[dmichael]

So Its been cold out lately, single digits, and I go to may car in the parking lot and press the button on the fob to open the door, immediately I hear this constant buzz that was coming from the drivers side speaker on the rear parcel shelf. It was loud too, I could hear it with all the doors/windows closed from outside the car. It was like the car was possessed. I turned on the radio and the buzz kept on going in the background over the music. I shut off the radio, turned on the ignition, shut off the ignition, pulled the key out and only after several lock/unlock cycles did the noise stop. Speaker sounded fine afterwards so it's probably not blown. To me this seems like some an electrical gremlin not caused by the radio system, just manifesting itself through that left rear speaker because it started immediatly after I unlocked the car for the first time and didn't resolved itself until after a few cycles of locking/unlocking.

Anyone else have this happen?

Speaking of rear parcel shelf, when driving over bumps in the road, I have been getting a lot of creaking and/or ticking from that area since the weather has turned colder and the colder it gets the more frequent the noise. If I get that buzzing from the speaker again, I will take the car to the dealer and do a 2fer and have them try to resolve the noise in the rear shelf along with checking on the possessed speaker.

[Bulldog 6]

It sounds like the radio may not be grounded properly or there is an exposed wire touching metal. I would take to the dealer ASAP before something gets shorted our blown.

[nonsns3]

Any chance it's interference from your cell phone?

[dmichael]

I've had the car for 2 months now and I always have my cell phone with me. I've never had the issue before and not since so unless it happens again, I will have to let it drop.

[19950ragtop]

Have you determined what the issue was, and is it repaired?

[Asiann]

Ditto on getting it fixed. It does sound like a short and could possibly short the entire dash.

[dmichael]

It has only happened once since my original post, so I have let it drop for now. The noise only comes from the 2 rear speakers (on the rear shelf). The problem is probably isolated to the amplifier. I can't imagine there would be a short in the wiring because it affects 2 separate speakers, which I am sure they have separate runs of wire. In any event, this is an extremely rare occurance and it only takes a few lock/unlock cycles with my key to make the noise go away. If it ever does happen again, I'll bring it up on my next service and let you know. I was in for an oil service last month and did not mention it, but the dealer did mention that my car is in need of a software reflash relating to the audio system and that I need an all day appointment to get that done.

[hleong]

Hi,

I just had the same exact thing happen to me yesterday, drove with it like that, cause I had to go somewhere, it was giving me a headache thought I would have to call it in for service, but after being parked for ~ 1 hour, it was gone, I did disconnect my Ipod, not sure if that was the cause, because another time my radio was stuck, and would not come on or off, but that also went away. What's funny is that we have almost the exact same car, same color, sports package and ipod adapter.

I figured I'll just let them know when I bring it in for the free oil change, unless it happens again.

keep me updated if it happens to you again.

Happy holidays all !!!

[perfectg]

just happened to me right now. Super annoying. Got to work, less than 5 minute drive. turn the car off and noise went away. I did try to lock/unlock and turn off car before I left home but gave up after a couple shots at it. Will be calling my dealer later today

[sphereboy]

Same thing just happened to me. Got in my car after unlocking the doors and i hear a strange buzzing sound coming from the rear speakers. I haven't done anything different than any other day. I turn off the car, remove the key and it stays buzzing.

Another weird thing that i didnt notice before is the light on the transmission "P" stays on and so does the Start|Stop button for ignition. I didn't notice before but i think this is relevant to the sound, as i never realized those lights stay on after locking the car.

[mstnggt66]

This happened to me and I was close to the dealership so I dropped it off. 9 days later...

They determined the radio needed to be replaced. The SA ordered a new radio and installed it. I went to pick up the car and noticed my Sirius tuner wasn't showing up as an option. Turned around and they said they'd have to program it in. Next day I got a call saying the software version in newly shipping radios isn't compatible with the software version loaded on the car. So they're hoping to either randomly get a radio with an older build date or BMW will issue a new software version. I'm not hopeful that either will happen anytime soon.

[mstnggt66]

Well...still waiting for my car. The issue of software on radio vs. car is still an issue.

[ccw007]

Just want to say that my car rear speakers (both) were buzzing for the first time (at least to me) about 20 mins ago. It is now gone. Car has 4600 miles, it is 36F outside, and I have not done anything unusual prior to the buzz noise.

Hope someone know the root cause..

[Masterdale]

My 5 day old 328i with 60 miles on it just did this today - right after unlocking the car, I got in and this buzz was on and stayed on even after turning the car off! Turned car on and off several times and while it was on, the radio seemed to 'reboot' itself and the sound stopped.

This sucks. I sure hope this was an isolated incident, and I'm really interested to find out what the dealers are determining the cause is.

[08TXbimmer]

SAME thing happened to me at about 14000 miles. 08 328 with Logic7 I was pissed when it happened cause I couldn't get it to stop. Likes others, eventually did. Would like to know outcome...

[Masterdale]

I don't have Logic 7, iDrive or iPod, Bluetooth or a microwave. I deliberately skipped any superfluous electronics to avoid having anything go haywire because of it.

Drove the car a half dozen times today with no problem. I had my car built specifically with many electronics deleted and had that one freaky event. Let's hope that each car gets to do it once and then calls it quits!

What electronics pacakages are in the other cars who have done this? Let's see if there's a pattern.

[08TXbimmer]

I only have the Logic7 and iPod interface

[Covet]

Today, on my way home, heard the buzz coming from the driver's side (seemed to me at least) rear speaker area. Stopped, turned on/shut off the ignition several times, didn't help, finally in 5 min the noise disappeared but the volume doesn't work since then, neither from the steering wheel nor from the unit, it doesn't work and the display doesn't show the volume as well.

Any thoughts, ideas, guys?

[dmichael]

Interesting to see the cases mounting. This is turning out to be a fairly common amoung several different cars. It happend to me again recently so its not going away on its own even though its rare and it stops on its own after 5 min. I may now have to bring up the issue to service dept.

I don't think there is any pattern with options, I have non-logic7 radio with ipod/usb (6fl) and bluetooth. The only pattern I can tell is that it is happening with MY2008 or later.

I'd bet its not the head unit, its the amplifier or wiring to/from amp to the rear speakers only.

[Trelos]

Well I guess it's my turn......

7:15 am and BUUUUUUUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!

33,000 miles on the car.

happy effing Monday!

[dmichael]

Anybody else bring this up to the dealer? Any resolution?

mstnggt66 - did the new head unit fix the problem for you? how long were you without your car? Do you know if your dealer opened up a PUMA case?

You have a better chance of getting the problem fixed in 1 shot if BMWNA gets involved via a PUMA case, because they pool resources and often they get direction and advice from the engineers in Germany or where ever the engineers are for the audio / electrical systems.

[syncmaster]

Thread subscribed..
had the same problem to my rear speaker twice during 1 year of ownership
can't really replicate the problem to dealer, hopefully someone found out what happen