» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 05-02-2024 08:18 PM 6 Replies, 402,457 Views | | | | | | 03-12-2005, 07:32 PM | #16 | Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 47 | Greetings, not to unearth a closed issue, but i've had the very same problem ever since i installed my Clarion in the TI. Could you tell me exactly the colors of the wires--both the power-on, antenna amp wire in the car and the wire you used from the aftermarket radio. The sens. of the Clarion tuner is supposed to be excellent, but i can't get my favorite jazz station now nor here my friend's radio show! If memory serves, the power-on/amp/antenna lead is pin 16 on the BMW schematic. thanks for the help, B __________________ '98 ti, open-air roof | | | 03-12-2005, 08:27 PM | #17 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 101 | It's pretty simple to connect. On your aftermarket wiring harness, there is a blue wire marked power antenna. Chances are that you didn't connect it because you thought you didn't need it. You need to connect this blue wire on your aftermarket harness to the subsequent blue wire on the harness that came with your radio. After you have made thoses connections, it should activate the antenna amplifier that came stock with your car. If you have anymore problems, just ask me. __________________ canadian_ti 1997 Acura CL | | | 11-01-2006, 06:59 AM | #18 | Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 59 | Ive got the same problem BUT bought the car with a Sony headunit cd plays no radio reception. Found no power to the antenna. I got power to the antenna, but no change. Also, is the antenna amp part of it? It looks like these guys hacked up a multi-wire plug in the area below the antenna. I'm guessing it went to a factory amp?? It's a 97 Sport. | | | 11-01-2006, 02:18 PM | #19 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Port St. Johns, Florida Posts: 2,242 | my frontier has always outdone the Tis(97(aftermarket deck) and 95(CD33) with reception, I can pick up 101.5 in Tampa on good weather days, while I can only get in the BMs on overcast days. | | | 11-01-2006, 03:19 PM | #20 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 4,129 | I have had bad luck with both my Balupunkt head units for FM reception. When my current head unit was in my Scirocco, only nearby stations came in good. I then installed it in my Ti, and it has the same reception. I'm pretty sure the stock Ti head unit worked fine. Can't remember too well since I pulled it out shortly after buying the car. Could be both my Scirocco and the Ti needed antenna power, and I never provided the 12v for it. Quote: Originally Posted by canadian_ti Hey,.. since I installed my Pioneer DEH-P4500MP,.. I've had bad antenna reception,. I had great reception with the original BMW tape deck. I used a european antenna converter to adapt the BMW antenna to fit the Pioneer head unit. Is it possible that the antenna adapter takes alot of reception away or is it most likely the head unit?? Has anyone else had bad reception on FM stations since installing an aftermarket deck?? Thanks,.. | __________________ 1998 (July) 318ti, 5-spd OEM Armrest Blaupunkt Heidelberg CD50 CD Player/Compact Drive MP3 Player Diamond Audio 5.25" rear speakers Navman ICN 530 GPS BMWALARM.COM (with comfort settings) after market alarm system Magnecor 8.5mm wires M-Z3 Shifter/Momo Knob Burlwood Dashboard Stromung Exhaust X-brace Racing Dynamics Front Strut Bar Carbonio C.A.I. 17" Rial Rims Vader Seats/Heated/Lumbar Support M-tech Steering Wheel/Front Sway Bar/Front & Rear Bumper Depos/w 6500K Angel Eyes/6000K HIDs Clear Corners M3 Mirrors UUC Light Weight Flywheel/M5 Clutch/M3 Clutch Slave E28 3.46 LSD/Mcoupe Cover/E30 Flanges & Halfshafts UUC S.S. Brake/Clutch Lines Hartge Roof Spoiler BavAuto Springs Bilstein Sport Struts/Shocks E46 M3 Rear Shock Mounts SPC Front Camber Kit Reiger Hatch Spoiler BavAuto Rear Camber Kit Dinan Stage II Software Turner Rear Sway Bar Reinforcements BMW E46 Auto dimming mirror with Clown Nose alarm Engine Compartment Light Heated Wiper Fluid Retrofit OEM Fire Extinguisher Da'lan Trailer Hitch Rear Sun Shade OEM Fog Light Retrofit H & R MZ3 Rear Sway Bar/ UUC Adjustable End Links Cruise Control Retrofit On Board Computer Retrofit M3 twistie style side skirts Carbon Fiber Hood | | | 11-01-2006, 05:52 PM | #21 | Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 59 | Panzer: Is the "frontier" you mention an antenna? If so, where can I get it? I'd love to stick with stock, but I gotta make something work. I only have so many CDs | | | 08-16-2007, 12:50 AM | #22 | Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Arizona USA Posts: 1 | External antenna On our `99 323i the AM reception is extremly poor. I am thinking of installing a power antenna left rear. How do I remove the left rear C pillar cover without damaging it, to connect to the existing window antenna cable? Has anybody done that? | | | 04-25-2013, 02:59 PM | #23 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,451 | Old thread, weak reception Older thread, but I'm troubleshooting. So, in my 97 ti, I seem to have weak radio reception as compared to my 95 ti. (or any of the other BMWs for that matter) I usually listen to music on my iphone, but I like to have radio for variety and news. In the 97, the head unit is a new Alpine IDAx305BT. The 95 has an Alpine CDA9897 (I think). I do get reception on the 97, it just seems I get 1/4 of the stations the 95 does in the same general area. When I bought the 97, there was no radio installed. So: - The antenna connector at the head unit visually is not damaged or frayed
