Hey Everyone,

I've been having this issue for years now and was wondering if anyone knew what's wrong or have the same issue. I have a 2003 S with the Harmon Kardon stereo.

Whenever it's warmer out and I play my music too loud, the speakers in my mini will start making a popping noise. It starts slow. But it eventually gets more and more frequent. When it's really warm out, it drowns the sound out almost completely.

If I turn the stereo all the way down and turn it off for awhile, it gets better.

This also rarely happens in the winter when it's much cooler.

Is it the head unit? Some power amp?

Thanks,
Dave

 

Sounds like the Amp. Try taking the cover off the cubby where it's stored and see if that helps. If it's over heating the extra airflow MIGHT help it out.

 

Is there a way to replace the amp? Or am I getting too far ahead of myself.

This happens everyday in the summer pretty much.

 

Yep not hard to do at all. You can get one from an R50 R52 or an R53 and they will all work. You just change the mount on it. this guy just posted one up the other day https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...amp-3br&cat=22 I bought the front woofers from him. He was a real nice guy to deal with. I also know his asking price is what I sold one of mine for a few months back.

 

Definitely gonna contact him....

What do you mean by change the mount?

 

The R52 mounted under the passenger seat of the car and not in the back so if you get an R52 amp you will have to change the mount to get it to bolt up IIRC. It should only be a few bolts. it's not a big change and it doesn't take long to do. Just pull a few trim pieces unhook and unbolt the old amp than reverse the process.

 

Got the new amp from that guy you recommended. Very nice guy.

Put it in yesterday and it sounds great. Hasn't really been hot out so I haven't tested the radio yet. But, it definitely sounds different and a lot louder.

A little trick I figured out (I didn't really pull much of any trim) is you can pop out the light that's on the amp side and with a long phillips head screwdriver you can get at the last mounting screw. Worked out awesome!

Also, here's something random: the amplifier in my car said R50 on it instead of R53.... Any thoughts on that? I obviously have an R53.

Thanks again for the help!

 

I think mine says R50 also. Not sure if it was changes somewhere down the line (before I got it). I had an R52 one as a backup. When I tested it out I thought it sounded louder also. Maybe the convertables have more power to compensate for the top being down...... Just thinking out loud on that..... Glad that fixed it. I'm ALMOST ready to pull and sell mine. As soon as I can figure out a Good small 4 channel amp and head unit.

 

Yeah. Definitely agree on the loundness. I had to readjust all my settings. It's very bottomendy