[Enigma735]

PUMA as of Dec 2020 for the failing H/K system with bass / sound drops. This is translated from German. A Service Bulletin should be making its way soon to the U.S. This affects a lot of models.

####

The PUMA measure for this is: DE 65463809-01 - 17.11.20

Only vehicles with the following special equipment (SA) are affected: ...

F40, F44, F90, G01, G02, G08, G20, G21, G22, G28, G29, G30, G31, G32, G38,

With the two special equipment (optional extra):

SA 6U3 BMW LIVE COCKPIT PROFESSIONAL

AND

S-0688 HARMAN / KARDON SURROUND SOUND SYSTEM

A diagnosis must be carried out in the event of a customer complaint.

If the fault memory entry in control unit RAM01:

B7F480 - Booster no connection

is present and no other cause can be found:

(For example loudspeaker noises or background noises originating from the end device ), the control device is:

Replace amplifier Top-Hifi-System with the following part number:

65 12 5 A38 AB8 amplifier top hi-fi system


!Important:!

The change index must be checked before installing the part number.

The new spare part must have the change index AI-02 or higher.

Only with these can it be excluded that the customer complaint will recur.

!Info:!

The control unit amplifier Top-Hifi-System 65 12 5 A38 AB8 with AI-02 is

expected to be available from December / 2020.


Only applies to vehicles with the production period: from March 1st, 2020 to November 1st, 2020

####


Here is the part, make sure the revision index is AI-02 or higher if your service center is ordering: https://www.getbmwparts.com/oem-part...22-65125a38ab8

[ramparts]

Originally Posted by Enigma735

PUMA as of Dec 2020 for the failing H/K system with bass / sound drops. This is translated from German. A Service Bulletin should be making its way soon to the U.S. This affects a lot of models.

####

The PUMA measure for this is: DE 65463809-01 - 17.11.20

Only vehicles with the following special equipment (SA) are affected: ...

F40, F44, F90, G01, G02, G08, G20, G21, G22, G28, G29, G30, G31, G32, G38,

With the two special equipment (optional extra):

SA 6U3 BMW LIVE COCKPIT PROFESSIONAL

AND

S-0688 HARMAN / KARDON SURROUND SOUND SYSTEM

A diagnosis must be carried out in the event of a customer complaint.

If the fault memory entry in control unit RAM01:

B7F480 - Booster no connection

is present and no other cause can be found:

(For example loudspeaker noises or background noises originating from the end device ), the control device is:

Replace amplifier Top-Hifi-System with the following part number:

65 12 5 A38 AB8 amplifier top hi-fi system


!Important:!

The change index must be checked before installing the part number.

The new spare part must have the change index AI-02 or higher.

Only with these can it be excluded that the customer complaint will recur.

!Info:!

The control unit amplifier Top-Hifi-System 65 12 5 A38 AB8 with AI-02 is

expected to be available from December / 2020.


Only applies to vehicles with the production period: from March 1st, 2020 to November 1st, 2020

####


Here is the part, make sure the revision index is AI-02 or higher if your service center is ordering: https://www.getbmwparts.com/oem-part...22-65125a38ab8

Have you got a link to the original German pdf

[ramparts]

Originally Posted by davidoff86

Have you got a link to the original German pdf

That's defo the amp I have atm that has the issue

[Enigma735]

Originally Posted by davidoff86

Have you got a link to the original German pdf

I don’t. I checked motortalk de where it was posted and didnt see it.

[thewusman]

Hi guys where is the amp located to check the current part ? Am suspecting somewhere under the boot cover.

My MY2020 M340i built end of September in Munich definitely has this issue.

Bass randomly disappears then comes back after a restart after leaving the car locked for a few minutes.

Highly annoying and intermittent.

Thanks for the heads-up OP !

[ramparts]

Originally Posted by thewusman

Hi guys where is the amp located to check the current part ? Am suspecting somewhere under the boot cover.

My MY2020 M340i built end of September in Munich definitely has this issue.

Bass randomly disappears then comes back after a restart after leaving the car locked for a few minutes.

Highly annoying and intermittent.

Thanks for the heads-up OP !

Left cover. The label will be on the top of the part that's on the side of the bracket you can't see, just stick your phone in with the flash on

[Rux]

2021 M440i, October 2020 build date. This just happened to me this AM.

god dammit

[ramparts]

Originally Posted by Rux

2021 M440i, October 2020 build date. This just happened to me this AM.

god dammit

Had mine in this week , they've diagnosed and just waiting for approval from BMW for the new amp.

[Rux]

Originally Posted by davidoff86

Had mine in this week , they've diagnosed and just waiting for approval from BMW for the new amp.

It came back after sitting for about 30 minutes. Super annoying. Hopefully they get the part fast.

