[bmwowner335i]

My amp went kaput so I started phoning car audio places and the guy said BMW can lockout my new amp if it's aftermarket. True?
2009 335i

And the guy on the phone didn't seem scammy, he actaully declined the work request as he said he didnt want to install and amp and then have it not work.

[ctuna]

No they can't or wouldn't even bother to .
This car is 10 years old.(at a minimum)
These cars are old tech no remote access.

But they can refuse to support the car if they want to if you
have aftermarket equipment though this will mostly apply
to Engine Tunes and modifications.
They use to refuse service if they could not run diagnostics
in the original car configuration .
Replace stuff in the Logic 7 amp system could cause this to happen.
But this is really lame because there are ways around it.


They have no software locks on these cars this old tech , though this may
happen on cars from here out.

I have and aftermarket amp and have never had a problem with
getting recalls and service done though I would never go to a
dealership for anything but a recall.

If you have a Logic 7 system there is not easy way to put in and aftermarket
system .
If you have a Hi Fi system it's very easy but the speakers should be changed
to .
If the Stereo system it's harder than the Hi Fi if you know what your are doing .

Bottom line you first have to know which system you have .
Use Mdecoder.com to find out .

option 676 means Hi Fi system
option 677 or 688 means Top Hi Fi aka logic 7
absence of either of these means Stereo with no amp and no tweeters.
Logic 7 is not easy to work on or retrofit.
And expensive to retrofit/modify . (and if you have this I understand why he
doesn't want to touch it)

There are not many shops that really understand BMW stereo or are able
to do a good job on it. If you are going to go down this path you need to learn
as much as you can before you do anything.

BMW stereo types
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=352586
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...2&d=1266451970
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...2&d=1260829447
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1209780865
http://bmwcoders.com/forum/3-er-8/bm...1-e92-e93-291/
http://technicpnp.com/menuDiagrams/d...e90_92_93.html
http://www.musicarnw.com/page-2/
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...3&d=1169133185
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1209780605
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=641323
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...4&d=1278871872
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=343673
https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/e...n-752.1275694/

base system wiring pre/post 3/09
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...tDpLJPcGkw_ui_
Base System Guide
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...5&d=1493273253

If you want to stick with what you already have the Hi Fi amps are cheap on ebay
and the Top Hi Fi ones can be found there to . The Hi Fi 's are plug and play and the Top Hi Fi are usually plug and play though not always.

The amps in these usually go bad due to water leaking on them and the covertible is more susceptible to this .

Water Drains
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...hlight=battery
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1566005
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1680103

[bmwowner335i]

This will really help me, and quite possibly was the most detailed helpful reply I've ever seen to a noob in a forum.

I'm selling my car at the end of the summer, so I just needed the barebones amp, and you were correct, it was water damage, as I live in rainy Vancouver BC.

I'll read those links to find out what kind of amp I have, and thank you so much again.