Does your radio reception suck?

[chairmankaga]

I often listen to a couple of local radio stations, but man, the reception is terrible. I get NO AM stations, and even the local high-power FM stations are poor. For comparison, I have a 1984 model Blaupunkt Detroit head unit in my '82 Alfa Romeo with an unboosted aerial, and I can pick up stations from San Antonio. In the M35 I can barely get stations from next door.

Do these cars have integrated signal amps? Or maybe I've lost connectivity with the antenna? Where is this gear in our cars? Windshield, rear glass... ??? I know most aftermarket signal boosters will also amplify noise, so I'd prefer a more "elegant" solution, if one exists.

[Ilya]

Sounds like a physical issue with one of your components unfortunately. Perhaps the FSM (in my sig) will shed some light on where the components are and you can check the connections, etc.

[EdBwoy]

Boy, sucky situation with this car, huh? My headlight setting sucks!

Sorry, of no real help at the moment, but when I had a 2006 M45 my radio reception was pretty good. The car has 2 antennae relating to the AM/FM function and they are both on the rear glass IIRC. Main one on top, and the sub one at the bottom. In that case, I'd check to see if the glass has been replaced and someone either forgot or damaged the connection.

[chairmankaga]

I might've sorted the headlight sitch. There was a massive buildup of what appeared to be soda, ArmorAll, dust, and dog hair glued to the headlight sensor (and the front portion of the dash near the windshield). I must've missed it when I initially cleaned the car. I cleaned the fire out of it and it SEEMS to be working better.

I do wonder if maybe the amp/booster in the C-pillar is bad. They're pretty cheap on eBay, although I really don't know how to test it short of a basic continuity test, inspecting the wires, and comparing plugged in vs unplugged.

[Six_Legs]

My reception is bad, very spotty. Not a big deal since I mostly use the cd player when I do drive the car.

[chairmankaga]

So while I was diggin around in the center console, trying to install the PA15, I noticed the wires to the auxiliary bypass switch for the FM transmitter were unplugged. The thing has just been always on. Hooked them back up, and now I can switch the thing off, greatly improving radio reception. I guess it was just interfering with/overpowering the stations on the lower end of the spectrum.

[Ilya]

So while I was diggin around in the center console, trying to install the PA15, I noticed the wires to the auxiliary bypass switch for the FM transmitter were unplugged. The thing has just been always on. Hooked them back up, and now I can switch the thing off, greatly improving radio reception. I guess it was just interfering with/overpowering the stations on the lower end of the spectrum.

Nice!