RADIO is killing me...
 

not literally..

Hi all, new here was on bimmerforums but the forums are very quite...

anyway UK, 2001 x5 4.4 sport....love it...BUT hating the original media set up it's the 16:9 widscreen satnav/TV etc., i have no sound from FM radio, static from the MW, its searches and finds stations but no sound, sound from TV obviously static as it's analogue..so my misery is only being able to play CDs...

I have tried disconnecting fuses, even left the battery off for 24 hours but no radio sound still??

so my question is...

1} can i simply take the head unit out leave the blue and white leads where they are in the dash and just run a 5 metre extension cable from the rear radio connector to the dash and fit a simple new aftermarket head unit, will all the speakers etc be connected would the sound improve as i have the basic set up

i know aftermarket look mostly horrific but i just want a newer system with bluetooth, radio etc...as the OEM is pretty pointless apart from looking neat it would cost silly money to bring it up to date!!

thanks in advance guys

I have a very similar situation. AM and CD work fine however FM will just scan and not pick up any stations. It is very frustrating but I may just integrate an iphone connection so I can listen to internet radio from my phone. I would however like to fix the actual FM issue.

hi there, believe me i have tried EVERY online idea, i am guessing the Tuner may just be broke as all else works...but i'm getting fed up and i'm so much a purist that i would drive around listening to 6 CDs rather than put a new unit in..

I've heard that the antenna can be the problem. It is just too cold right now to try to figure it out. I'll deal with cds for now but will probably add ipod integration very soon.

ok...no laughing or berating me, remember some of us use these forums because we have little knowledge in the area...so WHAT IF!!!!

what if i just disconnected the OEM tuner amp in the rear as that in effect is the 'radio' upfront is just a screen and then via a harness adapter attached a aftermarket 'bluetooth' headset and fixed the thing in the boot, that way i could connect my phone play my spotify, leave the factory head unit looking nice upfront and have the bluetooth ie : sony Xplod in the rear...you can pick a used decent bluetooth stereo up for about £25 on fleabay...

would this work or is it the rant of a madman...???

cheers

Have you done research on the Dice media bridge? it sounds very similar to what you described. I had it in my 330 and it worked perfect for me. It is what I would choose to use when I add ipod integration to my 4.6is

i did look into that when i had my e46 look very good, thing is...the cost, i love my bims and often chop and change as the older models with 12 month Mot are a dream to a second hand buyer, so end ot this year i may be looking at a 6 series that's why i didn't want to invest a huge amount. thanks for the reply though. )

No problem! I stupidly sold my e46 with the mediabridge still installed. Now I have to buy another one lol

ouch!