Bluetooth Audio

MacklinUSOB · 03-06-2019, 09:55 AM

Hey Everyone,

Have had a really odd issue with my car for a while now that is a real headscratcher and wanted to see if anyone else has experienced it previously.

My car has basic no-nav with the combox for BT streaming.

Almost every time I set off in the car listening to music after driving for 5 minutes or so the track skips momentarily, not with an absense of sound, but more like fast forwarding two seconds ahead. After this happens often there will be crackling present in the audio that gets more and more pronounced as the minutes go by. Thing is, as soon as I switch over to FM it sounds completely normal. Simply reconnecting doesn't solve the problem but powering off the car does.

Has anyone had a combox fail or go bad? I'm really struggling to find another answer. If it were the amp or the headunit itself then theoretically it should affect all audio output, but that's not the case. I have had this problem with two different iPhones while using both Spotify and Apple Music.

Appreciate the feedback.

mupet0000 · 04-30-2019, 11:24 AM

I have the exact same fault as you, the way you describe it is identical to mine. I have a 2014 F30 with the basic iDrive, no nav, but with a combox.

I did code Enhanced Bluetooth to enable music over bluetooth as the car only came standard with voice calls over bluetooth. As far as I'm aware this shouldn't make any difference as the hardware in the car is perfectly capable of doing bluetooth music, it's just a software switch based on which options the car has from factory.

Sometimes it doesn't happen at all, sometimes it happens every day, I can't figure out if anything in particular triggers it. All I know is that if I switch to the radio and flick between a couple of stations for a few seconds, then back to bluetooth music, the crackling sound is gone. It may come back again, or it might not.

Things to note:
It happens with ANY device connected via bluetooth, iOS or Android. The bluetooth connection never drops or disconnects, but the crackling will persist until you switch to radio and back to bluetooth.
It happens regardless of the app you're using, for example Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music. So it's the actual bluetooth audio stream that is distorted, not the content.
The bluetooth device is well within range, it doesn't matter if it's sitting in a cradle near the iDrive, in my pocket, in the centre console.
Other audio inputs are not affected at all, DAB radio, CD, AUX, USB... None of these have any issue (Also note that no speakers are blown).
iDrive is fully updated on the latest version and the car is fully serviced with no warnings or any other faults.

If anyone has any information about this, please do comment!

bimmer456 · 04-30-2019, 11:57 AM

Something is causing interference or the Bluetooth module is bad. Have you tried different apps? I've used Spotify and noticed it tends to crash vs Pandora or Amazon.

BETA V1 · 08-26-2019, 12:07 AM

Same thing with my MY13 335i with CIC (combox BT). Wife and I have a iPhone 10XS max and a 10XS that is running the latest software as of August 2019. It has been an issue since I got the car used in 2016 and had a previous version of iPhones.

It’s hit or miss if it has a skip and then distorted/crackled audio. Sometimes I’ll be driving for hours and it doesn’t happen. Other times it happens when I first get in the car.

Like others have said when I toggle to the radio and back it “repairs” or “restarts” the BT issue and the audio distorting goes away.

We use Spotify/Podcast/CBS Radio/NPR Radio apps so I would say it’s not a app dependent issue.

rangeseeker · 08-26-2019, 01:11 AM

I've had the same issue in my 2013 f30 for all 3 years of ownership, never have found a solution. Exact same symptoms down to the T though, really hate it. Glad I've moved on to a 2016 f32 that doesn't have it!

IK6SPEED · 08-26-2019, 02:28 PM

Issues between BT versions are very well known in the IT World.

It causes all types of issues for Service Advisors as there is only so much that can be done to help customer.

H4CK1NT05H · 09-01-2019, 08:55 AM

Same things happens to me every now and then on my 2013, if you can't shut off the car, disconnecting BT on your phone and turning back on is another way to temporarily fix it.

cmsee17 · 09-14-2019, 05:57 PM

I've found that if/when a crackle/skip happens, simply switching to radio then back to media fixes it temporarily. It's by no means a long-term fix but it gets the job done.

MacklinUSOB · 08-01-2022, 08:14 PM

Coming back to this thread after another three years. It has been doing it on and off for the entire time, I learned how to live with it by switching modes as cmsee17 had been doing.

Living in NYC on my setup the interior has heard* better days. Still looks good. Harsh bumps can trigger it from my experience. This is leading me to think there is a hardware/grounding issue with the combox or related board. I will be tearing apart the trunk at some point to figure it out. Worst case is one or both of these.

5/2012 non-nav with HK sound

Harmon Kardon Head Unit Radio Cd Unit Oem
https://www.ebay.com/itm/17534834901...pid=9020507460

Harman Becker Telematics Bluetooth Control Module
https://www.ebay.com/itm/40291587939...Cclp%3A2047675

