BMW X3 Infotainment Nightmare: Display and Audio Dead

Hey there! I have some experience with cars, and I actually had a very similar issue with my 2021 BMW X5 last summer. The display was acting crazy, flickering and going dark out of nowhere. Super frustrating! Took it to my regular workshop and they diagnosed it as a faulty display unit that needed replacement. The whole thing, including labor and parts, set me back about 725 Euro, but it fixed the problem completely. The technician mentioned these issues can sometimes be related to software glitches too. Before I share more specifics about my repair, could you tell me if you're getting any specific error codes? Also, have you noticed if the problem gets worse when the car heats up? This info would help me understand if you're dealing with the same thing I had. By the way, the i4 from the same brand was in the shop when I was there, seems like these display issues aren't super rare with newer BMWs.

Thanks for sharing! I've got 37359 KM on my X3, and it was just serviced two weeks ago. The error code I'm getting is DME 0x4A8B3, and yeah, I've noticed the screen acts up more when I've been driving for a while, especially during warmer days. The audio completely cuts out at that point too. It's helpful to know about your experience with the display unit replacement. Did your audio system also act up, or was it just the display? I'm wondering if I should expect to replace both components or if they might be connected somehow. Hoping it won't cost too much more than what you paid, but these luxury car repairs can get pretty pricey!

Hey again! Thanks for providing those details, this definitely sounds similar to what I experienced. In my case, it turned out that both the display and audio issues were actually connected through the main control module. When I look back at it now, I probably should have mentioned this in my first response! When my audio started cutting out together with the display problems, just like yours, I initially thought they were separate issues. But the technician found that the main control module was overheating, which caused both problems. That's why it got worse during longer drives and on warmer days, exactly like what you're experiencing. The error code you're getting is different from what I had (mine was DME 0x4A9C2), but the symptoms are eerily similar. In the end, replacing just the control module fixed both the display and audio problems. The final cost was actually around 890 Euro, a bit more than just a display replacement, but less than replacing both systems separately. Since you've got basically the same symptoms I had, I'd recommend asking your technician to check the main control module first. These BMWs can be tricky with their integrated systems, sometimes what looks like multiple problems is actually just one component acting up. Would you mind keeping me posted on what they find? I'm curious to know if it's the same issue I had!

Thanks everyone for your input! After reading through the responses, I'm feeling more confident about getting this fixed. I'll definitely have the technician look at the main control module first, since the symptoms match up so closely with what you experienced, especially that connection between the display issues and audio cutting out during longer drives. I've scheduled an appointment for next week, and I'm really hoping it'll just be the control module rather than having to replace multiple components. It's definitely nerve-wracking when these high-tech systems start acting up, but it's reassuring to know others have dealt with similar issues and got them resolved. I'll update the thread once I get it checked out, might help someone else down the line who runs into the same problem with their BMW. Really appreciate all the detailed advice, especially about the overheating connection. Fingers crossed it won't cost too much more than your repair did!