Bowers Wilkins Cracking Center Speaker

RonronEG · 04-16-2021, 11:29 PM

Anyone have the technical service bulletin or SIB etc for the B&W center grille that cracks or pops with rapid change of temperature. I've had it looked at once and they did the felt BS but now that temps are up this cracking is pretty severe at times. Would love to get the apparently redesigned/reengineered version and get this thing under control. Thanks

Frozen Fractals · 04-22-2021, 12:30 AM

Are you talking about audible cracking from the drivers or the physical cover/trim piece itself? I replaced my center mid-range speaker under warranty due to cracking when playing certain songs at volumes higher than ~50%. It took two visits to the dealer to get it fixed. The first them I asked them to look at it on top of some other things I had to get fixed, but they said it was ok. I had to sit in the car with the shop foreman and show him under certain conditions it would start cracking.

paquet · 04-22-2021, 09:41 AM

I've noticed cracking sounds from the passenger side speaker - pisses me off. That will make it speaker #4 to be replaced.

Diamond, more like lead.

Question for you: how 'loud' is your system? Compared to the F10, it seems rather subdued.

malruk · 04-22-2021, 03:40 PM

I had mine replaced with the non-BW grill. Solved all the cracking problems. I can live without the grill having BW on it. Mine was replaced under warranty, unfortunately I don't have the TSB.

RonronEG · 04-23-2021, 09:02 PM

Another thread I had read says that there was a specific Bowers& Wilkins grille that fixes the issue. Think I'm shoot an email off to BMW NA and see if they can't facilitate a proper replacement for me.

steve090619 · 04-24-2021, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonronEG

Another thread I had read says that there was a specific Bowers& Wilkins grille that fixes the issue. Think I'm shoot an email off to BMW NA and see if they can't facilitate a proper replacement for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonronEG

Another thread I had read says that there was a specific Bowers& Wilkins grille that fixes the issue. Think I'm shoot an email off to BMW NA and see if they can't facilitate a proper replacement for me.

2017 with HK. SNap, crackel, pops for 4 years now. Had grill replaced, better but still does happen.

04-16-2021, 11:29 PM	#1
RonronEG Lieutenant 336 Rep 471 Posts Drives: BMW 540i Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Northern California iTrader: (0)	Bowers Wilkins Cracking Center Speaker Anyone have the technical service bulletin or SIB etc for the B&W center grille that cracks or pops with rapid change of temperature. I've had it looked at once and they did the felt BS but now that temps are up this cracking is pretty severe at times. Would love to get the apparently redesigned/reengineered version and get this thing under control. Thanks
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04-22-2021, 12:30 AM	#2
Frozen Fractals First Lieutenant 163 Rep 321 Posts Drives: 2018 540i xDrive Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: US / China iTrader: (2)	Are you talking about audible cracking from the drivers or the physical cover/trim piece itself? I replaced my center mid-range speaker under warranty due to cracking when playing certain songs at volumes higher than ~50%. It took two visits to the dealer to get it fixed. The first them I asked them to look at it on top of some other things I had to get fixed, but they said it was ok. I had to sit in the car with the shop foreman and show him under certain conditions it would start cracking. __________________ 2018 G30 540i xDrive M Sport \| Carbon Black Metallic \| KW V3 Coilovers \| F90 Suspension \| F90 Brakes \| 20" HRE FF10 Liquid Black Wheels \| Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Tires \| Ivory White Dakota Leather \| Carbon Fiber Trim \| Executive Package \| Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System \| JL Audio 12W6v3 and XD600/1v2 \| Ceramic Controls \| BM3 Stage 2+ E50 ECU Tune \| xHP Stage 3 TCU Tune \| Dorch Stage 2 HPFP \| MST Cold Air Intake \| FTP Chargepipe \| AA Catted Downpipe \| Remus Catback Exhaust
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04-22-2021, 09:41 AM	#3
paquet Lieutenant 630 Rep 433 Posts Drives: 2019 540i M Sport etc Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	I've noticed cracking sounds from the passenger side speaker - pisses me off. That will make it speaker #4 to be replaced. Diamond, more like lead. Question for you: how 'loud' is your system? Compared to the F10, it seems rather subdued.
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04-23-2021, 09:02 PM	#5
RonronEG Lieutenant 336 Rep 471 Posts Drives: BMW 540i Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Northern California iTrader: (0)	Another thread I had read says that there was a specific Bowers& Wilkins grille that fixes the issue. Think I'm shoot an email off to BMW NA and see if they can't facilitate a proper replacement for me.
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04-22-2021, 03:40 PM	#4
malruk New Member 11 Rep 19 Posts Drives: 2018 BMW M550i Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Virginia Beach iTrader: (0)	I had mine replaced with the non-BW grill. Solved all the cracking problems. I can live without the grill having BW on it. Mine was replaced under warranty, unfortunately I don't have the TSB.
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