Possible Incompatibility bet Technic Harness & BMW SOS Button

selmeralto · 08-24-2017, 03:25 PM

UPDATE: The problem with the SOS unit had nothing to do with the Technic harness. See note 21, below.

Has anyone had problems with the BMW SOS button after installing the Technic harness?

I brought the car into the dealer today because the SOS button wouldn't work. The dealership suspects the Technic harness.

More specifically, the problem with the SOS button was that, though the SOS button signal reached the BMW agent, there was no audio communication between the car driver and the BMW agent.

The car is still in the shop for trouble shooting but the tech at first suspected that the problem might be either my having disconnected the front speaker or the harness. The dealer then reconnected the front speaker and got the audio back there. So he now suspects the culprit is the harness.

I'll find out more as the dealer continues to troubleshoot but in the meantime, has anyone successfully installed the harness, disconnected the front speaker, and then used the SOS button successfully? Or has anyone just installed the harness and then used the SOS button successfully?

I like the improved audio sound from the HK system but I can't be without the SOS functionality.

Thanks in advance.

zipphreak · 08-24-2017, 07:40 PM

ohh man. You have a cell phone, and get AAA. Some people were babied too much.

selmeralto · 08-24-2017, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zipphreak

ohh man. You have a cell phone, and get AAA. Some people were babied too much.

Well, thanks for the culture crit.

I'd still appreciate an answer to the technical question I asked.

zipphreak · 08-24-2017, 07:43 PM

I couldn't read the whole post as it was too funny. What was the technical question.

selmeralto · 08-24-2017, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zipphreak

I couldn't read the whole post as it was too funny. What was the technical question.

Is there an incompatibility between the SOS button functionality and either the center speaker removal or (more likely) the Technic ASD bypass harness?

zipphreak · 08-24-2017, 07:48 PM

Plug back in your center speaker. If the SOS button works, then it's that. If it doesn't remove your technic harness.

Didn't anyone teach you fundamental process of elimination troubleshooting. Change one variable, test. repeat. Are you a millennial or over 50 ? jk rofl

selmeralto · 08-24-2017, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zipphreak

Plug back in your center speaker. If the SOS button works, then it's that. If it doesn't remove your technic harness.

Didn't anyone teach you fundamental process of elimination troubleshooting. Change one variable, test. repeat.

It's not quite that simple.

If you hit the SOS button and the BMW folks don't hear a voice, they send the police, thinking there might be a real emergency. We're trying to avoid doing that much, as I'm sure you can appreciate.

zipphreak · 08-24-2017, 07:52 PM

You have solved your problem. Put everything back the way it is was, and walk away....

selmeralto · 08-24-2017, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zipphreak

You have solved your problem. Put everything back the way it is was, and walk away....

Right. Thanks for your help.

Anyone else?

zipphreak · 08-24-2017, 07:54 PM

This forum has about 5 active posters.. Good luck!

BMWZ4 · 08-24-2017, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zipphreak

This forum has about 5 active posters.. Good luck!

Bad day at the office? OP is asking a legitimate tech question.

zipphreak · 08-24-2017, 08:06 PM

I answered him. Not too his liking, you try...

and yes fun day at the 0ffice.

I gave him exact and valid steps to prove out his theory. He doesn't want to ring the popo that's on him.

ChrisFulton · 08-25-2017, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by selmeralto

Has anyone had problems with the BMW SOS button after installing the Technic harness?

I brought the car into the dealer today because the SOS button wouldn't work. The dealership suspects the Technic harness.

More specifically, the problem with the SOS button was that, though the SOS button signal reached the BMW agent, there was no audio communication between the car driver and the BMW agent.

The car is still in the shop for trouble shooting but the tech at first suspected that the problem might be either my having disconnected the front speaker or the harness. The dealer then reconnected the front speaker and got the audio back there. So he now suspects the culprit is the harness.

I'll find out more as the dealer continues to troubleshoot but in the meantime, has anyone successfully installed the harness, disconnected the front speaker, and then used the SOS button successfully? Or has anyone just installed the harness and then used the SOS button successfully?

I like the improved audio sound from the HK system but I can't be without the SOS functionality.

Thanks in advance.

