Having purchased a circuit tester I have checked all fuses.
The circuit tester illuminates all fuses in glove box & trunk with exception of fuse number 29, (in glove box), which is labelled as heated steering wheel. My car does not have this option & thus I am assuming this needs to be coded to be enabled/live. I appreciate the seeming irrelevance of this but it was suggested on here that someone with same problem rectified the fault by changing a seemingly unrelated fuse. I removed the 30A fuse and found the fuse socket not giving power. I also fitted another fuse but still dead......obvious really if socket not live. Anyway further checks indicate we have power to the module.I went into the trunk & removed the socket which plugs into back of the radio module, (definitely flat pin BM54 - Part No 65128385897). I checked BM54 connector Pins 15, (Red & Green), & 16 (White & Red) , both are live & showing power feed to BM54 is live. (As prior stated BM54 plug in fuse has also been swap checked but I also confirmed this was live when plugged in).
I have spoken to Cartronics GB in Byfleeet Surrey who offer repair to BM54 Becker units via ebay for £175 & discussed what I have checked thus far. They say all checks point towards the module being faulty & in need or replacement or repair. I can currently source a secondhand unit for £225 so tempted by this...Ideally I would 1st test same if buying used but interested on whether folk would get repaired or swap for a little more.
Have had other expenditure recently, trying again to buy a house plus Z3 had recent work & now needs sump repair or replacement. Both could do with coolant changes before winter, X5 would like new pads/discs & tells me via Peake reader it might need a new lambda sensor soon. Initial priority is house, then technical bits & probably & annoyingly last the BM54 module.
Will endeavour to sort but sometimes I think that returning to Japanese.....might make sense - maybe a Lexus RX & S2000 instead of X5 & Z3.
As the song goes - I need a dollar, dollar, dollar......
