[mhk1058]

I have the standard radio (not split screen) fitted to a 2018 BMW 320i Msport.

It's driving me nuts why I can't get station/track info on the DAB radio, while it works perfectly on FM. My last few cars, Jag, Audi, my wife's Fiat and even a hired Dacia Duster (Urrghh) displayed track and other info on the DAB radio just fine.

It's also a bit of a pain that most of the screen is taken up with a useless generic square logo and you have to select 'Option' then station information to get the full info screen.
DAB Main Station Screen
https://oldmangrumbling.com/wp-conte...0/IMG_1303.jpg
DAB Station Info Screen - with NO Info (2 button presses EVERY TIME, why oh why!!)
https://oldmangrumbling.com/wp-conte...0/IMG_1304.jpg
FM Main Station Screen - Clipped info but better than nothing!
https://oldmangrumbling.com/wp-conte...0/IMG_1305.jpg
FM Station Info Screen - with full info (2 button presses EVERY TIME, why oh why!!)
https://oldmangrumbling.com/wp-conte...0/IMG_1306.jpg

Please tell me I'm doing something wrong and this isn't how it's designed. Otherwise this is the first car I've driven in I don't know how many years that doesn't display info on the DAB station.

I am surprised I can't find anyone else complaining about this.

[mrphildog]

I’ve just taken delivery of the same car as you and I am finding the same thing. My previous BMW (a 320 D) displayed track and artist info on DAB stations. I’m baffled.

I’m afraid I don’t have an answer but if I find one I’ll post it.

[mhk1058]

Originally Posted by mrphildog

I’ve just taken delivery of the same car as you and I am finding the same thing. My previous BMW (a 320 D) displayed track and artist info on DAB stations. I’m baffled.

I’m afraid I don’t have an answer but if I find one I’ll post it.

Thanks, I feel a little comforted that I am not on my own or missing something obvious, although still surprised that there aren't a lot more people saying the same.

I plan to pop into a dealer when I get the chance. This has to be a software oversight or something, as all the programme data comes through - if you click through you can see upcoming programmes and DJ's etc. So data is coming through, just not track or current info.

[mrphildog]

Originally Posted by mhk1058

Thanks, I feel a little comforted that I am not on my own or missing something obvious, although still surprised that there aren't a lot more people saying the same.

I plan to pop into a dealer when I get the chance. This has to be a software oversight or something, as all the programme data comes through - if you click through you can see upcoming programmes and DJ's etc. So data is coming through, just not track or current info.

Yeah, same here. I Googled this and didn't find much except your post but, like you, as was at least a bit relieved to see that I wasn't totally alone with this.

[Weizen]

I have the same issue and it's also driving me nuts. All I can see on the display is "You are listening to BBC R2" Grrr. I know what station I'm listening to. My 2015 320D touring displayed track/song info.
An email to BMW customer service just suggested I go to the dealer.
When I asked at the dealer they just said it was intentional - BMW had decided track info was too distracting. I don't believe that. I think it's a software bug. Every other car I've driven recently displays this info. I'll post here if I get anywhere.

[mrphildog]

Originally Posted by Weizen

When I asked at the dealer they just said it was intentional - BMW had decided track info was too distracting. I don't believe that. I think it's a software bug. Every other car I've driven recently displays this info. I'll post here if I get anywhere.

Yeah - I agree, that sounds like a poor excuse given that the display shows track/artist details for Spotify / Amazon Music etc. DAB track info is no more distracting than Spotify showing the same info. Sounds like the dealer can't be bothered helping.

[MarkoSK]

I got this problem on some standard FM stations (don't have DAB). What helped is to reset the iDrive unit to factory (there's a setting somewhere labeled 'Delete personal data' or similar).

[Hazy1980]

Did any of you guys manage to sort this?
I’m suffering the same, no DAB information on a 2018 3 series

[Spike-D]

Also no DAB song/programme info on our X1 F48 SDrive 20i Xline 2018 (UK) with standard 6.5" screen. the same on FM, just the dull, grey on grey basic station info. No Spotify either and only a couple of album art covers are displayed out of a load of MP3 albums. Bluetooth phone streaming works intermittently and briefly after a reset. Clearly it's all meant to work and I will take it to the dealer, as suggested by the helpline. No software updates are available it seems, so confidence is low on a fix. I'm sure I have read somewhere that BMW has a software update out in the spring (2019)? I'm glad the car is otherwise great to drive but I do miss the, let's face it, now basic car tech that isn't working for us.

[BinkyB]

Same situation and driving me insane. I took delivery of a 2018 320i M Sport X-drive Touring in October - It replaced a 2014 320D M Sport X-drive Touring - Same spec car, same colour, just petrol and a sunroof added.

My old car showed track info on DAB with that useless Generic square symbol but at least it showed station info, track and even guests on talk programmes. My new car shows nothing except one day for 30 seconds as I pulled out of a turning the track info came up and then went - I haven't seen it since. On FM I get all the information.

It's been into the dealer they 'can't find a fault' while I was there we sat in other cars in the compound and they all worked - in fact, one X5 M we looked at even had the album covers coming up where that silly square is displayed. I took a loan car out while it was being looked at a 2018 320i M Sport saloon no information on that DAB.

The dealer can't explain and are blaming it on the signal broadcasts - but all my brothers and their cars (Ford, Toyota and a Volvo which is in Sweden) all show info.

I think somewhere along the way BMW de-specced, or took out a signal amplifier for the DAB aerial.

[BinkyB]

Update: On the advice of a BMW ICE Specialist I spoke to today, I contacted BMW Customer Services on Tel: 0370 5050 160. A very pleasant lady listened to the problem of the missing DAB information, went away and came back with this explanation which backs up what Spike-D posted:

"There is a software problem with the DAB unit in that the people who write the software didn't include the bit of software that tells the DAB unit to display the information. We don't know when or if, there will be an update but there has been a bulletin issued which usually means that someone is probably working on it…"

Personally, I am taking that explanation with a pinch of salt, a squeeze of lime and a shot of tequila, not necessarily in that order - in my limited experience of software development, if something is working, you don't take that bit of code out, you leave it in until it stops working.

So, you are politely encouraged to spread the word and to call the number above, lodge a complaint - I worked in the Ford P.R.E.P. (Product Reliability Evaluation Programme - for fans of acronyms) department a long time ago, and these points are counted - please be nice, it's not their fault - and it might actually get moved up the timetable.