Electronics failure?

asus389 · 05-16-2011, 11:26 PM

Hey guys,

I have an 06 e90 w/o iDrive (ZSP/ZCW). I noticed after I started the car up today that some strange electronic things started happening. The gauge cluster looked like it was basically going nuts and showed various errors, the SES light came on, and the radio started to malfunction. The tach and gas gauge were behaving erratically, despite the car just idling on the driveway. The car turned itself off a few times. Each time I'd restart it, the same thing would happen. I then let it sit for an hour and tried starting it again. Eventually the gauges settled down, but the SES light remains on.

However, now I noticed the steering wheel controls to the HVAC and radio no longer work. The date/time doesn't appear on the radio whether the radio is on or off (its blank - despite working in the instrument cluster), and there is no longer even an option to set the date/time from the radio controls (only "BMW" exists under menu button now, no "config" or "comp"). The aux input has a ton of static on it even when nothing is playing (the CD and tuner inputs seem fine). The radio sometimes turns off on its own. It also doesn't turn on when the key is inserted (if it was left on) and no longer turns off automatically when I remove the key from the ignition after the car is powered off.

The controls in the center stack for the climate control seem to work fine.

The car "seems" to drive fine as in the engine runs and the wheel turns and stuff.

Any ideas?

Gregxi · 05-17-2011, 07:14 AM

Battery is where I would start, then connections

Zoraster · 05-17-2011, 07:24 AM

Skynet

Me_Hi · 05-17-2011, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gregxi

Battery is where I would start, then connections

Battery most likely. The car is shutting off unnecessary circuits
before I replaced my battery, I lost the front and rear defroster, the fan wasn't working full blast, etc...

asus389 · 05-17-2011, 04:07 PM

video from my phone from when this occured (not sure i caught all of it)

Looks like the "lift" icon along with DTC, DSC, brake, ABS, tire warnings

then the "brakes" icon along with DTC, DSC, brake, ABS, tire warnings

Then when that stopped the SES light was on for a day or so.. which has since went off. Radio and steering wheel controls still messed up based on above description.

Its under CPO warranty.

rusty_g80 · 05-28-2011, 10:45 PM

Let us know what it was once it's fixed.

asus389 · 05-28-2011, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusty_g80

Let us know what it was once it's fixed.

Goes in weds... Will update after...

VTECaddict · 05-28-2011, 11:23 PM

i dont think electronics are covered under CPO.

ryan970 · 05-29-2011, 12:09 AM

EMP from a nuke?

fdriller9 · 05-29-2011, 08:07 AM

Check fuse 20.

just4kickz · 05-30-2011, 02:04 PM

i have an 06 e90 as well. i think it was a sept 05 build i cant remember.

today, as i started to drive to the gym, idrive shut down and restarted about four times. after i finished my workout and headed to a restaurant, this happened twice.

first thing i guessed was fuse, but i thought that if the fuse was dead, idrive would not restart. so possibly battery is losing juice and needs replacement?

VTECaddict · 05-30-2011, 02:08 PM

possibly...or might be time for CIC upgrade.

allerena · 05-30-2011, 03:54 PM

battery is loosing charge, simple test, turn overhead reading light (hopefully you have the OEM ones) and then with the car off, turn the hazard lights. If you see a great variation in light intensity your battery would need replace, might be something else but when this happened to me I changed the battery and everything went back to normal.

Just want to clarify that my gauges were not as crazy as in the video. they were doing weird stuff but not that much; I do remember having some warning lights and the radio changing stations by itself.

asus389 · 05-30-2011, 06:12 PM

I'll check the fuse and the battery, thanks for those suggestions.

asus389 · 05-30-2011, 08:44 PM

All four fuses associated with the ABS/DSC function (according to the diagram) are fine. Hazards flashing when overhead light is on doesn't show any variation in interior light.

I suppose my battery could be on its way out. However isn't there a warning light for that too? ie Why would I get like 5 unrelated warning, have my steering wheel controls stop working, the radio lose menus like its no longer in contact with the car computer, and have buzzing on the aux input. Seems like a rather round about way of telling you the battery is weak?

