100% Free

No Scanner Needed

Carly logo

OliWag

BMW 3 Series Audio System Nightmare: Speakers Failing

No sound of the Audiosystem

|

Audio system is not working

Hi all! Having some serious audio issues with my 2019 BMW 3 Series Hybrid. The subwoofer cuts out out of nowhere, and sometimes the entire audio system fails to work. Getting crackling sounds from the speakers when they do work. Has anyone dealt with similar audio problems in their BMW? Really interested to hear what the diagnosis was and how your dealer/workshop resolved it. Would appreciate any insights on potential fixes. Thanks in advance!

4 comment(s)


TJWheels

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2021 BMW 5 Series Hybrid. I've got some experience working on cars, but audio systems aren't really my strong suit. The symptoms were exactly like yours, unusual subwoofer cuts and that annoying crackling sound. Took it to my workshop and they found that the bass speaker was defective, apparently, it's not that uncommon. The repair set me back about 280 Euro, but it fixed the problem completely. Haven't had any issues since then. Before you head to the shop though, could you share: How long has this been happening? Does it happen more when the car is hot or cold? Which audio system package do you have installed? This info would help figure out if you're dealing with the same problem I had. They might also want to check the amplifier while they're at it, the 3 Series and 5 Series share pretty similar audio setups.

TJWheels

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2021 BMW 5 Series Hybrid. I've got some experience working on cars, but audio systems aren't really my strong suit. The symptoms were exactly like yours, unusual subwoofer cuts and that annoying crackling sound. Took it to my workshop and they found that the bass speaker was defective, apparently, it's not that uncommon. The repair set me back about 280 Euro, but it fixed the problem completely. Haven't had any issues since then. Before you head to the shop though, could you share: How long has this been happening? Does it happen more when the car is hot or cold? Which audio system package do you have installed? This info would help figure out if you're dealing with the same problem I had. They might also want to check the amplifier while they're at it, the 3 Series and 5 Series share pretty similar audio setups.

OliWag (Author)

Thanks for sharing your experience! Mine's at 194736 KM and I've only noticed these problems occurring after my last service about 2 weeks ago. The crackling happens regardless of temperature, but I've noticed the subwoofer tends to cut out more frequently during longer drives. I've got the Harman Kardon system fitted. Really hoping it's just a simple fix like yours was. It's super frustrating when you can't properly enjoy your music during drives. Might book it in next week if it keeps acting up. Good to know about the potential bass speaker issue, I'll definitely mention that when I take it in. Thanks again for the help!

OliWag (Author)

Thanks for sharing your experience! Mine's at 194736 KM and I've only noticed these problems occurring after my last service about 2 weeks ago. The crackling happens regardless of temperature, but I've noticed the subwoofer tends to cut out more frequently during longer drives. I've got the Harman Kardon system fitted. Really hoping it's just a simple fix like yours was. It's super frustrating when you can't properly enjoy your music during drives. Might book it in next week if it keeps acting up. Good to know about the potential bass speaker issue, I'll definitely mention that when I take it in. Thanks again for the help!

TJWheels

Hey again! Yeah, the timing of your issues starting after the service is pretty interesting. You know what? I had my bass speaker problem start showing up around the 180,000 KM mark, so we're in a similar boat mileage-wise. The Harman Kardon system is actually what I've got too, and these systems can be a bit finicky. When mine was acting up during longer drives like yours, it turned out the heat was making the already failing speaker work even harder. That explains why it was cutting out more frequently. Since you mentioned it started after your service, might be worth checking if they disconnected anything while working on the car. Sometimes these things can get knocked loose. In my case, they first thought it was just a loose connection, but nope, speaker was definitely toast. I'd say get it checked sooner rather than later. These issues typically don't fix themselves, and in my experience, they usually get worse. Plus, driving without proper audio is just no fun at all! Let us know what they find, I'm curious if it's the same issue I had with mine.

TJWheels

Hey again! Yeah, the timing of your issues starting after the service is pretty interesting. You know what? I had my bass speaker problem start showing up around the 180,000 KM mark, so we're in a similar boat mileage-wise. The Harman Kardon system is actually what I've got too, and these systems can be a bit finicky. When mine was acting up during longer drives like yours, it turned out the heat was making the already failing speaker work even harder. That explains why it was cutting out more frequently. Since you mentioned it started after your service, might be worth checking if they disconnected anything while working on the car. Sometimes these things can get knocked loose. In my case, they first thought it was just a loose connection, but nope, speaker was definitely toast. I'd say get it checked sooner rather than later. These issues typically don't fix themselves, and in my experience, they usually get worse. Plus, driving without proper audio is just no fun at all! Let us know what they find, I'm curious if it's the same issue I had with mine.

OliWag (Author)

Thanks so much for the detailed follow-up! You're right about getting it checked soon, I've already booked it in for next Tuesday. The connection possibility makes total sense since it started right after the service. I'll definitely ask them to check that first before replacing any parts. It's really helpful knowing your experience with the same system and similar mileage. Fingers crossed it's just a loose connection and not a full speaker replacement, but at least I know what to expect cost-wise if it comes to that. I'll update the thread once I get the diagnosis. Really appreciate all your help and insights on this, it's made me feel a lot better about the whole situation knowing others have dealt with and resolved similar issues!

OliWag (Author)

Thanks so much for the detailed follow-up! You're right about getting it checked soon, I've already booked it in for next Tuesday. The connection possibility makes total sense since it started right after the service. I'll definitely ask them to check that first before replacing any parts. It's really helpful knowing your experience with the same system and similar mileage. Fingers crossed it's just a loose connection and not a full speaker replacement, but at least I know what to expect cost-wise if it comes to that. I'll update the thread once I get the diagnosis. Really appreciate all your help and insights on this, it's made me feel a lot better about the whole situation knowing others have dealt with and resolved similar issues!

Let our mechanics help you!

Car Brands
carly-logo

© 2025 Carly Solutions GmbH & Co. KG. All rights reserved