2021 M550 HK Audio Issues?

MikeElmendorf · 01-10-2021, 07:42 AM

Ok, update: The new amp was installed on Wednesday. Since then, I have not experienced the audio dropping/distortion issue that existed before. Yesterday I did a fair amount of driving in an effort to assess whether it was fixed; It previously did not happen on every drive, but generally it would have happened in the amount of driving I have done. So, I am cautiously optimistic the new part does, in fact, correct the problem.

It also seems to me that the system is louder, i.e., I don’t have to have the volume bar as close to max to achieve the desired volume. It always seemed like it needed to be turned up more than on my 2018 540. I have read that the spec for the 2021 reduces the power of the amp from prior levels. Curious if that could have caused the problems many of us have experienced and if the new amp is putting out the prior power level.

bluzbra · 01-10-2021, 11:52 PM

Same thing happened to me today on my 6-day old 2021 M550i. I thought I was losing it and tried like 10 different songs - no bass in any of them. Sure enough, I parked the car and ran a quick errand and when I got back in, it was working normally again. But the sound system overall sounds a lot weaker than my 2019 440i GC, 2018 M3, and our 2020 X5. I've turned the volume nob up all the way and it doesn't even sound that loud. Kind of disappointing, but I do enjoy listening to the exhaust notes more in this car anyway so I guess that kind of makes up for it!

Looking forward to a fix soon from BMW NA!

MikeElmendorf · 01-11-2021, 02:28 PM

Bluzbra - Get the replacement I did. The stereo is louder after, too.

Texox · 01-11-2021, 05:17 PM

I have had this issue come up in my 2021 m550i twice. Turn the car off and let it sit a few minutes and then back to normal. Had the car for about 3 weeks. Thinking about letting the dealer know. They will just replace the amp?

bluzbra · 01-11-2021, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeElmendorf

Bluzbra - Get the replacement I did. The stereo is louder after, too.

Thanks, I think I'll have no choice but to do that!

bluzbra · 01-15-2021, 09:18 AM

Update: Took my car in Tuesday (1/12) so they can diagnose it. My service advisor knew exactly what I was talking about when I took the car in, so that's good. He said he's had to replace the amp on a couple of 2021 8 series also, so he thinks it might be the same thing. He said it's only an issue with H/K. While my car was there, I got a call from the service advisor on Thursday (1/14) telling me that the car showed fault codes for the issue, but TSE recommends recoding the amp instead of replacing it. Apparently a couple of the cars they've tried the replacement with continue to have the problem. They said if the amp is bad, it won't even let them recode it. And if the recoding doesn't work or solve the problem, then I can take it back for a new amp. I picked up the car same day (yesterday) and so far so good. No new amp, only recoding. Hopefully it stays this way and I don't actually need a new amp. Will keep this thread updated if anything changes.

ramparts · 01-15-2021, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluzbra

Update: Took my car in Tuesday (1/12) so they can diagnose it. My service advisor knew exactly what I was talking about when I took the car in, so that's good. He said he's had to replace the amp on a couple of 2021 8 series also, so he thinks it might be the same thing. He said it's only an issue with H/K. While my car was there, I got a call from the service advisor on Thursday (1/14) telling me that the car showed fault codes for the issue, but TSE recommends recoding the amp instead of replacing it. Apparently a couple of the cars they've tried the replacement with continue to have the problem. They said if the amp is bad, it won't even let them recode it. And if the recoding doesn't work or solve the problem, then I can take it back for a new amp. I picked up the car same day (yesterday) and so far so good. No new amp, only recoding. Hopefully it stays this way and I don't actually need a new amp. Will keep this thread updated if anything changes.

That's interesting consider you can't code the booster ( ALEV3) ( the faulty ecu!), you can only code the RAM ( the main amp )

So I doubt it will fix it, as it's the booster module that doesn't wake up ( it drives the bass ). If the amp was faulty, you'd hear no sound at all

Texox · 02-25-2021, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluzbra

Update: Took my car in Tuesday (1/12) so they can diagnose it. My service advisor knew exactly what I was talking about when I took the car in, so that's good. He said he's had to replace the amp on a couple of 2021 8 series also, so he thinks it might be the same thing. He said it's only an issue with H/K. While my car was there, I got a call from the service advisor on Thursday (1/14) telling me that the car showed fault codes for the issue, but TSE recommends recoding the amp instead of replacing it. Apparently a couple of the cars they've tried the replacement with continue to have the problem. They said if the amp is bad, it won't even let them recode it. And if the recoding doesn't work or solve the problem, then I can take it back for a new amp. I picked up the car same day (yesterday) and so far so good. No new amp, only recoding. Hopefully it stays this way and I don't actually need a new amp. Will keep this thread updated if anything changes.

Any update? I have had this issue come up about 5-6 times now. I have only 1k miles on my car. Considering letting the dealer know, although I really don't want to have to leave it and get a loaner. The less time at the dealer the better.

bluzbra · 02-26-2021, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texox

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluzbra

Update: Took my car in Tuesday (1/12) so they can diagnose it. My service advisor knew exactly what I was talking about when I took the car in, so that's good. He said he's had to replace the amp on a couple of 2021 8 series also, so he thinks it might be the same thing. He said it's only an issue with H/K. While my car was there, I got a call from the service advisor on Thursday (1/14) telling me that the car showed fault codes for the issue, but TSE recommends recoding the amp instead of replacing it. Apparently a couple of the cars they've tried the replacement with continue to have the problem. They said if the amp is bad, it won't even let them recode it. And if the recoding doesn't work or solve the problem, then I can take it back for a new amp. I picked up the car same day (yesterday) and so far so good. No new amp, only recoding. Hopefully it stays this way and I don't actually need a new amp. Will keep this thread updated if anything changes.