Gerald Fabricatore · 05-30-2011, 09:58 PM

I had a similar problem. In my case it was the JBE (junction box electronics) module. This module controls the power usage in the car. If you look at the fuse block , it is the module that is at the bottom. In my car it was causing other modules to fail. It took the service tech over two days to find.

asus389 · 06-13-2011, 01:42 PM

Well they replaced the whole radio head unit and it seems to have mostly corrected the issue. I still get static/line noise on the aux jack and background on FM stations at mid to high volumes. Its like the sound isn't "clean" and its very annoying.

05-16-2011, 11:26 PM	#1
asus389 Captain 68 Rep 639 Posts Drives: 11 E90 328i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 328i [0.00]	Electronics failure? Hey guys, I have an 06 e90 w/o iDrive (ZSP/ZCW). I noticed after I started the car up today that some strange electronic things started happening. The gauge cluster looked like it was basically going nuts and showed various errors, the SES light came on, and the radio started to malfunction. The tach and gas gauge were behaving erratically, despite the car just idling on the driveway. The car turned itself off a few times. Each time I'd restart it, the same thing would happen. I then let it sit for an hour and tried starting it again. Eventually the gauges settled down, but the SES light remains on. However, now I noticed the steering wheel controls to the HVAC and radio no longer work. The date/time doesn't appear on the radio whether the radio is on or off (its blank - despite working in the instrument cluster), and there is no longer even an option to set the date/time from the radio controls (only "BMW" exists under menu button now, no "config" or "comp"). The aux input has a ton of static on it even when nothing is playing (the CD and tuner inputs seem fine). The radio sometimes turns off on its own. It also doesn't turn on when the key is inserted (if it was left on) and no longer turns off automatically when I remove the key from the ignition after the car is powered off. The controls in the center stack for the climate control seem to work fine. The car "seems" to drive fine as in the engine runs and the wheel turns and stuff. Any ideas? Last edited by asus389; 05-17-2011 at 04:01 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