03-06-2019, 09:55 AM	#1
MacklinUSOB Captain 518 Rep 891 Posts Drives: f30 328i 6MT Sport Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0)	Bluetooth Audio - Skipping then crackles Hey Everyone, Have had a really odd issue with my car for a while now that is a real headscratcher and wanted to see if anyone else has experienced it previously. My car has basic no-nav with the combox for BT streaming. Almost every time I set off in the car listening to music after driving for 5 minutes or so the track skips momentarily, not with an absense of sound, but more like fast forwarding two seconds ahead. After this happens often there will be crackling present in the audio that gets more and more pronounced as the minutes go by. Thing is, as soon as I switch over to FM it sounds completely normal. Simply reconnecting doesn't solve the problem but powering off the car does. Has anyone had a combox fail or go bad? I'm really struggling to find another answer. If it were the amp or the headunit itself then theoretically it should affect all audio output, but that's not the case. I have had this problem with two different iPhones while using both Spotify and Apple Music. Appreciate the feedback. __________________ 328i RWD \| MW on CRed Slick Top \| 6MT \| BM3 \| MPE \| GPlus FMIC \| CSF Radiator \| Millway Street Camber Plates & Monoballs \| KW V2 6k/18k Swift Springs \| F80 LCA/TS \| SPL Bump Steer Kit \| APEX SM-10 \| R-S4 \| DS2500 \| RBF600 \| SS Lines \| Past: E36 328is & E38 740i
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04-30-2019, 11:24 AM	#2
mupet0000 New Member 6 Rep 25 Posts Drives: 2019 F20 118i Shadow Edition Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: England iTrader: (0)	I have the exact same fault as you, the way you describe it is identical to mine. I have a 2014 F30 with the basic iDrive, no nav, but with a combox. I did code Enhanced Bluetooth to enable music over bluetooth as the car only came standard with voice calls over bluetooth. As far as I'm aware this shouldn't make any difference as the hardware in the car is perfectly capable of doing bluetooth music, it's just a software switch based on which options the car has from factory. Sometimes it doesn't happen at all, sometimes it happens every day, I can't figure out if anything in particular triggers it. All I know is that if I switch to the radio and flick between a couple of stations for a few seconds, then back to bluetooth music, the crackling sound is gone. It may come back again, or it might not. Things to note: It happens with ANY device connected via bluetooth, iOS or Android. The bluetooth connection never drops or disconnects, but the crackling will persist until you switch to radio and back to bluetooth. It happens regardless of the app you're using, for example Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music. So it's the actual bluetooth audio stream that is distorted, not the content. The bluetooth device is well within range, it doesn't matter if it's sitting in a cradle near the iDrive, in my pocket, in the centre console. Other audio inputs are not affected at all, DAB radio, CD, AUX, USB... None of these have any issue (Also note that no speakers are blown). iDrive is fully updated on the latest version and the car is fully serviced with no warnings or any other faults. If anyone has any information about this, please do comment!
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04-30-2019, 11:57 AM	#3
bimmer456 Major General 2963 Rep 5,997 Posts Drives: 340i Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Pasadena, CA iTrader: (0)	Something is causing interference or the Bluetooth module is bad. Have you tried different apps? I've used Spotify and noticed it tends to crash vs Pandora or Amazon.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-26-2019, 12:07 AM	#4
BETA V1 New Member 4 Rep 10 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	Same thing with my MY13 335i with CIC (combox BT). Wife and I have a iPhone 10XS max and a 10XS that is running the latest software as of August 2019. It has been an issue since I got the car used in 2016 and had a previous version of iPhones. It’s hit or miss if it has a skip and then distorted/crackled audio. Sometimes I’ll be driving for hours and it doesn’t happen. Other times it happens when I first get in the car. Like others have said when I toggle to the radio and back it “repairs” or “restarts” the BT issue and the audio distorting goes away. We use Spotify/Podcast/CBS Radio/NPR Radio apps so I would say it’s not a app dependent issue.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-26-2019, 01:11 AM	#5
rangeseeker New Member 8 Rep 21 Posts Drives: 435i M Sport Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	I've had the same issue in my 2013 f30 for all 3 years of ownership, never have found a solution. Exact same symptoms down to the T though, really hate it. Glad I've moved on to a 2016 f32 that doesn't have it! __________________ 2016 435i M Sport - Sport Auto Trans - M Sports Suspension - HarmanKardon - Comfort Access - Driver Assist - Surround View
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08-26-2019, 02:28 PM	#6
IK6SPEED Banned 4488 Rep 10,473 Posts Drives: BMW M3 / AH3 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Cali iTrader: (23)	Issues between BT versions are very well known in the IT World. It causes all types of issues for Service Advisors as there is only so much that can be done to help customer.
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09-01-2019, 08:55 AM	#7
H4CK1NT05H Private 25 Rep 95 Posts Drives: Aw f30 n55 Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Ny iTrader: (0)	Same things happens to me every now and then on my 2013, if you can't shut off the car, disconnecting BT on your phone and turning back on is another way to temporarily fix it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-14-2019, 05:57 PM	#8
cmsee17 New Member 5 Rep 22 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW 328i xDrive Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Ann Arbor, MI iTrader: (0)	I've found that if/when a crackle/skip happens, simply switching to radio then back to media fixes it temporarily. It's by no means a long-term fix but it gets the job done.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-01-2022, 08:14 PM	#9
MacklinUSOB Captain 518 Rep 891 Posts Drives: f30 328i 6MT Sport Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0)	Coming back to this thread after another three years. It has been doing it on and off for the entire time, I learned how to live with it by switching modes as cmsee17 had been doing. Living in NYC on my setup the interior has heard* better days. Still looks good. Harsh bumps can trigger it from my experience. This is leading me to think there is a hardware/grounding issue with the combox or related board. I will be tearing apart the trunk at some point to figure it out. Worst case is one or both of these. 5/2012 non-nav with HK sound Harmon Kardon Head Unit Radio Cd Unit Oem https://www.ebay.com/itm/17534834901...pid=9020507460 Harman Becker Telematics Bluetooth Control Module https://www.ebay.com/itm/40291587939...Cclp%3A2047675 __________________ 328i RWD \| MW on CRed Slick Top \| 6MT \| BM3 \| MPE \| GPlus FMIC \| CSF Radiator \| Millway Street Camber Plates & Monoballs \| KW V2 6k/18k Swift Springs \| F80 LCA/TS \| SPL Bump Steer Kit \| APEX SM-10 \| R-S4 \| DS2500 \| RBF600 \| SS Lines \| Past: E36 328is & E38 740i Last edited by MacklinUSOB; 08-01-2022 at 08:24 PM..
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