Have you asked this question with Technic?
If this is true their "product liability" issues are potentially catastrophic.

BEM-S4 · 08-25-2017, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by selmeralto

Quote:

Originally Posted by zipphreak

Plug back in your center speaker. If the SOS button works, then it's that. If it doesn't remove your technic harness.

Didn't anyone teach you fundamental process of elimination troubleshooting. Change one variable, test. repeat.

It's not quite that simple.

If you hit the SOS button and the BMW folks don't hear a voice, they send the police, thinking there might be a real emergency. We're trying to avoid doing that much, as I'm sure you can appreciate.

There's a workaround - perhaps. When I got my new car I had to call in via SOS to register it. Just went straight to BMW no police showed up at my house. Maybe check to see if you can deactivate your SOS account and then hook it up again? Test system using that call to BMW?

selmeralto · 08-25-2017, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisFulton

Have you asked this question with Technic?
If this is true their "product liability" issues are potentially catastrophic.

No, I haven't. Right now I'm just trying to find out whether there's evidence of a connection.

selmeralto · 08-25-2017, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

There's a workaround - perhaps. When I got my new car I had to call in via SOS to register it. Just went straight to BMW no police showed up at my house. Maybe check to see if you can deactivate your SOS account and then hook it up again? Test system using that call to BMW?

Thanks, BEM-S4.

BEM-S4 · 08-25-2017, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by selmeralto

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

There's a workaround - perhaps. When I got my new car I had to call in via SOS to register it. Just went straight to BMW no police showed up at my house. Maybe check to see if you can deactivate your SOS account and then hook it up again? Test system using that call to BMW?

Thanks, BEM-S4.

NP. Lacking that I'd head over to the local station at a slow time (Sunday AM etc) and tell them you think your SOS car thing is broken, you're gonna sit in the parking lot and hit the button to see what happens. If they get a call for a BMW parked outside it's not a problem.

mdputnam · 08-28-2017, 01:12 PM

Here is another way to test it. Call your dealer and ask to speak directly to their BMW Genius, make an appointment directly with the BMW Genius to show you how to use the SOS button. Disconnect the harness and dive over the dealer and have the Genius show you how to use the SOS feature. Plug it back in and the two of you can test it again.

selmeralto · 08-28-2017, 03:06 PM

Thanks very much.

I've just gotten word that the technician is replacing a part. I'm not sure what part he's replacing but when I find out I'll post it, along with any other information I can get about the problem.

CAMOETO · 08-28-2017, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by selmeralto

Thanks very much.

I've just gotten word that the technician is replacing a part. I'm not sure what part he's replacing but when I find out I'll post it, along with any other information I can get about the problem.

So not a problem caused by the harness than? If not, it's just another sad example of the inherent downside of having any kind of mods on our car combined with a lazy/incompetent BMW service.

BMW tech: "What's that you say, your car randomly goes into limp mode every couple of weeks? Is that tint I see on your car?"

Personally, I had ASD coded out, which seems to work rather well.

selmeralto · 08-30-2017, 03:17 PM

Well, folks, the evidence is in and the problem was neither the Technics harness nor was it disconnecting the front speaker.

The problem was a defective telematics control unit, a.k.a. the "Combox," which operates independently of the Active Sound System. The defect prevented the SOS system from sending audio to BMW Central and also muted the speakers when the SOS people were trying to communicate with the car.

Thanks to the dealership (BMW of the Main Line) for tracking this down and for keeping the sound system, with my modifications, intact.

Very sorry for the false alarm.

BEM-S4 · 08-30-2017, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by selmeralto

Well, folks, the evidence is in and the problem was neither the Technics harness nor was it disconnecting the front speaker.

The problem was a defective telematics control unit, a.k.a. the "Combox," which operates independently of the Active Sound System. The defect prevented the SOS system from sending audio to BMW Central and also muted the speakers when the SOS people were trying to communicate with the car.

Thanks to the dealership (BMW of the Main Line) for tracking this down and for keeping the sound system, with my modifications, intact.

Very sorry for the false alarm.

Main Line is great. I was there yesterday in fact!

