2006 550i Bad TCU
02-20-2009, 09:06 AM
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Hi Folks,
First time posting, looks like a great community.
I just traded in my 2001 330i sport package / manual trans to a 2006 550i sport package steptronic. I have to say... WOW!! what a car.
Of course no new/used car would be right without working out some bugs, luckily I'm still under the original warranty.
Turns out the TCU is bad and they were on national back-order but I should get it replaced on Tuesday. Here's what I observe with a bad TCU in case anybody else runs into this:
-SOS system malfunction error
-Bluetooth (or pretty much any phone function) does not work
-High battery drain as the system is constantly trying to find the TCU (trickle charger is my friend)
This morning a new thing happened, when I started off to work I noticed that there was no audio output from ANYTHING. Stereo, SOS malfunction, seatbelt, 37-degree warning.. Also noticed that the CD player was not advancing in the supposedly playing track.
From this, I'm guessing that it's also related to the TCU thinking that I"m on a non-existant phone call and supressing all other audio.
So I had to suffer on the way to work listening to the beautiful sound of this awesome BMW V-8
Cheers,
-Greg
First time posting, looks like a great community.
I just traded in my 2001 330i sport package / manual trans to a 2006 550i sport package steptronic. I have to say... WOW!! what a car.
Of course no new/used car would be right without working out some bugs, luckily I'm still under the original warranty.
Turns out the TCU is bad and they were on national back-order but I should get it replaced on Tuesday. Here's what I observe with a bad TCU in case anybody else runs into this:
-SOS system malfunction error
-Bluetooth (or pretty much any phone function) does not work
-High battery drain as the system is constantly trying to find the TCU (trickle charger is my friend)
This morning a new thing happened, when I started off to work I noticed that there was no audio output from ANYTHING. Stereo, SOS malfunction, seatbelt, 37-degree warning.. Also noticed that the CD player was not advancing in the supposedly playing track.
From this, I'm guessing that it's also related to the TCU thinking that I"m on a non-existant phone call and supressing all other audio.
So I had to suffer on the way to work listening to the beautiful sound of this awesome BMW V-8
Cheers,
-Greg
02-20-2009, 11:21 AM
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Location: Montreal CANADA- Almaty KAZAKHSTAN
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My Ride: 545iS SMG, Black on Brown... Carbon Grille. Navi. PDC. Htd Seats. HUD... Sunshades. Logic7. All Packages. 20%front-5%back........ ETC...............................
Coming Soon: MTEC full kit, some wheels. ACS rear carbon spoiler. NAV TV.
I have one for sale 
02-20-2009, 12:52 PM
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Location: Thousand Oaks, California
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My Ride: 2008 550i Jet Black on Black Leather, SAT with Paddles, Logic 7, Comfort Seats, NAV, Sport Package, PDC, Xenons, Sirius, Trinity 12W LED Angel Eyes, RPi GT Exhaust, M rear spoiler, ACS Roof Spoiler, Tinted Tail Lights, Bimmian Carbon Fiber Pillar Trim, Bimmian Shadow 550i emblem, RPi Scoop, E60 Forum Cling, Mtec bulbs in fog lights, Mtec 2W LED for License Plate Light Bulbs, K&N Filter, Bimmian LED Smoked Side Markers, Blackout roundels, Carbon Fiber Kidney Grills.
Retired Rides - 1989 325i convertible, 1995 M3, 2002 X5, 2005 545i, 2008 X5 (Lemon)
It's amazing how every system in our wonderful cars are somehow inter-related! 
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