CD player not working - United Bimmer Community

**doughboyea** · 07-14-2006, 07:38 PM

I'm guessing this belongs here... if not, I'm sorry....

For the first time since early spring, I stuck in a CD into my radio on my E46 328i. There was no sound initially until perhaps 15seconds in, then it began to make a sound every few seconds. Kinda sounded like a CD skipping, just not recovering. I thought perhaps it was a warped sun damaged CD. Yesterday, I made a brand new CD, inserted it, same deal.

So now it's a WTF moment. Could it be that the player needs cleaning? If so, how? I really do not want to replace the head unit. Everything works like it should (aside from the CD player), refering to the controls on the steering wheel and radio. Also, any other unit would just look out of place on my dash.

So what's the census?

Dough

**Chris** · 07-14-2006, 07:48 PM

If it just needs a cleaning, head out to best buy. they sell CD player cleaning CDs with little bristles attached that clean the laser lens.

**doughboyea** · 07-14-2006, 08:09 PM

That's the thing... how do I know that's what the problem is? I don't want to go out to buy something for an issue it can't solve.

Dough

**Chris** · 07-14-2006, 08:11 PM

your cd player could probably use a cleaning anyways. It won't be a wasted ten dollars. Can be used in DVD players too

**doughboyea** · 07-14-2006, 08:51 PM

Good point.

**jybute** · 07-14-2006, 08:58 PM

Just make sure you spend the money on a good cleaner, some of the cheper ones will scratch the eye that reads the CD's.

Rooz · 07-14-2006, 11:32 PM

Questions...

1) Am assuming you are talking about a factory CD player?

2) Do you have the same problem on purchased CDs, meaning not home made copies?

**Chris** · 07-14-2006, 11:44 PM

No. He said headunit. I'm assuming its aftermarket.

Rooz · 07-14-2006, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisdoesntknow

No. He said headunit. I'm assuming its aftermarket.

When I hear subs being called "trunk speakers" on a daily basis, I always ask..... just to be safe

**Chris** · 07-14-2006, 11:56 PM

I have faith in pillsbury

**doughboyea** · 07-15-2006, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisdoesntknow

No. He said headunit. I'm assuming its aftermarket.

Right, i did say head unit, isn't that what the Radio/CD player/Tape units are called in vehicles? I've never heard them called anything else. If that term is only used for aftermarket units, them I am truely sorry for the confusion.

Yes, I do have the stock radio installed. As I also mentioned, I do not want to get an aftermarket radio as it just wouldn't look like it belongs in the car. Keep the faith Chris, my vocab isn't all there, doesn't mean I'm incompetent.

Rooz,
1) Yes, as mentioned above.
2) I've never had a problem with the CD's I'm using. This just started to happen.

Again, sorry for the confusion... what do you call it then?

Dough

**celsdogg** · 07-15-2006, 03:28 PM

i still call em head units. i dont care if it is aftermarket or oem. its still a headunit. does the same thing. . .

**Chris** · 07-15-2006, 03:36 PM

Try cleaning it as mentioned. they do get dirty over time from dust and such.

**94bmw325i** · 07-15-2006, 04:28 PM

Try cleaning it I guess. Are you also using the same brand of cd-r's as you have previously used?

**doughboyea** · 07-15-2006, 05:20 PM

^ exactly the same

**BMWLotAttendant** · 07-16-2006, 03:57 AM

1) Did you consider buying a different brand of burned CDs?
2) Try original unburned CDs (soundtracks, original albums, etc)....do you have the same effect?
3) Do you hear static in one of your speakers when you move the volume when the music is playing?

**doughboyea** · 07-16-2006, 09:28 AM

1) Already answered

... this never happened before. I've used the same exact CD's I've used previously. There is NO differenece between then and now aside from the time that has passed. The CD's I have in my car are a Memorex brand name, I've been using them for the past 2 years. All from the same case/continer (100ct). The ones I made in the begining that WORKED are still in my car now. When I put them in now, all I hear is that skipping sound.

2) Same effect.

3) No static. Though I must say, reguarding the volume. The knob doesn't seem to coincide with the level of volume comming out. I can keep on turning it and there doesn't seem to be a stopping mechanism (either physical or through the programing). So if I turn it rather quickly to get quiet, it would get a little quiet then really loud. Though that's not the reason for this thread.....

I'll try and get a CD cleaner today.

Dough

**celsdogg** · 07-16-2006, 09:47 AM

for number 3: some headunits are designed like that. its like an inertial movement feature, almost like adaptive steering. it varies the rate in increases/decrease the volume based on how quickly the knob is turned.

my aftermarket HU does this; its a pretty intelligent feature IMHO.

**Chris** · 07-16-2006, 03:35 PM

My headunit does the same thing...

**doughboyea** · 07-16-2006, 06:05 PM

Yea, umm your not getting what I'm saying.... it's got nothing to do with the adaptive volume thing. It's the actual knob on the head unit.

BUT..... that's not the point of this thread.... SO... moving on.........

The cleaner failed. I let it run in there for over an hour... nothing. Even while it was spinning in there, it's suppose to read off directions, which I thought was kinda stupid considering it doesn't work...

So, again, the skipping is still occuring. I'm beginning to think that it is just broken. Now, aside from the stupid ass spinning brush CD, any other way to correct this issue?

Dough