Electronic problem

[Patagil]

I replaced my head unit today to include CarPlay. Since the installation, my car key fob fails to lock or unlock the vehicle, some dashboard lights remain on (including the mileage display), and the centre console I added remains active, even playing music. What may be the issue? It was satisfactory before.

I own a 2004 BMW E46 318ci, should that information be relevant.

[Kiddokt]

Does everything function properly upon re-installation of the original radio?

[Patagil]

I have not yet attempted it. I have a nearly identical device connected, although this one exhibited superior response. All operations proceeded well. I may attempt to connect the old one tomorrow and see if there have been any changes.

[Kiddokt]

Certainly, connect the old one and verify its functionality. If it does, then the new radio is the issue. Uncertain. It is likely supplying electricity to a wire that should not be energised. I would consult the radio's instructions to verify its proper installation and see if any settings need adjustment.

[Grundysp]

My motto is to refrain from engaging with that which one does not comprehend.
Neglecting a BMW's electrical system might result in significant financial loss.

[Patagil]

It was fundamentally plug-and-play, requiring no soldering or further modifications. The most effective method of learning is to engage actively and experiment. That is how individuals acquire knowledge about automobiles.

[Kiddokt]

I agree with that. The electrical systems in these vehicles are complex, requiring a sophisticated understanding of electronics and computing prior to any intervention.

A few weeks ago, a participant from Norway on these boards reported that his vehicle failed to start in freezing conditions. We determined that his glow plugs were inoperative, and after many weeks of extensive testing, we concluded that the issue stemmed from his flashing of the ECU and the deletion of several files.Had he brought the automobile to a shop for diagnosis, he would have incurred unexpected expenses, and they likely would not have resolved the issue.


Maintaining the original configuration is recommended.

[Angurita]

It is only an E46, scarcely requiring any effort.

There is no mystique associated with automotive electrical systems.

[VibrantShin]

He adds a head unit rather of an ECU, and it pertains to an E46 model. Which head unit did you install, and what adaptor cable did you utilise? Occasionally, the battery and ignition power supply are inverted in the adapter wiring. Those symptoms remain peculiar.

[Kiddokt]

The E46 is not quite a Morris Minor. The vehicle is very intricate, especially by contemporary standards. Uncertain.

The peculiar occurrences are attributable to the car's radio, which is not a conventional model but rather a module linked to the i-bus, one of many internal data networks included in the e46. Additional modules linked to the i-bus include the instrument cluster, light control module, among others. Many components in the vehicle are interrelated, serving numerous functions; for instance, the radio antenna also functions as the key fob antenna and the rear window defroster. The antenna is linked to the radio by the k-bus and the i-bus.


If the new radio is interfering with the i-bus, it might lead to apparently unrelated malfunctions in the key fob and instrument cluster.

[Grundysp]

I am capable of operating a bus, however I lack knowledge about CAN bus and I-bus systems.
Not of my interest whatsoever. Perhaps I could rectify the wiring on the Morris Minor, all five or six connections.