- The solid blue wire is connected (antenna power)
- The striped blue/white wire is connected (turn on remote amp)
- I have 12V at the antenna amplifier
- The antenna cable connector to the amplifier antenna is secure
- I swapped both antenna amplifiers between the cars
No joy... Looking for additional ideas to check. I have searched here and on BFC. Next step for me is to swap the antenna adapter that goes between the BMW antenna cable and the Alpine antenna connector. If that does not solve the issue, I'll try to swap head units to see if that makes a difference. Thoughts? Thanks! __________________ 1998 318ti Sport - "Cali" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, Cali top 1998 318ti Sport - "Max" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, S52 1997 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior 1995 318ti Active - "Blanca" Alpineweib III/Schwartz leather interior Other Current Bimmers: 2006 530i / 2000 2.3L Z3 / 1997 1.9L Z3 / 1999 540it 1997 318ti Sport - "Huera" - RIP 1995 318ti Active - RIP 1995 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Sold 1994 325i Sedan - "Jade" - Sold 1991 318ic - "Bert" - Sold 1985 635csi sold 1984 533i "Max" Sold 1984 318i sold BMWCCA #160411 SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW! | | | 04-25-2013, 05:18 PM | #24 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ft Defiance, AZ Posts: 686 | Id bet your antenna base is bad, happened to both of my ti's Part 65218375159, #1 in the picture __________________ 1999 BMW 318ti 2005 MINI Cooper S | | | 04-25-2013, 08:54 PM | #25 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,451 | Quote: Originally Posted by teen ti Id bet your antenna base is bad, happened to both of my ti's Part 65218375159, #1 in the picture | Perhaps, I swapped the bases between the 97 and 95 and got the same level of reception on both cars, that is the 97 was still bad and the 95 was still good. When your bases(amplifier) failed, was it immediate fail or a progressive weakening? Sent from my mobile device __________________ 1998 318ti Sport - "Cali" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, Cali top 1998 318ti Sport - "Max" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, S52 1997 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior 1995 318ti Active - "Blanca" Alpineweib III/Schwartz leather interior Other Current Bimmers: 2006 530i / 2000 2.3L Z3 / 1997 1.9L Z3 / 1999 540it 1997 318ti Sport - "Huera" - RIP 1995 318ti Active - RIP 1995 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Sold 1994 325i Sedan - "Jade" - Sold 1991 318ic - "Bert" - Sold 1985 635csi sold 1984 533i "Max" Sold 1984 318i sold BMWCCA #160411 SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW! | | | 04-25-2013, 09:00 PM | #26 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ft Defiance, AZ Posts: 686 | Ah fair enough, Im pretty sure it was immediate failure __________________ 1999 BMW 318ti 2005 MINI Cooper S | | | 04-25-2013, 09:06 PM | #27 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,451 | Thanks anyway for the idea! I appreciate it! Sent from my mobile device __________________ 1998 318ti Sport - "Cali" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, Cali top 1998 318ti Sport - "Max" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, S52 1997 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior 1995 318ti Active - "Blanca" Alpineweib III/Schwartz leather interior Other Current Bimmers: 2006 530i / 2000 2.3L Z3 / 1997 1.9L Z3 / 1999 540it 1997 318ti Sport - "Huera" - RIP 1995 318ti Active - RIP 1995 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Sold 1994 325i Sedan - "Jade" - Sold 1991 318ic - "Bert" - Sold 1985 635csi sold 1984 533i "Max" Sold 1984 318i sold BMWCCA #160411 SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW! | | | 04-25-2013, 09:07 PM | #28 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ft Defiance, AZ Posts: 686 | Sure thing, thats what we're all here for right? Hope you figure it out soon! __________________ 1999 BMW 318ti 2005 MINI Cooper S | | | 04-26-2013, 03:57 AM | #29 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,451 | I ordered a new antenna adaptor to give that a shot. Cheap enough... __________________ 1998 318ti Sport - "Cali" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, Cali top 1998 318ti Sport - "Max" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, S52 1997 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior 1995 318ti Active - "Blanca" Alpineweib III/Schwartz leather interior Other Current Bimmers: 2006 530i / 2000 2.3L Z3 / 1997 1.9L Z3 / 1999 540it 1997 318ti Sport - "Huera" - RIP 1995 318ti Active - RIP 1995 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Sold 1994 325i Sedan - "Jade" - Sold 1991 318ic - "Bert" - Sold 1985 635csi sold 1984 533i "Max" Sold 1984 318i sold BMWCCA #160411 SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! 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