2013 E92 Harman/Kardon Overheating

[RockFresh15]

Hey all,

I have a 2013 e92 with HK that overheats and shuts down if the temperature is over 75 degrees and the music is decently loud for more than 20-30 minutes. Its REALLY annoying. Please tell me this is NOT normal.

My car's currently at the dealership and I have BMW's platinum extended warranty, they replaced the head unit before, told me it was good to go, then it overheated within 20 minutes on the drive home. Now it's been there 2 weeks and they're telling me that they can't reproduce the issue, and they're looking at maybe installing a fan on the head unit and that wouldn't be covered under warranty. WHAT?? If the head unit was bad, then wouldn't replacing it fix that? They seem to refuse to look about replacing the amplifier if they "can't reproduce the issue" so I'm pretty pissed about now. PLEASE someone tell me this isn't normal, and if it is what did you do to repair it?

Thanks so much
Corey

[Pelican Parts]

Hello and welcome to the forum Corey - what codes did they pull when diagnosing the car?

[RockFresh15]

Thanks! I guess they didn't pull/find any codes, especially if they "can't reproduce the issue." When it happens, the iDrive screen gives me a message that says the "the audio system has overheated and will be switched off until it returns to a normal temperature"

[MarcoZandrini]

The problem is likely the amp as the head unit feeds the amp relatively low voltage and current signals.

[RockFresh15]

Thats what I would figure, but like I said they seem to refuse to even look at it. Instead they want to put a fan on the already replaced head unit - which would not be covered under the warranty. They're acting like idiots about this which is super frustrating since I've had good interactions with them until this point.

Ok but what I'm hearing is that this is NOT normal though, correct? And that the amp is really the only other component in question here?

[MarcoZandrini]

Thats what I would figure, but like I said they seem to refuse to even look at it. Instead they want to put a fan on the already replaced head unit - which would not be covered under the warranty. They're acting like idiots about this which is super frustrating since I've had good interactions with them until this point.

Ok but what I'm hearing is that this is NOT normal though, correct? And that the amp is really the only other component in question here?

Dealer techs are parts replacers. I'm sorry, that's my opinion. I spent 25 years in the US Navy's advanced electronix field. A head unit doesn't overheat unless there's something wrong with it. Period. I'm still betting the amp is the cause.

[RockFresh15]

Yeah I tend to agree with that. I just spoke with the dealer again today and they couldn't really give a compelling argument as to why it wouldn't be the amps, but said that if it were the amps it wouldn't give a message saying the audio system is overheating, but probably just cut out instead - which I'm not so sure that he was even that sure about. Either way they said they still wanna put a fan on the head unit and now I won't have to pay for it. But I've been without my car for 2 weeks, and all this headache in between, I really really, don't wanna have to go back again to argue with them to change the amp if the problem persists, which it seems like you're saying it will : /

[MarcoZandrini]

See if the amp gets hot when it operates normally. Check the power and ground cables at the amp. Does the sound deteriorate in quality before the shutdown?

[DennisCooper]

Hi,

Like Marco mentions, there's a 'fault' somewhere and it's most likely in the internal PCB's/Components within the amplifier unit. There are places in the USA which refurbish OEM car audio modules and electronics so you could have the unit looked at there to see if they can find/fix the issue. The BMW dealership don't have an electronics test bench, so they'll replace under warranty when the unit fails completely or when error codes do show up etc. You could perhaps push them to reimburse you the cost of having the amplifier unit looked at by an electronics test bench, or you could ask to have a new unit installed to test to see if the issue is resolved or persists. Another option if those ideas are met with resistance is for you to locate a known working amplifier module and swap over to test. If that works, then you can tell the dealership and push for a new unit under warranty. Lastly, if that all doesn't work, you can buy that used known working amp and swap it over and see if the dealership will give you another perk or deal for the car.

Cheers, Dennis!

[RockFresh15]

Thanks guys, the sound doesn't deteriorate noticeably (I don't think) before shutting down, so that may point away from the amp? Thanks for all the ideas Dennis, I'm guessing anywhere that specializes in car audio should have an electronics test bench, correct? I think the whole reason they're not replacing the amp is because they "can't reproduce the issue" which I anticipated, it's been cooler these past 2 weeks, and I doubt they're playing the music I listen to at the volume I listen to it. So I'm not sure I can push for that at this point, but I've been trying. Where might be a good place to look for a working amplifier?

Thanks again guys,
Corey

[DennisCooper]

Hi,

Car audio dealers/inbstallers of prestige or high quality car audio won't have an electronics test bench as they have excellent trade/industry channels to send back faulty equipment and provide the customer with a new item (or a refund etc). When it comes to OEM modules, then BMW didn't (and still don't as far as I'm aware) release their schematics nor have any channels for spare parts etc. When the car is in warranty, then a talk with the dealer and error codes etc are enough to trigger the warranty exchange for a new part (or thereabouts). BMW dealers don't have electronics test benches either. The places which do repairs on OEM car audio (not just BMW modules) have by trial and error, by opening up and examining, worked out what can be fix/repaired on the BMW modules. There's no guarantee of a fix of your issue or any others but the 'main' ones have now been identified as it were.

I'm over in the UK, so no idea if these places can or will fix your unit or indeed if they're still around, I've come across them after being in the USA and talking to industry level specialists etc;

http://www.willmanselectronics.com/default.htm
http://www.hitechserv.com/

Give them a call and see what they say. Else, you could look for and find other exact part and revision number oem modules on ebay and from car breaking yards etc.

Cheers, Dennis!

[MarcoZandrini]

Rock, the fact that the sound doesn't deteriorate before it goes away sounds (pun intended) like the amp is shutting down to protect itself from being damaged. That damage likely would likely be caused by overheating. As Dennis has noted, dealers have no ability to troubleshoot electronic components. It's just not cost effective as the array of such items is unbelieveably vast and increasing with each new model. Again, my suggestion is to access the amp and see how how it gets before it turns off. Now, the amp may mot be at fault as heat is generated by current flow (amperes) through the amp. So, if something is causing excessive current flow though the amp the amp could be automatically shutting itself as a protective measure. If that's the case then some "real" troubleshooting will be required.