E90 CIC iDrive Headunit Noise/No Audio/Blank Screen/SOS Light

nate0031 · 01-15-2019, 10:09 PM

Hey all. After searching for this issue, I couldn't quite find the same one. This is my first post here, so if I missed something or there's a better area to post, let me know.

The car is a 2010 E90 335d. After not driving it for a few days, I got in and tried to start it and it cranked really slow. It was obvious the battery was low, so I charged it overnight. At the same time, there was a light indicating the SOS system was disabled, the iDrive screen was blank, and there were no chimes of any sort. I also noticed a noise from the head unit. Here's a link to the sound:

There was no disk inside, so I assume it's the hard drive. I have a USB to 2.5" PATA drive adapter coming, so I can hopefully test the drive soon.

Has anyone here had these symptoms?

Would a failed hard drive cause this?

I've already checked all the fuses associated with the radio/NAV per my fuse panel diagram. I checked the one on the rear of the head unit as well.

Let me know if you guys have any suggestions. Thanks!

Nickco43 · 01-15-2019, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nate0031

Hey all. After searching for this issue, I couldn't quite find the same one. This is my first post here, so if I missed something or there's a better area to post, let me know.

The car is a 2010 E90 335d. After not driving it for a few days, I got in and tried to start it and it cranked really slow. It was obvious the battery was low, so I charged it overnight. At the same time, there was a light indicating the SOS system was disabled, the iDrive screen was blank, and there were no chimes of any sort. I also noticed a noise from the head unit. Here's a link to the sound:

There was no disk inside, so I assume it's the hard drive. I have a USB to 2.5" PATA drive adapter coming, so I can hopefully test the drive soon.

Has anyone here had these symptoms?

Would a failed hard drive cause this?

I've already checked all the fuses associated with the radio/NAV per my fuse panel diagram. I checked the one on the rear of the head unit as well.

Let me know if you guys have any suggestions. Thanks!

It sounds like you had a hard drive failure in the CIC. CIC hardware failures are very rare. It may be cheaper to replace the whole CIC unit than get another hard drive. That or you can get a Chinese pata ssd.

nate0031 · 01-16-2019, 05:10 AM

Thanks. I happen to have a 128GB PATA SSD laying around. Is there any place you know of that I can get an image for the disk?

Nickco43 · 01-17-2019, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nate0031

Thanks. I happen to have a 128GB PATA SSD laying around. Is there any place you know of that I can get an image for the disk?

https://cartechnology.co.uk/showthread.php?tid=14366

nate0031 · 01-19-2019, 11:24 AM

Well the USB to PATA adapter came in. The hard drive does not make the same noise when powered by it. I was also able to create an image of it. After booting a QNX virtual machine, I ran an error check on the filesystem and it came out good.

With the hard drive out, I powered the head unit and heard the DVD drive making a seek noise at the same pace as the hard drive. Presumably it was doing it before, but the hard drive was noisier so I didn't hear.

So with both drives doing this, does that point to the Head unit being bad? Or would another failed module (telematics etc) or a bad fiber optic connection cause it to act as such?

Thanks again.

Nickco43 · 01-19-2019, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nate0031

Well the USB to PATA adapter came in. The hard drive does not make the same noise when powered by it. I was also able to create an image of it. After booting a QNX virtual machine, I ran an error check on the filesystem and it came out good.

With the hard drive out, I powered the head unit and heard the DVD drive making a seek noise at the same pace as the hard drive. Presumably it was doing it before, but the hard drive was noisier so I didn't hear.

So with both drives doing this, does that point to the Head unit being bad? Or would another failed module (telematics etc) or a bad fiber optic connection cause it to act as such?

Thanks again.

I would look for a replacement CIC. It will boot without an active most bus.

nate0031 · 01-21-2019, 10:36 AM

Thanks. I ran through the troubleshooting guide on ISTA yesterday, and it has no communication with the head unit. Following its troubleshooting guide came to the same conclusion.

I ordered a used one of the same year/part number. Guess I'll get to learn how to code here soon.

Any chance I can just swap the hard drives to have my music and all back as it was? Or is that ill advised?

Nickco43 · 01-21-2019, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nate0031

Thanks. I ran through the troubleshooting guide on ISTA yesterday, and it has no communication with the head unit. Following its troubleshooting guide came to the same conclusion.

I ordered a used one of the same year/part number. Guess I'll get to learn how to code here soon.

Any chance I can just swap the hard drives to have my music and all back as it was? Or is that ill advised?