Any update? I have had this issue come up about 5-6 times now. I have only 1k miles on my car. Considering letting the dealer know, although I really don't want to have to leave it and get a loaner. The less time at the dealer the better.

No issues ever since!

Chuckyarla · 03-01-2021, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superjackson

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

Where would I find that on my iPhone?

Superjackson · 03-01-2021, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckyarla

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superjackson

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

Where would I find that on my iPhone?

In the settings -> music -> playback section

Chuckyarla · 03-02-2021, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superjackson

In the settings -> music -> playback section

There is no music option under settings on my iPhone 7.

ramparts · 03-02-2021, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckyarla

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superjackson

In the settings -> music -> playback section

There is no music option under settings on my iPhone 7.

It's lower down, in the third or fourth section, with all the other app settings.

Or, just use the search field and type in sound check

Chuckyarla · 03-02-2021, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidoff86

It's lower down, in the third or fourth section, with all the other app settings.

Or, just use the search field and type in sound check

Got it, many thanks!

01-10-2021, 07:42 AM	#23
MikeElmendorf Captain 783 Rep 656 Posts Drives: 2022 BMW X5/2021 M550 Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Albany, NY iTrader: (0)	Ok, update: The new amp was installed on Wednesday. Since then, I have not experienced the audio dropping/distortion issue that existed before. Yesterday I did a fair amount of driving in an effort to assess whether it was fixed; It previously did not happen on every drive, but generally it would have happened in the amount of driving I have done. So, I am cautiously optimistic the new part does, in fact, correct the problem. It also seems to me that the system is louder, i.e., I don’t have to have the volume bar as close to max to achieve the desired volume. It always seemed like it needed to be turned up more than on my 2018 540. I have read that the spec for the 2021 reduces the power of the amp from prior levels. Curious if that could have caused the problems many of us have experienced and if the new amp is putting out the prior power level.
	Appreciate 1 Jas387200.50 Quote

01-10-2021, 11:52 PM	#24
bluzbra Lieutenant 269 Rep 466 Posts Drives: '21 M550i / '20 X5 40i Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	Same thing happened to me today on my 6-day old 2021 M550i. I thought I was losing it and tried like 10 different songs - no bass in any of them. Sure enough, I parked the car and ran a quick errand and when I got back in, it was working normally again. But the sound system overall sounds a lot weaker than my 2019 440i GC, 2018 M3, and our 2020 X5. I've turned the volume nob up all the way and it doesn't even sound that loud. Kind of disappointing, but I do enjoy listening to the exhaust notes more in this car anyway so I guess that kind of makes up for it! Looking forward to a fix soon from BMW NA! __________________ Current BMWs - '21 M550i Bernina Grey/Black Nappa, '20 X5 sDrive40i xLine Alpine White/Coffee Extended Merino Past BMWs - '20 740i, '20 X3M, '19 540i M-Sport, '19 440i GC M-Sport, '18 M3 Comp., '18 X5 sDrive35i, '18 340i, '17 X3 sDrive28i, '15 335i xDrive Sport Line, '14 428i Coupe
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-11-2021, 02:28 PM	#25
MikeElmendorf Captain 783 Rep 656 Posts Drives: 2022 BMW X5/2021 M550 Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Albany, NY iTrader: (0)	Bluzbra - Get the replacement I did. The stereo is louder after, too.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-11-2021, 05:17 PM	#26
Texox Second Lieutenant 76 Rep 240 Posts Drives: 2021 M550i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Dallas, Texas iTrader: (0)	I have had this issue come up in my 2021 m550i twice. Turn the car off and let it sit a few minutes and then back to normal. Had the car for about 3 weeks. Thinking about letting the dealer know. They will just replace the amp?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-15-2021, 09:18 AM	#28
bluzbra Lieutenant 269 Rep 466 Posts Drives: '21 M550i / '20 X5 40i Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	Update: Took my car in Tuesday (1/12) so they can diagnose it. My service advisor knew exactly what I was talking about when I took the car in, so that's good. He said he's had to replace the amp on a couple of 2021 8 series also, so he thinks it might be the same thing. He said it's only an issue with H/K. While my car was there, I got a call from the service advisor on Thursday (1/14) telling me that the car showed fault codes for the issue, but TSE recommends recoding the amp instead of replacing it. Apparently a couple of the cars they've tried the replacement with continue to have the problem. They said if the amp is bad, it won't even let them recode it. And if the recoding doesn't work or solve the problem, then I can take it back for a new amp. I picked up the car same day (yesterday) and so far so good. No new amp, only recoding. Hopefully it stays this way and I don't actually need a new amp. Will keep this thread updated if anything changes. __________________ Current BMWs - '21 M550i Bernina Grey/Black Nappa, '20 X5 sDrive40i xLine Alpine White/Coffee Extended Merino Past BMWs - '20 740i, '20 X3M, '19 540i M-Sport, '19 440i GC M-Sport, '18 M3 Comp., '18 X5 sDrive35i, '18 340i, '17 X3 sDrive28i, '15 335i xDrive Sport Line, '14 428i Coupe
	Appreciate 0 Quote

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search