MMI box installation problem

[fingerpicker]

I have been trying to install an MMI box (Andream) in my 2016 35i and have run into an issue. For reference, I've been following this DIY video:

I get to about 15:10 in that video, i.e., connected the MMI box to the head unit and testing to see if it works before reassembling. The result, nothing in idrive functions. The screen doesn't pop-up like it used to and none of the idrive buttons or head unit buttons do anything. Car starts fine and everything else appears okay, but no idrive. I thought I had a bad box or cables or something so I reversed everything and reconnected in the original configuration. Still nothing. Now I'm worse off than before as I don't have an idrive, radio, or anything sound system or nav even though I'm back to the connections before I did any disassembly.

Anyone have any ideas on how to troubleshoot this? I checked the fuse on the head unit itself but that appears to be good. Any other fuses I should check? Is there an idrive reset procedure or something that needs to be done? I've exhausted my capabilities and knowledge at this point.

FWIW, my e89 has the knee airbags integrated into the glove box, which turns out to be a real PITA for disassembly, but can't think of how that matters for anything else.

 

[AnubisZed]

At a guess I'd say you've blown a fuse.
Fuse 14 (15amp) is the one you want to check, or if its easier put a meter between pins 15 (thick red wire) and 12 (thick brown wire) of the original Quadlock connector to see if you have 12v. If you do have 12v, then check the fuse where the Quadlock connector goes into the headunit (also a 15amp). I'm assuming the Andream unit connects via a Quadlock Y loom to the rear of the headunit?

 

[B21]

What error codes does it produce on your code reader?

 

[fingerpicker]

Thanks for suggestions and sorry for the late reply. I only get time on the weekend to do this.

I did get the power to the unit by looking for the fuse box behind the dash and noticing that there was a connector tucked up there that I forgot to reconnect. That was the first issue. Now I have power to the idrive and head unit. One success, but still not there.

Now my I drive is in a continual state of rebooting. It comes on with the BMW letters, then flashes the initial warning screen with the "accept" button, then blanks and goes through that whole loop again. While that is going on the radio comes on initially at the default volume and doesn't respond to the volume know when I try to adjust it. When the screen goes black, the radio stops, then restarts with the whole looping procedure above.

Curiously, I can hold the menu button for 3 seconds to go back and forth between carplay, which appears to work normally other than no audio and the screen banking when the reboot happens, and the standard idrive screen, which again is just BMW or blank.

I have some time today so I will get a code reader to see what the error codes are. I don't know them yet.

I have a video of the behavior. Here is a link to it. Hope that works. https://share.icloud.com/photos/06btoIVYL68rvVRTQm3Mc8irg

 

[B21]

Looks like you may have idrive CIC failure unless you've trap the idrive knob/wires..

 

[Chippie]

Have you tried disconnecting the Mr12volt, reconnecting the original cables and seeing if it still keeps rebooting?
also check the see if the idrive controller is stuck down as that will cause the system to keep rebooting.

 

[fingerpicker]

Idrive controller does not appear to be stuck down. I don't have any combox error codes. I do have 2 codes that look relevant but they look to be historical and not currently present, according to bimmerlink. They are A468 and A46D. See photos of bimmerlink screen shots.

 

[fingerpicker]

SUCCESS!

I started going through the connections one by one to see what changed the behavior. The culprit was the face of the head unit. I didn't realize that could go on backwards. Once I switched it around almost everything started working as expected. I say "almost" because I still don't have volume control from the knob on the faceplate. I can change the volume using the steering wheel controls, so it's functional for me for the moment. I would like to figure out that problem, but at least I can drive and have music again. Thanks for the suggestions.