05-17-2011, 07:14 AM	#2
Gregxi First Lieutenant 64 Rep 338 Posts Drives: 2014 535xi Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: MD iTrader: (0)	Battery is where I would start, then connections
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-17-2011, 07:24 AM	#3
Zoraster First Lieutenant 11 Rep 339 Posts Drives: E36, E82, E90 Join Date: May 2010 Location: The First State iTrader: (1)	Skynet
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-17-2011, 04:07 PM	#5
asus389 Captain 68 Rep 639 Posts Drives: 11 E90 328i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 328i [0.00]	video from my phone from when this occured (not sure i caught all of it) Looks like the "lift" icon along with DTC, DSC, brake, ABS, tire warnings then the "brakes" icon along with DTC, DSC, brake, ABS, tire warnings Then when that stopped the SES light was on for a day or so.. which has since went off. Radio and steering wheel controls still messed up based on above description. Its under CPO warranty. Last edited by asus389; 06-01-2011 at 09:40 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-28-2011, 10:45 PM	#6
rusty_g80 Private First Class 35 Rep 189 Posts Drives: 2011 X5 50i Join Date: May 2011 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	Let us know what it was once it's fixed.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-28-2011, 11:23 PM	#8
VTECaddict Where'd my VTEC go? 481 Rep 6,067 Posts Drives: 06 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	i dont think electronics are covered under CPO. __________________ AW/Terra \| ZSP \| ZPP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| CA Mods: BC BR coilovers \| Blacklines \| M-tech rear \| dual exhaust \| M3 steering wheel \| BMW SSK \| ZHP shift knob \| High-kick CF spoiler \| NBT Retrofit M3 front control arms \| M3 rear guide rods \| Manzo rear toe and camber links \| Monroe rear shock mounts \| Varrstoen ES1 19x9.5+20 Front, 19x11+25 rear
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-29-2011, 12:09 AM	#9
ryan970 Major 164 Rep 1,304 Posts Drives: Tiag 328i,DGM F10 550 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	EMP from a nuke? __________________ 08 TIAG 328i 13 DGM 550 x drive
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-29-2011, 08:07 AM	#10
fdriller9 Banned 253 Rep 7,089 Posts Drives: '06 AW 330xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Jersey/Philly/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [6.44]	Check fuse 20.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-30-2011, 02:04 PM	#11
just4kickz boku no namae ha... 336 Rep 11,025 Posts Drives: 2006 BS 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S. Bay Area, CA + Newark, NJ + ChiCity + True Blue iTrader: (11) Garage List 2006 E90 330i [0.00]	i have an 06 e90 as well. i think it was a sept 05 build i cant remember. today, as i started to drive to the gym, idrive shut down and restarted about four times. after i finished my workout and headed to a restaurant, this happened twice. first thing i guessed was fuse, but i thought that if the fuse was dead, idrive would not restart. so possibly battery is losing juice and needs replacement? __________________ looking for a PreLCI Black Sapphire e90 front bumper without license plate holes "Akimbo shotguns. Broken wrists anyone? And don't give me that 'it's just a game' bull**. Where the are my akimbo interventions then?! One scope on each eye mother**er!!"
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-30-2011, 02:08 PM	#12
VTECaddict Where'd my VTEC go? 481 Rep 6,067 Posts Drives: 06 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	possibly...or might be time for CIC upgrade. __________________ AW/Terra \| ZSP \| ZPP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| CA Mods: BC BR coilovers \| Blacklines \| M-tech rear \| dual exhaust \| M3 steering wheel \| BMW SSK \| ZHP shift knob \| High-kick CF spoiler \| NBT Retrofit M3 front control arms \| M3 rear guide rods \| Manzo rear toe and camber links \| Monroe rear shock mounts \| Varrstoen ES1 19x9.5+20 Front, 19x11+25 rear
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-30-2011, 03:54 PM	#13
allerena Private First Class 25 Rep 184 Posts Drives: 435i xDrive Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Montreal iTrader: (2) Garage List 2015 BMW 435 xDrive [0.00]	battery is loosing charge, simple test, turn overhead reading light (hopefully you have the OEM ones) and then with the car off, turn the hazard lights. If you see a great variation in light intensity your battery would need replace, might be something else but when this happened to me I changed the battery and everything went back to normal. Just want to clarify that my gauges were not as crazy as in the video. they were doing weird stuff but not that much; I do remember having some warning lights and the radio changing stations by itself.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-30-2011, 06:12 PM	#14
asus389 Captain 68 Rep 639 Posts Drives: 11 E90 328i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 328i [0.00]	I'll check the fuse and the battery, thanks for those suggestions. Last edited by asus389; 06-01-2011 at 09:42 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-30-2011, 08:44 PM	#15
asus389 Captain 68 Rep 639 Posts Drives: 11 E90 328i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 328i [0.00]	All four fuses associated with the ABS/DSC function (according to the diagram) are fine. Hazards flashing when overhead light is on doesn't show any variation in interior light. I suppose my battery could be on its way out. However isn't there a warning light for that too? ie Why would I get like 5 unrelated warning, have my steering wheel controls stop working, the radio lose menus like its no longer in contact with the car computer, and have buzzing on the aux input. Seems like a rather round about way of telling you the battery is weak? Last edited by asus389; 06-01-2011 at 09:43 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-30-2011, 09:58 PM	#16
Gerald Fabricatore New Member 0 Rep 22 Posts Drives: 2010 328i Tasman Green Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Florida iTrader: (0)	I had a similar problem. In my case it was the JBE (junction box electronics) module. This module controls the power usage in the car. If you look at the fuse block , it is the module that is at the bottom. In my car it was causing other modules to fail. It took the service tech over two days to find.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-13-2011, 01:42 PM	#17
asus389 Captain 68 Rep 639 Posts Drives: 11 E90 328i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 328i [0.00]	Well they replaced the whole radio head unit and it seems to have mostly corrected the issue. I still get static/line noise on the aux jack and background on FM stations at mid to high volumes. Its like the sound isn't "clean" and its very annoying. Last edited by asus389; 06-20-2011 at 06:07 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote