iDrive Failed First Day Driving 2013 BMW 335i

Yesterday, after waiting two months to get my brand new custom built 2013 BMW 335i, the iDrive failed the FIRST day. The screen went black, no phone, no voice commands, no manual radio, nothing. It turned back on once the next day, then on and off on, now, day two. There is a "searching" sound even when the car is off, sort of like a cd player, coming from the dashboard. So, on Monday, after driving this brand new car for five days, it's going back to the dealer to be fixed. My monumental dissapointment with BMW notwithstanding, does anyone have a weekend fix I can do myself?

Originally Posted by itswendy

Yesterday, after waiting two months to get my brand new custom built 2013 BMW 335i, the iDrive failed the FIRST day. The screen went black, no phone, no voice commands, no manual radio, nothing. It turned back on once the next day, then on and off on, now, day two. There is a "searching" sound even when the car is off, sort of like a cd player, coming from the dashboard. So, on Monday, after driving this brand new car for five days, it's going back to the dealer to be fixed. My monumental dissapointment with BMW notwithstanding, does anyone have a weekend fix I can do myself?

Try pulling the fuse and then re-insert like 5 minutes later to try and re-boot the system. Maybe it will work like our computers?

Originally Posted by itswendy

Yesterday, after waiting two months to get my brand new custom built 2013 BMW 335i, the iDrive failed the FIRST day. The screen went black, no phone, no voice commands, no manual radio, nothing. It turned back on once the next day, then on and off on, now, day two. There is a "searching" sound even when the car is off, sort of like a cd player, coming from the dashboard. So, on Monday, after driving this brand new car for five days, it's going back to the dealer to be fixed. My monumental dissapointment with BMW notwithstanding, does anyone have a weekend fix I can do myself?

I am guessing here but I wonder if the Dealer didn't prep the car right. I know a lot of the electronics are shutdown for transport and the dealership needs to reboot/turn them on.

I sure hope my friend you don't have the problems I had with my 4.8i X5 where there was an electrical short somewhere and it burned the Idrive. I had 3,000 miles on the SUV when that happened. They had to change the entire electrical system whatever that entailed.

Originally Posted by itswendy

Yesterday, after waiting two months to get my brand new custom built 2013 BMW 335i, the iDrive failed the FIRST day. The screen went black, no phone, no voice commands, no manual radio, nothing. It turned back on once the next day, then on and off on, now, day two. There is a "searching" sound even when the car is off, sort of like a cd player, coming from the dashboard. So, on Monday, after driving this brand new car for five days, it's going back to the dealer to be fixed. My monumental dissapointment with BMW notwithstanding, does anyone have a weekend fix I can do myself?

You reboot the iDrive system by turning the car on and pressing the rotary knob (little volume knob) and the CD eject button (to the right of the opening) at the same time for 25-30 seconds.

See if that works.

BJ

Originally Posted by beden1

Try pulling the fuse and then re-insert like 5 minutes later to try and re-boot the system. Maybe it will work like our computers?

Hey big B, not to put too fine a point on it, but what brand of computer do you use?

Originally Posted by CALWATERBOY

Hey big B, not to put too fine a point on it, but what brand of computer do you use?

There are plenty of Commodore VIC 20's out there it seems.

BJ

Originally Posted by itswendy

Yesterday, after waiting two months to get my brand new custom built 2013 BMW 335i, the iDrive failed the FIRST day. The screen went black, no phone, no voice commands, no manual radio, nothing. It turned back on once the next day, then on and off on, now, day two. There is a "searching" sound even when the car is off, sort of like a cd player, coming from the dashboard. So, on Monday, after driving this brand new car for five days, it's going back to the dealer to be fixed. My monumental dissapointment with BMW notwithstanding, does anyone have a weekend fix I can do myself?

If re-boot does not satisfy, check fuses and connectors. Do you want to when BMW will fix for you?

Is it not wonderful? Your no-charge maintenance team stands ready to leap upon your ride! Have you inquired about Saturday service? Can do my dealer, but that may be exceptional.

Come Monday, expect major action & Full Court Press. Please post trouble shooting & repairs accomplished.

.

Why try something? Because I wanted to have FUN driving this weekend Monday, oh yes, it WILL be fixed. GREAT idea. I will post their solution. I am praying they don't take the car for days.....!

I am hoping it's not an omen, too! The salesperson did mention that the iDrive is shut down for transport, and said his service person suggested I turn the car off and on. Of course, on the third try it worked, but it was downhill from there. Thanks for sharing.

B.J., I tried that before, but did not hold for 30 seconds. Will try now. If it works, I'll let you know!

I just tried that. Nothing Also, the "searching" sound (like a cd searching) is still going on with the car OFF - so now it's been doing that for 17 hours, since the car was shut off. That cannot be good!

Originally Posted by itswendy

I just tried that. Nothing Also, the "searching" sound (like a cd searching) is still going on with the car OFF - so now it's been doing that for 17 hours, since the car was shut off. That cannot be good!

Sounds like the sort of noise a dead hard drive would make. These cars have HDDs if they have certain options, don't they? If it really is a dead HDD, there's nothing an end user can do - the drive will need to be replaced with a new one that has the right software loaded.

Originally Posted by itswendy

B.J., I tried that before, but did not hold for 30 seconds. Will try now. If it works, I'll let you know!

Thanks, and I did that because I'm a good person, not because I expected any physical favors in return.

BJ

Originally Posted by itswendy

I just tried that. Nothing Also, the "searching" sound (like a cd searching) is still going on with the car OFF - so now it's been doing that for 17 hours, since the car was shut off. That cannot be good!

Every time you open a door or the trunk physically or via the keyfob the iDrive (and several other modules in the car) will turn on.

So the only two ways to know if the iDrive has been on for 17 hours straight is either to monitor its current draw or by you physically staying in the car and listening to that noise for 17 hours straight.

You could try this (from the OEM CIC documentation):

Resetting the CIC
The Car Information Computer can be reset by pressing the rotary push button
(ON button) for 25 seconds. After 25 seconds, the control display becomes blank as a confirmation that the CIC is being restarted.

My bet is that the HDD is dead.

Originally Posted by CALWATERBOY

Hey big B, not to put too fine a point on it, but what brand of computer do you use?

Re-booting the computer when all else fails. What's wrong with the logic even if my pulling the fuse suggestion may be archaic?

I am using an HP laptop.

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

There are plenty of Commodore VIC 20's out there it seems.

BJ

Which one of your parent's computers are you using?

Thanks, Elistan! We shall see on Monday!

Originally Posted by Technic

Every time you open a door or the trunk physically or via the keyfob the iDrive (and several other modules in the car) will turn on.

So the only two ways to know if the iDrive has been on for 17 hours straight is either to monitor its current draw or by you physically staying in the car and listening to that noise for 17 hours straight.

You could try this (from the OEM CIC documentation):



My bet is that the HDD is dead.

OK, now it's back working. When it dies the next time, I'll just try pushing the radio button for 25 seconds. Thank you!

I've had the "No Signal" issue on the display since day one. It's random. My 328i was a Euro Delivery and it worked out of the gate, but twice in three days around Munich I got the blank screen at startup (with just the red letters "No Signal"). So when it got shipped here the dealer must have ran into it and it delayed prep. They said they 'fixed' it, but my guess is it randomly came back on upon a startup. I think it seems to be a function of the exact shut down process and strangely enough whether my foot is on the brake or not when I shut the accessories off. Not very scientific but it seems when I rush getting out of the car, I'll get the "No Signal" message on the blank screen. The display will operate normally if given enough time fully shut down.

I am getting it less over time but for a while it was happening on maybe every third start.

Originally Posted by BillJohan

I've had the "No Signal" issue on the display since day one. It's random. My 328i was a Euro Delivery and it worked out of the gate, but twice in three days around Munich I got the blank screen at startup (with just the red letters "No Signal"). So when it got shipped here the dealer must have ran into it and it delayed prep. They said they 'fixed' it, but my guess is it randomly came back on upon a startup. I think it seems to be a function of the exact shut down process and strangely enough whether my foot is on the brake or not when I shut the accessories off. Not very scientific but it seems when I rush getting out of the car, I'll get the "No Signal" message on the blank screen. The display will operate normally if given enough time fully shut down.

I am getting it less over time but for a while it was happening on maybe every third start.

Take a photo when it happens and make the dealer update/replace your CIC.

Why don't you try updating the software. Just follow the instructions from this link http://www.bmw.com/com/en/owners/nav...update_vin.jsp and see if it helps.

Originally Posted by White05X3

Why don't you try updating the software. Just follow the instructions from this link http://www.bmw.com/com/en/owners/nav...update_vin.jsp and see if it helps.

That's the Combox software update, not the CIC software.

Originally Posted by BillJohan

I've had the "No Signal" issue on the display since day one. It's random. My 328i was a Euro Delivery and it worked out of the gate, but twice in three days around Munich I got the blank screen at startup (with just the red letters "No Signal"). So when it got shipped here the dealer must have ran into it and it delayed prep. They said they 'fixed' it, but my guess is it randomly came back on upon a startup. I think it seems to be a function of the exact shut down process and strangely enough whether my foot is on the brake or not when I shut the accessories off. Not very scientific but it seems when I rush getting out of the car, I'll get the "No Signal" message on the blank screen. The display will operate normally if given enough time fully shut down.

I am getting it less over time but for a while it was happening on maybe every third start.

BillJohan, I haven't noticed the "no signal" message, is that like "acquiring satellite"? Now, it's been working for the last day and a half. I am tempted to cancel my appointment, but I won't. It will happen again.

Originally Posted by Technic

Every time you open a door or the trunk physically or via the keyfob the iDrive (and several other modules in the car) will turn on.

So the only two ways to know if the iDrive has been on for 17 hours straight is either to monitor its current draw or by you physically staying in the car and listening to that noise for 17 hours straight.

You could try this (from the OEM CIC documentation):



My bet is that the HDD is dead.

I sat in the car after I shut it off, and it still made the sound, if that means anything.

Originally Posted by White05X3

Why don't you try updating the software. Just follow the instructions from this link http://www.bmw.com/com/en/owners/nav...update_vin.jsp and see if it helps.

Thank you for this.