2004 bmw 325xi: AM Radio Statics and Reception Problems

Forgot to add after 2nd sentence:

"Floyd Rogers" <fbloogyuds.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:D-WdnSPRVvNyXYDUnZ2dnUVZ_g2dnZ2d@posted.palinacquisition...
> "Scott Dorsey" <kludge.RemoveThis@panix.com> wrote
>> Floyd Rogers <fbloogyuds.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>... Replacing the amplifier
>> modules and cleaning the connections won't hurt anything, but it won't
>> make
>> the system perform any better than it did when it was new.
>
> This is not true IME in my '01 330xi. Cleaning the contacts markedly
> improved AM performance.

.... more than a new radio.

> FloydR
 >> Stay informed about: 2004 bmw 325xi: AM Radio Statics and Reception Problems 

In article <gfkau2$qir$1@panix2.panix.com>,
Scott Dorsey <kludge DeleteThis @panix.com> wrote:
> Yes, this is absolutely true... but even working properly, the
> low-profile "amplified stub" antenna system isn't worth a damn. Yes,
> the antennae are embedded in the rear window... and the diversity
> switching helps a lot with FM reception but it doesn't do a thing for AM
> since picket-fencing from multipath isn't really a problem with AM
> anyway. Replacing the amplifier modules and cleaning the connections
> won't hurt anything, but it won't make the system perform any better
> than it did when it was new. And when it was new, it wasn't so hot.

I recently bought a DAB radio for the 'other' car and discovered it really
needed the correct aerial too - so for the thick end of 100 gbp I bought
the correct roof mounted active one. About 18" long, and two amps built
in, one of which is for AM. And it works very, very well. Far better than
the screen ones on my E39.

--
*If only you'd use your powers for good instead of evil.

Dave Plowman dave DeleteThis @davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
 >> Stay informed about: 2004 bmw 325xi: AM Radio Statics and Reception Problems 

egavish.DeleteThis@gmail.com wrote:
> My 2004 325xi am radio had problems with AM radio statics and
> reception for many years. It was replaced twice already.( Now seating
> and waiting for 3rd replacement appointment). Is there anything else
> other than replacing of the radios that can be done? Is this a known
> problem with BMW AM radios. Or I should try to declare this a lemon.
> Anyone?
>

It can be the rear window or the connections to the antenna or defogger
in it. I had two rear windows replaced for this reason under warranty.

--
JRE
 >> Stay informed about: 2004 bmw 325xi: AM Radio Statics and Reception Problems 

Dave Plowman (News) <dave.TakeThisOut@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
>
>I recently bought a DAB radio for the 'other' car and discovered it really
>needed the correct aerial too - so for the thick end of 100 gbp I bought
>the correct roof mounted active one. About 18" long, and two amps built
>in, one of which is for AM. And it works very, very well. Far better than
>the screen ones on my E39.

European DAB is much shorter wavelength than FM, and it needs both a
different size antenna, and if there are active electronics they need
to be tuned differently.

The good thing about DAB is that the short wavelength means that small
antennae can be a lot more effective, but it means existing FM antennae
aren't going to work very well. It really was designed with cars in mind,
which the AM and FM bands surely were not.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
 >> Stay informed about: 2004 bmw 325xi: AM Radio Statics and Reception Problems 

In article <gfmpo3$fo5$1@panix2.panix.com>,
Scott Dorsey <kludge.TakeThisOut@panix.com> wrote:
> >I recently bought a DAB radio for the 'other' car and discovered it
> >really needed the correct aerial too - so for the thick end of 100 gbp
> >I bought the correct roof mounted active one. About 18" long, and two
> >amps built in, one of which is for AM. And it works very, very well.
> >Far better than the screen ones on my E39.

> European DAB is much shorter wavelength than FM, and it needs both a
> different size antenna, and if there are active electronics they need
> to be tuned differently.

But my radio has FM and AM too.

As it happens Band III (DAB) is approx half the wavelength of Band II (FM)
so all is not lost.

> The good thing about DAB is that the short wavelength means that small
> antennae can be a lot more effective, but it means existing FM antennae
> aren't going to work very well. It really was designed with cars in
> mind, which the AM and FM bands surely were not. --scott

The active aerial I've got works very well for all bands. Much better than
the screen one in my E39. As well it might being a ground plane design.

--
*Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines *

Dave Plowman dave.TakeThisOut@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
 >> Stay informed about: 2004 bmw 325xi: AM Radio Statics and Reception Problems