NY

iTrader: (0)

2021 M550 HK Audio Issues?

I've had my 2021 M550 for a little over a month, which replaced a 2018 540. Both with the Harmon Kardon stereo.

Something about the sound in the 2021 seems a little off, and I have observed that sometimes the bass/low end will just drop out for a second.

I seem to recall a post where someone else reported the same, but for the life of me can't find it.

Anyone else observing this? I'm wondering if something is loose or if there is an issue with the amp.

Looks like I'll be bringing it in to be checked, but just curious whether others have had any similar experience.

Thanks.
Appreciate 0
      11-23-2020, 01:52 AM   #2
Wrekk
New Member
0
Rep
5
Posts

Drives: BMW 530e M-sport
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Sweden

iTrader: (0)

Have the same issue with the bass/subwoofers drops out for a moment, and then back on again.

Same feeling you can get from your home cinema, the subwoofer Don’t kicks in before it gets enuff power. Nerver felt that in a car before.
Appreciate 0
      11-23-2020, 05:51 AM   #3
MikeElmendorf
Captain
725
Rep
642
Posts

Drives: 2022 BMW X5/2021 M550
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Albany, NY

iTrader: (0)

Wrekk - Exactly. Have you had the dealer look at it yet? I’m going to talk to mine today.
Appreciate 0
      11-23-2020, 07:40 AM   #4
paquet
Lieutenant
United_States
630
Rep
433
Posts

Drives: 2019 540i M Sport etc
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: FL

iTrader: (0)

I wonder if this is a software issue around the amount of electrical power being supplied as it shifts between power-saving etc
Appreciate 0
      11-23-2020, 10:53 AM   #5
MikeElmendorf
Captain
725
Rep
642
Posts

Drives: 2022 BMW X5/2021 M550
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Albany, NY

iTrader: (0)

Maybe. I can't seem to discern that it happens in correlation with anything else the car is doing. I'm taking it in next Monday. My service advisor says that the amp can throw codes so hopefully that will help diagnose it.
Appreciate 0
      11-23-2020, 10:57 AM   #6
MikeElmendorf
Captain
725
Rep
642
Posts

Drives: 2022 BMW X5/2021 M550
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Albany, NY

iTrader: (0)

Interesting thread on this over in the X5 forum (we have a 2018 X5 too so I visit there as well):

https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1776741

Seems like it may be a software issue...
Appreciate 0
      12-12-2020, 03:51 PM   #7
MikeElmendorf
Captain
725
Rep
642
Posts

Drives: 2022 BMW X5/2021 M550
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Albany, NY

iTrader: (0)

Just to update on this: Dealer installed a software update in an attempt to address this and it did not work. The problem persists. I'll be bringing it back in next week. They could not find anything physically wrong and there were no codes.
Appreciate 0
      12-12-2020, 04:25 PM   #8
Jas387
Second Lieutenant
United Kingdom
201
Rep
221
Posts

Drives: 2023 M5 Competition
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: UK

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
I’ve had the same thing a couple of times in my 2021 540i. Switching the car off for a few minutes and then back on again fixed it, but it’s still annoying.
Appreciate 0
      12-12-2020, 04:40 PM   #9
SteveinArizona
Brigadier General
United_States
3086
Rep
4,210
Posts

Drives: BMW 530e
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Greater Phoenix

iTrader: (0)

It is probably not related but BMW did cut back on the power of the HK system in the LCI.
Appreciate 0
      12-13-2020, 07:40 AM   #10
MikeElmendorf
Captain
725
Rep
642
Posts

Drives: 2022 BMW X5/2021 M550
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Albany, NY

iTrader: (0)

How so, Steve? Is it a new amp for 2021?
Appreciate 0
      12-13-2020, 07:53 AM   #11
SteveinArizona
Brigadier General
United_States
3086
Rep
4,210
Posts

Drives: BMW 530e
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Greater Phoenix

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeElmendorf View Post
How so, Steve? Is it a new amp for 2021?
My 2018 came with a 600W amp. The BMW website says that the current version is 464W.
Appreciate 0
      12-13-2020, 08:17 AM   #12
MikeElmendorf
Captain
725
Rep
642
Posts

Drives: 2022 BMW X5/2021 M550
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Albany, NY

iTrader: (0)

Interesting. I have felt like I have the volume turned up higher in my 2021 than I did in my 2018. Maybe the lower power amp is not playing well with the speakers?
Appreciate 0
      12-16-2020, 12:57 PM   #13
MikeElmendorf
Captain
725
Rep
642
Posts

Drives: 2022 BMW X5/2021 M550
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Albany, NY

iTrader: (0)

Update from my end: Car went to the dealer. They are ordering a new amp. They said no info or bulletins from BMW. I think they are taking a trial and error approach on their own.
Appreciate 0
      12-16-2020, 03:50 PM   #14
Jas387
Second Lieutenant
United Kingdom
201
Rep
221
Posts

Drives: 2023 M5 Competition
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: UK

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Good news. Hope that fixes it for you.

