Hey everyone. I know quite a few posts from me but I just picked up my 07 S Hardtop yesterday and I want to sort out any little issues I have!

This is more annoying than it is a problem. With the radio off or volume down all the way or just sitting in the car with power on, the speakers put out a little thump now and then. Sort of like if you were to plug in a mic or aux cable into a stereo. The click thump you hear from doing that. (for those of you that know what I'm talking about... I'm a sound engineer haha)

Any ideas what this might be? No, I did not search as I have no idea what parameters I'd put in for that!

Thanks

 

I've only heard that when I have an Aux cable plugged in. Weird

 

Yeah, as if the cable end keeps bumping into something metal.

 

I have a 2011 MCS with Harmon Kardon and it does it without anything plugged in. Sometimes just closing or opening a door. MA could not answer why because "sound could not be replicated"

 

Are you sure it's coming from the speakers? The gas tanks makes that sound too, sort of like it's depressurizing, a thump sort of sound...

 

I believe I have the same issue as kkcshipp. I have a 2011 MCS with Harmon. It rarely does it but when it does have the "boom" or "thump" sound, it is really loud. It's sometimes when putting in the key, or opening or closing the door. It's definitely from the speakers.

I left it with my dealership for 4 days and they couldn't replicate the sound as well.

 

It's absolutely coming from the speakers. The radio stops putting out music, and starts popping a bunch and crackling a bit. All I need is a snap and I have the full rice krispy issue! :-p

But in all seriousness, it drives me nuts. I read on a few BMW forums that something like that could be the ground loop or the amp on the fritz. Any thoughts?

 

Ok, I pulled the radio fuse. I think it might be the amp blown. My sound engineer friend agrees. I'll let you all know once I do.

 

Do you have the HIFI system? Meaning radio with the external amp?

Do you have tweeters on your A pillars? If so, you have the HIFI amp in the boot.

If so, the easiest and probably cheapest thing to try is to replace the amp in the back, they are on ebay or find used ones car-part.com.

Since you have an 07 (and anyone with an 08 or even early 09s I think), you may need to get your vehicle's software updated. MINI put out a fix for amp issues, my car had nasty crackling sound in the tweeters.

If you don't have the HIFI system, your head unit module is probably bad. You can get a used module from car-part.com...If the car you get it from has the exact same options as your car (bluetooth, hd, hifi, pdc, nav, changer, ipod, etc) you can plug it right in, if not you will need to get it coded properly (dealer or equivalent).

 

I do have the hifi system. That's an expensive part! Is there a charge for updating the system? What do I say to the dealer? Do I do this after I replace the amp or try out to see if it fixed the problem? Is there any way to check and test the amp for sure before I spend that money on a new one not being sure it's the problem?

 

The dealer will charge for the software update. There is a tech bulletin the dealer can refer to as well for the HIFI issue with the crackling speaker.

Personally, I would try swapping the amp first as you describe a thump (versus the crackling I had and the TSB describes).

There really isn't a good way to test out the amp or wiring before you try swapping it out. The problem could also be your head unit. The amp is the easiest thing to try first.

 

I would just hate spending near $400 for the amp not to be the issue. Is there something I can try to use that goes through the amp but doesn't use the head unit like nav or bluetooth? Or even the various dings and beeps it makes? I assume if these things come through right, it's the head unit. If I get no sound or I get pops when trying to do that, I can assume it's the amp?

Do I need this dealer update? What does it do specifically? What should I expect for a charge? Is there any way I could find if it's already had it done? The PO was very meticulous in the maintenance of this.

Thanks again guys. I had my genius recording and sound engineer of a roommate look at it and say it was probably the amp too but I just wanted to be sure.

 

All of the sounds and inputs come from the head unit module. And to make it more complicated, the head unit also provides speaker level output that feeds the HIFI amp in the back (it is the same head unit for both the non-HIFI and HIFI models).

Hooking speakers up to the amp inputs (color codes of the wires in the harness at the amp are available somewhere here on this board, there is four channels) and listening for the offending sounds would be the only way to isolate which component is causing the trouble. Do you hear the same noise if you have the fader set to front or back and/or left and right?


And there is a possibility that wiring is an issue, too. Like a chafed/shorted wire. The harness for the head unit to the amp runs along the driver side. The amp is in the boot/trunk on the left hand side, behind a removable carpet panel. Silver box mounted at an angle. Look for corrosion on the harness for starters.

 

Ugh. Pain in the butt!

Ok, so a littlle more info to help. No matter how I set the radio, I hear it through every speaker. Always the same volume no matter what I do.

Do I have to pull off anything but the access cover to get the amp off? I've pulled the cover to look at it but I don't know what I need to do to take it off. I was thinking I could find another hi-fi mini owner in the area willing to let me connect my amp to their car for testing. I can't see that happening though.

 

Take a quick peek back there, you may have to remove the interior trim pieces in order to remove the amp. I haven't pulled the amp out myself. And even though you are hearing the bad sound still even across all the speakers, that is not unexpected since the "gongs" get played across all the speakers evenly (regardless of fader settings)...

Another thing to try, turn down the gong volume setting (hit the musical note button and roll the top **** until you get the next page). Then turn it all the way up, see if the thunking gets louder or quieter with that setting. If it does, I would guess your head unit needs replacing.

 

I don't have a musical note button. I have the nav screen if that makes a difference. But no matter what I do with the regular volume, it does not change the volume of the popping.

 

I have been unsuccessful finding an amp for under $400. Is there any way to use an aftermarket amp in the same place with the same head unit and speakers? Only changing the amp itself?

 

Hm... is this what I want? Says HK but realoem says that's the one. Is the amp the same on hi-fi and the HK systems?

 

Or this? But it shows a part number not listed on realoem unless you search for it...

 

Are you the first owner of this car?

This is a head unit or signal wiring related issue.