03 745Li - Stereo troubleshooting

Newcomer to Bmr'fest as new owner of '03 745Li E66 in USA. Need help troubleshooting OEM audio problem. When listening to radio or CD, right side speakers occasionally drop out with audible electronic buzz coming from left speakers. No rhyme or reason for drop out, e.g. not related to hard turn, accel, decel, or bumps. Also not related to use of navi system. Don't use in-car BMW phone. Problem comes and goes as it wishes; does not appear to be temp related. Cycling fuse has no effect. No apparent problems with iDrive, e.g. all functions work normally. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

no expert here but it sounds like you have a loose wire somewhere or something of that nature??

I have exact same problem...Did you fix it?
I have 02 745i...

is it happeneing to the front speaker on the right side , rear or both? also does it sound like someone is unplugging the power and its going in and out i might know what it is .

If your front door speakers are some of the ones dropping out, you likely need a new ASK (audio system kontroller, the single-disc CD player in the center console). Look up the Logic 7 wiring diagram on the DIY board to help determine what goes to the ASK and what goes to the amp, and narrow it down from there.

keif since your here i got a question . were can i find a switched 12v source in the trunk. can just connect a wire to the sunroof fuse?

Originally Posted by irokdastar383

keif since your here i got a question . were can i find a switched 12v source in the trunk. can just connect a wire to the sunroof fuse?

irok why don't you use the dome light (the center ceiling light)? It has 12 volt power and ground.

front speaker right side only...
Rear speaker seems fine...
You know what it is?

Originally Posted by mj745

irok why don't you use the dome light (the center ceiling light)? It has 12 volt power and ground.

Because it's not switched from the ignition like he wants to do ....all interior lighting is connected to the 'Power Module' which switches the power off after 16 mins.

The only switched +12v source is the 'Brake Light' cable in the drivers footwell.

Just fit a manual switch.

Originally Posted by umbcumcp

front speaker right side only...
Rear speaker seems fine...
You know what it is?

Keif is correct ....problem is ASK-CD unit.

Originally Posted by umbcumcp

front speaker right side only...
Rear speaker seems fine...
You know what it is?

Well, if you narrow it down to a single speaker then maybe you do indeed have a blown speaker or loose wire...multiple speakers involved and you're likely looking at a new ASK. Hopefully you'll educate us all and find out the left buzzing is just part of a weird load on the right side or a protection mechanism in the ASK for when something starts shorting out. Again, if the main issue is with one speaker, try poking around there first.

I have the exact problem on only the front passenger side door-
-sound cutting off on, crackling, hear a hissing sound with stereo not on -- Took the ask out..felt for loose wires--nothing-then took door panel off(thanks Keifer) tested speaker while installed with multimeter--appears random power issue-to speaker
and took speaker out --tested it with 9 volt-it ping'd-appearing good-then left that speaker un-hooked---Then jammed the stereo no problem--everything works fine without speaker--
Two questions:
is it the ASK unit-best place to find a used one?

Air Bag light on-i am showing a passenger air bag fault -how do I fix?

any other questions, suggestions and comments are welcome--

Loyal fan of the fest

This is gonna sound odd..........

All those with intermittent front popping or crackling speakers........when the problem is NOT there and the sound is fine......Press your horn.......does it make the problem come back ?

Horn made no difference when then speaker was in or not--

Originally Posted by boyer357

Horn made no difference when then speaker was in or not--

Reason i ask is ...i have a problem when it's cold outside .....my right front door speak buzz's until things have heated up a bit....but i can bring the problem back when i push my horn.....

I don't get it that often as it's not that cold here just now.

I suspect my ASK-CD unit doesn't like the cold.

Originally Posted by TechFreak

Because it's not switched from the ignition like he wants to do ....all interior lighting is connected to the 'Power Module' which switches the power off after 16 mins.

The only switched +12v source is the 'Brake Light' cable in the drivers footwell.

Just fit a manual switch.

i really dont want to start running wires front to back its a hassle plus i got to remove the rear seats. i am thinking about this and see if it will work. what if i hook the 12v switched wire to the sunroof fuse . i dont care that it shuts off after 16 min. what do you think.

Originally Posted by irokdastar383

i really dont want to start running wires front to back its a hassle plus i got to remove the rear seats. i am thinking about this and see if it will work. what if i hook the 12v switched wire to the sunroof fuse . i dont care that it shuts off after 16 min. what do you think.

Sunroof will be a pain to get to.....you could try any of the interior lights ....think they shut off after 16 mins to ....

why? the fuse for the sunroof is in the trunk

Originally Posted by irokdastar383

why? the fuse for the sunroof is in the trunk

You could give it a go ...just i like connecting to somewhere on a circuit that i know is a circuit on it's own.

If you mess with the fuse box and disturb something else then it could be a real headache.

no i was thinking of hook it up to the fuse it self that goes to the sunroof.

Originally Posted by boyer357

I have the exact problem on only the front passenger side door-
-sound cutting off on, crackling, hear a hissing sound with stereo not on -- Took the ask out..felt for loose wires--nothing-then took door panel off(thanks Keifer) tested speaker while installed with multimeter--appears random power issue-to speaker
and took speaker out --tested it with 9 volt-it ping'd-appearing good-then left that speaker un-hooked---Then jammed the stereo no problem--everything works fine without speaker--
Two questions:
is it the ASK unit-best place to find a used one?

Air Bag light on-i am showing a passenger air bag fault -how do I fix?

any other questions, suggestions and comments are welcome--

Loyal fan of the fest

Maybe attach another speaker to those wires and see if it has the same effect? So, that would let you say that maybe the voice coil is shorting a bit occasionally within the speaker, or maybe the speaker is fine, and it's either the ASK, the wiring, the door module, etc.

Regarding the airbag fault...I think you can drop battery power and it'll clear (assuming the fault is no longer there), though maybe TechFreak or one of the other guys can chime in here and correct me or verify.