What's Your M4 Look Like?

jpinkerton · 06-21-2009, 01:03 AM

This is my 2nd M4 from MP3Car's Store. It does not work. bxsteez worked with me tonight and after looking at the manual and comparing the picture in the manual to the M4, we found something odd. 3 Odd things, backwards things. Googling, and searching the forums resulted in EVERY other M4 we found looking identical to the manual, and opposite mine. And mine does NOT work.

Manual/store image on left, mine on right. Notice the parts labeled TMP T7705 are facing the OPPOSITE way, all 3 of those black ones are.

*WARNING LINK TO MY M4 PIC IS THE 3888 x 2592 VERSION! MASSIVE!*

1) Does your M4 work?
2) Does your M4 look like the manual or mine?
3) When and where did you purchase your M4?
4) Was there a revision and the manual not updated to reflect new picture?
5) Where is the datasheet for the M4?

Bxsteez · 06-21-2009, 01:08 AM

I believe those are transformers and if i can remember my power classes correctly there is a ratio between wire rotations so i would think these being backwards would cause the board not to work. I couldn't find the datasheet so i can't be sure.

HiJackZX1 · 06-21-2009, 01:14 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Bxsteez

I believe those are transformers and if i can remember my power classes correctly there is a ratio between wire rotations so i would think these being backwards would cause the board not to work. I couldn't find the datasheet so i can't be sure.

HAHAHAHA, OMFG, everyday I read more and more issues with the M4. Im sorry to laugh but its f$%ked up because I need to buy 2 of these for my install and now I dont know what to do. Wow Im so sorry your having such $h!++y luck.

jpinkerton · 06-21-2009, 01:19 AM

Personally, I would buy from Mini-Box or better yet, Mo-Co-So rather than the MP3Car store. Nothing against the MP3Car customer service, just I believe they have a bad batch of these. MCS I believe quality tests their items before they ship 'em out, and Mini-Box is the manufacturer so I would assume they'd have the "best" ones available...?

I'm just upset because I paid 2nd day air on this one, so right now I'm sitting out $14 + $7 return shipping, so $21. If I had purchased an M2 + POL I'd likely have a running CarPC a week ago, and have paid less or the same.

HiJackZX1 · 06-21-2009, 01:25 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by jpinkerton

Personally, I would buy from Mini-Box or better yet, Mo-Co-So rather than the MP3Car store. Nothing against the MP3Car customer service, just I believe they have a bad batch of these. MCS I believe quality tests their items before they ship 'em out, and Mini-Box is the manufacturer so I would assume they'd have the "best" ones available...?

I'm just upset because I paid 2nd day air on this one, so right now I'm sitting out $14 + $7 return shipping, so $21. If I had purchased an M2 + POL I'd likely have a running CarPC a week ago, and have paid less or the same.

I have nothing against MP3Car either, but my preference has always been LogicSupply and Mo-Co-So..... both have excellent customer service.... LogicSupply offered to RMA my mobo when I had issues, they bent over backwards to help, but I then decided to go str8 to IEI and cut out the middle man, I then needed a receipt and LogicSupply emailed it to me and I was able to send my Mobo for repair. Mo-Co-So answers any questions you have. I have only bought a BT Dongle so far, but I plan to buy more things. D@mn, you got me so scared, maybe I should just spend the extra money and get to OPUS 360's.

jpinkerton · 06-21-2009, 01:33 AM

If I were to buy another M4, I would buy from MCS, and ensure, prior to shipping, they test it on a workbench. I am curious to know if anyone has these same transformers upside down on a working M4. If not, easy way to spot a dead M4

Bxsteez · 06-21-2009, 01:35 AM

Yea i agree Chris @ Mo-co-so is the most accomidating person on the planet! He will answer ur no matter how late u email him and if they sent u one bad part they will personally test ur item before they send u another one. I've dealt with logic supply but nothing ever went wrong so i don't know. Mp3car.com has always been good to me but i don't think i bought anything from them that would have major issues except the POL regulator but that sucker worked perfectly. I really just like Mo-co-so.

