2003 BMW 745i -XM radio problem

I had two installers try to put in an XM FM modulated unit in my BMW 2003 745i. I have an alpine unit but there is amlot of on & off static. Also, driving to other cities: XM is cut off by stations broadcasting on the same frequency.  Installers say they can't figure out why they can't put XM into this car. ANY suggestions will be very appreciated. Has anyone out there put in an XM radio (FM Mod) to a 745i? (Not the Delphi unit- I don't have a tape player). Please write on forum of my e mail: bfeinstein@vaallergy.com

Thanks

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Thank you

B. feinstein

First off just so you know, the delphi unit now has an available fm modulator that elmiinates needing the tape or cigarette lighter adapters.

Okay now first thing you wanna make sure is that they are using the correct antenna adapters.  Some german cars (particularly VW, though BMW and audi are quirky at times as well) need special adapters to activate the factory signal boosters. Without the right adapters your reception can be nonexistant, it can suffer from interference, and a whole bunch of other things can happen.  Ask for them to pull the radio out so you yourself can look at the back of it to make sure they didn't try to cut any antenna plugs off and hardwire the antenna.  Such a method would technically be possible but would be very crude and probably not very reliable.

As soon as you turn your xm unit on and the modulator turns on, it should completely take over the fm signals going to the car's antenna.  The term fm modulator kinda makes it sound like it's gonna be using radio broadcasts over the air or something when in actuality the transmission is all done via the antenna adapters (i.e. directly on the cable itself).  With that being said, I find it very odd that the thing is behaving how you describe it.

To make sure I have your descriptions correct, what exactly do you mean when you say "there's a lot of on and off static"?  Do you mean the static is intermittent (comes and goes)?  If so, are there any patterns you've been able to notice in terms of what you might be doing in the car (turn signals, braking, turing on the A/C, opening a window, etc.)  or where you might be driving, at the time the static occurs?  Or do you really mean that when the unit is turned on and off  you get static?

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Ethan
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"Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success"
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The static occurs from time to time having nothing to do with anything the driver does. The installer says they have used the proper antenna adapters. But, is there a list of which adapters to know for sure?

assuming the adapter is OK & the antenna was placed correctly, any other ideas on what to do? They even tried tto use a separate FM transmitter unit but this made the problem worse/Do you think the delphi FM modulator is better than the Alpine unit? Can you give me any names of anyone who might know how to troubleshoot this problem.

I have 3 other cars with XM without any problems!!

Thanks

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Thank you

B. feinstein

I wouldn't say the delphi unit is necessarily any better, but it certainly is much easier to install as there's no separate hideaway tuner module that you have to hook up like is the case with any other fm modulated xm setup.

I've looked for the "correct" lists and the problem is each company seems to label the adapter for use with different model years, even though it might work for more than one.  Each kit/harness manufacturer has its own list but many of them do not have all models, especially for brand new model years like 03 and 04. 

Bestkits lists one of their newer antenna adapters as being for 02 and up VW and BMW cars (BAA22) and a reverse adapter (BAA23).

Then if you go to Scosche's web site they show an adapter that's for "BMW/VW 2002-up."  They don't specifically list a corresponding reverse adapter, although the one that's listed right below it looks like it might work. 

I just emailed Metra to ask them what the correct regular and reverse antenna adapters are so I'll hopefully get a response back from them sometime in the near future and will post as soon as that happens.  Don't really know what else to suggest right now, sorry!:(  But I will keep thinking about it and try to come up with something.

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Ethan
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"Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success"
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The Metra guy says you need the 40-EU30 and that that will include both adapters in it.  I believe if purchases separately, the two adapters are the 40-EU10 and the 40-EU20.  Hope this helps you!  And I'll keep asking around to see if I can figure out anything else.

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Ethan
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"Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success"
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What company makes thr 40-EU10 & EU20?

I called Scoshe and they said that they don't make an adapter yet fot the 2003 BMW 7 series.

My installer says he used a generic VW adapter and that he doesn't believe the static problem is the fault of the antenna adapter since the FM radio in the car works without any problems.

How imprtant is it to have the proper adapter. Is it an all or none effect or can an adapter physically fit but not be correct?

Thanks for your help

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Thank you

B. feinstein

the company that makes the adapter is called Metra (www.metraonline.com).   Actually for many VWs, if you don't get a special adapter that has an extra wire in it, the reception ends up being horrible.  That's because on those vehicles there's a factory antenna booster that needs to get a turn-on signal, and if that extra wire isn't hooked up the booster will not turn on.  Last time I had this happen, the radio's fm reception was not very good, and AM reception was practically nonexistent.  unfortunately in those cars, a standard VW adapter WILL fit in just fine.\

Now I realize your car is not a VW but it seems like antenna problems always arise with many of the german-made cars.  Maybe I misread your first posts because 'I did not realize that your FM radio was not having any problems. 

One more thing you should try--and please tell me if this works as I'm not sure if it's just a myth or not.  With the stereo and xm display/modulator turned on, turn the xm display off (this will also turn the modulator off).  Then, turn the whole stereo off, either by turning off the car or if you can turn it off while you're driving then just do that.  Then turn the stereo back on with the modulator/xm display still off.  Supposedly this will give you AM reception.  I had a guy with an Audi who was having this problem and I told him to try that, and he has not come back so I assume maybe it worked.  Might wanna give that a try, but like I said please let me know if it works!

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Ethan
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"Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success"
Donate to the12volt.com

I called Scoshe and they told me that if my current adapter "fits" and powers the amplified antenna, then it's the correct adapter and to look for another solution. As to the last suggestion: I really have no problem with AM reception or FM for that matter)- it's just static & loss of fidelity with XM radio ( we even tried the Pioneer unit).

Do you know the name(s) of any good installers on the east coast i could call for a consultation? Any BMW specialists out there? The dealers know nothing when it comes to these after market products.

Thanks

Barry Feinstein

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Thank you

B. feinstein

Umm I know that there are lots of good installers up and down the coast--lots in New York and Florida of course, but plenty in other areas as well.  Try checking the installer directory thing on this site.

Okie so basically you're having sound quality issues with the fm modulated xm sound, not with the car's standard  fm radio reception, right?  Sorry if I I misunderstood you earlier.  I'm assuming that they've tried switching the adapters and units and all that basic troubleshooting stuff?

You might want to try an antenna noise filter like this one--it just might help with the intermittent static, although I dunno if it will help with the fidelity issue.  how does the overall sound (fidelity speaking) of the xm compare to the sound from a good strong local fm channel in your car?  is the standard fm better?

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Ethan
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"Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success"
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Assuming the FM is "A" fidelity, then the XM is "B". The reference for the antenna filter at Crutchfield says they "haven't measured yet" for the model year that I put in.

I did look at some of the names of installers on this web site. I'm going to call a couple in big city areas where they will more likely see the 2003 745's than a more rural area.

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Thank you

B. feinstein

ive seen this "static" problem with several pioneer modulator units both xm and cd. The modulator does not correctly cut out the radio frequency and instead only tries to broadcast over it, hence the poor quality. I believe this is a bad batch from the factory, as subsequent shipments have not had the same problem. It has nothing to do with the antenna adapters or the quality of the installation.

The problem is  I'm getting the same result from the more expensive Alpine unit. This unit, accd to my installer is of better quality. But, we ended up with the same problem. I have 3 other cars with XM radio & they have no sound or static problems. It seems the BMW 745 has so much electrical wiring that the only way they were able to get it static free was to litterally move the modulator unit outside the car! Apparently BMW doesn't have an input plug directly into the radio. Very frustrating!

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Thank you

B. feinstein

I don't know why I didn't think of this before, but.....does your BMW have a CD changer?  If not, you could almost definitely use a Blitzsafe or equivalent input adapter to hook up alpine and pioneer xm tuners directly, without doing any fm modulated stuff.

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Ethan
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"Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success"
Donate to the12volt.com