I have swapped cic hard drives with no issues before.

nate0031 · 01-24-2019, 10:50 PM

Got the used one, swapped it, and that was the issue. Had to fix the coding to get sound, and navigation is greyed out. Other than that it was plug and play.

I'm guessing I need the FSC code to fix navigation?

I appreciate the help.

Nickco43 · 01-24-2019, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nate0031

Got the used one, swapped it, and that was the issue. Had to fix the coding to get sound, and navigation is greyed out. Other than that it was plug and play.

I'm guessing I need the FSC code to fix navigation?

I appreciate the help.

You need a emulator or a fsc patch and flash. Is the CIC running C1A.

nate0031 · 01-25-2019, 05:18 AM

No, it's on C13 currently.

nate0031 · 01-25-2019, 06:34 AM

Would C1A and the patch negate the need for FSC codes for both navigation and BMW Apps?

Nickco43 · 01-25-2019, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nate0031

Would C1A and the patch negate the need for FSC codes for both navigation and BMW Apps?

For my CIC kits I only buy units that run C1A. Then I patch the unit to take self signed FSC certs and flash all new FSC codes to match the vin. The emulator just tricks to new cic unit that it is in the donor car. That makes the original FSC codes active.

nate0031 · 01-25-2019, 02:43 PM

Sounds like that'd be the easiest route for me then. I'll have to look into updating. So that makes BMW Apps and whatever version of the maps work?

Thanks again. I appreciate the help.

01-15-2019, 10:09 PM	#1
nate0031 New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2010 335d Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	E90 CIC iDrive Headunit Noise/No Audio/Blank Screen/SOS Light Hey all. After searching for this issue, I couldn't quite find the same one. This is my first post here, so if I missed something or there's a better area to post, let me know. The car is a 2010 E90 335d. After not driving it for a few days, I got in and tried to start it and it cranked really slow. It was obvious the battery was low, so I charged it overnight. At the same time, there was a light indicating the SOS system was disabled, the iDrive screen was blank, and there were no chimes of any sort. I also noticed a noise from the head unit. Here's a link to the sound: There was no disk inside, so I assume it's the hard drive. I have a USB to 2.5" PATA drive adapter coming, so I can hopefully test the drive soon. Has anyone here had these symptoms? Would a failed hard drive cause this? I've already checked all the fuses associated with the radio/NAV per my fuse panel diagram. I checked the one on the rear of the head unit as well. Let me know if you guys have any suggestions. Thanks! Last edited by nate0031; 01-15-2019 at 10:09 PM.. Reason: Added audio link.
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01-16-2019, 05:10 AM	#3
nate0031 New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2010 335d Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	Thanks. I happen to have a 128GB PATA SSD laying around. Is there any place you know of that I can get an image for the disk?
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01-19-2019, 11:24 AM	#5
nate0031 New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2010 335d Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	Well the USB to PATA adapter came in. The hard drive does not make the same noise when powered by it. I was also able to create an image of it. After booting a QNX virtual machine, I ran an error check on the filesystem and it came out good. With the hard drive out, I powered the head unit and heard the DVD drive making a seek noise at the same pace as the hard drive. Presumably it was doing it before, but the hard drive was noisier so I didn't hear. So with both drives doing this, does that point to the Head unit being bad? Or would another failed module (telematics etc) or a bad fiber optic connection cause it to act as such? Thanks again.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-21-2019, 10:36 AM	#7
nate0031 New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2010 335d Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	Thanks. I ran through the troubleshooting guide on ISTA yesterday, and it has no communication with the head unit. Following its troubleshooting guide came to the same conclusion. I ordered a used one of the same year/part number. Guess I'll get to learn how to code here soon. Any chance I can just swap the hard drives to have my music and all back as it was? Or is that ill advised?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-24-2019, 10:50 PM	#9
nate0031 New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2010 335d Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	Got the used one, swapped it, and that was the issue. Had to fix the coding to get sound, and navigation is greyed out. Other than that it was plug and play. I'm guessing I need the FSC code to fix navigation? I appreciate the help.
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01-25-2019, 05:18 AM	#11
nate0031 New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2010 335d Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	No, it's on C13 currently.
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01-25-2019, 06:34 AM	#12
nate0031 New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2010 335d Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	Would C1A and the patch negate the need for FSC codes for both navigation and BMW Apps?
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01-25-2019, 02:43 PM	#14
nate0031 New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2010 335d Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	Sounds like that'd be the easiest route for me then. I'll have to look into updating. So that makes BMW Apps and whatever version of the maps work? Thanks again. I appreciate the help.
	Appreciate 0 Quote