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Poor radio reception ...

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Old 06-10-2012, 05:22 PM
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Greetings all, I drive the '04 E60 and since I got the car few years ago the AM/FM radio signal has always been poor :thumbsdown: . The radio is stock and as far as I know no one has tampered with it. Has anyone seen this before or know of what could be causing this? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


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Aaron
Old 06-11-2012, 05:01 AM
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im having the same problem, my reception sucks. hope somone knows how to fix this
Old 06-11-2012, 05:16 PM
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Originally Posted by aaronbpt
Greetings all, I drive the '04 E60 and since I got the car few years ago the AM/FM radio signal has always been poor :thumbsdown: . The radio is stock and as far as I know no one has tampered with it. Has anyone seen this before or know of what could be causing this? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks,
Aaron

Do you have tinted windows? Metallic tints greatly affect the AM.
Old 06-11-2012, 05:48 PM
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Originally Posted by ColdList
Do you have tinted windows? Metallic tints greatly affect the AM.
Most tints have metallic materials in them. I have 15% tint with metallic and don't have radio reception issues. Except for one major channel. I think it has to do with the environment and the software possible on the unit. I mean most of the car is metal lol.


OP- if you roll down the windows does it get better? It would be worthy to look at what kind of Audio you have in your car. Also is your antenna going to the sharkfin?
Old 06-12-2012, 05:06 AM
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Diversity amplifier should be looked at...
Old 06-12-2012, 07:09 AM
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mines always sucked too and the remote range. pretty pathetic actualy
Old 06-12-2012, 07:18 AM
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Originally Posted by AchtungE60
Most tints have metallic materials in them. I have 15% tint with metallic and don't have radio reception issues. Except for one major channel. I think it has to do with the environment and the software possible on the unit. I mean most of the car is metal lol.


OP- if you roll down the windows does it get better? It would be worthy to look at what kind of Audio you have in your car. Also is your antenna going to the sharkfin?
It is because your AM antenna is affected by the tint. This is actually very true. Fixed this myself several years ago in a previous e39 I had.
Old 06-12-2012, 07:21 AM
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Got mine about 4 months ago. In the beginning it was beautiful, now I?m having major issues... IN NEED OF SIRIUS XM
When I had my 2004 E60 - I had no problems with or without tinted windows... I think pcy is right, it has something to do with diversity amplifier
Old 06-18-2012, 07:29 AM
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Originally Posted by ColdList
Do you have tinted windows? Metallic tints greatly affect the AM.

Originally Posted by AchtungE60
Most tints have metallic materials in them. I have 15% tint with metallic and don't have radio reception issues. Except for one major channel. I think it has to do with the environment and the software possible on the unit. I mean most of the car is metal lol.


OP- if you roll down the windows does it get better? It would be worthy to look at what kind of Audio you have in your car. Also is your antenna going to the sharkfin?
Thank you for your response. I do have tints (30% front, 20% back). I tried rolling down all windows and sun roof, no changes.
Old 06-18-2012, 08:42 AM
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Your diversity antenna is probably oxidized. I had the same issue. I removed the diversity antenna and used a deoxidizing agent called DeOxIt to clean all of the contacts on the antenna. Worked like a charm. 91% isopropyl alcohol would also work in a pinch, but if you're going to go through the trouble of removing the antenna, you might as well spend the couple of bucks on a good deoxidizing agent. I have to do this procedure on my grandpa's car soon. Perhaps I'll make a good diy. In the meantime, search on how to remove the antenna. I believe someone made a diy for replacing the whole antenna. It is rather simple. I have tints too btw, which in my experience, haven't affected radio quality much. Good luck!
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