Does it happen often in your car? I think I’ve only noticed it twice in the two months I’ve had ours.
Appreciate 0
      12-16-2020, 04:07 PM   #15
Superjackson
Second Lieutenant
Canada
122
Rep
294
Posts

Drives: M550i
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Toronto

iTrader: (0)

If you use carplay with iPhone, you might have the "sound check" setting on in your phone settings. That setting turned bass to garbage when I had it on by accident
Appreciate 0
      12-16-2020, 04:37 PM   #16
Jas387
Second Lieutenant
United Kingdom
201
Rep
221
Posts

Drives: 2023 M5 Competition
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: UK

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by Superjackson View Post
If you use carplay with iPhone, you might have the "sound check" setting on in your phone settings. That setting turned bass to garbage when I had it on by accident
Thanks, that’s good to know. I’ve just checked and mine is switched off.

This was different though - really obviously tinny sound, with no bass whatsoever. I tried some really bass heavy tracks just to make sure I wasn’t going mad, and the subs were definitely not working at all.

I hope OP gets his issue fixed with the replacement amp and will consider taking mine back to BMW if it keeps happening to me.
Appreciate 0
      12-17-2020, 06:35 AM   #17
MikeElmendorf
Captain
725
Rep
642
Posts

Drives: 2022 BMW X5/2021 M550
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Albany, NY

iTrader: (0)

Not using CarPlay, so that’s not the issue. The bass drops out for a second or two; once it dropped and didn’t come back on until after the car slept and a restart. Another time the right channel seemed to drop. Sometimes it is preceded by a popping sound. This happens in some form or another about 50% of the time I’m in the car—although I have not been driving that much lately with COVID.

I really think it is a software issue, but we’ll see what happens with a new amp. They said the next step would be a new head unit, but as I don’t really want to have the entire car torn apart, I may hold on that until there is some direction from BMW, as it is clear this is not a unique issue for 2021.
Appreciate 0
      12-27-2020, 01:36 AM   #18
MSPORT27
New Member
0
Rep
15
Posts

Drives: M550i
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: NY

iTrader: (0)

My lease just finished on my 2018 M550 so I just got a 2021 and I feel like my subs aren't turning on at all. After reading this thread I'm beginning to think they may do a recall in the near future nothing else makes any sense. I was planning on bringing my car back after the holidays to have it checked out and I will post an update. I've had many BMW's and never had this issue, I thought it was just this car but now I think their maybe something wrong on a larger scale.
__________________
MOE
Appreciate 0
      12-27-2020, 07:13 AM   #19
MikeElmendorf
Captain
725
Rep
642
Posts

Drives: 2022 BMW X5/2021 M550
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Albany, NY

iTrader: (0)

MSport - There is definitely an issue, although I’ve gone a week or so now without it happening. I have no doubt that’s just good luck.

I’d highly recommend you and everyone else make noise to BMW about this to force a fix. So far the “never heard of it before” responses we are all getting don’t cut it.

My gut is that it is a software/power management issue introduced with the 2021 models. Hard pressed to believe they have that much defective hardware.

That said, my amp is to be replaced but I have not yet gotten the call that it has arrived.
Appreciate 0
      12-27-2020, 04:05 PM   #20
MSPORT27
New Member
0
Rep
15
Posts

Drives: M550i
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: NY

iTrader: (0)

Mike- I definetly plan to bring the car in for service, I just figured it would be easier after the holidays...
Also I wanted to let you I did some homework and they did not down grade our HK system, it still comes with 16 speakers and the 600 watt amplifier, there was a couple of downgrades one of them being the G20 but were good in that front.
__________________
MOE
Appreciate 0
      12-27-2020, 04:56 PM   #21
claykin
Brigadier General
United_States
1579
Rep
4,545
Posts

Drives: various BMW
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Florida

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeElmendorf View Post
Update from my end: Car went to the dealer. They are ordering a new amp. They said no info or bulletins from BMW. I think they are taking a trial and error approach on their own.
BMW has a preliminary bulletin on this issue. Affects some models with HK built between March 1 2020 - November 1 2020

https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=27053998
__________________
2023 840GC | 2021 740i | 2019 X3
Appreciate 1
Jas387200.50
      12-28-2020, 12:18 PM   #22
MikeElmendorf
Captain
725
Rep
642
Posts

Drives: 2022 BMW X5/2021 M550
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Albany, NY

iTrader: (0)

Well, that looks like the beginning of a solution, if not the not the solution itself. Good news. Thanks.
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:03 AM.




5post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST