[danchee]

Just a little over a month since we got our X7. When we were test driving, we drove one where the HK subs were not working thus no bass at all from the underseat subs. Sales person tried all sorts to try and get it working but no dice. Walked as they only have that one in stock and went to a different dealership and drove a similar one we liked. Everything was great and as expected, bought and came home.

Now a month later we would randomly hit this issue. We would leave the car for a couple of days, start it up to go somewhere and all we get is sound from the door/dash speakers. No bass whatsoever. Restarting the car doesn't fix it, the genius at the dealership reset a few things and still no dice. Was going to schedule a service appointment but then it started working on the next start up.

If it comes on, it works for a while and would randomly stop one fine day. Anyone else have experienced this? Tried searching but wasn't successful in finding a thread with similar issue.

[Olekiller]

Mine losses base for like a few seconds and kicks back in. It doesn't happen often but when it does you definitely notice it. Mine is a 21 with the hk system

[lukehhhhh]

I've also experienced this. Happens maybe 1-2 times per week and lasts about 2 seconds before everything returns to normal. 2019 with HK system.

[thenew3]

I experienced this for the first time yesterday. I don't know if it was a coincidence, yesterday I drove through the first heavy rain in the X7. After I got out to do something, then got back in the car 1/2 hour later there was no bass.

I reset idrive and it didn't help. What worked for me is to stop the car, exit, lock it, wait 5 minutes, unlock it, start the car and the bass came back.

I also noticed the bottom half of the rear hatch would not open if I'm on a slope with the front end of the car lower then the rear. It would attempt to open, move about 1/2 inch then stop. No matter how many times I press the button it won't open, have to manually pull it open.

Waiting to see if the 07/2020 firmware will fix any of it.

[danchee]

Wow... For a flagship SUV the QC is quite lacking. Mine is a 2021 as well. Seattle's been raining a ton and the car was sitting in the rain the full 2 days. As thenew3 said, switched off and waited 5 minutes then start again seems to restore functionality. I will have to test it out again next time this happens and see if it is the same thing. There's an update that just came out too, so hopefully that'll fix it as well.

[thenew3]

Originally Posted by danchee

Wow... For a flagship SUV the QC is quite lacking. Mine is a 2021 as well. Seattle's been raining a ton and the car was sitting in the rain the full 2 days. As thenew3 said, switched off and waited 5 minutes then start again seems to restore functionality. I will have to test it out again next time this happens and see if it is the same thing. There's an update that just came out too, so hopefully that'll fix it as well.

Over on the MB GLS forum (X167) they are having their own list of issues too.
Cars are getting too complicated.

[spartanhuntr]

Took delivery one month ago. Having the same issue. Totally random. Turn the car on and there is no base. Turn it off. Lock the doors and wait a second... open it up and start and it is fixed. Must be a software glitch? Seems unlikely it is mechanical if we are all experiencing it?

[mitch57]

Originally Posted by spartanhuntr

Took delivery one month ago. Having the same issue. Totally random. Turn the car on and there is no base. Turn it off. Lock the doors and wait a second... open it up and start and it is fixed. Must be a software glitch? Seems unlikely it is mechanical if we are all experiencing it?

This must be a 2021 issue as I have not experienced this on my 2020 X7 on iDrive 07/2020.54.

[thenew3]

Originally Posted by mitch57

This must be a 2021 issue as I have not experienced this on my 2020 X7 on iDrive 07/2020.54.

Nope, Mine is a 2020 X7 built in April 2020. I experienced it a little over a week ago. On 03/2020.35 software. Still waiting for the OTA to come.

[mitch57]

Originally Posted by thenew3

Nope, Mine is a 2020 X7 built in April 2020. I experienced it a little over a week ago. On 03/2020.35 software. Still waiting for the OTA to come.

My car was built in October 2019 which is a late 2020 build. It came with 07/2019.59 and the dealer updated it from that to 03/2020.31 and then again to 07/2020 when it came out. I got an OTA update a couple of weeks ago to 07/2020.54. I did not experience this problem on any of those iDrive versions.

Perhaps this is related to specific builds or which audio system you have. Which Harman Kardon system do you have? The standard equipment Harman Kardon or the upgraded Harmon Kardon system that comes in the Premium and Executive packages? For reference purposes I have the upgraded Harmon Kardon that was part of the Professional package here in the US.

[thenew3]

Originally Posted by mitch57

My car was built in October 2019 which is a late 2020 build. It came with 07/2019.59 and the dealer updated it from that to 03/2020.31 and then again to 07/2020 when it came out. I got an OTA update a couple of weeks ago to 07/2020.54. I did not experience this problem on any of those iDrive versions.

Perhaps this is related to specific builds or which audio system you have. Which Harman Kardon system do you have? The standard equipment Harman Kardon or the upgraded Harmon Kardon system that comes in the Premium and Executive packages? For reference purposes I have the upgraded Harmon Kardon that was part of the Professional package here in the US.

Actually if it was built in October 2019, that would've been an early 2020 build. A late 2020 build would've had a build date of May/June 2020.

Also I don't think there are two harmon kardon systems. There's a base BMW system, then an upgraded Harmon Kardon that comes with one of the packages.

I have the HK that came with the executive package and have experienced the bass loss twice now. Each time a 5 minute wait after locking the car seems to have fixed it.
Still waiting for the 07/2020 firmware to come through.

[mitch57]

Originally Posted by thenew3

Actually if it was built in October 2019, that would've been an early 2020 build. A late 2020 build would've had a build date of May/June 2020.

Also I don't think there are two harmon kardon systems. There's a base BMW system, then an upgraded Harmon Kardon that comes with one of the packages.

I have the HK that came with the executive package and have experienced the bass loss twice now. Each time a 5 minute wait after locking the car seems to have fixed it.
Still waiting for the 07/2020 firmware to come through.

Yes, I stand corrected on the early build date.

The base audio system is Harmon Kardon as well. It has less power and speakers if my memory serves me correctly.

At any rate, I wonder why I have never experienced it and others have? Perhaps they made a hardware change to the Harmon Kardon system on later builds?

[thenew3]

Originally Posted by mitch57

Yes, I stand corrected on the early build date.

The base audio system is Harmon Kardon as well. It has less power and speakers if my memory serves me correctly.

At any rate, I wonder why I have never experienced it and others have? Perhaps they made a hardware change to the Harmon Kardon system on later builds?

Are you talking about the base 10 speaker 205 watt HiFi system? Where does it say it's HK?

Also if you've never experienced it, doesn't mean it's not happening to others. No body is saying it's affecting 100% of the vehicles made.

On my car the couple of times it happened, I was driving in heavy rain. I wonder if there's a leak somewhere that's causing a short in the woofers or amplifier. Once I also got a message "Parking assistance malfunction" at the same time the bass was gone.

[mitch57]

Originally Posted by thenew3

Are you talking about the base 10 speaker 205 watt HiFi system? Where does it say it's HK?

Also if you've never experienced it, doesn't mean it's not happening to others. No body is saying it's affecting 100% of the vehicles made.

On my car the couple of times it happened, I was driving in heavy rain. I wonder if there's a leak somewhere that's causing a short in the woofers or amplifier. Once I also got a message "Parking assistance malfunction" at the same time the bass was gone.

I read that the base system was Harmon Kardon as well. Of course, I can't remember where I read it at now. Hopefully someone will chime in with the info.

I'm not saying that others haven't had the problem. My intent is to help those that do have the problem narrow down why it's happening for them but not others. That's why I'm pointing out my iStep versions, build date, etc. Sorry if my posts come across like it's happening to everyone accept me. Not sure where you got that impression from reading my posts.

If you got the Parking assistance malfunction at the same time you lost the bass maybe you do have a leak somewhere that's shorting out the bass speakers.

[danchee]

The base system components are supplied by HK. It's just called the HiFi system. When BMW refer to HK system, it comes with the HK amp and Logic 7 processing capabilities which comes with the Executive package on the X7.

When people say HK system, they are referring to the one with Logic 7 processing.

[spartanhuntr]

I have the Bowers & Wilkins upgrade in mine. So, i am not sure it is a HK issue only? Has anyone actually had this problem and taken it in for service?

I presume none of the software updates discussed above helped, as i took delivery in Nov so i would assume i have the latest (july or later) release out there?

Still an issue for me. Seems to happen when it is raining? Of course i have had mine for 30 days and it has happened 4 times so mine could still be a coincidence on the weather?

[mitch57]

What source is everyone listening to when you lose the bass? Is it the same source or different sources? i.e., FM Radio, SIRIUS, USB, Phone streaming, etc.

I stream from my android phone via Bluetooth and I haven't lost bass output in the year I've owned my X7. However, I haven't tried other sources for any length of time either. I have all the other sources available to try if anyone thinks it's source related. Anything except iPhone that is.

[danchee]

Originally Posted by mitch57

What source is everyone listening to when you lose the bass? Is it the same source or different sources? i.e., FM Radio, SIRIUS, USB, Phone streaming, etc.

I stream from my android phone via Bluetooth and I haven't lost bass output in the year I've owned my X7. However, I haven't tried other sources for any length of time either. I have all the other sources available to try if anyone thinks it's source related. Anything except iPhone that is.

All sources. Once it happens, it doesn't matter which source it is. I wonder if it has to do with the ActiveSound feature. It plays the artificial engine sound through the sound system. I noticed that it happens whenever the car has been sitting out in the cold rain for at least 48 hours. I'll know Wednesday if that really does trigger it coz we ain't going anywhere the next could of days coz it's wet and cold

[mitch57]

Originally Posted by danchee

All sources. Once it happens, it doesn't matter which source it is. I wonder if it has to do with the ActiveSound feature. It plays the artificial engine sound through the sound system. I noticed that it happens whenever the car has been sitting out in the cold rain for at least 48 hours. I'll know Wednesday if that really does trigger it coz we ain't going anywhere the next could of days coz it's wet and cold

I don't think the X7 has the active sound option. At least I've never seen a setting for it in iDrive.

[danchee]

Originally Posted by mitch57

I don't think the X7 has the active sound option. At least I've never seen a setting for it in iDrive.

I didn't know they made it selectable in iDrive. On my F80, you have to code it off and was not present in iDrive settings.

[mitch57]

Originally Posted by danchee

I didn't know they made it selectable in iDrive. On my F80, you have to code it off and was not present in iDrive settings.

On the X7 I think the change in the exhaust note is caused by the opening and closing of a valve in the exhaust system. I know I can open this valve by using BimmerLink. Also, you can permanently force that valve to remain open by disconnecting a wire that controls the opening and closing of that valve.

[spartanhuntr]

I have scratched the rain theory. Got in my X7 this morning in my 50 degree garage at home to drive to my office. Of course i left my house 15 mins later than i wanted to. Started it up and no bass.

Since i had 40 mins of listening to this terrible sound i tried everything. changing source. power on and off. Turned the vehicle off and back on at lights. Nothing. Simply no bass.

I left my office at 715 pm. X7 sitting in parking garage (open air 5 story garage 39 degrees) and when i hit start. music was back to normal. Bass restored.

I sure hope someone can figure this out. And btw in the "play around with it" drive i did find my software is 7-20. I know some thought maybe this was an issue before that software. But delivery for me was early November and my software is 7-20 with a B&W system.

HELP?????