Radio display distorted when car is hot

[J0E]

Hey, fairly new 1 series owner here and I had a question. When I get in the car after it's been sitting in the sun for awhile and turn it on, I can barely read the radio display. Half the pixels are faded out and it doesn't fix itself for quite some time. I can understand this happening say in 95 degree weather when the car is 100+ but this started happening on a 65 degree day when the car was maybe 85 degrees inside and has continued every day it gets above 60 and it's in the sun.

Is this the case for everyone's radio? Is it something I can bring up to BMW under warranty or are they going to tell me there is nothing they can do about it? I've owned cars across the gambit, including an E46, and none of their displays started crapping out when the temperature in the car hit 80. For such an expensive car, it's pretty annoying to have a distorted radio display pretty much every day all day all summer, until the winter months again.

Picture for reference:

[dorkdog]

Mine is in the shop today getting a new radio for the same reason. It was done without question. They cannot however fix the polarization issue (can't see radio with polarized sunglasses).

[danmcg]

Took mine in about 6 mo ago and they replaced it no questions asked. The HD radio is standard now it seems so that is what I needed up with. Can't complain!

Except for the fact that in 4 years I'll have to do it again. How is this something that even happens with a BMW radios? From what I hear this has been happening for quite sometime. I guess they don't have summer in Germany...

[dorkdog]

I am hoping that tinted windows and a sunshade will mitigate this.

[zamboni]

Ask for a replacement same problem with my friend's Mini and dealer have it done under warranty.

[J0E]

Nice, thanks all. I'll get that into the shop while it's still under warranty. Had a service engine light come on for a couple of minutes the other day as well with a rough idle. Hopefully the computer keeps a record of those since it's off now.

[dorkdog]

Originally Posted by J0E

Nice, thanks all. I'll get that into the shop while it's still under warranty. Had a service engine light come on for a couple of minutes the other day as well with a rough idle. Hopefully the computer keeps a record of those since it's off now.

I think the keyfob might store that info. Not sure, but might want to make sure and bring the keyfob that was in the car when it happened? Anyone else know where the info would be stored?

Or is this a issue?

[delta-9-ginseng]

Interesting I have been noticing this problem as well. Although, it doesn't look as bad as that picture. I do have tinted windows, but it seems like I get a slight distortion in hot weather.

[miiipilot]

I have had this happen a few times. 65-75 degree day too. It even shuts off and won't play anything. The SOS CEL comes on too. After it comes back on after cooling down, my mP3/usb connection will be gone for the rest of the day.

Dealer can't reproduce the problem and no codes were thrown.

Im hoping to get lucky and have out happen with three dealer still being open and I can just drop by

[Sylon]

I've had similar problems with the radio in the cold, even the shutting off and turn on randomly. I haven't noticed it in the hot though, but it doesn't sit outside in the heat too often.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by dorkdog

I am hoping that tinted windows and a sunshade will mitigate this.

Nope. I've got 35% ceramic tint, the sunshades for the rear and 3/4 windows, and the windshield sunshade when parked. Helps some, but doesn't cure the problem - not here in TX anyway. Definitely keeps the car much cooler, though.

YMMV, I guess, based on climate.

[TMR013]

Wow, It's odd that this seems to be happening at once for a lot of people. Guess we know the shelf life of the radio unit.

[tony0713]

yea same problem here on my 09. have to bring it in.

[theinfamousdrew]

Mine is at the dealer as we speak for this and a few other little things.....

[TheSt|G]

Mine is going in Monday for radio issues as well.

[Greenkirby21]

Happened to me. I have a thread somewhere on this issue in the radio section of the forums. Got a new radio covered under warranty!

[SukSqueezeBangBlo]

I had the same issue when here in NY we had a 80 degree day. Once it comes back im doing the same.

[dorkdog]

Originally Posted by TMR013

Wow, It's odd that this seems to be happening at once for a lot of people. Guess we know the shelf life of the radio unit.

Not odd at all - Spring has sprung and it's getting hot in our carz

[wjp007]

I just got my car back from service with a new head unit for this issue. Hopefully the problem is fixed. The polarizer issue still there though as expected.

[dorkdog]

The dealer replaced my radio and is unable to code the car. They had to order another radio for Monday. I guess I'll survive driving the 335i they loaned me

[Jdawg3576]

I am inclined to think this has something to do with the extremely high temperatures inside the cabin that a car that has been left in the sun can reach. The BMW radio is a LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) if it is 100 degrees outside, it can easily reach 140 degrees inside the cabin.

My wife's last car (2009 Nissan Altima Coupe) had the same problem (actually the whole display would just disappear until the A.C. cooled the cabin back down to livable levels), and the nissan technician told us that at extreme temps, the LCD simply gets so hot that it cannot display properly.
They would not replace the radio under warranty because of where we live.

I would venture to guess this is the same issue with the BMW.

I am not sure replacing the radio will fix the problem as the LCD is still the same in the current radio. Same thing happens if you take your finger and press on the display itself, the screen will distort due to the pressure.

If your local BMW dealership is willing to replace it, this is a good thing as I can't imagine heat distortion being covered by manufacturer warranty...but maybe it is? After all , it is a BMW, not a Nissan.

just my .02

[wjp007]

Funny, my dealer had the same problem with coding. Took them an extra day. I wonder why it's so hard.