08-24-2017, 03:25 PM	#1
selmeralto Lieutenant 227 Rep 465 Posts Drives: 2021 M2 Competition Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (0)	Possible Incompatibility bet Technic Harness & BMW SOS Button - RESOLVED: NO CONFLICT UPDATE: The problem with the SOS unit had nothing to do with the Technic harness. See note 21, below. Has anyone had problems with the BMW SOS button after installing the Technic harness? I brought the car into the dealer today because the SOS button wouldn't work. The dealership suspects the Technic harness. More specifically, the problem with the SOS button was that, though the SOS button signal reached the BMW agent, there was no audio communication between the car driver and the BMW agent. The car is still in the shop for trouble shooting but the tech at first suspected that the problem might be either my having disconnected the front speaker or the harness. The dealer then reconnected the front speaker and got the audio back there. So he now suspects the culprit is the harness. I'll find out more as the dealer continues to troubleshoot but in the meantime, has anyone successfully installed the harness, disconnected the front speaker, and then used the SOS button successfully? Or has anyone just installed the harness and then used the SOS button successfully? I like the improved audio sound from the HK system but I can't be without the SOS functionality. Thanks in advance. Last edited by selmeralto; 08-31-2017 at 10:16 AM..
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08-24-2017, 07:40 PM	#2
zipphreak Captain 454 Rep 986 Posts Drives: m235xi Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: b00ty iTrader: (2)	ohh man. You have a cell phone, and get AAA. Some people were babied too much.
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08-24-2017, 07:43 PM	#4
zipphreak Captain 454 Rep 986 Posts Drives: m235xi Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: b00ty iTrader: (2)	I couldn't read the whole post as it was too funny. What was the technical question.
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08-24-2017, 07:48 PM	#6
zipphreak Captain 454 Rep 986 Posts Drives: m235xi Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: b00ty iTrader: (2)	Plug back in your center speaker. If the SOS button works, then it's that. If it doesn't remove your technic harness. Didn't anyone teach you fundamental process of elimination troubleshooting. Change one variable, test. repeat. Are you a millennial or over 50 ? jk rofl
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08-24-2017, 07:52 PM	#8
zipphreak Captain 454 Rep 986 Posts Drives: m235xi Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: b00ty iTrader: (2)	You have solved your problem. Put everything back the way it is was, and walk away....
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08-24-2017, 07:54 PM	#10
zipphreak Captain 454 Rep 986 Posts Drives: m235xi Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: b00ty iTrader: (2)	This forum has about 5 active posters.. Good luck!
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08-24-2017, 08:06 PM	#12
zipphreak Captain 454 Rep 986 Posts Drives: m235xi Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: b00ty iTrader: (2)	I answered him. Not too his liking, you try... and yes fun day at the 0ffice. I gave him exact and valid steps to prove out his theory. He doesn't want to ring the popo that's on him.
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08-28-2017, 01:12 PM	#18
mdputnam Lieutenant 289 Rep 556 Posts Drives: 135i & M235i Convertibles Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Here is another way to test it. Call your dealer and ask to speak directly to their BMW Genius, make an appointment directly with the BMW Genius to show you how to use the SOS button. Disconnect the harness and dive over the dealer and have the Genius show you how to use the SOS feature. Plug it back in and the two of you can test it again.
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08-28-2017, 03:06 PM	#19
selmeralto Lieutenant 227 Rep 465 Posts Drives: 2021 M2 Competition Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (0)	Thanks very much. I've just gotten word that the technician is replacing a part. I'm not sure what part he's replacing but when I find out I'll post it, along with any other information I can get about the problem.
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08-30-2017, 03:17 PM	#21
selmeralto Lieutenant 227 Rep 465 Posts Drives: 2021 M2 Competition Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (0)	Correlation Not the Same as Causation! Well, folks, the evidence is in and the problem was neither the Technics harness nor was it disconnecting the front speaker. The problem was a defective telematics control unit, a.k.a. the "Combox," which operates independently of the Active Sound System. The defect prevented the SOS system from sending audio to BMW Central and also muted the speakers when the SOS people were trying to communicate with the car. Thanks to the dealership (BMW of the Main Line) for tracking this down and for keeping the sound system, with my modifications, intact. Very sorry for the false alarm. Last edited by selmeralto; 08-30-2017 at 03:35 PM..
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