VW Beetle Audio System Dies, Common Control Unit Issue

I dealt with a very similar issue on my 2014 VW Golf TDI. Having some experience with car audio systems, I initially thought it was just static noise or speaker crackle, but it turned out to be more serious. The main display unit was completely dead, similar to your symptoms. After running diagnostics, the workshop found that the head unit had failed due to a combination of faulty wiring and internal component issues. The complete repair, including parts and labor, came to 725€. The fix involved: Complete replacement of the display unit, Testing all speaker connections, Updating the audio system software, Full diagnostic scan to ensure no remaining error codes Before suggesting specific solutions for your case, it would help to know: Have you noticed any intermittent issues before the complete failure? Does the display light up at all? Are your steering wheel audio controls still responsive? What specific error codes are you getting? Have you had any recent electrical work done on the car? Sound system problems in VWs from this era can be related to several components, so having these details would help narrow down the exact cause.

Last service was done at 33329km and dashboard controls were working fine then. The issue started suddenly with no warning signs or speaker crackle beforehand. The display still lights up normally and shows radio stations, but the volume control doesnt respond and theres zero sound output. No electrical work has been done recently. Error codes point to the sound system amplifier module. Based on whats described, it sounds like a different issue than what you experienced. Looking at the steering wheel controls, they appear to respond on the display but produce no actual changes to the volume or audio output.

Thanks for those additional details about your Beetle. Your symptoms actually do sound quite different from what I experienced with my Golf TDI, and the error codes pointing to the amplifier module make a lot more sense now. The fact that your dashboard controls and display are working while having no sound suggests the head unit itself is likely fine, unlike my situation. The amplifier module is a separate component that handles power distribution to the speakers, and when it fails, you get exactly these symptoms, working display but no audio output. In my case, I initially suspected the amplifier too, but the completely dead head unit made it a different diagnosis path. Since your system shows the radio stations and responds to inputs on the display, the amplifier module is almost certainly the culprit. For your Beetle, replacing the amplifier module should resolve the Bluetooth problem and restore sound system functionality. The repair cost should be lower than what I paid since its a more focused fix, likely around 400-500€ for parts and labor. Before heading to the shop, you might want to check the fuse box, while its probably not just a blown fuse given the error codes, its worth checking since its free and easy. The audio system fuse location should be listed in your owners manual.

Based on your feedback, I can see its definitely an amplifier issue rather than the complete head unit failure. The error codes align with what others have experienced when the amp module fails. Im going to check those fuses first, good suggestion. With the display working and controls responding but having zero sound output, that really does point to the amplifier being the problem. Its actually reassuring to know this might be a more straightforward and less expensive fix than your head unit replacement. 400-500€ sounds much better than the 725€ you had to spend. Before I take it to the shop, Ill grab some pictures of the error codes to show them and document exactly which features are still working versus not working. Really helpful to hear about the differences between our issues. The audio quality problems you experienced with your complete system failure definitely seem more severe than my no-sound situation. At least I know what to expect now when I take it in. Thanks for walking through the diagnosis with me.