[ramparts]

5 working days from DE, though I have my car as they don't need it post diagnostic

[Rux]

Originally Posted by davidoff86

5 working days from DE, though I have my car as they don't need it post diagnostic

That's not too bad. I believe I also blew the passenger side door speaker as well. it's pretty annoying.

[MikeElmendorf]

Ok, update: The new amp was installed on Wednesday. Since then, I have not experienced the audio dropping/distortion issue that existed before. Yesterday I did a fair amount of driving in an effort to assess whether it was fixed; It previously did not happen on every drive, but generally it would have happened in the amount of driving I have done. So, I am cautiously optimistic the new part does, in fact, correct the problem.

It also seems to me that the system is louder, i.e., I don’t have to have the volume bar as close to max to achieve the desired volume. It always seemed like it needed to be turned up more than on my 2018 540. I have read that the spec for the 2021 reduces the power of the amp from prior levels. Curious if that could have caused the problems many of us have experienced and if the new amp is putting out the prior power level.

[thatg20guy]

I had this happen to me yesterday - no bass at all, but turning the car off and on again fixed for me. Drove for about 2 hours today with no issues but good to know that BMW is aware of it and has a fix!

[Bimmer006]

Originally Posted by MikeElmendorf

Ok, update: The new amp was installed on Wednesday. Since then, I have not experienced the audio dropping/distortion issue that existed before. Yesterday I did a fair amount of driving in an effort to assess whether it was fixed; It previously did not happen on every drive, but generally it would have happened in the amount of driving I have done. So, I am cautiously optimistic the new part does, in fact, correct the problem.

It also seems to me that the system is louder, i.e., I don't have to have the volume bar as close to max to achieve the desired volume. It always seemed like it needed to be turned up more than on my 2018 540. I have read that the spec for the 2021 reduces the power of the amp from prior levels. Curious if that could have caused the problems many of us have experienced and if the new amp is putting out the prior power level.

Is this applicable for the cars build in Mexico?? because even my car has same issue, built in Oct 2020.

[MikeElmendorf]

Yes, I believe so, depending on your model.

The text of the BMW bulletin is below:

The PUMA measure for this is: DE 65463809-01 - 17.11.20

Only vehicles with the following special equipment (SA) are affected: ...

F40, F44, F90, G01, G02, G08, G20, G21, G22, G28, G29, G30, G31, G32, G38,

With the two special equipment (optional extra):

SA 6U3 BMW LIVE COCKPIT PROFESSIONAL

AND

S-0688 HARMAN / KARDON SURROUND SOUND SYSTEM

A diagnosis must be carried out in the event of a customer complaint.

If the fault memory entry in control unit RAM01:

B7F480 - Booster no connection

is present and no other cause can be found:

(For example loudspeaker noises or background noises originating from the end device ), the control device is:

Replace amplifier Top-Hifi-System with the following part number:

65 12 5 A38 AB8 amplifier top hi-fi system


!Important:!

The change index must be checked before installing the part number.

The new spare part must have the change index AI-02 or higher.

Only with these can it be excluded that the customer complaint will recur.

!Info:!

The control unit amplifier Top-Hifi-System 65 12 5 A38 AB8 with AI-02 is

expected to be available from December / 2020.


Only applies to vehicles with the production period: from March 1st, 2020 to November 1st, 2020

####


Here is the part, make sure the revision index is AI-02 or higher if your service center is ordering: https://www.getbmwparts.com/oem-part...22-65125a38ab8

[ramparts]

Originally Posted by MikeElmendorf

Yes, I believe so, depending on your model.

The text of the BMW bulletin is below:

The PUMA measure for this is: DE 65463809-01 - 17.11.20

Only vehicles with the following special equipment (SA) are affected: ...

F40, F44, F90, G01, G02, G08, G20, G21, G22, G28, G29, G30, G31, G32, G38,

With the two special equipment (optional extra):

SA 6U3 BMW LIVE COCKPIT PROFESSIONAL

AND

S-0688 HARMAN / KARDON SURROUND SOUND SYSTEM

A diagnosis must be carried out in the event of a customer complaint.

If the fault memory entry in control unit RAM01:

B7F480 - Booster no connection

is present and no other cause can be found:

(For example loudspeaker noises or background noises originating from the end device ), the control device is:

Replace amplifier Top-Hifi-System with the following part number:

65 12 5 A38 AB8 amplifier top hi-fi system


!Important:!

The change index must be checked before installing the part number.

The new spare part must have the change index AI-02 or higher.

Only with these can it be excluded that the customer complaint will recur.

!Info:!

The control unit amplifier Top-Hifi-System 65 12 5 A38 AB8 with AI-02 is

expected to be available from December / 2020.


Only applies to vehicles with the production period: from March 1st, 2020 to November 1st, 2020

####


Here is the part, make sure the revision index is AI-02 or higher if your service center is ordering: https://www.getbmwparts.com/oem-part...22-65125a38ab8

Replacement amp has arrived from Munich, will to installed by end of the week so will report back !

