BMW XM Radio Dead: DAB & Audio System Complete Failure

Hey there! I've had some experience working on cars. I actually faced a really similar issue with my 2020 BMW X6 last year. The symptoms were almost identical, terrible DAB reception, error messages popping up, and the whole audio system acting up. After trying basic troubleshooting, I took it to my trusted workshop. Turned out the antenna was faulty and needed replacement. The whole thing, including diagnostics and labor, cost me 255 Euro. Before giving more specific advice though, could you tell me if you're seeing any specific error codes or messages on your display? Also, did this start happening suddenly or was it gradual? This would help me understand if you're dealing with the exact same problem I had with my X6. As a BMW owner, I've learned these infotainment issues can be tricky, but they're usually fixable. Let me know those details, and I might be able to help more!

Thanks for the detailed response! My XM (165325 KM, last serviced two months ago) started showing these issues quite suddenly last week. The error message I'm getting is "Audio system malfunction" followed by "DAB signal lost." It's definitely frustrating since everything was working perfectly fine before. Your antenna theory sounds plausible, especially since my symptoms match what you described. Did your X6's error messages look similar to mine? I'm a bit worried about the repair costs, but it's better than having no audio system at all. I'll probably book an appointment with my workshop this week, but wanted to gather some more info first. Has anyone else dealt with something similar? Would love to hear more experiences before I take it in.

Hey again! Thanks for providing those details about your XM. Yes, those error messages are exactly what I saw on my X6! "Audio system malfunction" and "DAB signal lost", it's like déjà vu. The sudden onset of the problem is also very similar to what I experienced. Since you mentioned your car was serviced two months ago, I'm wondering if maybe something got disconnected or damaged during the service. In my case, the workshop discovered that besides the faulty antenna, there was also a loose connection in the antenna wiring that was contributing to the problem. The technician explained that these issues can sometimes occur after routine maintenance if the connections aren't properly secured. I forgot to mention in my previous reply that before taking it to the workshop, I tried a quick fix by doing a system reset (holding down the power button for about 30 seconds). It didn't solve the problem, but it might be worth trying while you wait for your workshop appointment. Also, my repair ended up being covered under warranty since my X6 was still within the coverage period. Might be worth checking if your XM's warranty could cover this too. Keep us posted on what you find out at the workshop. I'm really curious to know if it's the same issue I had!

Thanks so much for the additional info! I just tried the system reset you suggested, held down the power button for 30 seconds, but unfortunately, it didn't fix the issue. Still getting those same error messages. You make a good point about the recent service possibly being connected to this problem. Now that I think about it, these issues started about a week after I got the car back from servicing. I'll definitely bring this up when I take it to the workshop. I actually just called my dealer to check about the warranty, turns out mine expired last month! Just my luck, right? But at least I've got a better idea of what might be wrong thanks to your experience. I've scheduled an appointment for next week, and I'll make sure to have them check both the antenna and the wiring connections. I'll definitely update here once I know what's actually causing the problem. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, it's helped me feel a bit less worried about the whole situation!