Enforcer · 06-21-2009, 11:20 AM

Why has this become an MP3car Store issue when, if the fact that those components are on the wrong way, it would be down to a manufacturing fault.

Quote: Originally Posted by jpinkerton

If I were to buy another M4, I would buy from MCS, and ensure, prior to shipping, they test it on a workbench.

And you think you couldn't get the same service from MP3Car store.

In fact when you bring it to their attention tomorrow, I assume you will be RMA'ing it the first business day you can, they will probably check out all their stock of M4's so they will probably be ahead of the competition in knowing that MiniBox are supplying dud M4's.

rdholtz · 06-21-2009, 11:26 AM

My M4-ATX -- just received from Logic Supply, and untested, looks like the catalog. As soon as I get it tested, I'll post the results.

Bxsteez · 06-21-2009, 11:29 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Enforcer

Why has this become an MP3car Store issue when, if the fact that those components are on the wrong way, it would be down to a manufacturing fault.

And you think you couldn't get the same service from MP3Car store.

In fact when you bring it to their attention tomorrow, I assume you will be RMA'ing it the first business day you can, they will probably check out all their stock of M4's so they will probably be ahead of the competition in knowing that MiniBox are supplying dud M4's.

Yea ur right. I think mp3car would test it too but MCS would do it after the first bad one without even asking. This is Jpinkerton's second m4 from mp3car. Ur still right though this is a manufacturing issue and its a STUPID issue but i've seen it happen at work A WHOLE LOT

Bugbyte · 06-21-2009, 11:31 AM

This is what both of my M4's look like:

jpinkerton · 06-21-2009, 11:37 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Enforcer

Why has this become an MP3car Store issue when, if the fact that those components are on the wrong way, it would be down to a manufacturing fault.

I'm not blaming MP3Car Store, I'm saying that at this point in time, like this week - if you're buying an M4 I would buy it from someone else simply because it seems like MP3Car didn't get one bad M4, so far I've experienced two bad M4's, and it is likely an entire batch.

Quote: Originally Posted by Enforcer

And you think you couldn't get the same service from MP3Car store.

In fact when you bring it to their attention tomorrow, I assume you will be RMA'ing it the first business day you can, they will probably check out all their stock of M4's so they will probably be ahead of the competition in knowing that MiniBox are supplying dud M4's.

I let them know Monday last week I had a bad M4, I asked them to test the next M4 I order before shipping it, I provided them with my order number immediately after I placed my order. I didn't hear back. I have a bad M4, again.

I am trying to do my own research at this point into seeing if there is a pattern. My two bad M4's look identical to the picture on the right above, neither have looked like the catalog. rdholtz's M4 looks like the catalog. My only point of this thread was to find another M4 that works that is similar to mine that was recently purchased. My point was NOT to bash MP3Car's support. My first RMA has been a smooth process thus far, I received my RMA number quickly and when I ordered a new product via 2nd Day Air I received it quickly as well.

If the problem from the M4-ATX is the position of the transformers that bxsteez found - then it's a quick visual cue for any etailer to know prior to shipping, they're sending a bad M4.

jpinkerton · 06-21-2009, 11:50 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by rdholtz

My M4-ATX -- just received from Logic Supply, and untested, looks like the catalog. As soon as I get it tested, I'll post the results.

I'd appreciate it RD, my thought is if I show MP3Car Store my thread when I RMA this one, hopefully it will help them be able to determine the status on the rest of their M4 stock.

Bxsteez · 06-21-2009, 12:00 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Bugbyte

This is what both of my M4's look like:

now that is funny lol...

Enforcer · 06-21-2009, 12:46 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Bxsteez

Yea ur right. I think mp3car would test it too but MCS would do it after the first bad one without even asking. This is Jpinkerton's second m4 from mp3car. Ur still right though this is a manufacturing issue and its a STUPID issue but i've seen it happen at work A WHOLE LOT

I was not aware that this was the second FAULTY unit, the first post did not make that clear.

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