[ramparts]

All installed. Definitely feels like there's more "presence" there now. I know the bass is there, as I can feel and hear it, no longer any "have the woofers turned off" in my head.

Attached photos of the Old amp ( 7E7 01 ) and the new ( AB8 02 ). Note the faulty one was made in Mexico, and the new one made in the EU, just saying !

[Graaf_Autowerks]

Originally Posted by Bimmer006

Is this applicable for the cars build in Mexico?? because even my car has same issue, built in Oct 2020.

My car having same issues, also mexico build from October.

Brought in to service and referenced the PUMA number here, was told they can't replace based off that and there was nothing in their tech database officially from BMW.

Was told they won't replace the amp and they couldn't replicate the issue.

Since it is very sporadic when it occurs, I'm not sure how to change their opinion and get a replacement.

[paulb15480]

Sorry you are having trouble getting your dealer to assist. I am very fortunate I guess to have an excellent dealer with outstanding support from sales all the way through to service and the ongoing ownership experience. I have always invested in nurturing relationships with all of my conacts from the General Manager across the board. It helps that they are all really fine people too.

My 2020 M340i delivered in August of 2020 has been having this well documented (in the forums) issue with the subwoofer (and possibly other speakers) dropping out intermittently. One time when I actually caught it in the act I connected my laptop to the car with the BMW ISTA software (same as what the dealer uses) and unfortunately the car didn't log the fault code outlined in the documents circulating in the various threads on this subject. But I contacted my Service Advisor anyway and he said go ahead and bring the car in. The Shop Foreman did his research and found all of the information he needed to go ahead and order the updated amp for me, even without being able to reproduce the problem (which is basically impossible unless you have incredibly good luck) or seeing the specific error being logged. Don't have the amp yet, which is understandable given it has to come from Germany as it is a new part, and I imagine there might be other supply issues contributing to delays.

The moral of the story, perhaps consider another dealer if you are lucky enough to have one in your area, or perhaps try again at the dealer where you took the car originally. Depending on the personalities of the service folks, you might be able to print off documents located in the varioius threads on this subject and show them to the dealer to help them research. It might piss them off, or they might appreciate it. Like I said I have close relationships with the folks I deal with and they know I do work on my own car so that helps me out.

Good luck and I hope you can get some traction on this.

[thatg20guy]

Originally Posted by Graaf_Autowerks

My car having same issues, also mexico build from October.

Brought in to service and referenced the PUMA number here, was told they can't replace based off that and there was nothing in their tech database officially from BMW.

Was told they won't replace the amp and they couldn't replicate the issue.

Since it is very sporadic when it occurs, I'm not sure how to change their opinion and get a replacement.

Had the exact same thing happen to me yesterday...no stored codes and couldn't replicate the issue since it's very sporadic for me as well. Hoping this issue gains more traction to force BMW to issue an official replacement program.

I even provided the PUMA reference number and a screen shot of the technical notes that another forum user posted, but with 0 stored fault codes they were unwilling to order the new part.

[Bimmer006]

Originally Posted by Graaf_Autowerks

My car having same issues, also mexico build from October.

Brought in to service and referenced the PUMA number here, was told they can't replace based off that and there was nothing in their tech database officially from BMW.

Was told they won't replace the amp and they couldn't replicate the issue.

Since it is very sporadic when it occurs, I'm not sure how to change their opinion and get a replacement.

Sorry to hear this, hopefully some other dealership might be able to identify and fix this issue. Mine so far it's working ok, but as you said it's very sporadic, so hopefully it will not occur more often. As long as if i turn off the car and start back to make it work, i guess i'm ok with that.

Still it's not completely acceptable from BMW when you buy a 50-60k car & finding out there is an issue that BMW cannot acknowledge. Hopefully in the future BMW will issue a recall for this amp for the cars manufactured around the specific dates.

[Enigma735]

Originally Posted by thatg20guy

Had the exact same thing happen to me yesterday...no stored codes and couldn't replicate the issue since it's very sporadic for me as well. Hoping this issue gains more traction to force BMW to issue an official replacement program.

I even provided the PUMA reference number and a screen shot of the technical notes that another forum user posted, but with 0 stored fault codes they were unwilling to order the new part.

Keep bringing it back and show them the updated part on getbmwparts and tell them to bring in the shop foreman to approve. Mine had to be done under a repair order. Also, next time it happens, try to record it on your phone on a bass heavy song and also capture the sound settings (bass, treb, eq) to show a baseline and then take a second video when it’s working fine with the same bassy song and the same audio settings.

My local service center had 4 vehicles with HK and Live Cockpit Plus/Pro affected by this that after fixing mine they now default to the repair I provided from the PUMA. They submitted the feedback to BMW and there should be a bulletin soon.

Careful, the part takes some time to come in from Germany (mine took 2 weeks).